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Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black | 
| Brand: Sony
Category: CE
List Price: $499.99
Buy New: $314.88
You Save: $185.11 (37%)
Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 1195
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 17.1
Dimensions (in): 12.3 x 16.9 x 6.3
MPN: STRDG820
Model: STRDG820
UPC: 027242727465
EAN: 0027242727465
ASIN: B0015HPYDK
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $5.00 when you spend $25.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 7.1 Channel Audio/Video Receiver | | • | 100 Watts X 7 Amplifier Power (8 ohms, 1Khz, 1.0% THD) | | • | Accepts 1080/60p and 24p video signal via HDMI | | • | HDMI Active Intelligence: 4 in/1 out(Video and Audio) | | • | Optimized for Blu-ray Disc and other HD Sources |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Give your entertainment the power it deserves. The STR-DG820 7.1 channel A/V receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. This 1080p A/V Receiver features HDMI with Active Intelligence plus x.v.Color and 1080/24p signal capability. Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration simplifies speaker set up and optimizes speaker performance in just 30 seconds, with the push of one button. The XM Connect-and-Play Ready feature provides the ability to access XM satellite radio programming in surround sound. The STR-DG820 supports Linear PCM and has four High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) inputs that are capable of accepting resolutions up to 1080p. Powerful HDMI connectivity combined with Active Intelligence offers automatic detection of optimal video and audio signals from all connected components with convenience of a simple one-wire connection. Sony's original Digital Cinema Sound(TM) technology uses exclusive DSP technology to recreate the precise environment of three Hollywood Dubbing Stages where your movies are created. Mic - Mono Digital Cinema Auto Calibration Pre Programmed Remote Control Screw Binding Posts (A), Spring Lever (B) Speaker Terminal Type Ports - 3 Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Inputs (Rear), 1 Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output (Rear), 4 Composite Video Inputs (1 Front/3 Rear), 1 Composite Video Output (Rear), 2 Optical Audio Inputs (Rear), 1 Optical Audio Output (Rear), 1 Coaxial Audio Digital Input (Rear), 7 RCA Audio Inputs (3 Dedicated/4 Audio/Video), 2 RCA Audio Outputs (1 A/V Output, 1 Output), 1 Subwoofer Output (Rear), AC Outlet, 1 AM Loop Antenna Terminal (Rear), 1 FM 75 Ohm Antenna Terminal (Rear), 1 Headphone Output (Front- Silver), 3 HD Component Video Inputs (Rear), 1 HD Component Video Output (Rear), 4 HDMI Connection Inputs (Rear), 1 HDMI Connection Output (Rear), and Digital Media Port Input Dimensions - 16-15/16 x 6-1/4 x 12-1/4 (430x157.5x310mm) Weigh
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| Customer Reviews:
 Workhorse at a fair price September 2, 2008
Douglas Rhoades (Lakeport, CA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Ive been a Sony loyalist for thirty years, and this is the 8th Sony receiver I've purchased. None of the previous seven failed, mind you. I've just continually upgraded. Even the first one I bought more than twenty years ago is chugging along fine in my garage. But this one has every possible bell and whistle, and the integration into my entertainment system is phenomenal. I had one of those "universal" remotes that cost more than $150, but I put it away when I started using the remote that Sony provides with the STRDG820. It operates every component, including my Pioneer HDTV and the Dish Network satellite box with ease and without having to press 12 buttons to turn a device on or off. And it took less than 15 minutes to program the remote, and about the same to set up the receiver itself. The base unit features four HDMI inputs and switches seamlessly to your video display unit, which allowed me to dump an HDMI switchbox I had used before (my TV has only one HDMI input). This is an outstanding product and the sound quality is ideal. This is a good bet for anyone looking for a sound (and video) processing unit that will rock your home theater without rocking your pocketbook.
 Good while it worked! August 12, 2008
Frustrated Customer (Los Angeles, CA)
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
I had the STRDG820, and it was great while it worked, but after about a month the digital display broke and that was where the real problems began: dealing with Sony.
I've been trying to get this fixed and have wasted countless hours on the phone. I began by bringing the unit to a Sony recommended repair place, Electronic Design and Service in Glendale, CA. They tried repeatedly to fix it and couldn't and then recommended a replacement because the final part they wanted to try to repair the unit was on back order. Sony did not respond, so I had to get involved and called Sony. Even though one of Sony's own Techs recommended replacing he unit, Sony said they would have to call back within 3 days and never did. I had to call back, and some guy named John in the Tech department said that the part was no longer on back order and wanted to send it to EDS (So John seemingly overruled the tech guy who wanted to replace the unit). EDS got the part and it still couldn't fix the problem. Again, they emailed Sony asking for a replacement. Sony did not respond. I called Sony again, and they said they would check into and call me back in three days. They never did. Today, I called again. Now, John tells me they will respond within two days.
Each time I've had to call, I've had to go through three call transfers. Sony has done a terrible job communicating with me, its own internal departments, and EDS. Whoever John is in the Tech. Department, he should be fired. Sony does not stand behind its product, it cares very little about honoring it own warranty, and about providing for its customers.
I would recommend that nobody buy this product unless you have a pact with God and are damn sure nothing will go wrong with it!
 Worth the wait! August 12, 2008
W. W. Winkler Jr. (Sarasota, FL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It seems like it took Sony forever to get this to market. It was worth waiting for! Although I am using this receiver in a 5.1 configuration, the sound is exceptional when compared to the Yamaha 5.1 receiver it replaced. Setup was incredibly easy with the HDMI cable hookups to my Sony DVD player and Sony Bravia 32" LCD TV. The elimination of all the audio and video spaghetti plugged in at the back of the receiver was great. HDMI is the only way to go! Calibrating the speakers with the included microphone really made a difference in the quality of the sound, even using my old Infinity speakers and Klipsch subwoofer. I am also very pleased with how well this unit works with my Harmony One remote. Although just released, Logitech already has everything to operate the unit on the buttons of the Harmony One. I do not have to keep getting up to change settings at the receiver as I did with the old receiver. Finally, I think that this new Sony receiver is a real bargain as far as price is concerned. I got mine through Amazon.com at Vann's for $350 delivered. Based on my experience over the past month of ownership, I highly recommend this receiver.
Great A/V receiver for the price July 5, 2008
Dan Dautrich (Arizona)
27 out of 28 found this review helpful
Pros:
+ 4 HDMI v1.3a inputs with support for 1080p/24, Deep Color, and xvYCC
+ Up to 7.1 channel output (110Wx7, 8 ohms, 1kHz, 0.7% THD) with A/B speaker zones (7.1/2.0)
+ Lots of inputs: 3 optical audio, 1 coaxial digital audio, 4 HDMI v1.3a video/audio, 3 component video, 2 RCA stereo audio, 3 RCA stereo video/audio, 1 additional RCA stereo video/audio on front panel
+ Easy auto-calibration
+ Re-assignable digital audio inputs
+ Customizable display names for each input
+ Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High-Resolution Audio, and DTS-HD Master Audio
+ XM Satellite Radio ready
+ Supports Sony BRAVIA Theater Sync and Sony Digital Media Port
Cons:
- Awkward remote
- Cannot send analog video signals (e.g., component) through HDMI output, or digital inputs through the analog outputs
- Only has LFE subwoofer (RCA jack) output, no speaker-level (spring-loaded terminal) output
- Multi-channel and DSD signals from SA-CDs are not supported
- Standby power mode can only be activated by the remote
If you're looking for a solid receiver with plenty of inputs, including four (yes, 4!) HDMI v1.3a audio/video inputs, the Sony STR-DG820 is a great buy. This is one of Sony's new line of receivers for 2008 along with the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, and STR-DG920. This is a very compelling receiver for its price as it packs in a lot of great features when compared to other popular receivers including the Denon AVR988 and Onkyo TX-SR606.
Both the 820 and the 920 model have on-board decoding of the high-definition audio tracks found on HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs, along with Linear PCM support (up to 8 channels, 192 kHz). A note to fellow PS3 owners: you'll need to use LPCM output to let the PS3 internally decode the audio because it currently lacks the ability to output all of the HD audio formats natively using bitstream through the HDMI connection. SA-CD owners will be disappointed to find out that this receiver doesn't support any of the advanced audio tracks of the discs, so we're stuck with plain stereo CD output.
Any standard speaker arrangements between stereo (2.0) and the full 7.1 surround sound can be attached and configured individually for optimal performance, or let the quick and easy auto-calibration feature work its magic. I was caught off-guard by the fact that the only connection available for a subwoofer is an LFE (RCA) connector, so my previous passive sub from the old receiver couldn't be connected using bare speaker wires and had to be replaced.
A wide variety of electronics can be hooked up through the different named inputs: Video 1 (analog and digital video/audio), Video 2 (analog video/audio, front panel), BD (digital video/audio), DVD (analog and digital video/audio), Satellite (analog and digital video/audio), TV (analog and digital audio), and SA-CD/CD (analog audio). Digital audio sources can be reassigned to other input modes to match your connections (e.g., you can use the optical audio input labeled Video 1 with the component video input labeled DVD). The only catch is that analog inputs must exit through the analog outputs rather than being transcoded and output digitally through HDMI, and digital inputs cannot be sent through analog outputs. For about an extra $200, analog-to-digital transcoding will be available only on the higher-end 920 model due out soon, but I don't really have a problem with having two different cables connecting from my receiver to my LCD TV instead of just a single HDMI cable.
The included remote is a bit difficult to use with lots of functionality trying to be packed into a minimal amount of buttons. Yellow, silver, and purple labels and dots attempt to organize buttons based on which mode the remote currently is operating, and it takes a while to make any sense of it all. Even after some use, some buttons still make no sense, like why there separate buttons labeled Amp Menu, Options, Menu, BD/DVD Top Menu, and BD/DVD Menu when one or more of these could have been consolidated into a single button. Also, there are two buttons labeled TV--one switches the input to TV mode and one activates buttons marked with a yellow dot on the remote. Basically, whoever designed the remote needs fired. Do yourself a favor and get something like a Logitech Harmony One universal remote to replace this kludgy beast.
All in all, the convenience and flexibility of this receiver combined with the great features for a relatively low price made this product an easy decision for me. If it weren't for the clumsy remote and lack of analog-digital transcoding, I'd give this receiver a 5-star rating.
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