Sony STR-DA7100ES Receiver Review
Sony STR-DA7100ES receiver
Summary
- Product Name: STR-DA7100ES Receiver
- Manufacturer: Sony Electronics
- Performance Rating:
- Value Rating:
- Review Date: January 24, 2006 19:00
- MSRP: $ 2000
- Specifications
-
- 170 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at .05% THD
- S-Master Pro digital amplifier
- Dolby® Digital EX, DTS-ES®, DTS 96/24, DTS Neo:6, and Pro Logic® IIx surround decoding
- Sony Digital Cinema Sound modes
- Triple-room/triple-source output (composite video and preamp-level stereo audio output for 2nd room; fixed line-level stereo audio output for 3rd room; powered stereo audio output option for either 2nd room or 3rd room allows 5.1 home theater in main room)
- 7.1-channel preamp output for system expansion
- HDMI digital video switching: 2 in, 1 out
- Analog-video-to-HDMI video conversion
- Component video conversion
- Component video switching: 2 in, 1 out (80MHz bandwidth)
- Digital inputs: 5 optical (including 1 front-panel), 3 coaxial
- Optical digital output
- 7.1-channel input and analog multichannel bass management for use with SACD or DVD-Audio players
- 4 audio (including phono) and 5 audio/video (including 5 S-video & 1 front-panel) inputs
- A/V Sync allows you to delay the audio signal (in 10-millisecond increments) when audio and video aren't in perfect sync
- Learning/multibrand LCD remote with macros
- 2nd-room A/V remote (requires remote control extender system for use in 2nd room)
- On-screen display puts receiver menus on your TV for easy navigation (requires A/V input on TV)
- 2 sets of main speaker outputs
- 20 FM/10 AM presets
- Sony Control S and Control A1II, for easier control of compatible Sony components
- Three 12-volt trigger outputs allow use with 3rd party control systems
- 17"W x 6-3/8"H x 15-11/16"D
- Warranty: 5 years
Pros
- ‘Phase Audio/Noise’ functions in Setup menu
- Upconversion of all inputs to HDMI
- Nice aesthetics
- Zone 2/3 remote control included
Cons
- Potential HDMI upconversion issues with 480i input
- HDMI switching limited to 1080i
- Unintuitive menu system & remote control
- No on-the-fly channel trims
- Remote lacks some basic features
- Confusing digital assignment of coax/optical inputs
- Only 2 component inputs
Introduction
Sony’s ES line of products has a long heritage of being the best the company has to offer. This is the first official review of a Sony ES receiver by Audioholics so we wanted to see how their latest model, the STR-DA7100ES, compared against some of the newest competition within the market. Our focus was on usability, power handling, and features – the trinity of performance and rating criteria that are expected of any new product review.