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Sony STR-DE845
Dolby Digital surround sound receiver
Recommended retail price: $999
(inc. GST)
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Reviewer: Richard Morgan
The STR-DE845 is placed mid-way along Sony's home theatre receiver range. The unit generates 100 watts RMS into all five surround channels (8 ohms at 1kHz with at 0.09 percent distortion). In music mode the unit puts out 95 watts RMS per channel. I somehow don't think you'll be needing too much more driving power.
Dolby Digital and DTS Decoders are standard and handled by a 24-bit processor. There's Dolby Pro Logic decoding for compatibility with older DVD movies. There's also 5-Channel Digital Signal Processing with a claimed 27 acoustic environments - while I didn't try all those options I don't doubt the veracity of Sony's claim.
In addition there's Sony's proprietary Digital Cinema Sound which uses 32-bit digital signal processing to provide acoustic enhancement in your home based on measurements made at Sony Pictures Studios movie production facilities. It's one of those intangible features whose merit is in the ears of the beholder.
The unit is a mini tour de force of connection possibilities, offering everything for home theatre and then some for tinkering (such as it is in a digital world). Speaker binding posts are used for the front channels but not the centre or rear channels. The two subwoofer outlets are appreciated.
In other areas, the universal learning remote features an LCD screen visual conformation of operation. While the tuner section is digital throughout featuring 30 AM/FM random station preset facilities and the capacity to input station call sign and name for display when selected.
The STR-DE845 is well-priced and produces a level of performance that goes beyond its price. It also creates healthy amounts of room-filling sound.
Aside from the obvious attributes of sonic expanse and dynamic detail, this receiver did a good job of projecting palpable sound fields in Dolby Digital surround sound. Directional effects were relayed well and there was good delineation of loud information in a three-dimensional sound space.
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