Sony STR-DG520 5.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black

Im not going to write a lot because I don't have the time.

This receiver has done nothing but the best for me. Everything about it makes the set-up experience and the actual sound experience better than I have had before.

100% positive.

Recommended!

I was shopping for a replacement for my Onkyo TX-SR304. One of the shops I went to had this on clearance for less than $100. I took a chance and bought it, was skeptical about Sony Receivers. When I got home I hooked it up and made some adjustments and was surprised. Love watching action movies - it had much more "kick" than my Onkyo. Great frequency response - kudos to Sony! Some notes: would recommend turning Bass & Treble to full, NO HDMI pass through, set crossover to 150Hz for small speakers & 80Hz for big speakers.

I am an otherwise tech savvy consumer who was temporarily confused after buying this AV receiver. Having purchased my last receiver in 1991 I was only peripherally aware of some important things to note.
1. As stated in another review here (I wish I read it before buying) this receiver doesn't decode Dolby audio over HDMI, a.k.a. HDMI pass through. The manual doesn't explicitly say this--it uses the term pass through but not the part about requiring separate audio. While HDMI normally carries video and audio, using HDMI with this receiver will only give you video (unless you turn dolby off, but that makes all your speakers expensive dust collectors). I was using an HDMI cable, for example to connect my HD DVR to my TV. When I ran an HDMI cable to the receiver and then from the receiver to the TV I had video but no picture. When I asked the magnolia people in best buy (where I bought it) if I might have something hooked up wrong, they offered to schedule a home visit for $149. I**ots. There are seperate digital audio inputs. Two, in fact. So where you used to run a single cable, now you will have to run two: something for video, HDMI or component AND an audio cable (optical or coax). Looking back, this doesn't seem to difficult but it sure stymied me for a day.
2. Only signals that go in via HDMI can go out via HDMI. It can't go in as component and out as HDMI. This isn't as subtle a point once you have the system in front of you, but you should be aware of this if you are planning on running a single HDMI cable to your TV (as I was).
3. A much smaller point is the different types of dolby. there are a number of encoding schemes. The receiver has an auto feature which is supposed to detect the dolby standard and properly decode it for your speakers. It works almost perfectly. On a few channels and for a few programs, that I knew were dolby I was only getting sound out of the front two speakers. Simply pressing the dolby select button to try different dolby schemes I found the right one and sound came out of every speaker. For all I know the one I found was the one always in use but for some reason to autodetect didn't work on that particular transmission.

More expensive units overcome the first two points. I think the 920 model for instance can use a single HDMI for vid and audio. I know more expensive models allow you take analog inputs and convert them for transmission over HDMI to your TV. Still for $190 you really get a lot of value. I looked at more expensive models and while they had more features (such as those mentioned above) and more inputs and channels, it seems your speakers will make a much larger difference in the actual sound than anything else. Unless you absolutely need one of the other features, spend the extra money on speakers. And, if as a first time surround sound buyer you are wondering if 5.1, 6.1, or 7.1 should be a concern-- don't be. The majority of stuff is 5.1 and detecting the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 requires extremely sensitive ears in someone less than 30 years of age and a very precisely setup system. Get a better 5.1 rather than a poor 7.1 system.


The manual stated that some components will not be able to transmit audio over HDMI-- this is misleading or at least incomplete information. I would have given this 4 stars except for the fact that I called sony tech support, got through in less than 2 minutes and talked to someone very competent who explained to me the need for a separate audio cable. For this reason I am giving it 5 stars. Again, a lot of value for the money.

This receiver gives you decent value for the money. The following are short-comings:

It will not decode the audio from the HDMI cable so you will need to run both the HDMI and an optical or digital coax from the component to the receiver. It will also not upconvert either. In addition to this, it will not switch component to HDMI output at any resolution. So if you are using an older XBOX that has HD-Component cables, or an older DVD player, etc.. that is using component, it will not output that through your HDMI to the TV. You will have to run a separate set of component cables to your TV. This receiver, therefore, does not improve on clutter in your home theater set-up.

In terms of postives there are many in terms of sound quality. This receiver gives you a great deal of latitude for tweaking the sound to your desires. It has great bass output and my surround sound has a lot more thunder and power behind it than it used to on my old receiver (a Kenwood VR7070). Everything from Bioshock to Baseball games have nice clear surround sound now. I can't complain at all about sound quality.

For my man-cave theater I'll be getting the STR-DG820. It has the same sound (if not better) but it switches component to HDMI, passes 480p through HDMI-out, and decodes all the latest HD sources like Dolby TruHD and DTS-HD.

Indeed, this is not the best amplifier or digital hub. It is not the best receiver. But anyone looking for 1080p pass through at 24 or 60 frames or 80mhz components for HDTV cannot really do any better. Got mine for 163 dollars from circuit city 10% off.

Indeed, the poster riled by the THD number is giving you a 1% distortion rate but this is only for the most sensitive frequency 1kHz. Overall from 20-20000kHz there is a stat of .09% THD just like most of the specs claim. No confusion anymore, I am looking at my book. Of note is that the surround THD is much higher at a whopping 10% at 1 kHz. Yikes! I am glad I am using this for stereo. You should do the same.

I advise serious users looking for a Headphone out direct or people that need those components for a screen like the non HDMI Dell 2405 1920x1200 to buy this receiver. I myself use Etymotic ER4 headphones for my PS3 so this system does everything I want it to. For 163 dollars I honestly could not do any better. For HDMI all you need is optical out and you have your 1080p bluray experience.

For people looking for higher end you need to look elsewhere. What do you honestly think you are getting for this price. The SQ is exactly what you would expect and coming from a serious audiophile it is decent, nothing noteworthy, but nothing too terrible. Optical is a must for PS3 users as there is a buzzing from that particular component that does not go away.

It doesn't cost 4000 dollars so don't expect that. I have listened to just about everything out there from Krell to Denon and all the rest including some independent manufacturers, heard cables from MIT and the like that actually cost 10000 dollars, and others also who sell their amps for 10000 dollars LOL I can't afford any of that but this is still a very good deal for the price.