Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 16.9 x 6.2 inches ; 17.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 24 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0015HPYDK
• Item model number: STRDG820
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,870 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Receivers & Amplifiers > Component Receivers

• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 8, 2008

Product Description

Product Description

The STR-DG820 7.1 Ch. A/V Receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. This new 1080p A/V Receiver features HDMI with "Active Intelligence", plus x.v.Color and 1080/24p signal capability. In addition to decoding uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI), the STR-DG820 decodes the latest audio formats from Dolby Labs and DTS making this model fully compatible with Blu-ray Disc. Now, you can hear the original mix of your favorite BD titles regardless of audio format. Need more HDMI inputs? The STR-DG820 features four HDMI inputs that allows for more HD content to be connected. Looking for simplicity? BRAVIA Sync provides a one button operation (via HDMI) of your entire A/V experience with a select number of BRAVIA televisions. Because no room is perfect, Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (and its supplied microphone) simplifies speaker set up and optimizes speaker performance with the push of one button in just 30 seconds. This full featured A/V Receiver expands its ability to playback music from various audio sources (i.e. iPod, Walkman, PC, etc…) with the DIGITAL MEDIA PORT and one of the various accessories (sold separately). Would you like to listen to satellite radio? The XM Connect-and-Play Ready feature provides the ability to access XM satellite radio programming in surround sound.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

160 of 165 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great A/V receiver for the price, July 5, 2008

By	Dan Dautrich (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Pros:
+ 4 HDMI v1.3a inputs with support for 1080p/24, Deep Color, and xvYCC
+ Up to 7.1 channel output (110Wx7, 8 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD) with A/B speaker zones (7.1/2.0)
+ Lots of inputs: 3 optical audio, 1 coaxial digital audio, 4 HDMI v1.3a video/audio, 3 component video, 2 RCA stereo audio, 3 RCA stereo video/audio, 1 additional RCA stereo video/audio on front panel
+ Easy auto-calibration
+ Re-assignable digital audio inputs
+ Customizable display names for each input
+ Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High-Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio
+ XM Satellite Radio ready
+ Supports Sony BRAVIA Theater Sync and Sony Digital Media Port

Cons:
- Awkward remote
- Cannot send analog video signals (e.g., component) through HDMI output, or digital inputs through the analog outputs
- Only has LFE subwoofer (RCA jack) output, no speaker-level (spring-loaded terminal) output
- Multi-channel and DSD signals from SA-CDs are not supported
- Standby power mode can only be activated by the remote

If you're looking for a solid receiver with plenty of inputs, including four (yes, 4!) HDMI v1.3a audio/video inputs, the Sony STR-DG820 is a great buy. This is one of Sony's new line of receivers for 2008 along with the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, and STR-DG920. This is a very compelling receiver for its price as it packs in a lot of great features when compared to other popular receivers including the Denon AVR988 and Onkyo TX-SR606.

Both the 820 and the 920 model have on-board decoding of the high-definition audio tracks found on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, along with Linear PCM support (up to 8 channels, 192 kHz). A note to fellow PS3 owners: you'll need to use LPCM output to let the PS3 internally decode the audio because it currently lacks the ability to output all of the HD audio formats natively using bitstream through the HDMI connection. SA-CD owners will be disappointed to find out that this receiver doesn't support any of the advanced audio tracks of the discs, so we're stuck with plain stereo CD output.

Any standard speaker arrangements between stereo (2.0) and the full 7.1 surround sound can be attached and configured individually for optimal performance, or let the quick and easy auto-calibration feature work its magic. I was caught off-guard by the fact that the only connection available for a subwoofer is an LFE (RCA) connector, so my previous passive sub from the old receiver couldn't be connected using bare speaker wires and had to be replaced.

A wide variety of electronics can be hooked up through the different named inputs: Video 1 (analog and digital video/audio), Video 2 (analog video/audio, front panel), BD (digital video/audio), DVD (analog and digital video/audio), Satellite (analog and digital video/audio), TV (analog and digital audio), and SA-CD/CD (analog audio). Digital audio sources can be reassigned to other input modes to match your connections (e.g., you can use the optical audio input labeled Video 1 with the component video input labeled DVD). The only catch is that analog inputs must exit through the analog outputs rather than being transcoded and output digitally through HDMI, and digital inputs cannot be sent through analog outputs. For about an extra $200, analog-to-digital transcoding will be available only on the higher-end 920 model due out soon, but I don't really have a problem with having two different cables connecting from my receiver to my LCD TV instead of just a single HDMI cable.

The included remote is a bit difficult to use with lots of functionality trying to be packed into a minimal amount of buttons. Yellow, silver, and purple labels and dots attempt to organize buttons based on which mode the remote currently is operating, and it takes a while to make any sense of it all. Even after some use, some buttons still make no sense, like why there separate buttons labeled Amp Menu, Options, Menu, BD/DVD Top Menu, and BD/DVD Menu when one or more of these could have been consolidated into a single button. Also, there are two buttons labeled TV--one switches the input to TV mode and one activates buttons marked with a yellow dot on the remote. Basically, whoever designed the remote needs fired. Do yourself a favor and get something like a Logitech Harmony One universal remote to replace this kludgy beast.

All in all, the convenience and flexibility of this receiver combined with the great features for a relatively low price made this product an easy decision for me. If it weren't for the clumsy remote and lack of analog-digital transcoding, I'd give this receiver a 5-star rating.

94 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Stereo Sound but Limited Power in Surround Mode, December 30, 2008

By	G. Serpen (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many reviewers have already mentioned the strengths of this unit therefore I will not repeat all the features most of you already know about but I will review the audio quality. I am reviewing the European model but it should be identical to the US model ( except for the power transformer ).

I will agree with most reviewers that this unit is a good bang for the buck. Then why did I award it with only 3 stars ? I deducted 1 star because mine was a defective unit. It took me 2 weeks to notice but under prolonged use ( > 90 minutes ) the power transformer made a buzzing noise. The noise was only audible during silent scenes but it was annoying. I don't know if I got a lemon or this was a characteristic of the STR-DGxxx series ( cheap power transformers ). Be aware that many people may find this noise acceptable so be sure to give the unit a good workout before you buy. I returned my unit and did not get another one so I can't confirm mine was a lemon. There was some hum from the speakers as well but that was at an acceptable level and did not get amplified by turning the volume knob up.

The other star I deducted because of Sony's exaggerated power ratings. Before buying the product I had read somewhere that Sony made poor amplifiers with power specs that were quite far from the actual sound output. Unfortunately I ignored the reviewer because I thought he was just another audiophile trying to justify his Onkyo purchase by bashing consumer electronics brand names like Sony and Pioneer. Although he was wrong in regards to Sony's sound quality, he was spot on when it came down to power.

As a first time home cinema receiver buyer, I had no idea most manufacturers rate their amplifiers by outputting a test signal from ONLY one or two channels simultaneously. Now driving all 7 channels, thats a whole different story. Many people probably already know this but I'm pretty sure the majority doesn't. I usually read the user manual of every product I'm interested in very thoroughly, despite that I missed it. Why ? Because Onkyo is the only company that is honest about their rating procedure ( their manuals indicate they drive only 2 channels ). The STR-DG820 continous electrical power consumption is 230W. No amplifier can output more power than what is input. So if you ignore heat loss & efficiency, the 820 can drive 7 channels with no more than 230/7 = 33W continously. That is quite a dissapointment when Sony leads you to believe it can drive 7x85W undistorted.

I know many people will say that power is not that important. Unfortunately they are wrong because of the relationship between power and volume. In order to double the perceived volume, the amplifier has to consume 10 times the power. Peaks in the signal may cause the amplifier to distort from a sine wave to a square wave which can damage your speakers so any extra wattage you can squeeze out of your amplifier is a bonus in order to obtain a clean signal.

I tested this receiver with 2 pairs of Sony SS-F6000 floorstanding speakers ( 2 front, 2 surround ) with no subwoofer. The front and surround speakers were placed 3 and 1.5 meters from my listening position respectively. At these distances the amp appeared to deliver the required power but it was operating close to its limits. Most amplifiers reach their maximum clean output at 50-60% of the volume knob's total range. The range for the 820 is 0-74 and with some films ( Dolby Digital tracks ) I had the volume knob at 35. If you have a larger living room than mine I suggest you buy another receiver or connect very sensitive speakers ( > 90db ). If you have satellite speakers with a powered subwoofer this amplifier will probably cover you as you will get more headroom by redirecting bass frequencies to the subwoofer's amp - make sure you set your speakers to SMALL in that case. I had all my speakers set to LARGE and although they can definetely deliver good bass weight the receiver has to consume significantly more power.

Now lets get to the pros. This receiver is very clear sounding and I'm not saying "for the price". Some hifi magazines have pointed out that it sounds better than the Onkyo SR-606 or Denon AVR-1909 in stereo mode and I could only agree. A reviewer described the 820 as "dull". I personally think the receiver's flatter response curve is a plus, it won't exaggerate any frequencies and will cover a wider range of music while presenting it as the artist intended. Of course the frequency response is not entirely flat, I felt the bass and treble were stronger than the midrange but it was nothing to worry about. AC/DC still sounds warm and not like Metallica. Even without a subwoofer I never felt a lack of weight in the sound ( my speakers are 4-way though ). At volume set to 30 I could shake the apartment.

Here are some amplifiers I had a chance to make a head-to-head comparison at the store ( stereo only - analog direct mode or similar on all amplifiers for equal terms ) :

Yamaha RX-V361: The 820 destroys it. Period.
Yamaha AX-497: This is a stereo amplifier and the 820 sounded very similar. In fact a friend of mine's first comment upon hearing was that they must be using the same curcuitry ! The Yamaha was more powerful despite both being rated at 85 watts per channel.
Onkyo TX-SR605: The 820 sounded slightly more detailed. The Onkyo was brighter overall.
Denon AVR-1709: This was a bit bassy for my tastes. Will suit the hip hop crowd better.
Sony STR-DA1200ES: This model is not sold in the US, think of it as a 2400ES without the HD audio decoders. The STR-DG820 sounded identical in stereo. The "Elevated Standard" models are more powerful beasts though.

I could describe the STR-DG820 as balanced and detailed for music. The fact that it could hold its own ground against a Yamaha stereo amplifier was a big selling point for me. Some of these attributes do translate to surround as well. I tested the receiver with the "Bridge of Khazad-dum" scene from the "Fellowship of the Ring". This is a very taxing scene with both orchestral music and loud bass heavy earth shattering FX. I turned the volume up to 30 which is sofa-shaking level for that movie in DTS. At the point where the staircase was demolished the music managed to remain detailed and there was no clipping from the amplifier. A definite plus !

I didn't test many of the sound fields as I generally like unprocessed sound. The only one I used was "portable" for mp3 playback. I suggest you use it with 128 kbps mp3 files. For 320 or 256 kbps mp3 files, "portable" mode will sound harsh. The Dolby Pro Logic music decoders sounded OK, they created a good sound stage at the loss of some clarity. "Multi-stereo" mode ( same output from front and surround speakers ) would be good for parties but there will be a slight delay between the output of each speaker which can feel weird. You can't have your system calibrated perfectly. The A + B parallel front speaker connection did not give me more decibels ( I have not tried placing the speakers side by side though ) it just appeared to distribute power to more speakers. That can be a good thing at loud levels. It is interesting to note that the amplifier allows you to hook up two 8 ohm speakers in parallel ( 4 ohms total impedance ) but does not allow you to hook up a single 4 ohm speaker, there is no impedance selector.

I hope I have not been too harsh with my rating but I do feel it was deserved despite the favorable price. This is a good receiver but buyers should be aware of its shortcomings, I tried to present a balanced view. I would probably have kept the unit if it didn't have the buzzing issue.

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sony A/V Receiver/Amp, October 6, 2008

By	A. Galanter "Higher standards for all" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My original need was for an a/v receiver that had HDMI hookups. With the SONY STR-DG820, which has four (4) HDMI inputs and one (1) HDMI output, I found the perfect blend of quality features and affordability. Now I can hookup both my Blu-ray and standard DVD players, along with VHS and HD Cable, and output the audio to my 5.1 speakers while using the HDMI output to direct all images to my SONY Bravia LCD t.v. This produces the best sound and image quality possible whichever device I choose. In addition, since most of my devices are SONY, I am able to turn on the t.v., A/V receiver, and Blu-ray player with a single button on the remote. The sound reproduction is so full and absent noticeable distortion that my five year old 5.1 speakers sound many times better than they ever have. I strongly recommend the STR-DG820.