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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from San Francisco, CA on 10/14/2008
Comments about Sony STRDA4300ES - 7.1 Channels 100 watt per channel:
This amp is an upgrade to my previous mid-level ES Sony amp (I don't have the model #), same wattage, only up to 7 channels. Overall, I am pleased with the upgrade, which I did to accommodate an HDMI connection to my new projector.
The bass response is much better than the previous amp ,which tended to roll off at lower volumes. However, I find myself cranking it up at levels slightly higher than the previous amp to get the same full sound on the higher end. Other friends have commented the same about new non-Sony amps, so perhaps that is just a trend as manufacturers focus on bass power and clarity.
That said, the sound is great. With the same Bose speakers, I get much more lower bass with clarity even at lower volumes. (My neighbor had asked a few times to turn it down, as the bass module is rear-firing and slamming right into our shared wall). Friends who have heard both systems find the clearer bass response noticeable as well.
For some reason the first HDMI input did not work with the projector, but the second one did.
The speaker binding posts were a little more difficult to work with than the previous model.
The automated set up mike worked very well.
I do miss the 2 AC power outlets my previous amp had, but overall I am very pleased with the upgrade.
from Ohio on 10/13/2008
Comments about Sony STRDA4300ES - 7.1 Channels 100 watt per channel:
Performs everything very well, though the volume display is hard to see when you are more than 5 feet away. One thing, which may be true with other HDMI receivers is that when you have HDMI connected and you turn on another HDMI device the sound cuts out for 5 - 10 seconds as the unit "recognizes" the new device. For instance if I am listening to a cable music channel such that I have the cable box and receiver on and then turn on the TV to begin watching (all are connected via HDMI), the sound will cut out for 5 - 10 seconds until the TV is recognized by the receiver, then the sound returns. Otherwise, I have had no problems with this receiver and would recommend it to others.
from Phoenix, AZ on 10/7/2008
Comments about Sony STRDA4300ES - 7.1 Channels 100 watt per channel:
I purchased this receiver because most of the other components I had were already Sony and wanted to keep everything consistent. My previous receiver was an Onkyo which I still feel was a bit higher-end than Sony's are. That being said, this receiver does produce nice sound. My only negative is that setting it up optimally was a bit of a challenge.