Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Sony Sony STR-DA5000 Receiver by ka7niq

Model:	Sony STR-DA5000
Category:	Receiver
Suggested Retail Price:	$1500.00 ?
Description:	Sony S Master Digital Amplifier Receiver
Manufacturer URL:	Sony

Review by ka7niq on September 29, 2008 at 15:33:21
IP Address: 71.180.149.157 Add Your Review
for the Sony STR-DA5000

Some of my European friends regard this receiver highly.
The Sony STR-DA5000 ES has Sony's S Master digital amplifier.
It has a power output of 170 WPC into 8 ohms, but drops to only 100 into 4 ohms.
Initially, I tried it on my B&W Matrix 801's.'
It sounded like shit.
Then, I tried it on my Klipsch CF 3's, and still it sounded bad.

I own Infinity Prelude Pfr that are a 6 ohm load, and 95 db efficient.
I hooked up the Sony STR-DA5000 Es and WOW.

NOW I hear what my European friends are talking about.
It does have a "sort of" tube type sound, with a euphonic warmth in the midrange.
The extreme top end is missing a little air, and image is ok, although not no holds barred like my very best stuff.
But OH what a mid range, voices have a warmth to them that make you say "man, that sounds good"
This amp has a unique ability to allow you to hear great detail, w/o it sounding forced, or bright.
If you seek a DIFFERENT sound, this is the one.
Bass sounds like shit.
Sony tried to address this by giving you a choice of 4 different bass settings.
They CLAIM we are all used to Analog Bass, and it's inherent errors.
So, you can have pure digital bass, or a choice of 3 or 4 other settings, all done digitally to introduce various amounts of error.

Bass on my Infinity Preludes aint bad, but with my sub woofers, it sounds lumpy.
But OH that GD mid range is outright seductive.

I could care less about all the surround stuff, but the stupid crossover is fixed at 80 hz.
Not a problem for those with powered woofers, but for me with dual passive subs, I would like more bass management.
I MIGHT have to use my 24 db electronic with this receiver.

Some of these receivers had a hiss problem.
Mine did, but Sony took care of it for the previous owner.

I was ABOUT to give up on this POS, until I heard it on a load it likes.
WHAT a mid range on my Infinity Prelude Pfr, and long term listenable too, no fatigue.
It is my understanding the Bigger Sony STR-DA 9000 ES has a much better power supply ?

Here is da bottom line, IF you have an 8 ohm load, and want "cheap thrills" this may get you off.
On the RIGHT speaker, it is better then it has ANY right to be.
NO 4 ohm loads, or it sounds like shit.

Instead of looking at a cheap Chinese 300 dollar tube amp to feed your audio addiction, you might consider one of these.

They are inexpensive used, plus you get surround sound, IF that is important to you.

IF Sony can cure the bass problems, and make it drive low impedance loads, watch out.

In a weird way, it reminds me a BIT of old Conrad Johnson Tube Stuff, a bit flawed at the frequency extremes, but OH that mid range.
And no, it does not have the mid range magic nor the dimensionality of old Conrad Johnson Tube stuff either.
Really, what does ?

But on my Infinity Prelude PFR's, it sound pretty good.

Product Weakness:	Weird sounding bass, very speaker load dependant, don't like below 6 ohms. Extreme top a little closed in, and image quite not as good as the very best stuff.<br>Your audio snob buddies will disown you !!<br>People will laugh at you, remote is touchy, poor bass management capabilities w/fixed 80 hz crossover.<br><br><br>
Product Strengths:	Almost tube like warmth, mid range magic, freedom from fatigue, super detailed w/o brightness, tube like sheen on music.<br>Reveals hidden details in recordings, romantic sounding, euphonic.

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Moscode 600
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Dared Tube
Sources (CDP/Turntable): CD Changer
Speakers: B&W 801's - Polk SRS 2's - Von Schweikert Vortex Screens Infinity Prelude PFR's
Cables/Interconnects: Radio Shack Flat speaker wire in true bi wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections): all kinds
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 24 x 7
Time Period/Length of Audition: 6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PowerVar
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Moscode 600
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Dared Tube
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CD Changer
Speakers:	B&W 801's - Polk SRS 2's - Von Schweikert Vortex Screens Infinity Prelude PFR's
Cables/Interconnects:	Radio Shack Flat speaker wire in true bi wire
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all kinds
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 24 x 7
Time Period/Length of Audition:	6 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PowerVar
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner