Switching, alot of inputs, good sound stage, ablity to decode many formats, digital and analog options

The remote. Analog sound is best. Some modes have some backgroung noise

Good for my application but it's not KRELL.

To the guy who stated he bought his unit as CRAZY EDDIE and gave this unit a 5 STAR rating!!! Sorry dude! CRAZY EDDIE has been out of business for YEARS!

Just anothe SONY employee posting a high rating I guess.

It took 3 units to get it right! SONY is making this stuff in China, Mexico and your local Pizza Shop!

For a $1,000 I don't expect perfection but I do expect it to work. And for now it does and it meets all my needs.

If I needed a unit that was bullet proof, I'd go with the 777.

Similar Products Used:

Sony es 50 and SONY DA555-ES

Great power and features

hissing at low volumes

I am really pleased overall. I am using two Infinity IL40's for the front, an IL36c for the center, two IL 10's for surround and an IL100 for the sub. The Infinity's rock big time, wonderful warm clear sound. I am using a new Sony 53" rear digital projection (model?)

**** I am but am really starting to get annoyed with the hissing at low volumes. Is this just a defective unit like I have been hearing that some on this list have had and can be returned for a working unit without the hiss problem??? If not there has to be some way to get rid of the hiss! Can anyone offer any suggestions to this. I really like the unit but anymore of that hiss will make me want to part with it. HELP!! Please e-mail me or post on list again, thanks!

Similar Products Used:

none

I just have a question for J.Williams the last reviewer.....what have you heard regarding the upcoming new version of this receiver (strva555es) due out in August? I know that the list price has gone from $1300 to $1500. I have heard rumors ranging from they finally dropped the pesky touch remote to the old 777 amps. Anyway if you worked for SONY then you should have better info than I have.....dazzle us with your info please in all seriousness! I would love to hear more about the upcoming VA555.

not THX certified

great reciever that surely does show Sony's "Elevated Standard" and more! This reciever has alot of power and a great remote. It has many connections in the back panel to connect all of your other A/V equipment. The v555es has a handsome case with superior oversized guts. I think that this would be best for audio enthusiasts, but if you are just looking for a home theater reciever, get the str-db940, a great reciever for a low price.

Similar Products Used:

onkyo TX-DS989

not THX certified

great reciever that surely does show Sony's "Elevated Standard" and more! This reciever has alot of power and a great remote. It has many connections in the back panel to connect all of your other A/V equipment. The v555es has a handsome case with superior oversized guts.

Similar Products Used:

onkyo TX-DS989

remote has short comings, FIRMWARE!!!!!

I had a big initial problem with this unit. Had to return 3 of them to get one without any problems. First one had no sound out of the b-speakers. Second and third had the firmware-no video-no sound problem. The power cycling that other reviews mentioned fixed this but I return it any way. My previous receiver str-de835 had the same exact problem and I put up with it for 3 years!!!!

Otherwise, this is a great unit. I would not exactly recomend it because I regret not getting a THX ultra 7.1 or a 6.1 unit for same price range...oh well...next time!

Similar Products Used:

sony str-de835

good power output, clean sound, plenty of features, good looks

poor quality!!!!

After 5 months of using my V555ES I'm getting more and more disappointed. What once was an example of really Elevated Standard (DA90ESG or D777ES) turns out to be a Malaysia assembled ES "wanna be". I've had constant problems with no video signal in TV/CABLE mode after powering on "PROTECTION MODE" came on without any reason, repairable only by authorized service (which took them 2 weeks to do, thank God it's under 5 yr. warranty). Volume control is way too sensitive, often jumps up and down by itself. On the bright side I really enjoy VIRTUAL MATRIX 6.1 and improved remote, other than that I MISS MY D777ES
My V555ES works with JBL S 312(front),JBL S 38 (rear), JBL S center,JBL PB 12 (sub), SONY CDP-CX400 CD changer, SONY MDS-JE330 MD deck, SONY DVP-S360 DVD, 100% MONSTER cables.

Similar Products Used:

D777ES

A lot of features

Sound quality, power up and down, cross-talk

Got defective da555es from sony. Sent it back so many times they sent me a V555. Back it goes too! Won't power up unless you turn it on and off 10 or 12 times!!!

I like the fact that it has more then one digital coax input. That's it! But the unit does not work so what am I supposed to say? And when you do get it to go on the sound is low end. So much noise and cross talk, no soundstage at all.

Speakers Monitor Audio. Monster cable, ONKYO DVD Player. SAT 5.1 and ground Cable TV, SONY WEGA TV. WEAKEST part of the link is the V555ES.

The unit is not quality! It runs much too hot and the sound is more like a $199.00 boom box type unit then what is sold as a high quality, high end piece of equipment.

The only thing I have to say is that people who don't know what real quality stereo equipment is will think this unit is OK. But after KRELL, THETA or even mid market Harmen/Kardon any other person would also see that this is cheap stuff with a lot of fancy marketing.

All of the stuff I received from SONY so far was made in Mexico, China.... It seems as if they have real quality control issues.

From the first moment it was taken out of the box it has had troubles. I've read more then few a reviews here and it seems that the ES line is not quality. It's just another marketing push for a bunch of suckers who don't know high-end or who can't afford it and are try to save money! You get what you pay for???? Not with SONY!!!

And to all the SONY employees and retailers who post 5 star ratings here, how do you sleep at night??

Similar Products Used:

SONY DA555ES

This is just a supplimental review to one I placed earlier. I have had this receiver for about a month now. I must say, no hiss, no heat (typical minor heat generated by all "one-box solutions") , no problems.

I have noticed what one other reviewer noted about no subwoofer output in non-movie surround modes. I have large front speakers anyway, so there really isn't too much loss in bass. Most recoreded music doesn't have much information below 40-45Hz anyway. Unless you listen too RAP or TECHNO. Movies have information down to 20Hz (even below). That's where the subwoofer comes in, and that's where movie surround decoding comes in !

This receiver proves how technology evolves fast in consumer electronics. I own MATRIX on DVD. It is a movie with a great deal of surround cues and fast moving action. My old Dolby Digital receiver could not keep up with some of the information. This new SONY does not miss a beat. It reveals all the dynamics that the movie was intended to have. I am quite pleased with its DTS performance ( Eagles -Hell Freezes Over and Terminator II DVD ) and Dolby Digital performance (MATRIX).

ALL you need is patience. It has taken me almost a month of movie watching to tweak it to just the way I like it.

Several notes :

1) Digital Inputs can be assigned and named by using the audio split function. It wil remember the settings.

2) Only use Auto Format Decoding if you are certain that the source has a multi-channel surround track. Otherwise , I recommend choosing a surround mode.

3) It will do 96Khz decoding, but only in 2-channel sound. That is better than some of the competition. Who reaaly cares ? My dog doesn't even care. 96Khz and 192Khz is just marketing. I would be very surprised if anyone who claims they are an audiophile, can hear past 16 - 17Khz.

I am still giving this unit 5 stars just for beating a majority of the competition for competant surround reproduction,and for beating all of the competition on a price / performance ratio !!!!

Sound, Warranty and the ability to customize almost any thing you want.

Remote

I am truly amazed at how much you can tweak this machine. I can manipulate the soundfield conditions in so many ways it's incredible. I think the machine takes about 1 day to learn and then it is very simple to operate. I have the 555 hooked up to Definitive Technology BP2006TL main speakers and the music quality is stunning. Jazz blows me away. It sounds like the musicians are in my living room. My only complaint is the remote. It is not very user friendly and does not have enough range. I am considering sending 555 back for the STR-V444ES only because of the remote. The two units are identical except for the remote. If I do get the 444 I am going to buy a Home Theater Master MX-1000 remote. Crutchfield was a delight to do business with also!

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32 inch XBR WEGA TV, 10 year old ES CD Player