Sony STR-DH700 AV receiver photos

Add to my list
Print
E-mail
Share

1 of 11

Scroll Right Scroll Left

Related photos

June 5, 2009 2:49 PM PDT

By: Matthew Moskovciak

Sony STR-DH700

Even for savvy home theater enthusiasts, buying an AV receiver can be a chore, requiring hours hunched over spec sheets trying to figure out what each model offers. From a general perspective, the Sony STR-DH700 looks like it offers a good value, as a 7.1 AV receiver with three HDMI inputs, widely available for under $300. However, the details aren't as kind to Sony's receiver, as it lacks onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and an onscreen display--both of which are available on Pioneer's VSX-819H, which has a street price only slightly higher. We could have overlooked this if the STR-DH700 performed better than average for its price, but we were mostly underwhelmed by its sonics, although it's a decent choice for movies as long as you don't crank it too loud. While the STR-DH700 is a perfectly capable AV receiver at a budget price, we think most buyers will be better served by alternatives. Die-hard Sony fans, meanwhile, will need to spend more for one of the better-appointed receivers in the company's 2009 line-up.

Photo credit: CNET/Sarah Tew

Reviews & advice: Site map; Editorial policies; Meet the editors; How we test; Forums; Internet speed test

Popular topics: Apple iPhone; Apple iPod; Cell phones; Dell; GPS; LCD TV

CNET sites: CNET Site map; CNET TV; Downloads; News; Reviews; Shopper.com

More information: Newsletters; CNET Mobile; Customer Help Center; RSS; CNET Widgets; About CNET