Product Description

The new STR-DE897/B Audio/Video Receiver features a 32-bit Dolby® Digital, Dolby Pro® Logic and dts® Decoder, a Digital Cinema Sound¿ System, 30 Station Presets and a 32-bit DSP with 13 Acoustic Environments. Keep your components connected with the STR-DE897/B.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62350 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: STRDE897B
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 13.00" h x 23.00" w x 23.00" l, 27.00 pounds

Features

• 7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver with 30 radio presets, HD video switching, and 110 watts per channel x 7
• Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES/Neo:6, and Dolby Pro Logic II surround processing for lifelike, exciting audio from any source
• 7.1-/5.1-channel analog audio inputs accommodate high-resolution multichannel formats like SACD and DVD-Audio
• 6 digital-audio inputs, 1 digital output; includes phono input for turntable and preprogrammed/learning Remote Commander remote control
• Measures 16.9 x 6.2 x 14.6 inches (W x H x D)

Amazon.com Product Description
Sony's amazingly powerful and affordable STR-DE897 delivers rich, clear sound for your movies and music--from the latest surround-sound movie formats to the latest high-resolution audio sources. The receiver pumps out 110 watts per channel across 7 main channels (left, right, center, left/right mid surround, and left/right rear surround) and has a dedicated subwoofer output for an eighth (the ".1" low-frequency effects channel). The receiver performs everything from Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES/Neo:6 surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from 2), also offering 5.1/7.1-channel analog inputs to handle music from Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio.

You get conveniences, too, like multi-room outputs that come with independent source switching, so you can listen to a DVD in the living room while someone else is listening to a CD in the kitchen. The supplied Remote Commander remote control comes preprogrammed for a range of devices, and it also learns new commands and has the ability to perform limited macro commands.

The receiver includes an FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and a host of video inputs--5 composite-video, 3 S-video, and 2 component-video--to simplify switching between components and your television. The component-video inputs accommodate wide-bandwidth (80 MHz) high-definition signals and work well with 480p signals such as those from progressive-scan DVD players, while composite-video inputs are upconverted to S-video quality. A set of front-panel audio/video inputs includes an optical digital-audio input and facilitates spontaneous hookups with camcorders, gaming consoles, MP3 players, and minidisc player/recorders.

There's even a phono input for your once or future turntable--yes, they still make 'em and, yes, your vinyl will sound as good or better than ever. The unit's 3 stereo and 1 set of multichannel analog audio inputs simplify hookup of, for instance, a cassette deck, a VCR, and a high-resolution audio device that decodes formats like SACD and DVD-Audio. A total of 6 assignable digital-audio inputs (4 optical and 2 coaxial) accept bitstream feeds from DVD players, CD players, and other digital devices, while a single optical digital-audio out channels sound to a CD or minidisc recorder.

Digital Cinema Sound System is a group of exclusive Sony algorithms (the receiver offers 13 total) that represent a total re-thinking of home theater sound based on careful measurements of movie-production dubbing stages in Hollywood. Cinema Studio EX modes offer greater apparent distance from listener to screen and a full array of 10 additional virtual surround speakers.

Sound Field Link applies the last-selected sound field to an input whenever you select the input. For example, if you select STADIUM for the CD input, change to a different input, then return to CD, the receiver will automatically apply the STADIUM sound field.

Finally, Auto Channel Grouping helps integrate 5.1- and 6.1-channel programs with your 7.1-channel system. When a 5.1-channel mix is present, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right outputs while adding a new surround back left/right channel. When 6.1-channel mix is detected, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right output while the sixth channel is duplicated by both surround back channels (left/right).

What's in the Box
Receiver, remote control (model RM-PG413), remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.

Customer Reviews

Love the Sony
I recently replaced my JVC surround receiver with this one. I love it, now I have all the inputs I need for VCR, DVD, Sattelite, Etc.. It also lets me connect composit video devices and send them to my monitor through the s-video jack. With my JVC receiver I could never get a good balance between my surround speakers and my center and front speakers. With the new receiver it sounds great. The only problem is now I'm tempted to add side surrounds to get 7.1 surround.

Nice sound. Controls are terrible
This unit looks nice and the sound is very good. Setup is not easy at all. The manual is terrible, and the user interface is very poor. For example, you cannot search for radio stations from the remote; you must enter the frequency or use the main unit dials. The remote is very poorly designed in general.

blown pre-channel
This receiver was a massive upgrade from the Magnavox I had for 10 years. Sounds decent, lots of inputs, I felt the setup was easy. The remote is tedious to operate and program indeed. The receiver is not even a year old and the pre-channel for the front right side blew and was sending distortion for both A and B speaker sets. One thing that annoyed me was that there was no Optical input for DVD audio. Only SA-CD, MD/Tape and Digital Satellite had optical inputs. The opticals are assignable but only assignable within the inputs listed above. Can't assign to DVD input...