Incorrect Picture

This is clearly a picture of Apple's new i-Pod nano. No not be fooled by it. They are breaking copyright by using this picture and trying to lure you into buying a cheap product.

Sony Boom Box

More details required for this product, unfortunately I was pretty disappointed when I received it as the sound quality was not up to much at all. Ok for your childs first player but no good if you like nice sound quality. No individual bass/treble controls and despite being described as a 'Boom Box' had no depth of sound.

10/10 7.1Ch AV Receiver

The muts nuts 7.1Ch Receiver.

A great perfomer of a lot of trades, no wonder it's got awards and it handles everything you can chuck at it and more. I've never had mine trip out, and have had one since they were released.
If your'e thinking of buying this then you will need to invest in some good speakers all 8 of them to show the full potential of this unit.

There are some other reputable places on the internet selling these at just under £1400 brand new and with free delivery.


SONY STRDA5400ES HOME CINEMA RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS

Amplifier power (watts): 7 x 120 watts (8 ohms, RMS)
Key decoding: Dolby: TrueHD, Pro-Logic/II/IIx, Digital EX
DTS: DTS-HD Master Audio, ES Discrete, Matrix 6.1/7.1, Neo:6, 96/24
Neural THX processing
Supports 8 channel linear PCM
DSP, eq. modes & audio options: Adjustable AV sync (for lip sync) with auto-sync on compatible Bravia televisions; multiple preset EQ and audio modes.
Auto microphone/room calibration: Yes, with supplied microphone
Video/Audio inputs & outputs: REAR:
6 x HDMI in (with video upscaling up to 1080p, supports 24 frames per second video, deep colour and multi-channel audio, input assignable)
3 x component video in (HD compatible, via 3 x RCA/phono, input assignable)
3 x video in (S-Video, composite & stereo line in via 4 pin mini-DIN & 3 x RCA/phono)
1 x video loop (S-Video, composite & stereo line in & out via 2 sets 4 pin mini-DIN & 3 x RCA/phono)
2 x HDMI*, component, S-Video & composite video monitor outputs
Zone 2 output (component video, composite video & stereo line out, with high definition support)
FM/AM antenna sockets
IR Remote, RS232, trigger and control ports for connection and interactive control from/of other compatible devices, infrared transmitters/receivers, and control/home automation systems.

FRONT:
S-video, composite and stereo line in (4 pin mini-DIN & 3 x RCA/phono)

*2 x HDMI sockets - ideal for connecting both a TV and projector
Video format conversion: Video format conversion from all sources to HDMI
Resolution upscaling of all video, up to 1080p with Faroudja DCDi technology
Analogue audio: REAR:
7.1 external source/decoder input (via 8 x RCA/phono)
2 x stereo line in (via 2 pairs RCA/phono)*
1 x turntable (MM) in (via 2 x RCA/phono)
2 x tape loop (via 2 pairs RCA/phono)
7.1 pre output (via 8 x RCA/phono)
Zone 3 stereo output (via 2 x RCA/phono)

FRONT:
6.3mm (1/4") headphone jack

*Wide range frequency response suitable for DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD
Digital audio: REAR:
5 x optical in (via toslink, input assignable)
3 x coaxial in (via RCA/phono,input assignable)
Digital media port (for connection to iPod and other compatible devices)
1 x optical out (via tosklink)

FRONT:
Optical in (via toslink)
Speaker outputs: 2 pairs of independently switched stereo outputs, front centre, stereo rear, stereo rear surround; all 4mm banana plug/binding post connectors.

Speaker outputs can be configured for 7.1 speaker output or 5.1 speaker output with front stereo speakers bi-amplified/second zone
Tuner: FM/AM with RDS & RadioText, 30 presets per band
Supplied accessories: Remote control with multi-brand, multi-function operation, second zone remote, batteries, indoor FM & AM antennas; auto-calibration microphone
On-screen display: Yes (Sony XMB-style, intuitive and attractive interface). GUI display in 2nd zone too
W x H x D (mm): 430 x 175 x 430 (approx)
Weight (kg): 16 (approx)
Finish: Black
Extra: 2nd zone video upscaling to 1080i; optional Bluetooth or wireless upgrade via DMPort (sold separately).

Fantastic sound ...

What a piece !!! Have moved back to Sweden and both my Micro HiFi's got damaged, this machine is fare better then the two I had together.
Play my MP3 without any problems, but not my MP4 - but it doesn't promise that.
The sound is absolutely outstanding and that it has 3 disc trays - even better, every difficult to find today and it also have a cassettplayer, so the old tapes can still be heard.

The only small minus is that it's a bit big, bigger than I thought - but I don't really know the difference in micro and mini. Buy it for the sound .. maybe not for it's looks.

So, so, so pleased with the product.

Fantastic Portable Speakers

These Sony speakers are great if what your looking for is a pair of speakers that you can take with you anywhere. Theve been with me all over the world and been thrown about much more than I inteneded them to be and I'm sure much more than they are designed for. Yet despite all that they still play my music to a very high quality without any distortion even on full volume, my old speakers started to destort and crackle at even half volume. These are well made, light, small and attractive speakers.

Keep looking...

My first impressions of this clock were good. It looks nice, and the features sound pretty good. But as soon as I got it home, I noticed the first problem - the display. Obviously the display is the most important feature for a clock...which is why I find it hard to accept that Sony designed a display that can only be seen when horizontal or higher. My bedside table is slighter higher (~4 inches) than my bed and I can't read the digits. Incredible. You can change the brightness, but this makes no difference.

It wasn't long before I got tired of the buzzer alarm. It's not as bad as some others, but it's still quite lethal. I started setting the radio to go off 10 minutes before I get up, then the buzzer alarm kicks in. This combo makes waking up painless, but the poor quality of the speaker is immediately obvious when listening to the radio. Also, the radio doesn't auto-tune and doesn't do anything fancy like show the station name.

The overall build quality is ok, and the footprint is acceptably small. The daylight savings button is in a seriously bad place though, it's easy to press it when grappling for the clock in the dark.

If you're considering this alarm clock, I'd keep looking if I were you.

Sony SRS M-30 small portable with OK sound

The great thing about these speakers is that they are very light (only 200gms) and easy to carry. Even the adapter is pretty sleek. The sound is OK. Mid and high frequencies sound very good, but lower frequencies get distorted esp. at high volumes. So if you listen at low and medium volumes and are always on the move, and hate to have headphones always on, these are worth the price.

Moderately pleased

Does what it says on the box. Only downside is the sound level when playing through a speaker system

Excellent cinema sound

There are four words to describe this beast, SOLID, POWERFUL, INVOLVING and UGLY.

It has superb, powerful sound. Totally engulfs you. When hooked up as a 5.1 channel surround sound system, it shakes walls. Its not just noise coming out of the speakers, it is atmosphere. It manages to suck you in into whats happening on screen. This Cinema Receiver was voted Product of the Year 2006 and given 5 stars by What HiFi Sound and Vision, two of the main reasons i bought it, along with many other reviews on the internet written by people who owned it saying that it was excellent.

The sound doesn't deterioate as you turn up the volume, it just gets louder and louder. It is you who'll be first to back off before the amp runs out of puff, as the sound gets to deafening proportions, yet still keeps its clarity. The SOUND IS EXCELLENT.

One of my favourite features is the Auto Calibration feature. Using the supplied microphone, the Receiver automatically measures distance between speakers, volume levels, and so on, and then tweaks everything for optimum performance. Sure, you're only gonna use it when you first set it up, or if you alter your room layout, but it is brilliant.

Normal music even sounds good through this. I tried playing my little portable minidisc recorder through this and it sounded great, Am looking forward to purchasing a decent CD player and hooking it up to this amp.

Be warned, the HDMI sockets are for switching ONLY, not for sending HDMI surround to your amp. This Receivers bigger brothers have the whole HDMI surround thing, not this one. The HDMI sockets allow you to connect the Receiver to the TV, and have two HDMI equipped components run into the receiver and then you switch between those two components and what you want to view. Its good if your tv only has one HDMI socket, but you maybe want to connect both your PC via a DVI to HDMI cable, or your DVD player via HDMI to HDMI cable, to that one TV HDMI socket. This Receiver allows you to do that.

Build wise, the Receiver is a really solid lump. Feels incredibly sturdy, well made and expensive

The only downside of this piece of kit is the looks. They are ugly. And the looks dont grow on you. In fact, they seem to get worse.

I think thats why the black version of this is more expensive, because its in greater demand as it cant be seen, whereas this silver version is very 'in yer face'. However, its got it where it counts, and lots of it. Watching movies in 5.1/6.1/7.1 channel surround is about the listening to these contraptions, and thats where this really excels.

I've only just purchased this and have read owners reviews claiming that after 20 hours or so usage the sound actually gets better.

If thats the case, i cant wait!

For this price, the sound quality, power, clarity and detail produced by this makes it a must have.


FOLLOW-UP to review above

I've had the amp/ receiver for 2 weeks now and can happily say that the looks of this equipment don't seem as bad now as they did when i first took it out of the box. It seems i was a bit harsh calling it ugly, the aesthetics are just of an acquired taste. You do get used them, and i have to say, it does look very smart.

Sound wise, i have discovered a chink in the STR-DA1200's armour. I used the auto calibration for the sound setup. I have watched Fast and the Furious (SuperbBit Edition - higher sound quality), Terminator 3, Wild Hogs, Planet of the Apes, all with no problems, the sound setup was perfect. However, this amp didn't like Underworld. As the films sound seems to be very bassy, so my active sub was throwing out bass like no tomorrow. It was producing far too much bass. You shouldn't hear bass, so much as feel it. I could hear my sub going mad, which is all wrong. I had to adjust the sound settings for the active sub manually, something which i loathed doing as the STR-DA1200 is meant to setup everything for you for optimum sound quality. So it would seem that you may well come across a film at some point that will upset your setup. Its not really a problem, just a pain.

Overall, still VERY PLEASED with the STR-DA1200 and it it does produce EXCELLENT cinema sound.