Entered CNET Catalog: 02/25/2004
SKU: 0027242645790
Manufacturer: Sony Electronics, Inc.
Manufacturer description
Bring your home theater to life with the incredible sounds of the DAV-FR10W DVD Dream System from Sony. It features 800 watts of total system power, an S-Master full digital amplifier, and a digital direct twin drive subwoofer, all combining to bring the thrills of a movie theater right into your living room. Tired of the wiring hassle associated with most home theater systems? The DAV-FR10W features wireless speakers thanks to the front-to-rear DIAT digital infrared audio transmission system. It makes speaker setup and placement a snap. The DAV-FR10W also features a 5-Disc SACD audio disc, standard audio CD, and DVD changer with Progressive Scan output for a variety of entertainment choices. It is compatible with most major audio encoding systems, including Dolby Digital, dts, Dolby Digital EX, dts ES, and Dolby Pro Logic II. It is even capable of playing back CD-R and CD-RW discs and MP3 audio.Product summary
The good: Dreamy HTIB; five-disc, slot-loading DVD/SACD/CD changer/receiver; wireless surround speakers; sleek aluminum tower speakers; subwoofer features twin woofers.
The bad: Minimal connectivity options; no bass or treble controls.
The bottom line: This is simply the best-sounding wireless HTIB we've ever tested.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 11/18/2004
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
The Sony DAV-FR10W's low-profile, beautifully finished receiver/five-disc changer consumes 16 inches of shelf depth. Its slot-loading disc mechanism eliminates the loading tray; you simply feed each disc into the slot on the front panel. Press Eject, and the disc gently swivels out. It's very cool and high tech, and so is the slim remote, which presents only the most essential buttons for everyday use and hides everything else under a slip-down cover. On a more critical note, the disc changer is a really slow chugger--it can take 30 seconds to get to the next disc.The four 43-inch-tall tower speakers, clad in an aluminum finish with gray grilles, are elegantly designed and largely responsible for the system's sleek appearance. They come with their bases already mounted, so for once we didn't have to exercise a screwdriver to get the speakers up and running. A 14-inch-wide matching center speaker completes the main speaker array, and the subwoofer's silver finish and sculptured front panel visually complement the receiver/changer and the towers. This 20.7-pound boomer measures 7.9 inches wide, 14.5 inches high, and 17.6 inches deep.
The wireless surround speakers employ Sony's Digital Infrared Audio Transmission system, which still requires lots of wires. First you plug the cable of the 4.5-inch-tall infrared transmitter into the DVD-changer unit and aim the transmitter towards the left surround speaker's built-in infrared receiver. If there's no direct line of sight between the transmitter and the left surround speaker, you must connect a supplied infrared receiver to the left surround speaker and place that receiver in the transmitter's line of sight.
What about the right wireless surround speaker? Well, you have to run a wire from the left surround speaker to the right surround speaker, way over on the other side of your room! Oh, and don't forget that you'll have to plug the left surround speaker into an AC outlet to run its power amplifiers and infrared receiver. As complicated as that sounds, its setup was actually more straightforward than that of the other wireless systems we've reviewed. Still, we'd like to see some improvement in this area.
Note: Those who don't want to hassle with the wireless feature can opt for Sony's nearly identical but fully wired DAV-FR9. It costs $200 less.
The digital amplifier on the Sony DAV-FR10W's receiver/changer delivers 114 watts per channel to each speaker and 115 watts to each of the subwoofer's two woofers. Surround processing runs the gamut from 5.1-channel Dolby Digital to Dolby Pro Logic II to DTS and, get this, Dolby EX and DTS ES 6.1-channel processing. We were surprised by the 6.1-decoding capabilities because the receiver has only five main amplifier channels. To take advantage of the 6.1 capabilities, you'll need to hook up a separate amplifier and speaker to the receiver/changer. Oh, the five-disc changer also plays Super Audio CDs (SACDs), MP3s, and JPEGs. Unfortunately, basic amenities such as bass and treble controls or even a subwoofer-level control didn't make the cut.Connectivity is limited to the standard set of video outputs (including progressive-scan component), one optical digital audio input, and two stereo analog inputs. That's a pretty scrimpy selection for a $1,000 HTIB and barely adequate for small home theaters.
The towers and the center speaker feature the same 2.75-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter, while the subwoofer boasts two 6.3-inch woofers.
Many HTIBs struggle with high-impact DVDs like Shrek 2, but the Sony DAV-FR10W impressively rendered the film's natural-sounding dialogue and gutsy dynamic range as well as the orchestral score's sweet strings. Eddie Murphy's and Antonio Banderas's funked-up "Livin' La Vida Loca" sounded like it was coming from a much larger system. The wireless surrounds created an environmental, room-filling sound that was truly on a par with wired surround speakers--the first time we could make that claim.We next listened to Alan Ball's commentary on the last episode of the Six Feet Under DVD set, and the rich balance of the FR10W's little center speaker was a pleasant surprise. It sounded like a much larger speaker.
How did the FR10W fare with music? Pretty darn well, thank you very much. An SACD of folk-era Bob Dylan sounded genuinely natural--especially his guitar and voice. The bass and the drums from Derek and the Dominos' Layla CD rocked our world but lacked the definition we associate with better-powered subs.
That said, we'll grant that the FR10W's power reserves are ample enough to fill rooms of up to about 500 square feet with sound. Impressed as we were with the DAV-FR10W, it still isn't in the same league with Onkyo's wired LS-V955.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14out of 14 user reviews
excellent system, poor instruction
Pros: The sound is excellent.
Cons: The instruction is not in detail, and some are missing.
Thank you for your attention
out of 14 user reviews
Under the right conditions this is a very nice system.
Pros: Sleek, good looking, clear sound, sexy system.
Cons: The bass is very pretty but not overpowering. Settings are limited.
out of 14 user reviews
Great system, terrible instructions.
Pros: Superb sound quality.
Cons: Details missing from instructions.
In particular, what's missing is the info to turn the sound on your TV down all the way on the TV itself. If you try to play a movie with the sound on the TV up at all, you will get a hum whenever the sound of the movie drops low.
out of 14 user reviews
Excellent wireless HTIB
Pros: Sophisticated styling, excellent sound, easy setup
Cons: minimal connectivity
The Sony DAV-FR10W is for secondary use in our family room. The styling of the speakers complements the 42" Panasonic plasma monitor very nicely, my wife especially likes the styling (this is important!).
The dvd player is integrated into the main control unit (receiver) which has a very low and sleek profile. PQ is very good with progressive scan. The sound quality is excellent for a HTIB, particularly for movies. CDs and digital music channels also sound very good, however they do not quite compare to my main home theater system, but for the price I find it does the job.
The back surround speakers are wireless, which actually means that they are not connected to the main control unit by wires, but rather through infra-red signals, which are superior to RF. The surround speakers have excellent quality sound and no interference, unless you cover the remote sensors. As mentioned in the main review, these surround speakers are not entirely wireless, as they are connected to each other via speaker wire, and the left speaker has to be plugged in to an outlet for power.
In summary, this Sony system is excellent for the purpose that I require it for.
out of 14 user reviews
Best WireLess HTIB and stereo
Pros: sound, all surround, power, performace, numerous settings, design, sleekness
Cons: playing CDs in shuffle/random mode you cannot switch to a song you want on the same album, 2) no bass and treble controls.
While watching movies the rear speakers do an outstanding and subtle job in delivering the movie. But, if you live in a condo or apartment like me, you might not be allowed the full benefits of the system. Reason being - it even shakes the neigbours places!
There's a learning curve to understand and set all the configuration and functionality to make it precise for your space. The only drawbacks are: 1) when you play CDs in shuffle/random mode you cannot switch to a song you want on the same album, and 2) no bass and treble controls.
Bottom line - this is the best sounding and looking wireless system on the market.
the people giving this system low ratings did not read, nor try to adjust the numerous internal settings required to perfect the sound.
also, so what if there's a wire connecting the rear speakers? the beauty of this is they can be twenty feet away from the receiver, no wires, wiring, or tacks are required, and the sound is not compensated. how is THAT compared to standard systems?
one more con however is the LONG time to change discs and the speakers do sound a little bit tinny at times.
Hello, How do I change my rating to 7?
I can't believe Sony marketing would allow a $1000 HTIB with no treble and bass controls! Actually, it really pisses me off now...
Aren't the engineers at SoNy smart enough to be able to implement at minimum just ONE extra adjustment for treble?
I think Sony needs to hire new engineers or something... someone smart enough to be able to design a system with at least treble. Almost every single stereo on the market has a Tone or Treble control. If SoNy can't figure that out they're not a very good electronics company...
out of 14 user reviews
The One to Buy !!!
Pros: An "Outstanding" audio experience... well worth the price. Not needing to run wires to rear speakers is wonderful. Easy to set up & operate. Has some facinating features.
Cons: Wish it had more than the two audio inputs.... one more input would give it a perfect "Ten".
out of 14 user reviews
Sleek system, good sound needs more options
Pros: Great look, sleek dvd, mp3, cd, reciever, all in one. No wires from unit to rear speakers. The unit has great sound with dvds. Set up with ease
Cons: Sony needs more options for adjusting the sound of the unit. There are no bass, trebble, equilizer options. Better speakers with low frequency bass & mid ranges would improve music sound greatly.
out of 14 user reviews
Great Home Theater System without the wires!!
Pros: Great looking system without the wires!! This system is great for condo's or apartment building with limited space. The wireless speakers sound great and the system sets up with ease!
Cons: The system lacks component inputs and the speaker wires the system comes with are worthless you need to change them out with monster wire. It's not great at high tones but works perfect for smaller areas.
out of 14 user reviews
How can they call this wireless with one less wire compared to normal surround systems
Pros: Nice look and all functions in one device
Cons: Sound quality was poor and the wireless consisted of one less wire than a normal surround system. Not enough connectivity for additional components.
out of 14 user reviews
sony makes horrible speakers
Pros: the system is great for an ordinary "i want a nice clean system in my house without the wires" consumer. looks high tech and sleek.
Cons: won't support some components. wireless=quality loss. Sony has a tendency to make poor sounding speakers, and it happened again. not worth the price.
out of 14 user reviews
Over-rrated
Pros: The product offers a nice appearence and sounds ok for our use but the price was steep for the quality and being "wireless".
Cons: I don't know how Sony can sell this system as a wireless system. Wires and connected to all the speaker expect two. The remaining two are wired together. Net, net only one speaker was wireless.
out of 14 user reviews
Good at low listening levels; lacks depth and realism, especially at moderate to high levels.
Pros: Generally good sound at lower levels. No wires from front to rear.
Cons: Lacked high performance at moderate to higher listening levels. Does not support many components...!
out of 14 user reviews
Great system, wireless speakers work flawlessly
Pros: Sound with DVDs, wireless convenience, compact receiver/DVD unit, looks cool.
Cons: Remote control is worthless, Sony speaker clips are a hassle, cheap speaker wires
out of 14 user reviews
Awesome look and sound and no complaints about wires from my wife!
Pros: The product sets up in a snap - and has a color coded wiring system making it 100% idiot proof. Wireless rear speakers are just awesome for convenience. My wife loved the fact that I didn't have to put any holes in the walls or run speaker wire all over
Cons: The sound is good with basic CDs but not amazing. I wish it was a little bit crisper with certain tones. But if you need a system that cranks loud and still sounds good for a party - this will definitely suit you. You are going to want to purchase some hi
