Sony STR-DA7100ES Receiver Review

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/SonySTRDA7100ESreceiver1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 94px" alt=[SonySTRDA7100ES3] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/SonySTRDA7100ES3_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>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. Overall this is a nice receiver – both in terms of its build quality and looks and well as its ability to satisfy in the performance department.

[Read the Review]

 

[Nomo]

Pretty impressive actually. Especially from Sony. A 5 year warranty will win some friends, but 3500 bucks? Ouch!!

 

[EdS]

Actually the list price is $1999, though I've seen it for on-line for less than $1500. The receiver has been well reviewed, here is a link to the review by Ulimate AV:
http://ultimateavmag.com/avreceivers/1005sony/

 

[gcmarshall]

i concur about the MSRP discrepancy. it is $1999 (example, crutchfield.com, magnolia, etc.). my understanding (i could be wrong) is that sony will back the warranty no matter where you buy the item (ie, does not have to be an "authorized" dealer). that is what sony told me when i asked them that question a few months ago when i was still researching receivers. so, you should be able to find it for less that $1999 and still get the full 5 year coverage, assuming what the sony rep told me was correct.

 

[Audioholics]

I never did hear back from the Sony product manager on this review (had been more than a week) but you are correct, after further research it appears to have a $2000 MSRP.

 

[Slats]

ok, mentioning the rx-v2600 in that review before the 2600's review was just cruel.

 

[eddie]

I Agree, This Torture Must End!

That all too brief reference to the Yammie 2600 is nothing but torture for those of us who have been waiting less than patiently for this review. How much longer must we wait? Please, we beg you, end our suffering and post the review soon, before my nerves give way!!!

 

[tritonstudio]

First thing notice, I just can't stand the look of Sony ES models in particular !
c'mon aesthetics ? and that for @ 1.5-2k !
The 2600 only around @ 1.0 k (+/-) mark now.

 

[Khellandros66]

I listened to the 7100ES recently and was suprised at the quality of the sound, I think the black model is more appealing then the silver (which feels cheap in comparison)

Remotes on most products suck anyway unless its 3rd party like Philips, HTM, etc The first mediocre remote I had came with my RX-V1300 which I have mean to update, so that i can use the my Harmony 880 less to lengthen its lifespan more. esp when I am watching in bed, I already dropped or knocked the 880 onto the floor twice...


As for the sound of the 7100ES I found it powerful yet soothing, but nothing compared to my Yamaha. Texture was lost a bit for airy-ness and open, can't have everything for so little.

Overall great review, I like it when you guys pull apart a product to get more skin deep. (Like the fact most people wonder why this thing weights 52lbs yet they only see one cap, yet never venture for the other 14!)

~Bob

 

[Audioholics]

That all too brief reference to the Yammie 2600 is nothing but torture for those of us who have been waiting less than patiently for this review. How much longer must we wait? Please, we beg you, end our suffering and post the review soon, before my nerves give way!!!

Haha - listening test are done. I'll try to wrap it up now...

 

[stanrozenfeld]

Actually, reading between the lines on some reviews of this unit... well the reviews are decidedly mixed to say the least. Just read the Ultimate AV review and the one from audio video revolution.

What I'd really like to know is how this receiver compares in the sound department to comparable units from Denon (which I am familiar with but don't care for), Marantz (I've had SR-18 for 6 years now) and Arcam AVR 300 which had spectacularly positive reviews.

And I am just curious... are these digital amplifiers really ready for prime time?