(Not So Good) review of Sony STR-DB1070

[fatal]

The latest Home Cinema Choice magazine has a review of the Sony STR-DB1070.

I thought that it sounded rather disappointing and since I haven't had a chance to experience my amp yet, I'd like it if anybody can confirm/deny any of the below allegations.

It won't be online yet so i'll post a couple excerpt of the review - Apols to HCC if this is infringing on any copyrights.


........
(HCC Practical Tip)
.... A minor word of advice though: a minor attenuation of the treble (centred around 4kHz) benefits movie listening, imparting a pseudo-ReEQ curve (sort of THX-lite), but go any further and you'll find the DB1070 can become ear-splittingly bright, dull or bloated.

........

So, after a week of tinkering, I listened to what turned out to be a decidedly mixed performer. Even with a set of AC1 Sapphire III monitors, the Sony is best described as 'shrill'. Its musical delivery lacks body or warmth, which is a trait that can't be corrected by crossover adjustments. The soundstage width and separation is excellent even when listening to matrix modes like Pro-Logic. On the other hand you won't be able to overlook the Sony's forward, overly aggressive and almost raucous delivery.

The STR-DB1070 tends to exaggerate dialogue sibilance, especially female vocals, but I'm more concerned by its multichannel performance as a whole. Not only do movies have the same 'thin' character as music, but there is also a tendency to confuse elements, especially with complex passages. The Sony conveys the normally impressive musical opening of Tarzan as a muddle, played by an orchestra of kazoos.

.......

On the bright side, the surround processing is of a high standard and channel levels are accurate across all formats. The surround back channel is also able to accurately replicate a true THX EX system, albeit without LucasFilm's proprietary processing, and can add an enhanced sense of 'space' with suitably encoded soundtracks. I particularly enjoyed its firm grip on the EX masterpiece that is Fight Club

........



The review gives:

Highs: Setup flexibility and crossover options; two analogue input arrays
Lows: Limited video inputs; fatiguing sonic delivery

Sound: 2.5 stars
Build: 4 stars
Ease of use: 3.5 stars
Features: 4.5 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars


cheers,
Paul

[Bapapapa]

WHF gave it 'only' 4 stars, but remember they are reviewing it as a £600 piece of kit. ;)

Not such a good piece of kit at that price, but £300......

:nuts:

[ivj]

Home Entertainment reviewed the same beast in their August edition saying "It gives blockbuster movie soundtracks a real kick and is great with music too" "A top performing model, at a good price that furthers Sony's reputation for great amps"

HE and HCC never agree about anything but if you have bought one be guided by your own ears.

I have one and there is none of the sibilance that HCC talk about and overall I like it.

Ian

[APPRIA40WR]

Any chance of scanning the pages and putting them on the 'net, please? :)

[APPRIA40WR]

And for what it's worth I'd say it's a brilliant bit of kit -especially at £300 :D

[Just]

It is pretty unfair to say that dialogue comes over as harsh and shrill as this will depend wildly on the Centre used. Also I have Missions on the front and they are regarded as being some of the most aggressive speakers going, yet I find listening to high volume movies far less fatiguing than my previous amps.

[Cable Monkey]

A simple thought to bear in mind... With the low to middle end of the market, reviews are often a reflection of wether the company in question advertises with the magazine in question. That is not to say they slate anyone who doesn't advertise with them, rather they are more likely to emphasize any criticism they have. So saying, there is nothing I have read which could not be said just as truthfully about my STR-DB 930 regarding sonic performance. Despite this, I like my amp, a consideration more important than what a proffesional critic with access to thousands of pounds worth of peripherals may have to say about it...

[Bapapapa]

But they still sound crap with music.

/me runs off

:nuts:

[Spikey]

It sounds like a rather blunt description of how most Sony stuff sounds. This was obviously a reviewer who doesn't like it. Probably find he likes the 'Yamaha' sound which is probably the complete opposite and quite laid back.

This is the same with the Tannoy/Mission difference and the 100hz/50hz tv difference. If you like it you will, if you don't you dont.

My personal preference is Yamaha/Tannoy/100hz which I think is great and so do a lot of other pepole but just as many won't and prefer a different combination.

That amp is only really good or bad against amps that produce a similar type of sound.

[ivj]

If the reviewer has personal prejudices that spill over into his review it can hardly be an objective review. I have a 1070 and the sound is bright but not shrill.

The relationship between stars and advertisers used to be true but nowadays the manufacturers seem to advertise much less and retailers have taken up the bulk of the advertising space.

A few years ago I was told by a retailer that a certain magazine used to "bribe" manufacturing advertisers by telling them that the product of the year would guarantee them a huge increase in sales and if I recall correctly one loudspeaker manufacturer only ever used to bring out five star products.

Yours cynically

Ian

[Spikey]

That was my point, to you it's bright, but if you don't like bright you'd probably call it shrill. Same way that warm would seem flat if you like bright.