Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)...but it doesn't entirely walk the walk.
The upsides? A bevvy of inputs, slick looking, a whole slew of decoding options, the clean feel of the nightglow remote. Easy to set up, but still a tweaker's paradise if you want to dig into the menus.
The downsides? The amplifier section of this receiver is much weaker than one would expect from a receiver rated at "100W x 6". I guess that's why Sony sells an "ES" line...
Honestly, I really like this receiver. It has a good number of A/V inputs... probably enough for your average Joe with a VCR, DVD, satellite and possibly a game console, and if you take advantage of the two component inputs it has MORE than enough. There are also enough digital inputs, as well, but only one of the four are coaxial. The DSP modes are plentiful (a few of them are actually useful, which is rare in my opinion), and the '985 does the new Dolby Digital EX mode which is astounding if you have a center rear speaker connected (fire up Star Wars: Phantom Menance and you'll see). No DTS-ES, though. I can deal with that given the low [$$$] price.
Odds are, the default settings that are given in the manual will suit 90% of the '985 users. But if you are one of the 10%, you'll *really* like the additional features, such as the subwoofer crossover that is selectable in 10hz increments for the L/R, Ctr, Rears. Indepentant of each other, no less. There is also a three band parametric EQ for timbre matching your center channel if it is a different brand than the left & right. The remote is glow-in-the-dark and learning, and can even remember three fifteen-step macros. Coolness.
But like I mentioned earlier, the amplifier section really falls short. The "100W x 6" rides a technically fine advertising line. Yes, each channel can put out 100 watts, but not all at the same time. While this isn't a HUGE problem, as most home theater movies don't stress all 6 channels at once, and most people use a subwoofer to take the stress of the receiver, it IS worth noting that the '985 isn't well suited to larger rooms where the extra power would be called upon regularly. It'll simply run out of oomph. Don't try and use the '985 with anything less than 8 ohm speakers, either. It'll get too hot and go into protection mode. I tested this receiver with some very amplifier-friendly 4 ohm speakers, and it went into failsafe mode within 25 minutes of critical 95db listening (Telarc DTS-Audio sampler). Given the efficiency of my speakers, I estimate the receiver was putting out no more that 16W per channel on the peaks, so I wasn't abusing the system. The amp was fine after leaving it sit for 10 minutes, and plugging it back in. I had to return it based on that fact alone, and I wasn't happy to see it go. If you like things loud and take no prisoners with your A/V gear, you might want to consider an extended warranty plan, just in case.
If you have moderate input needs (no more than 3 S-video components, and only one Coax digital device), if your speakers are efficient 8 ohm speakers, and you don't plan on peeling the paint off the walls with volume, this receiver will do well for you. It's a gadget-lover's delight, and the remote is one of the better laid out. It's a great deal in this price bracket, and would have been a "5 STAR" recommendation with a better amplifier.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony STR-DE985/B Dolby/DTS Surround Receiver with 6.1-Channel Inputs
This full-featured surround receiver is ready to take on media of today, tomorrow, and even yesterday. The STR-DE985/B pumps out 100 watts per channel across six main channels (left, right, center, left/right surround, and center surround) and has a dedicated subwoofer output for a seventh. You get everything from Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from two) and 6.1-channel analog inputs to accommodate the latest high-resolution audio formats like SACD and DVD-Audio.
The receiver includes an FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and a learning, preprogrammed remote control with macro ability for, say, turning on every component in your system in the appropriate order. There's even a phono input for a turntable, which may be sitting neglected in a closet despite that box of LPs in the living room. And a second-room output (stereo left/right analog RCA) lets you feed a smaller integrated amplifier with the audio from the STR-DE985/B.
Two switched AC outlets let you plug other devices into the receiver, conserving wall sockets and powering up the plugged devices at the same time as the receiver.
What's in the Box Receiver, remote control, batteries, user's manual, warranty information.
