Mike~Sileck

STR-DA5000ES, AVR-3805, RX-V24000 ! Ahh! Help!

Alright, sO I thought I had narrowed my search for a receiver down to the Yamaha RX-V24000 and the Denon Avr-3805, but I recently came along the Sony STR-DA5000ES for the same price range (1100). It claims to have 170 wpc, all the same modes, and variable zone 2/3 support. Is this a bad receiver? I'm looking b/c this would be a huge power increase, if it really is 170wpc when you have 7 channels pumping. Can someone give me some info on this, or any comparision info? Thanks a lot!!

Mike

Playstation Network:

CarpeD1em500

TimMc

If it really is that huge power increase...

I'd suggest some serious investigation on this one. Not that certain Sony stuff has their power ratings reportedly overrated or stuff like that (I didn't really say that ;~). It's just that 170Wx7 20-20K seems like a pretty heroic accomplishment for a ~29 pound receiver (or is it 31lbs? The specs vary from site to site). This is just my personal prejudice sneaking through (and no, I don't measure everything simply by weight) but I would have thought that a power supply and stuff to support those specs might come closer to an HK7200 (60+lb) instead of being ~20% lighter than even a Yamaha 2400. Plus, it doesn't seem to have PLIIx - that's something that some folks might frown about.

It's not that this unit won't be wonderful - it's just that it's kind of hard to tell yet. I couldn't even find consistent specs so I'd be a bit leery until you've done proper research (and that definitely means not listening to me!). If you like the features on the 2400 and/or 3805 they'll be hard to beat for sound. Just make sure you try each if you can to make sure it's what you really want and want to hear - buyers remorse is definitely out of style this year.

Kevin Alexander

The STR-DA5000ES employs the all new digital amps that many are raving about right now. Digital amps produce little to no heat which means that you have lesser weight due to not having traditional amps and the heavy heatsinks which contribute greatly to a receiver's weight. Because of all these things and others, digital amps can produce more power than that of regular amps. The 5000ES is an incredible piece, but do your research on these new digital amps first before you buy since the technology is still somewhat recent.

"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)

DarrylM

I would consider the Denon.


Most manufacturers use digital amps because they are smaller and cheaper, not because they sound better. As a matter of fact, manufacturers have spent a great deal of effort in getting digital amps to sound as good as solid-state amps, because of the inherent limitations of digital switching at both ends of the frequency response spectrum. Consequently, unless you feel that conventional receivers weigh too much, the use of a digital-switching amp in low- and mid-fi electronics probably isn't a selling point. It's also inaccurate to call them "more powerful," which would be like saying my 200 HP engine has more horse-power than your 200 HP engine.

Kevin Alexander

So I guess he should just get the Denon and let that be it...


Many feel that they do sound better. Having not heard a digital amp, I can't say...but in the case of the original poster Mike Silek, they might be worth looking into. After all, he did ask......

"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)

Dave Moritz

I would go with the Denon as well. Especialy since Sony over rates there power output. And the digital amps IMHO are not as clean as your standard analog configurations. You also may want to do some homework on the Sony STR-DA5000ES? I am not sure that the Sony will have the flexability and features that the Denon AVR-3805 has. I saw both at the CES show in Vegas this past January and at low levels the Sony does have a decent sound. But at louder levels from what I have heard the Sony has a slightly harsh sound vs the Denon. The Denon has alot of features and very nice sound and if you want to beef it up later on down the road some power amps would kick it up a few notches. It depends on what features you need and what you are looking to accomplish. I would pick a number of avr's and then demo the same music and movies on each one so that you can accuratley demo each peice. In that price range I would look at the Pioneer Elites and Yamaha's over the Sony. But thats just my sugestion, but check into the Sony as well and gather all the info you can to make the best choice that works for you.

Good Luck and let us know how it works out?

JackS

I think I'd wait awhile on the Sony DA5000. Along with the many raves there are also quite e few complaints about video switching and in some units an audible hiss. Sony may have worked out these problems but, until you know for sure it's probably best to proceed with caution. If you're buying now, buy something else or get an understanding from your Sony dealer that if problems are present, a switch to another brand will be made. Good Luck,

DarrylM

I don't own a Denon (I use NAD), but I have heard of very few complaints with the 3803, and the 3805 adds several new features. I have owned six Sony receivers, including 2 DEs, 2 DBs, and 2 ESs, and haven't been particularly impressed with any of them (even the ES units suffered from high noise floors, audible hiss in surround modes, cross-talk, and so on, which is why I own an NAD now).

While I, personally, would lean towards the Denon, and recommended that he give it serious consideration, I am certainly not suggesting that he necessarily scrap his other options. Ultimately, Mike should listen to all of them, if he can. And if he likes the sound of the 5000ES more, and finds the price and feature set adequate, great.


I've never heard anyone claim that digital amplifiers generally produce "better" sound than tube or solid state amplifiers. Again, switching distortion and problems at higher frequencies (remember that a 20 kHz frequency is 1,000 times faster than a 20 Hz frequency) are common to digital amps. This is why digital amps were primarily used only in subwoofers up until recently.

Granted, designs like Tripath have made a lot of progress. And certainly a "good" digital amp can sound better than a "mediocre" solid state amp. But I would be skeptical of anyone claiming that current digital amp (class D or T) technologies are sonically superior to comparable solid state amps, without offering some science as to why they feel that this is the case.

When companies like Sanyo and Aiwa use digital amps in their audio components, or projection TV companies use them in their TV cabinets, it is out of a size and cost consideration. With Sony, who knows. However, since I don't think their solid state gear sounds all that great, I would be that much more leery of their digital gear.

Kevin Alexander

I knew it!...I saw this coming a mile away.


I feel the same way. So why the hell do you find it necessary to pick apart every word thay I say?


And I won't even try to convince you otherwise.

"What does God want with a Starship?" - Captain Kirk from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

"For the first few minutes of the film, I had accidently listened to the Dolby Digital track." - Ron Epstein (HTF)

Wayne Ernst

Dave, Actually, Denon is just as guilty when it comes to over-rating of power outputs. However, keep in mind that basically any mainstream theater receiver (price range: $400 - $1,000+) should be capable of hitting reference volume levels while watching a movie, provided the speakers being used don't have too low of an efficiency rating and the room where the gear is located isn't substantially larger than average.

Personally, I wouldn't buy just on power ratings alone. There are many factors that need to be considered. Is the receiver easy to operate? Does it sound good with the speakers one will be using? Does it provide sufficient connections for what the owner wants to connect to it?, etc.

\"My reality check ... just bounced\"

Mike~Sileck

Thanks a lot for all of the information guys. If any of you are curious I'm going to run a 7.1 speaker set up with zone 2 (2 other speakers). The 7.1 is done in JBL Studio Series (S-CenterII, S-36IIPM (surround and surround back), and S312II for the fl/fr) If anyone knows of problems with t