středa 12. června 2013

Sony STR-DH540 5.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver (Black)

Sony STR-DH540 5.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver (Black)

Sony STR-DH540 5.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver (Black)
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Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
4Excellent Entry Level Receiver with Tons of Features
By R. LUCAS
This simple receiver is packed with tons of great features. I've had mine for 5 days and have enjoyed it tremendously.

I live in a small house with a small room for entertainment. I originally purchased the DH520, but returned it for this newer model. I like the simplicity of on-screen set up including using the set up microphone to determine the sound qualities of your room. It worked well and only took a few minutes to set up. With some minor tweaking, I am happy with the overall sound quality for such an inexpensive receiver. It doesn't pack the bass that my 1970's Yamaha produces, but for a theater sound, it is well balanced and I won't annoy my neighbors and others in the house with excessive bass.

This little guy packs a ton of features into this unit, a much improvement over the previous model. First off, the face is minimalist and less cluttered. Control is done mainly through the remote. If you are familiar with Sony products, there is minimal learning curve getting familiar with the remote. It has a USB input on the front to plug your iPhone, iPod into. I find this handy for the convenience of friends or family using their iPods. I use iTunes Match through my Apple TV when then channels through the HDMI to play music through this stereo.

HDMI inputs are limited to 4, but I only use 3. The pass through works well once it is set up and you can personalize each input to read what you have plugged in. For example, the default setting for one HDMI is Game. I was able to change that to read, "Apple TV". SAT/Cable was changed to "Cable", and BD was changed to "Sony DVD" with ease. My older Sony HDTV has two HDMI inputs, but this receiver expands that because I run the out HDMI to the TV with everything else in. Once I upgrade my TV to one with ARC I will be able to have two way HDMI signal allowing me to run my cable box to the TV and output sound to the receiver, effectively freeing up another HDMI input on the receiver. My receiver will also automatically change inputs from Cable to DVD when I turn on my Sony DVD player. This feature doesn't work with non-Sony products, which would be nice, but not necessary.

There are more expensive "Network Receivers" offering Smart Apps... but let me say this- If you have a Smart TV, or Smart DVD, or Apple TV, Roku, etc that offers Pandora and/or other "Music" Apps you do not need that extra feature. There comes a point where duplicating these apps on each piece of equipment is not only redundant but a waste of money. The other receivers offering these features are also quite limited - based on reviews by many magazines. The few added benefits of Network Receivers is App Remote Controls for Smart Phones or Tablets running Apple or Android. None of those remote apps are true freedom from traditional remotes because they only control the receiver AND based on reviews, suffer from immature development.

This receiver also features 4K passthrough so it is ready for future technology by Sony which is technically Super HD.

This is a great entry level stereo for the person who doesn't need constant high volume. The 5.2 channels and wattage is plenty for small to medium rooms, providing clean accurate sound even at higher volumes for extended periods. This will get loud... very loud, but I don't recommend this stereo if your intention is to play music loud, for long periods of time, over the course of several years. Lower wattage receivers get hotter quicker which puts strain on your stereo. Just pay the extra $100-150 for something with more power instead of overrunning this model.

PROS:
- Minimalist design with clean front panel free of most buttons.
- Simple to hook up - HDMI Cable to TV out, DVD HDMI In, Apple TV HDMI in, connect speaker wires. Done!
- Some room for expansion (I added my XM Receiver through RCA hookups on back).
- Easy front panel USB port to connect iPod or iPhones for direct music
- Wattage is ample for small to medium size rooms to run audio cool
- Rated for 8 & 6 ohm speakers (older unit only rated for 8 ohm)
- ARC feature will play sound back from ARC featured TV through same HDMI cable
- 4K Passthrough will keep you update for several years
- On Screen Set Up Instructions
- On Screen FM/AM station programming and tuning
- Can have stereo off and watch HDMI devices using passthrough. I didn't like the Standby Mode on the previous years model.

CONS:
- Stuck with Black. Wish Sony still offered silver for that vintage look.
- If you want a Smart Receiver, this is not it. though I don't think most people need that if they have a Smart DVD Player, TV, Roku, Apple TV, or other Smart Device connected. Just redundant except to use the remote control app which (Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha haven't perfected... yet).
- Can't connect the older turntables without a pre-amp.
- Wattage is limiting, but perfect for those seeking clean sound at what 95% of people think is loud.

One more thing that is not specific to this just this stereo, but almost every modern stereo- The wattage ratings are not accurate compared to older solid state stereos. My old Yamaha produced 50 watts per channel and blows the doors off this and most modern stereos who boast 100-200 watts per channel. Realistically, this is a 35 watt stereo.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
4Good with some bugs
By A. Dayton
I have only had this for 4 days now so I will update this as time goes on but I wanted to get a review out for anyone interested in this.
First off this is a very low budget receiver so keep that in mind, if you are needing or wanting something high end with lots of bells and whistles move on, this is not for you. They have sacrificed ports for power, it has over 700 watts so it can power 5 (this will only handle a 5.1 system, it says 5.2 but that is more of a gimmick because it just allows for either two subs, or to hook up a sub that uses a dual RCA cable like the red and white ones) speakers very easily. If your speakers can push more than 145W and you want more power than that this may not be the best option. My speakers are 100W each so I have plenty of power. There are 4 HDMI ports and two composite AV hookups for SD video. There are no component hookups on this. I only have three devices hooked up to this, PS3, Apple TV, and a Dish box. I have used these components for the last 3-4 years and have never needed or wanted any other components, keep that in mind because if you have more than 4 HDMI components this wont work. It also has no internet connection for Pandora, or airplay. I don't care about these features because all my components can do those functions, I'm not a fan of smart TV's or devices like that in general because I have yet to use one that works even ok.
It does have an onscreen menu for the settings and volume, the volume is very small and kind of hard to see because it's in the bottom right corner. Settings are very easy to control and adjust. It has a auto calibration function for the speakers that seamed to work pretty well. The IR sensor on it is very sensitive so it works well, I have it set up in the back of my room below the projector and i don't even have to point the remote at the receiver to change the volume or input I can point it as my screen and it works just fine. It has a front USB port to plug your iPhone in to play music, it works with the old and new iPhone cable.
Now for the reason I gave it a one star reduction is because it is a little buggy, and I have no idea if there is a way to upgrade the firmware on it because there is no service port and I can't confirm if the USB can be used for service. The on screen display does not always work for the volume or setup menu. I thought it may be the remote it came with but I programed it to my universal remote and still have the same problem sometimes, I am going to contact Sony to see if it is something that can be fixed. It doesn't happen often enough for me to return the unit because overall I really like it and it was in my price range for what I wanted to spend, my old receiver broke and I didn't want to wait a few months to save up and buy a new one that was more expensive so this one fit my bill perfectly. I will update in another month or so if anything changes.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
4Play with the settings
By the Gliberal
For the price, I'm real happy. It's paired with Boston Acoustics XS speakers. The Bravia Sync works well with the Sony KDL46HX750 TV and BDPS590 BD. Also have a TiVo S3 and Mini Mac hooked up. They all play well together.

Just one word about the speaker auto calibration. The sound just wasn't right after calibrating. The problem was that the receiver designated my speakers as "large". That means it assumes more bass can come out the speakers so less is sent to the sub-woofer. However, after using the manual set up and changing the speakers to "small", the sound was much, much better. The sub-woofer provided the missing bass. So that's why I'm knocking off one star. But it demonstrates that you may need to play with the settings.

Haven't tried the pass-through 3D yet. Just wish the Sony glasses cost less.


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Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer

Sony make . believe




Bring the excitement home with 5.2 channels, 725 watts8 and iPhone and iPod connectivity. It also handles all of your components with 4 HD inputs and 4K resolution
pass-through. Now, all of your music and movies will get the multi-layered sound quality
they deserve with HD Digital Cinema Sound and auto calibration for easy set-up.
STR-DH540  

Technology

iPod/iPhone Music
and Video playback
Listen to music and watch video stored on your iPod or iPhone while charging your device.5
4 HDMI Inputs

Get versatile HD connection options with six HD inputs. Four HDMI inputs (up to 4K) let you connect a Sony PlayStation 3 entertainment system, Blu-ray Disc player, any 2 other HDMI-capable devices, for high definition video and audio.6
HD Digital Cinema Sound and
Front High Speakers
Optimize your receiver to mimic the sound characteristics of movie theaters. Front Height mode enables vocal height and 3D effects, making action sequences, concerts and movies truly theatrical.
4K Pass-through
Future-proof your system and take a quantum leap in video clarity. The STR-DH540 allows native 4K video content to be passed through to a 4K television or projector.
3D Pass-through
Featuring four HDMI inputs with 3D pass-through, you can connect your compatible 3D Blu-ray player, PS3 system, cable box or satellite receiver to start enjoying a vast array of 3D entertainment5. The HDMI inputs are also compatible with standard 2D devices.
Advanced Blu-ray Disc
Audio Decoding
Experience sound closer to the way it was captured with LPCM, Dolby trueHD3, ProLogic IIz and dts-HD master audio codecs.2

Product description and full feature list
Explore the full range of features and options below.
 

Digital Cinema Auto Calibration - Quick Speaker Set Up
Ensure you get the best sound experience from your A/V receiver and speakers with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. Simply place the included microphone where you will be seated and settings are automatically optimized based on the distance, delays and placement of your speakers.

Audio Return Channel
Eliminate the need for extra cables connected to your TV. This feature allows audio to be sent from your compatible TV to your receiver through the same HDMI cable already being used to send audio and video to your TV.7


Standby pass-through of
Audio & Video

Conveniently access all your HDMI connected devices without having to power on the receiver.

BRAVIA Sync Capable
Conveniently operate and control select Sony BRAVIA Sync devices with one remote including: Sony Blu-ray Disc Players, BRAVIA HDTVs, Sony home theater products.4


24p True Cinema (pass-through)
Watch Blu-ray Disc movies in their native frame rate (24 frames per second) when paired with a 24p HDTV and playback device like a Blu-ray Disc Player or PlayStation 3 gaming console via HDMI cable.6

 

1. Requires 3D content, 3D HDTV, 3D glasses and HDMI cable (at least 10.2 Gbps).
2. Requires HDMI cable and LPCM capable receiver.
3. Requires HDTV with equivalent display and HDMI cable sold sep.
4. Syncs with BRAVIA Sync or Theatre Sync products.
5. iPod support is limited to the following players: iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano 1st, 2nd & 3rd generation, iPod 4th& 5th generation & iPod mini and iPhone 3G, 3Gs and 4G models.
6. Requires HDMI cable sold sep.
7. Requires HDTV and HDMI cable sold sep.
8. 745 Watts Total System power (145W x 5 @ 6 ohms 1kHz 0.5% THD)


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