Sony STR-DB1080 AV-receiver
After unpacking it turned out that the receiver has a significant mass and the center of gravity shifted to the rear wall (where the transformer is located). This indirectly indicates the attention paid by the developers to the power source.
The front panel is metal. The display has a 4-step Dimmer (up to a complete shutdown). The buttons for selecting audio modes and radio stations are below; to the right there are a rotary input switch and volume control. All settings are available from the front panel: controls - are behind flap cover. Also there is a full AV input with an optical digital signal jack. The algorithm for the initial installation is thought out well, but the individual options are hidden too deep: in particular, it is difficult to get to the adjustment of delays. In addition to the standard parameters, the phase of the subwoofer and the cutoff frequency are changeable; you can consider the position of the rear loudspeakers (either they are on side from the listener or behind him) and even the height of their placement. Naturally, all branded DSP modes of the Digital Cinema Sound system are present: the receiver is able to give the listening room the acoustic characteristics of one of the two viewing rooms of the Columbia film company and its recording studio.
The remote control is able to control over all components of the home theater. The console is equipped with a LCD-display with five lines and a wheel for moving through the menu; when you click on the wheel, the desired option is selected. The display has a backlight and its contrast is adjustable. In addition, you can create macros and with their help activate, for example, TV and a DVD-player by one click at the same time.
So, to whom recommend this receiver should be recommended? First of all, to those, who believe in the victory of 6.1-channel sound. The receiver is equipped with a six-channel amplifier and decoders of all audio formats with automatic recognition of them when the signal goes to a digital input. It instantly identified records in Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES Discrete. Surely, for their full playback you need a six high-quality loudspeakers and a sub. Meanwhile, there are few movies with 6.1-sound yet - but this does not mean that the rear central channel is doomed to silence. It is activated forcibly (matrix mode), converting 5.1 records to 6.1. The device will not disappoint the fans of stereo sound too. Having a significant reserve of power, it perfectly reproduces any music - from electronic to symphonic. Finally, the STR-DB1080 will be appreciated by those one, who considers the AV receiver as a switching center with advanced features: Sony offered a very unexpected solution - two sets of 5.1 and 6.1 inputs.
