Sony STR-DE575 5.1 Channels Receiver

OK, so i open the box, remove the bag with the remote and instruction manual, put the batteries in the remote and toss the manual to the other side of the room. Who reads that thing anyway, right? wrong. If you want to even think about using the advanced features on this system, study that manual. Ok, so then I remove my old receiver and proceed to hook up all my connections. To test the system out, I decide to use my new Advanced A/V pack for my X-Box(which is only used to play DVDs and the 100 some odd CDs recorded on its Hard Drive) and I hook both the Optical cable and the RCA cables to the system. First I try out the RCA connection and the sound is truly great. Running through 2 Cerwin Vega! RE 25 loudspeakers, a 10" KLH sub, and 3 other surround sound speakers, it sounds terrific. But then I hit the Input Mode button and select Optical for the video input I was one (there are two optical inputs) and I was literally blown away from the incredibly deep bass, the clarity of sound at almost ANY volume, and just the sheer power that comes from this system. Ok, so music is good. Let's try DVD.

Enter the Ultimate DVD test. My first test is a scene from an Action/Adventure flick: Jurassic Park 3. The scene I choose is Chapter 6: Duel of the Dinosaurs. From the trees and grass rustling to the Thumping of the Dinosaur's feet. Surround sound effects such as tails and trees, people running. DTS is extremely powerful on this system. Ok.. so that works well, but I want more. I want something that will rattle the foundation to its extreme. So next up, I select Pearl Harbor. Scene 22: The Attack on Pearl Harbor. EVERYTHING, I say again, EVERYTHING in this scene makes a huge impact on what ever remaining hearing you may have. Engine Roars, explosions, bullets whizzing by, EVERYTHING is Perfect through the Magic of DTS. Even at a 'low' volume of 24 Surround sound effects are perfect and the bass is thunderous. I reccomend at least a 30 volume listening level for the absolute best experience. moving along...
Next I pop in my First Test of the Dolby Digital decoder. Fight Club. Scene(s): 8&9, Single Serving Jack and Tyler. This is the part of the movie where he's on the plane and imagines the mid air collision. I have to addmit, it scared me. I wasn't really paying attention to the settings that i was changing earlier that day on my subwoofer. I lowered the frequency and raised the volume instead of lowering the volume and raising the frequency.. so when the two planes 'hit' I literally jumped up off my seat and grabbed the remote and pounded MUTE because the explosion was so loud my teeth were rattling. Truly an amazing experience. NO distortion and the surround sound effects were dead on. Bass, well, you already know.. it was crazy more than sufficient.
The next Dolby Digital test, and last movie on the list for testing, is Black Hawk Down. One word. Wow. Everything is perfect. Except the fact that it's not in the much better DTS sound format. OK, I'm sold, the digital sound decoders in this reciever are extremely powerful and if I were to sum them up in one word: Perfect.

Now another test: Video Games.
Three games I tried right away were: Metal Gear Solid 2, Star Wars Rouge Squardon 2: Rouge Leader, and Amped.
The few Dolby Digital cut scenes in MGS2 are pretty amazing, however, the rest of the game isn't too shabby either. Clear deffinition and deep bass come from the PS2 optical connection. In Star Wars, the ProLogic Surround Sound works pretty well, but it can't hold a candle to the sound of digital.. but it's still and impressive experience. And lastly, the Xbox title, Amped has the best sound. Dolby Digital sound all through. It works perfectly too.

Last test: VHS copy of Gladiator on a Sony SLV-N71 VCR. Surround sound works! bass is deep sound is pretty clear, but there is some distortion from the analog recording, but that's to be expected.. but for the most part it's perfect. Thank you sony.

Now, I do have one minor gripe: The menu system. Terrible to learn at first, but use it for a couple minutes and you're good. However, if you're like me, and I bet most of you are, you like to be able to change audio settings at will.. you'll be disappointed in this system then because the menu creates a block in your desire to do so. But why would you want to anyway? I haven't found a bass frequency or high pitched sound this system couldn't handle perfectly... unless the source is a VHS or cassete or just a bad recording, there is NO distortion.