The Sony STR-DN840 7.2 deal

[Audioklepto]

CNET reviewed and Amazon sell the Sony /STR-DN840 7.2 AVR for $398. Looks like a decent deal. Any comments/experience with this receiver?

 

[slipperybidness]

CNET reviewed and Amazon sell the Sony /STR-DN840 7.2 AVR for $398. Looks like a decent deal. Any comments/experience with this receiver?

When it comes to Sony, buyer beware.

 

[Audioklepto]

Slip,
Please elaborate, I have little experience with Sony.

 

[slipperybidness]

Sure. The only Sony items that I would say are worth it are the Playstation and the the old Walkman. Otherwise, look elsewhere. I suppose TVs get good reviews, but I won't be buying Sony.

I've just had too many Sony electronics suddenly bite the dust on me over the years. I do not buy Sony anymore and I do not recommend Sony to anyone either.

To top it all off, the Sony customer service is terrible. I had a friend that worked in the local customer service call center. His experience was that the goal of management (though it wasn't quite explicitly stated) was to frustrate customers to the point that they stopped calling about the problems. No items returned = higher profits! I had already made my personal decision against Sony, but after hearing this type of info first-hand, it pushed it to the next level for me and that is warning other would-be Sony customers.

Some on AH like Sony and have never had a problem with them or the products. I think there is probably a majority of the AH'rs that hold a similar view as me.

Anyway, you've been warned, but the decision is yours.

 

[j_garcia]

One of the recent Sony receivers got a decent review on AH. Personally I am in the same boat though, I'd get something else before a Sony AVR. I've owned a few over the years and have no desire to own another.

 

[darien87]

Sure. The only Sony items that I would say are worth it are the Playstation and the the old Walkman. Otherwise, look elsewhere. I suppose TVs get good reviews, but I won't be buying Sony.

I've just had too many Sony electronics suddenly bite the dust on me over the years. I do not buy Sony anymore and I do not recommend Sony to anyone either.

Anyway, you've been warned, but the decision is yours.

Same here. The Playstation is the ONLY Sony product I will buy and I do that begrudgingly. It seems like every Sony product I've ever owned has broken. Screw that company!

 

[afterlife2]

I'd get a Onkyo, Yamaha or Pioneer AVR and get a Sony Bluray player.

 

[slipperybidness]

I'd get a Onkyo, Yamaha or Pioneer AVR and get a Sony Bluray player.

I really do like the Yamahas, next time I upgrade they will be at top of list.

I know you like the Onkyo, but I just don't think I could do it. Just seems a little risky of hassle. Currently have older Pio.

And the Sony BDP, I'll personally take the Panny any day (I think Panasonic has had some truly great products over several decades).

 

[afterlife2]

I really do like the Yamahas, next time I upgrade they will be at top of list.

I know you like the Onkyo, but I just don't think I could do it. Just seems a little risky of hassle. Currently have older Pio.

And the Sony BDP, I'll personally take the Panny any day (I think Panasonic has had some truly great products over several decades).

Yeah one of the reason I decided to go with Onkyo was because it had a Phono Input. I did research on The Onkyo 707 and it offered tons of features for less than the other brands and most don't have Phono input anymore. I never knew of HDMI issues after I bought it. I tore up the internet as to why it was happening and most of it was the heat issue. I bought a laptop fan and put it on top on the receiver with air circulating out and never had problems at all, well until it drowned in sandy last year, but the 2 years I had it never did it perform badly. I think most receivers should have fans inside, but most don't. That's why I always recommend that laptop fan for any receiver without one. Also putting the receiver to 4 ohm instead of 6 lessens the heat as well. It just works.

 

[slipperybidness]

Yeah one of the reason I decided to go with Onkyo was because it had a Phono Input. I did research on The Onkyo 707 and it offered tons of features for less than the other brands and most don't have Phono input anymore. I never knew of HDMI issues after I bought it. I tore up the internet as to why it was happening and most of it was the heat issue. I bought a laptop fan and put it on top on the receiver with air circulating out and never had problems at all, well until it drowned in sandy last year, but the 2 years I had it never did it perform badly. I think most receivers should have fans inside, but most don't. That's why I always recommend that laptop fan for any receiver without one. Also putting the receiver to 4 ohm instead of 6 lessens the heat as well. It just works.

Yeah, I have other friends with Onkyos too and no problems. I'm just nervous about them, but bang for the buck on Onkyo is pretty good and that is hard to ignore.

Yeah phonos are getting harder to find and that is a requirement of mine too. Pio is also pretty good about keeping the phono.

 

[afterlife2]

Does Yamaha 7.1's have a phono input? If so I bet it's over 1200 along with Pioneer, right? I know when I was looking Denon was crazy expensive with Phono. Audioklepto have a look at Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices! that's where I got my Onkyo.

 

[jcl]

Does Yamaha 7.1's have a phono input? If so I bet it's over 1200 along with Pioneer, right? I know when I was looking Denon was crazy expensive with Phono. Audioklepto have a look at Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices! that's where I got my Onkyo.

You are correct, in the Aventage line you have to go up to the rx-a1030 at $1200 to get phono inputs. I have an older rx-a800 and have been pleased with it.

 

[slipperybidness]

Does Yamaha 7.1's have a phono input? If so I bet it's over 1200 along with Pioneer, right? I know when I was looking Denon was crazy expensive with Phono. Audioklepto have a look at Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices! that's where I got my Onkyo.

I guess you have a point. I personally never look at the low end recievers

 

[afterlife2]

I don't think it justifies the price for adding a phono, when you can get it cheaper. I think a mid level receiver like the 707 pretty much did everything I needed. Of course the newer airplay and 4k, which I don't need or want. Maybe the latter in 5-7 yrs when 4k TV's goes down in price. XT32 and subeq would be nice as well, but I can wait. Slippery what receiver do you have?

 

[jcl]

I think you can find a number of phono preamps for < $300 that would outperform the ones in a 1200 avr. Probably better to put the $ you save towards a record cleaning machine if you're into vinyl.

 

[slipperybidness]

I don't think it justifies the price for adding a phono, when you can get it cheaper. I think a mid level receiver like the 707 pretty much did everything I needed. Of course the newer airplay and 4k, which I don't need or want. Maybe the latter in 5-7 yrs when 4k TV's goes down in price. XT32 and subeq would be nice as well, but I can wait. Slippery what receiver do you have?

I currently run a Pio Elite VSX-82txs (6 years old) in the living room. Before that I ran a Yammy (don't remember the model, pre-hdmi days). In all honesty, I think I preferred the Yammy, but the Pio is nice (but a steep learning curve).

My other music system I run USP-1 Pre to Parasound 1206 Amp.

Next receiver will most likely be a Yammy or Denon, or maybe even Anthem. I like Marantz but I'm starting to see some things with some of those (like the AV7005 thread) that makes me nervous.