Sony STR-DN1040 or DN850?

NeilFawcett said:
Sony STR-DN850 question.

So I have a 5.1 setup using Mordaunt Short Avant speakers basically...

The front pair I have allow bi-amp wiring.

So can the 850 make use of this? So I can wire up all the 5.1 speaks and bi-amp the front (left/right) ones too?

When I looked Sony's website it almost implies to bi-amp the front speakers you cannot use the rear ones?
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Ahh I think I understand!

For 5.1 you have this - http://static.commentcamarche.net/e...s/audio-images-configuration-spatiale-5-1.png

But with a 7.1 system you have this - https://digitalmediaservices.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/7point1_surround.jpg

So in the case of a 5.1 use, you can use the surround backs as extra front stereo channels for bi-amping :)





Any 850 owners able to comment on their unit before I buy? And in combination with my mordaunt short avant premiere speakers, with upgraded 902i bi amps from front left/right?
 
Correct. That's how it works on the DN1040. As for the 850, I dunno. Check the manual - should be downloadable from the Sony website.

I'll also caution this - don't bank on the internet services getting long term support. The internet radio (vTuner) and Music unlimited services on the DN1040 are now dead, after Sony canned one and fell out with the provider of the other. It's **** poor if I'm honest. I was going to fling mine back at the retailer under SOGA, but the DN1050 doesn't have enough HDMI inputs for my needs.
 
MagicBoy said:
Correct. That's how it works on the DN1040. As for the 850, I dunno. Check the manual - should be downloadable from the Sony website.

I'll also caution this - don't bank on the internet services getting long term support. The internet radio (vTuner) and Music unlimited services on the DN1040 are now dead, after Sony canned one and fell out with the provider of the other. It's **** poor if I'm honest. I was going to fling mine back at the retailer under SOGA, but the DN1050 doesn't have enough HDMI inputs for my needs.
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Only want to use it as an amp... And my main reason for buying it would be a noticable improvement in music quality over my Yamaha amp. If that's not on the cards, I'll be wasting my money/effort!? :confused:
 
Sorry, at second glance that was a bit ambiguous.

Sony's customer service on the vTuner thing has been **** poor.

The sound quality is excellent.
 
MagicBoy said:
Sorry, at second glance that was a bit ambiguous.

Sony's customer service on the vTuner thing has been **** poor.

The sound quality is excellent.
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So out of interest what did you upgrade from? And did you thing the Sony improved on its sound.

And for music? That's the area I think my 7yr old Yamaha amp lets me down in I feel, so am looking to improve on!
 
Another Sony, an STR-DB790. About 10 years old, no slouch in its day and did well in some blind listening tests against some dedicated music amps IIRC.

The DN1040 is an improvement, has a lot of grunt and digs deep when bi-amped.
 
MagicBoy said:
Another Sony, an STR-DB790. About 10 years old, no slouch in its day and did well in some blind listening tests against some dedicated music amps IIRC.

The DN1040 is an improvement, has a lot of grunt and digs deep when bi-amped.
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I don't think that amp is that old? Seems to be around 2009? So that's about as old as my Yamaha amp I'm trying to improve the music quality on!
 
MagicBoy said:
I was living in Scotland at the time, so it's 2003/2004. It's one of the last analogue QS range Sonys.
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And you recon the Sony 1040 did well against even dedicated stereo amps for music?

I'm confused because I've had some opinions that this is just a AV amp trait (music being weak) and I'd be wasting my time as I'd get no real improvement moving from my old Yamaha to the Sony 850 (as regards music). ie: A dedicated (less neat solution) of a dedicate stereo amp is the way to go.

*confused*
 
The old 790 did, and to my ears the 1040 is better. I've not really checked the reviews extensively for the new kit. Conventional wisdom says that a stereo amp to the same budget will outperform an AV Amp at music. As ever, it's what your ears hear, not what the reviews say, so go have a listen.
 
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