New Sony HD AV receivers - the definitive guide!

[Anonymous]

Hi Team,

First of all thanks for all your great help in raising this with Sony.

Question. I'm living in Germany so returning the receiver to Sony or having an engineer pop around isn't an option.

My local service centre here hasn't got a clue, question is do I have a leg to stand on? Think there is an possibility at all of a DIY firmware upgrade?

I'm working around the problem quite comfortably at the moment by connecting my Sky HD box to the 2400 using component which has the added benefit of upscaling all content to 1080p

Apart from this one glitch I think it's an absolutely great receiver, the features and the sound quality are superb and it looks great too!

 

[Andrew Everard]

I don't think this one is a DIY upgrade. As far as I understand it, it's going to involve getting the lid off and plugging into the main circuitboard to make the changes, which puts it way beyond safe DIY territory.

 

[Cofnchtr]

Hi,

There's probably one user who used to frequent here who would gladly attempt the fix....

However, hats off to all who have highlighted the issue to Sony directly and have made the push for them to admit there's an issue. Will all users be contacted or will it just be those who become aware of the problem I wonder?

Glad to see a mini review of the remaining amps/receivers will still appear next issue.

I would like to upgrade in the near future and fore-warned is fore-armed as my granny used to say.

Cheers,

Cofnchtr.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Acquiescer:



Anyway, back to the receivers. Given Clare rose the issue of the new Pioneer I was keen to find out whether it would be the not too exciting looking Pioneer VSX-1018AH-K or the more expensive but more appealing VSX-LX51 that's in the next issue.



It's the VSX-1018, but we've got more Pioneer models on the way, too....

 

[Clare Newsome]

gib1357:
Only came on here for a review of some items -but heard a few things about how some of the companies get these "good" reviews !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Instead of repeating ignorant falsehoods, maybe you'd care to peruse the current (October) issue and compare the review on p45 with the premium-position advert on the back cover as just one example of our ongoing editorial independence.

 

[timwileman]

Clare Newsome:
Not humanly possible, i'm afraid - those issues printed last week and have been with subscribers since the weekend!

No, the new receiver reviews will appear in the 18th September issue - and quite possibly up here online even earlier.

18th sept.....when will subscribers get it, i am away on hols on the 16th ...hope its with me by then!!

 

[Clare Newsome]

timwileman:Clare Newsome:
Not humanly possible, i'm afraid - those issues printed last week and have been with subscribers since the weekend!

No, the new receiver reviews will appear in the 18th September issue - and quite possibly up here online even earlier.

18th sept.....when will subscribers get it, i am away on hols on the 16th ...hope its with me by then!!



Subs mail-out date is 12th September, so i'd say you stand a very good chance (Royal Mail permitting) of getting it to read on your hols.

 

[timwileman]

Clare Newsome:timwileman:Clare Newsome:
Not humanly possible, i'm afraid - those issues printed last week and have been with subscribers since the weekend!

No, the new receiver reviews will appear in the 18th September issue - and quite possibly up here online even earlier.

18th sept.....when will subscribers get it, i am away on hols on the 16th ...hope its with me by then!!



Subs mail-out date is 12th September, so i'd say you stand a very good chance (Royal Mail permitting) of getting it to read on your hols.

woo hoo! if its early it will be agony waiting to read it but worth it ... just think of me on a beach in dominican republic sipping an ice cold beer reading through the mag...nice

 

[Clare Newsome]

Now that's just cruel - by mid-September we'll be in full-on Awards frenzy mode and anything involving relaxation will be a dim and distant memory.

 

[timwileman]

Clare Newsome:Now that's just cruel - by mid-September we'll be in full-on Awards frenzy mode and anything involving relaxation will be a dim and distant memory.

sorry ...

still i'll bet there are a few forum members that would rather be doing that!

so when the awards magazine out?

 

[Clare Newsome]

Awards issue out October 16th...

 

[Anonymous]

just set up my 820 with 7.1. Sounds great to me, top system.

one q - even if i put a 5.1 dvd in, and set auto input, i can still hear sounds from the back 2 speakers - is this normal? i don't mind though.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm on my hols at the moment in Provence, and only just got internet access - thought I'd check to see how the thread on the on the Sky HD 5.1 saga was progressing with the 820 - pleased to see that it was confirmed correct what I originally posted

I choose to get an Onkyo 875 for £599 while they are on run out - this was probably more suited to the rest of my setup any way.

 

[trapster]

I choose to get an Onkyo 875 for £599 ????? great price where ?

i assume this was in silver ? and refurbished ?

the best price i have had so far is £550 in black for a refurbished one,but told that there are no marks or scratches what so ever,but boxes maybe tatty ?

i want to get the 875 to go with my ps3 for bluray and kef3005se speaker setup

can you tell me if you had this in black and where did you get that price from

 

[Anonymous]

The only place I knew at that price has now sold out, I think £649 is the closest now at Amazon, if the refurb comes with a warranty though...

 

[trapster]

richer sounds are doing the 875 in black for £699 but it shows as brand new but only 1 year warranty ?

i thought these came with 3 years warranty,maybe i should ring them,but can they get away with saying they are brand new boxed if they are infact returns or refurbs with 1 year warranty ?

 

[Anonymous]

No, the manufacturer's warranty is 1 year, you can take out Richer's 5 year warranty for I think it's 10% of total cost. At £699 at Richer it will be brand new clearance stock.

 

[trapster]

1 year you say ?

that is odd as everywhere else that sells the 875 shows that onkyos have a 3 year warranty

 

[Anonymous]

yeh sorry 3 year! I'm sure it used to be 1 though...

 

[trapster]

so why if it is meant to be a 3 year warranty,are richer sounds showing only 1 year ?

i best ring them sunday and ask as i dont want to pay £699 for a refurb with 1 year warranty

 

[Anonymous]

Like I said that won't be a refurb for £699, I just checked and the ones on the site are new so if your local store is selling refurb units tell them what their own site says!

 

[Anonymous]

Or just order from Amazon for £649

 

[trapster]

yeah £649 is a good price but thats in silver only :-(

i want black

 

[Andrew Everard]

trapster:yeah £649 is a good price but thats in silver only :-(

i want black

That's supply and demand for you...

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry for delay in reply - can't get online that much ATM (mountains to climb, and lakes to be swam). I got mine from Super-fi in Brum - yes it is silver, but that suits the rest of my components better. It was not sold as a refurb, though I guessed it was as the box had multiple staple holes on the bottom. I asked about warranty and the receipt shows it has 2 years cover. There was not a mark on the unit and it has up to date DSP and main firmware code.

When I first had the thing setup I immediately noticed the video judder on slow pans - (do a google for this). I have disabled the video processing, which I don't need as all my sources already upscale, and the judder has gone.

In comparision with the Sony, the auto calibration takes an age, even just to do 2 locations (minimum it will allow). but I guess it only needs to be done once - so not too much of an issue.

Regards