STR-DH810 Review
“The Sony STR-DH810 is a great deal!”
Company: Amazon.com
Price Range: $194-$289
Who Would Buy The Sony STR-DH810 Receiver? 
Anyone looking for a 3D compatible 7.1 channel receiver. Perfect for any environment with an auto-configuration setting which makes it easy to set-up for newbies and audiophiles alike. The Sony STR-DH810 Receiver is the perfect upgrade to any entertainment system.
STR-DH810 Pros:
I have had my Sony STR-DH810 receiver for little over a year and when the newer STR-DH820 was released I bought that one too. Since I use both, I felt it was time to provide you with a fair and unbiased review of the two Sony models.
The STR-DH810 is a great 7.1 channel receiver and initial set-up is simple. For starters, I held down the power button for five seconds . This refreshes and resets any settings you may have programmed incorrectly. Once everything is reset you can press the speaker button on the STR-DH810 receiver and start selecting your desired inputs. That’s it. You will have sound.
The STR-DH810 auto-calibration feature was surprisingly smooth and quite intuitive. I kept trying to put the mic (for auto calibration) in really tough spots around the room but the STR-DH810 did not get fooled. Be sure to have a quiet environment when calibrating.
If you are an audiophile like myself you can use the remote menu to configure all your options manually, like EQ, speaker distance, bass, television resolution, and treble.
The sound is superb. It has given my living room the feel of a movie theater. I have had other sound systems but none have ever given my living room the field of sound the STR-DH810 does.
Another cool aspect of the STR-DH810 is, if you don’t have a blu-ray player the upscaling is spot on. I have Avatar on both DVD and Blu-ray. When I played the DVD the picture upscaled clear and vivid. When I put in the blu-ray version to compare I couldn’t tell the difference. The STR-DH810 is that good upscaling inferior formats.
Just to give you an idea, I have the Playstation 3, X-Box, Blu-ray player, and Verizon FiOS set-top box all connected via HDMI cables. All work great with no dropouts or lip-sync issues.
If you have a PlayStation 3 connected with HDMI and intend to play Blu-Ray through the PS3 make sure to go to the sound audio config menu on the PS3 and let it auto detect what formats the STR-DH810 can play. Set the PS3 to bitstream output as well.
Another cool feature of the STR-DH810 is the LED display. It shows what kind of surround sound is playing when watching a movie through a diagram as well as what speakers are used on that particular movie.
Newer Model of the STR-DH810 Here!
STR-DH810 Cons:
While the STR-DH810 focuses on HDMI and 3D-readiness, what some may find lacking is audio connections. There is only one set of dedicated audio ins/outs. This is more of a nuisance than a reason not to purchase the STR-DH810 and once you get used to the “HD Tuner” being operated via the “Video 1” button on the remote, this drawback is quickly forgotten.
The FM tuner on the STR-DH810 is not as clear as previous Sony models. In a quiet room you can hear a slight hiss when playing FM radio. Again, for me it’s not too big of a deal. How many of you listen to FM radio anymore, especially from your receiver in your home?
I use a digital 8 Handycam for some of my home videos but there is no S-Video input on the STR-DH810. The work around I found is to use a TV with a S-video input. Not a big deal, just a minor annoyance.
The biggest complaint you w
ill find with the STR-DH810 is the manual. Maybe it is cut-backs, maybe it is not taking the proper care in creating a manual but Sony seems to be skimping on their manuals more and more. It’s not the grammar or writing that is lacking, it is the information and direction provided in the STR-DH810 manual. The more complex functions of the receiver are not covered adequately. And while this doesn’t slow down the out of the box hook-up it can slow up the configuration process on specific nuances of the STR-DH810.
There are no on-screen control features on the STR-DH810. But for the price you are paying for a piece of equipment like this it is acceptable. I would rather save a few dollars than Sony add on-screen menus and jack up the price.
There are no back panel electric plugs. An older receiver I owned, I was able to plug in my sub-woofer to the back of the device. With the STR-DH810 I have to power on my sub-woofer separately. Not a big deal but something I think you should be aware of.
Other receivers when powered on would always go to the last device chosen. With the STR-DH810 it automatically goes to the TV input. Each time I turn it on and do not want to watch TV I have to switch the input on the remote or find the right remote. Again, for the price, I can live with this.
Guarantee:
Sony – 2 Year Warranty
Is It Worth the Money?
Absolutely! The Sony STR-DH810 is an affordable surround sound receiver that will impress audio veterans as well as newcomers to home theater. And even though there is a new model available, the STR-DH820, the 810 has everything you need.
Still Not Sold? Check out Amazon.com and read all the 4 and 5 star reviews!