Sony STR-DE335 Home Theater Receiver

Rating:
Summary: The STR-D-E335 is a Great Value!
Review: Comparing receivers in this price range, I have found several new things that anybody should take into consideration when purchasing a new receiver. First, what features are you looking for? How important is sound quality? How important is having theatre-sound capability?

My Sony receiver STRV-114 (1984) recently underwent a serious meltdown. Believing I had been fortunate to have a receiver last this long, I went without hesitation to find a new model with more features that didn't break the bank.

I went to all of the area low-priced dealers (ABC, Circuit City, Best Buy, Sears). If you want to buy Sony because it's a Sony, you can go anywhere, and the prices are comparable. I have found shopping for a receiver at this price level does not make the salesmen jump up and down and provide you with their undivided attention. In fact, at ABC and Circuit City, I wanted to listen to 3 different models including the STR-D-E335, Kenwood ARV-304, and Pioneer's comparble model. ABC's salesman was bold enough to tell me I wouldn't notice the difference between them and I should take his word for the best quality. He wanted to sell me a Kenwood Arv-304.

Circuit City was very similar, but wanted me to purchase the Kenwood ARV-355 (a higher priced model), and I still hadn't listened to any of them yet, because I was assured I would not be able to tell the difference. So, I went to ABC and bought the Kenwood ARV-304. Then I went to Best Buy. They did not have Kenwood in their lineup, but, amazingly enough, I got to listen to the other 2 models I wanted to listen to (STR-D-E335, and Pioneer's comparable model). After listening to them, the Sony came out ahead hands down. I purchased the STR-D-E335 and also found out that there was a set of free home-theatre speakers that came with it (Best Buy promotion).

I took the receivers home, and first hooked up the Kenwood. To put it simply, there was a LOT of sound missing. No matter how I adjusted the Bass and Treble something was missing (the theatre speakers were not part of the test)even when I used the Bass Boost button, all it did was take the Bass setting up to +10 (max setting).

I then hooked up the Sony 335. WOW! My speakers came to life. When I used the bass boost, amazingly enough, there was extra bass, and full rich sound. Both receivers were rated at 100 watts x 2 into the same speakers in the same position. Somehow, despite all the comments from the salespeople that I would not be able to tell the difference between them, I was, in an instant, able to determine which one sounded better.

This receiver will please even the most critical of audiences (shopping in this price range), and add some features that will allow the expansion into the digital world, down the road.

Rating:
Summary: Not for Dummies!
Review: I'll never buy another Sony AV receiver again. I bought a JVC for same price as this Sony but took it back when I found out the Sony offered more features. Well, there may be a heck of a lot more features, but it don't mean a thing if you can't figure out how to get it to make any sounds! The manual's set up section refers to another manual for us dummies called "Easy Set Up" which I still couldn't figure out after 2 nights of trying. I think the symbols and directions are translated from Japanese by techies who are writing for other techies. So I returned the Sony, got the JVC back which was Plug N Play in less than 5 minutes, kinda like point and shoot - just my speed. There are people who can detect major audio differences between a Sony and a JVC, but probably don't even need the manuals in the first place. If this is your first home theater experience, and you don't have an educated ear or want to pay an installer to figure out for you -- well, don't necessarily buy the JVC, but by all means do NOT buy this Sony! A word to the sufficient is wise.

Rating:
Summary: Sony's STR-DE335
Review: This reciever comes with 6 input options for various audio appliances. It is quite powerful and I found it to have some very cool sound options, such as hall, live, etc. The remote is also very handy with many controls for numerous operations, and features key buttons that gow in the dark for use in dimly lit areas. However, I found that it is not the easiest thing to learn how to operate. The remote uses several abreviations that many people might not be familiar with. It also has buttons that may need some fooling around with to figure out(or you could go the easy way out and use the manual *ha* ). Overall, the STR-DE335 puts out good sound for a relatively [low]price.