Sony intros STR-DG520, STR-DG720 and STR-DG820 AV receivers
By Darren Murph 
posted Jun 23rd 2008 9:58AM
posted Jun 23rd 2008 9:58AM
Update: These were a European announcement. USers already had 'em.
posted Jun 23rd 2008 9:58AM
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199.99 for the 520
299.99 for the 720
i would imagine 499.99 for the 820
$399 for the 820.
$399 for the 820.
The 520 has been available since the end of March. The 720 since mid April, and the 820 should be available in the next week or two.
Been looking at the STR-DG820 for a while now. Looking forward to getting rid of the HDMI switcher and getting the HD audio decoding from the PS3. The local Circuit City actually has it in stock so I'll stop by and pick one up this afternoon.
Wanted to say that if you buy the 820 at Circuit City you will get the media dock for the iPod for free.
Hooked up the receiver last night and I am so far very impressed. Switching between the HDMI inputs is fast and in no time I was immersed in sound. I love it! The only thing the 820 doesn't do is upconvert analogue signals, but that's no big deal as the only analogue component I have is the Wii. Everything else is HDMI.
$399 is a heckuva price for HD audio decoding.
Didn't know about these. Wonder how the 820 will review against Onkyo's 606. From what I saw, there was no upconversion on the 820... and no S-Video. That said, 4 HDMI and HD audio for
Looks like Sony is going after Onkyo's low end with these 3. The 820 looks like a direct competitor to the TX-SR606. I do like Sony's simple look, 4 knobs and 12 buttons on the front. As opposed to my Onkyo TX-SR606's 28 buttons and 2 knobs. The $100 lower price point doesn't hurt either.
It looks like the 820 doesn't decode bitstream hd audio, but can do mpcm similar to the 720.
Do these have the on -screen GUI? Thats what I'm holding out for.
In my experience with Sony receivers, they aren't the best sounding receivers. Awesome bang for your buck, but not the sound quality of a Yamaha or Harmon Kardon.
And that Onkyo 606 has been getting bad user reviews from what I've read. Only 55 watts per channel or something and everyone is saying it keep shutting off for 2 seconds at a time then coming back on for no apparent reason.
Some people get way too worried about watt ratings. The important thing is if the amp is a quality amp with low THD. A higher quality amps with lower watts will sound better than a lower quality amp with higher watts. On top of that, companies like Sony have been known to use watt ratings that just make their amps look better since there is no set standard for testing it.
H/K usually are the best for having true watt ratings and sometimes have been known to have lower ratings than what they really are.
I'm thinking I need an AV receiver and so far it's a toss-up between one of these and an Onkyo 506 or 606. It would be nice to have the TrueHD, DTS MA but I'm in two minds whether the extra price to get it is justified.
The 520 and 720 have been on store shelves for about 2 MONTHS now. However, the 820 seems to be hard to get (can get it from Sony directly - for retail).
The 820 will be amazing as long as the audio quality is good. 4 in, 1 out HDMI, next-gen surround formats - well, those two things are really about 3/4 of what I want!
Ken, the Onkyo TX-SR606 has 4 inputs too and advanced sound processing. Costs $387 on Amazon which is frankly a bargain.
I'll pass on these. Sony's method of measuring power with one channel's output at clipping, then all others at 10% is a joke. Even then, they are not 20hz - 20Khz. If Sony advertised their receivers as 30W X 7, would people be so eager to buy them? Power trumps processing everyday of the week.
Wow, now that's a surprise.
Looks like they think that they can now just ditch 5.1/7.1 analogue inputs.
I am currently looking to buy new audio kit & that's a deal breaker for me.
Looks like an Onkyo 7 or 8 series it is then.
Yeah, you would have a problem with the Sony product. How surprising.
This thing handles all the HD audio codecs, and is HDMI 1.3. Even your precious HD-DVD players would be just fine with this. You don't need any analog inputs. If you bother to buy this over whatever current receiver you could possibly have, then you're buying it for the HD codec support, and thus, don't need analog inputs.
See, I know your comment is bullshit because you could have made a point about any of its other functions or features, but bringing up a lack of analog inputs you don't need is this day and age just proves you can't see beyond the brand and you're still holding a stupid grudge against Sony.
And just for the record, I don't think much of this series, because I already have an Onkyo, and thus, this doesn't provide anything worthy beyond it. but for those who don't have one, this one is fine.
Oh look, baby rages about Sony again, and tops it off by bitching that a budget range of receivers doesn't support some arbitrary feature that a range costing twice as much does.
LMAO
So typical.
The Sony fanboy element just can't bear to hear anyone wanting more than their beloved CE corp can offer.
I want analogue connections for expanded options re PC connection, DVD-Audio & SACD actually.
You're just too predictable.
As per your myopic hysteria and desperation to bring in HD DVD just shows you guys for the ridiculous fanboys you so clearly are.
Sorry baby, but if you bothered to read above you would know I'm interested in an Onkyo myself. However I'm not so immature as to rage that features in one budget line of receivers does not compare to one by a rival costing much more.
Umm...pc connection (no digital out?), dvd audio (no digital out?) sacd...how old is the player, i know many older players required analogue out, but many nowadays work just find w/ SACD support over hdmi.
not saying that its BS that you need 6 ch input like some of the other users, but just sad thats the deal breaker for you. i have grown to HATE 6 ch input/output. i've done way too many installs/setups that required it, and its just a pain running all that damn cable, and costly too.
* quote
SimbaDogg
i know many older players required analogue out, but many nowadays
work just find w/ SACD support over hdmi.
=====================================================
Full DVD-Audio & SACD support via HDMI?
OK, if you say so.
But I'd love to see this one proved.
Go ahead, the floor is yours........
I wouldn't touch one of these with a ten foot pole. Every piece of Sony equipment I've ever owned (excluding my two-year old LCD projection television, knock on wood) has had serious reliability problems. After only three years of use my last Sony receiver had display issues and channels would randomly cut in and out. Two trips to the repair center still couldn't resolve whatever was wrong with it.
No multi-channel inputs
No GUI
Poor sound for music sources
Crappy sound
I've already owned one of these and returned it - not very impressed
I think we should wait for the 920
Sony just hasn't impressed me with their receiver line-up for a long time now. I have found better value in receivers from the other major players like Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon, H/K, marantz.
I wonder if Sony is going to start using better amps in these new receivers and actually use more accurate rating tests then they have in the past.
I'm all about my onkyo 606. The sony ones looked as if the actual unit would not live up to the stats. Besides, I enjoy upconversion and the GUI. Never having to switch the TV off my HDMI input is fantastic.
I actually can't wait until 06/26 to place my order (for the 820) through Crutchfield... time to upgrade my 2004-ish Sony receiver, which BTW has performed superbly over the years!
The 820 has multi-channel inputs for SACD, which I have a decent library of (dead format or not, Dark Side of the Moon still sounds killer in surround!)
Only downside for me is the lack of a phono input... I still like my vinyl :)
No S-Video = who cares? I don't use anything less than component anyhow.
My bad... I'm actually holding out for the 920 as well, due to the lack of multi-channel inputs (SACD) on the 820.
This is all old news. I've seen the 820's at my local Circuit City for the past couple weeks. Like one other commented, I'll be waiting for the 920.
So since this makes a point of saying it supports 1080p/24p HDMI switching does that mean receivers like the Onkyo txsr606 wont?
I want to utilize my 120hz TV W/ 5:5 pulldown with a DTS HD MA/DD THD and HDMI switching receiver.