STRDE985 or help with DTS ES/ Dolby EX (1 Viewer)

[JasonKZ]

I just received the new STRDE985 as a prize on a Sony promotion, and I am a little confused as to how good this receiver is.
Specs are at:
http://www.sonystyle.com/electronics...d=37632&type=p
My main question is that it says it does Dolby Digital EX, which I take to mean it will perform a matrix rear center channel. This receiver also does DTS but it doesn't list ES decoding. As it has 6 distinct channels, I am wondering, does this mean it won't decode a discrete 6th channel on DTS-ES encoded titles?
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Mike Bledsoe]

Dear Jason
I would think that the only way that you are going to find out if your receiver will decode DTS ES/DISCREET is to find a DVD incoded with this format and see what happens when you hook it up. Most likely if it does not say it decodes DTS ES/DICREET it probably does not.

Mike Bledsoe

 

[Jay Sylvester]

The logo on the receiver is really tough to make out, but it looks like the standard DTS logo, not the DTS-ES logo.

 

[Gary Kellerman]

The specs did not indicate the receiver doing DTS-ES matrix.
This would imply that the sixth channel is used for Dolby-EX matrix only and possibly some 6th channel sounds from their cinema DSPs. I think you will have to try GLADIATOR on your receiver to see exactly what it does. The way the specs are listed, it sounds like it does just a little more than the OUTLAW 1050.

 

[JasonKZ]

I will check it out this evening. Thanks to everyone for your help - I appreciate it.

 

[John Garcia]

It is matrix only, not discrete. The DE line is known for poor amplification, and I would expect the new models to be no different. Take the prize, sell it or trade it in, and get something good, IMO. At an MSRP of $499, there are quite a few good receivers from Marantz, Denon, Onkyo and Harmon Kardon.