Entered CNET Catalog: 07/28/2004
SKU: STR-DE997
Manufacturer: Sony Electronics, Inc.
Manufacturer description
When it comes to sound investments for your home theater system, Sony leads the way once again with the new STR-DE997. This amazing 7.1 channel audio/video receiver offers a virtual array of the latest audio advances, including Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES and up to 2 zone/2 room audio features, which is perfect for the 120 watts of power this stylish receiver can pump out at a moment's notice. To make sure you 'get the picture', the STR-DE997 includes high-definition capable component video switching, as well as component video up-conversion and assignable digital inputs. With this receiver as the centerpoint of your home system, you can truly discover what hassle-free home theater is all about.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/28/2005
The Sony STR-DE997's system-setup logistics are counterintuitive, and consulting the owner's manual doesn't offer any relief. After much head scratching, we eventually had everything sorted out. Novices will need to enlist the aid of an experienced friend--or go for one of the better autocalibrated receivers, such as Pioneer's VSX-D914-K.
Sony doesn't specify the receiver's satellite/subwoofer crossover frequency, but we guess it's fixed at 100 hertz. That'll work with most midsize to large sats but will likely sacrifice midbass response on tiny sats with 3.5-inch or smaller woofers. When running larger speakers (we recommend doing this with speakers that have 6-inch or larger woofers), the crossover is switched out of the circuit.
Sony currently offers six receivers, starting with the $150 STR-DE197. The DE997 is the top-of-the-line model.
The DE997 delivers 120 watts to each of its seven channels and boasts a full complement of surround-processing options (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS, DTS Neo:6, DTS ES Discrete 6.1, and DTS ES 96/24), which make this receiver as fully featured as any midprice model on the market. Bass and treble controls are also available on the setup menu.For connectivity, the receiver features two switchable component-video sources; four A/V inputs/two outputs; two stereo inputs plus one turntable in; three optical/two coaxial digital audio inputs; and one optical output. It's also one of the only units we've seen to include two separate sets of analog 5.1-channel SACD/DVD-Audio inputs. Why you'd ever need both is beyond us, unless maybe you invested in an SACD player, then realized it couldn't play your DVD-Audio discs, so you had to buy another player for that format, too.
Speaker connections are generous, including A-B speaker switching plus seven main speakers. Composite and S-Video sources can be upconverted to component video. The front panel boasts a full set of A/V inputs for easily hooking up camcorders, game systems, and portable audio players. Multiroom provisions are limited to a set of stereo audio outputs that can feed an amplifier in another room.
The Stepford Wives DVD is a comedy with sonic gravitas to die for, and the Sony STR-DE997 delivered the goods without working very hard. In fact, the Sony felt more powerful than your average $500 receiver, and its muscular sound encouraged us to play DVDs at louder than normal volume. Fearsome explosions and mayhem from our favorite war-flick DVDs, U-571 and The Thin Red Line, were well served by the DE997.As we listened to more DVDs, we noted the receiver's tonal balance was on the mellow side, so much so, we thought we'd accidentally turned down the treble and nudged the bass controls up, but no, that's the way the DE997 sounds. We're sure some folks will love the laid-back sound, and we'd guess this receiver would be the ideal match for bright speakers, such as Klipsch's RF-15 towers.
Derek and the Dominos' classic Layla has just come out on SACD, and we used the STR-DE997 to check out the new 5.1 surround mix. We heard all sorts of new thrills in Eric Clapton and Duane Allman's dueling guitars--the old CD's murky sound has been replaced with a vibrant clarity. We did note that the DE997's bass was punchy and solid, but definition was a little muddy, so individual bass notes on Carl Radle's electric bass blurred together. As we recall, the Pioneer D914-K's balance was more detailed and the bass was more clearly defined. But that's our preference; you may prefer the DE997's sweeter sound, gutsy power, and extensive connectivity options.
User opinions
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User Rating: 
9/10
Trusted name, lots of connectors, lots of power - nuff said
Pros: Lots of power, tons of connections, video signal upconverting
Cons: None when purchased, now I wish I had HDMI outputs
Since its purchase, I have also bought an HD TV, and now wish that my receiver could handle HDMI output to the TV (its high-end output capability is limited to component video). Except for that one shortcoming, the receiver has been completely satisfactory, easily driving my power-hungry PSB and Tannoy speakers and filling the house with realistic theatre-quality sound. It has myriad inputs - more than enough for every conceivable component.
User Rating: 
5/10
Good value for the money
Pros: Plenty of connections for peripherals, Auto selection of sound track
Cons: Extremely poor FM reception, useless manual
User Rating: 
8/10
A great value!
Pros: Super flexible configuration for all Sony products users.
Cons: A somewhat less than spectacular user manual.
Given the apparent complexity of the remote, I was also expecting to be disappointed with the effort required to use the remote to it's full capabilities and was pleasantly surprised to find the remote automatically found and used my (Sony) HDTV, DVD, VCR and CD components and was extremely intuitive to learn and use.
I compared this unit with a couple of somewhat higher priced, but similarly configured items (Harmon Kardon and Onkyo) and find this Sony model to be the best value for MY situation (having mostly all Sony component items).
Sound quality is more than acceptable in my 6.1 setup, although I'm no audiophile by any means.
I suppose my only real complaint is that I haven't been able to get the receiver's remote to work with my Samsung HD DirecTV Satellite receiver, but I can live with that.
I feel the unit offers most general consumers more component connection options than they'll ever need, but you'll always hear negatives from folks wanting MORE.
I guess to those I'd say, buy something else.
User Rating: 8/10
Great Receiver Value
Pros: Lots of features, good sound quality, component video upconversion, Dolby Digital Pro Logic IIx, price.
Cons: Volume has to be turned up very high for normal output. Not very user friendly.
The receiver is not very user friendly. Common tasks, like selecting an input, are relegated to turning knobs. They could be more easily accomplished with buttons. Instead you have to go through more interaction to get the same response. I assume this was done for aesthetics, one knob looks better and takes up less space then nine buttons. Another thing I found odd is that the volume on the receiver must be turned up relatively high, 50 out of 75 for DVDs for example, to get a normal volume out of the speakers. I have been told that this is due to it being a digital receiver instead of the analog ones I have used in the past. The sound does remain clear and distortion free, so this is more of an oddity to me then an actual problem. Aside from these, I have complaints.
The receiver has many inputs including component video, digital optical, coax and multi-channel audio along with the standard connections. The remote was able to control my other components. It can learn the functions for more components if it does not have the codes. The styling is nice for a rack component.
I would recommend the Sony STR-DE997 receiver it for its features, quality and price.
User Rating: 9/10
Good Value. Good Quality. Awkward Controls
Pros: Lots of I/O options. Sounds Great
Cons: Crummy manual, mediocre remote control
I've been having a lot of problems hearing movies for quite a while now and someone told me this could help since the voices come out on the center channel and you can turn the other speakers down. So, far this seems to be working pretty good, but I've only tried 2 movies. So, I'm not sure yet, but if I can cure my movie hearing problem for only $350, I'll be very happy.
The first problem I ran into with this Stereo/Receiver was with the sub woofer. There's a button on the remote that will switch the output to only the front, left/right speakers. When I first saw this option, I thought it was ideal since that meant you could switch to an ordinary stereo mode with one push of a button.
When you switch to the 2CH STEREO mode, though, it cuts off the sub woofer. Why did they do that!? Am I missing something here? According to the manual you can get sub woofer output if you press "A.F.D" and then step through the menu and select the appropriate 2-channel decoding mode, but this is sort of a pain in the neck.
However, since I had a sub woofer, without a built-in amp, I hooked it to the B output of the front speakers and that made things simpler.
The remote control menu-select functions are not well documented and the buttons are all to small. The remote strikes me as being cheaper than it should have been, but to be fair it's adequate.
The documentation really sucks. The user's manual should have been full sized instead of in a pamphlet format. The print is very small and hard to read and so are the pictures and diagrams. The table of contents is inadequate and the mini index on the back page is a joke.
There's a steep learning curve on the menu system if you try to use the built-in display. However, the on-screen (TV) display works very well and is easy to use. Sony did a good job on this.
In short, the manual sucks and the remote is mediocre, but those are problems I can live with. This is a great stereo, especially for the price.
User Rating: 9/10
convenient
Pros: video switching, integration of my whole home system.
Cons: would prefer a few more video input in the rear
User Rating: 9/10
Great receiver...
Pros: Excellent sound quality, lots of connection options, assignable optical and coax digital inputs
Cons: Mediocre on-screen display
User Rating: 8/10
Excellent receiver for the money $500
Pros: 120 watts x 7 channels Outstanding
Cons: it may not have cool looking features with bright lights or visuals but performs phenominal
User Rating: 9/10
Sweet deal. Great Value!
Pros: Selection of features.
Cons: None at this time
User Rating: 8/10
Fantastic Value, Tons of Features!
Pros: Has just about everything you want at the "home theater enthusiast not wanting to spend $1000 for a receiver" level. Set up becomes intuitive after a while, as with most Sony products. Very well designed and delivers tons of cool stuff to keep you busy. G
Cons: None so far.
User Rating: 
6/10
Great features, almost everything you'd want.
Pros: Has enough connections to satisfy anyone. I'm not an audiofile, but it sounds pretty good to me.
Cons: It is quite complicated to connect & setup. The manual is not a great help either, but once you figure it out there's not much you can't do with it.
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