- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 26 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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30 out of 31 people found this review helpful
0.5 stars
"Fine Print-HDMI audio plays through TV only"
Pros: Lots of features for under $400
Cons: No audio for HDMI connected components-what's the point.
Summary: I was thrilled to find a reveiver with such great features and at an affordable price. .09 THD rating, HDMI connections, 110 watts x7 not to mention it matches my new Sony SXRD. That is where the excitement ends. Once I connected the receiver to my components all seemed well until I read the manual. In the fine print in HDMI connections the note reads "When a playback component connected to this receiver and this receiver to the TV by HDMI, the sound is output from the TV speaker only." OK call me crazy but why would you want a receiver with HDMI connections so it will only play through the TV speakers. If I wanted to play throught TV speakers I would just run to TV, the receiver isn't needed for that. The whole point is to run everything through receiver to get benefit of surround sound. I hooked up speakers to make sure I wasn't reading it wrong because I just couldn't believe this could be true. THIS IS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. I guess the only way to enjoy this receiver as a home theater component is to run it with cables other than HDMI but again what is the purpose of the HDMI conncetions other than to make it seem like this is a great feature to sell more receivers. This is infuriating. Take it from me, if you want HDMI for home theater go with another receiver. HDMI is useless on this receiver. I am also really surprised that CNET didn't catch this...way to go guys. I guess you didn't use the HDMI connections to test since this is so new or some excuse like that...
- 20 replies to this review
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You are exactly right. I went to hook up my xbox and no audio. Sony shouldn't of even bothered to put HDMI on this receiver.
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While I wholeheartedly agree it's ass-backwards to allow audio pass-through only to the Monitor with an HDMI configuration, it's not impossible to setup. The trick, as the other user said, it to use optical digital cables from the components to the receiver then use the digital assign feature (p.78 of the manual). Doing this, I was able to connect a Comcast HD via HDMI, XBOX 360 via HDMI with separate digital optical cables coming from both into TV/SAT and Video 1 digital inputs respectively. Then, I re-assigned Video 1 digital input to DVD. All's well (and it's now infinitely easier for the inlaws to work it). Not very user-friendly, I grant you. However, not a lot to go through given the price.
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I checked with Sony (after buying this unit unfortunately) and there the only way to get the receiver to output sound when using the HDMI passthrough to your tv -- is to CONNECT THE TV SOUND OUTPUT TO THE RECEIVER! What a totally bass-ackward design. Especially if, like me, your TV is wall-mounted and the cables are inside the wall. Sony should sell its movie studio so it can start being a consumer-friendly company again. What a disaster HDMI is.
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Let me first say I understand people anyone's issue with disappointment....
But...it's all about what the human ear can perceive...
HDMI is an interface that offers slightly (and I do mean slightly) better stats in lab testing..it's not anything someone should base a purchase on. -
This receiver is fine. You just connect the optical out from your TV to the receiver but obviously you bought it because your a cheap ass anyway. If you knew what you were buying before you spent the cash you would not have got a 1 out of 10. Just because you did not do research does not mean you have to project your stupidity and frustration on your rating. This is a great receiver for the price.
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Re: All these misinformed complaints about the STR-DG800's HDMI switching feature - HDMI audio is 2-channel only, intended for a TV's speakers. Multi-channel surround information can be carried to a receiver/amplifier via Toslink (optical) or Digital Coaxial connections, not HDMI.
The STR-DG800's HDMI switching feature is intended to facilitate multiple HDMI connections to high-def televisions, many of which have only one HDMI input.
I don't understand why people don't bother to do a bit of research before they complain. -
Passthru means exactly that, the signal is not filtered in any way. If you want digital sound, you need to use the digital audio inputs. At this price, no one is going to offer a product with DACs to handle what you're asking for. And not with HDMI 1.1. For under $300, your getting good power and a 2x1 HDMI switcher (not processor).
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You can still use the HDMI switching to take advantage of the picture quality (like say a cable box HDMI over it's component). All you'd have to do is use an optical coax for the audio. Yea, it may seem to defeat the purpose, but think of it as it just becoming DVI. It does say passthrough and the cheap price point should've tipped you off.
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I am running this recevier with a Samsung 40" LCD. I have no problems at all with my Xbox 360, DVD player, and HD Comcast box. Running optical cables from the devices to the reciever. Perfect Digital singal is received from each device and audio is played through the receiver in 5.1-7.1 sound. Also, the TV has the option for Optical Out. With an HDMI input, it can send the digital audio signal out to the receiver. Although this is not needed if you run optical straight to the receiver from the devices.
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Sony's user manuals and setup guide available here. Looks pretty easy to assign audio inputs to video inputs, including HDMI.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=STRDG800&LOC=3
I'll let you know when I get mine. -
It is advertised as HDMI "pass through." That's exactly what it does. It has two HDMI inputs, one output. This is a convenience, so if you have TWO HDMI sources but only ONE on your tv, you can use the receiver as a switcher, without buying one for $100.
I would have expected to use the digital audio either optical or coaxial anyway. It would be nice not to have to listen through another source, but no biggie. -
What a waste of cable, I guess i have to return the HDMI cable and the receiver...
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"I am also really surprised that CNET didn't catch this...way to go guys. I guess you didn't use the HDMI connections to test since this is so new or some excuse like that... "
How could they possible do a review and miss something like that and not mention it.
They even mention DVDs played on it without one word about the lack of audio from HDMI that's just unreal.
Totally discredits their review process along with the people who conduct the reviews. -
I just talked to Sony Customer Support about this issue and she told me it will work if you connect your HDMI from your source DIRECTLY to your TV. But then at the same time you must connect a regular digital audio cable from the source to the receiver. This way you'll get the HDMI quality video and the surround sound. Kind of an awkward way around it, but I guess it's the price you pay for the cheaper receiver.
Alternatively, you can connect an HDMI cable from your source to the receiver (instead of to the TV directly if you have mutliple HDMI sources) but you still have to have the extra digital audio cable running from the source to the receiver in order to hear the surround sound.
A coax digital audio cable is less then $15. A small price compared to the price of the HDMI cable itself. -
I was really looking forward to purchase this receiver but your user opinion has really scared me off. You wrote that you saw this in the fine print: "When a playback component connected to this receiver and this receiver to the TV by HDMI, the sound is output from the TV speaker only". Was this your interpretation of the manual or was this word-for-word? Can you tell me what page number this was on the manual so I can look it up myself?
Keep in mind, in some DVD recorders like my LG RC199H, it says on page 17 of the manual that you have to activate the Recorder's digital output settings. Are you sure that your source settings don't first need to be configured for HDMI before connecting to a receiver? -
Sincerely,
Skruyu Samori
Sony Japan
Optical Cable Sales Division -
Are you saying that a digital coaxial audio connection from the player to the receiver won't work?
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"why would you want a receiver with HDMI connections so it will only play through the TV speakers"
Good f***ing question! Wonder what SONY's answer would be! This preposterous defect is also mentioned in an Amazon customer review. What a stupid product! -
I realize it involves extra expense, but if you connect digital audio cables from the source to the receiver, will that solve your problem?
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I realize there is extra expense in connecting audio cables in addition to the HDMI. But the whole idea of HDMI is to get the full HD resolution to display on a true-HD-compatible screen. Although it involves extra expense, does it work to also connect separate digital audio cables from the source to the receiver in order to get the sound you're missing currently?
