Sony STR-DE997

"The 7.1 surround sounds great if you have any media encoded with it. There's very little out there right now, but the Star Wars trilogy DVDs are encoded with "Dolby Digital 5.1 EX," which is essentially 7.1, and they sound fantastic. 5.1 source material (both Dolby Digital and DTS) sounds great, too. You can use Pro Logic II to simulate a 7.1 soundtrack, but it really doesn't do much other than spreading the sound out a little, which is a nice effect, although subtle."

Amazon.com Product Description
Enjoy dynamic, full-force home-theater excitement with Sony's 120-watts-per-channel STR-DE997. The receiver accommodates everything from the latest surround-sound movie formats to cutting-edge high-resolution audio sources. The STR-DE997 delivers 120 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). You get everything from Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES/Neo:6 surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from 2) and 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 learning LCD 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. Component-video upconversion from composite- and S-video sources improves upon the quality of your video inputs while simplifying connections with your component-video-capable television. Further, the receiver's actual 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-LG113), remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.

Product Description
110 watts x 7 into 8 ohms (20-20,000Hz) at 0.09% THD * Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24 and Dolby Pro Logic II processing * Digital Cinema Sound modes * 32-bit processor * dual-room/dual-source audio (fixed line-level stereo output for 2nd room) *