I recently picked this up and have been happy with it for my set up ($250 on sale at Best Buy). Granted I am not an audiophile and have never owned expensive gear. I had an entry level Yamaha receiver for the prior 15 years, but it went and so replaced it with this. The Sony definitely drives the speakers harder, but it also is rated with more power, and IMO it sounds better than the Yamaha did. I have a 3.1 system, never wanted surround speakers, can set it to 3.1 in the menu so it only uses those channels. My front channel speakers are Sony SS-MF750H. They are now discontinued floor/tower speakers. 1” tweeter, 3.25” mid, and two 8” woofers. My center channel is also discontinued, Yamaha NS-C225. 4 small woofers and a tweeter. I had a Polk sub previously, and when the sub amp went bad replaced it with a Klipsch R12SW. It sounds much cleaner than the Polk I had, and gets louder during movies. I run the receiver on the Multi channel stereo mode when listening to music as I think it sounds the best of all the options. And Dolby PLII for movies. I tried the auto calibration and thought it sounded bad, so set the parameters myself. I have the speaker distances set correctly. I have the center channel set at 0dB and the L/R channels at +6.5dB. The center volume was overpowering the L/R speakers before making the adjustments. This gets them balanced, and when I tried it on 2ch mode (center off), the L/R channels center in the room very well. I make the sub adjustments on the sub. Crossover at 80 Hz. Gain at the second line for music. This seems to be the right blend where it doesn’t overpower the music with bass and blends in nicely with the music. Turn the sub up to about 3/4 of the way up for movies, as this is where it needs to be for good LFE sound/pressure. And turn the center channel up to +5dB for movies, to get the dialogue volume where it sounds best. And with the four 8” woofers in the tower speakers the system has decent bass without a sub. But the sub is a definite improvement in filling out the bass. I don’t watch a lot of movies, so mainly use it for music. But did want my audio system with the TV for TV watching and when I do watch a movie. And don’t have a separate room where I listen to music, all in the living room. For music I mostly use Amazon music. Run the HDMI streamer/dongle directly into the receiver, and HDMI out of the receiver for the video signal. There is definitely a difference in clarity/quality of Amazon HD (CD quality) compared to listening to RUclips or streaming music through Bluetooth. I bought an Amazon Firestick 4K max so that I could get Ultra HD and spacial music. I was not happy with the sound vs my current streamer (Sling Air TV), it just sounded like it processed the music differently or something and I preferred the sound of the Sling device. I know there are other components you can add to the system to improve it, but this is a basic system and I’m not trying to add a bunch of complexity and cost. The Firestick was capable of streaming Ultra HD and spacial, and it showed the streaming rates of each track to verify. I couldn’t hear any quality improvement with my system for Ultra HD. And I didn’t like the sound of spacial audio, thought it sounded worse, but my system is a 3.1 so might not be ideal. So I returned the Firestick. I’ve been really happy with the set-up. Of course like I said I’m not an audiophile. And I know it can’t compare to a high end system, when judging all of the details of the sound. But I know what sounds good to me. It sounds crisp and clear, clear delineation of the different parts and details of the music, and can hear lots of details. It is also not harsh or shrilly on the top end, can listen for hours at a time at good volume and it is pleasant and not fatiguing. It easily fills up the living room where I have it located, and envelops you with sound. You can turn it up to an uncomfortable level (get the neighbors attention) and it still sounds clear without distortion. And on heavy bass music (like rap), it will rattle the room, at extremely loud levels without break up/distortion.
I currently have a Polk Audio Signa S2 and I wanted a receiver mainly for having a center channel so I can boost the vocals. Would you recommend me going with a receiver like this and going to 3.1 like yourself?
Same..... I just got this reciever from a local pawn shop asking $180; PAID $75 (I said make me buy its; which he absolutely did) replacing my ancient Onkyo Polk (4)Rti8's, Csi5, PSW303....SUPER HAPPY WITH IT......has plenty of power for my listening levels. For $75-$150 epecially to replace antique AVR making me realize its age & deteriorated sound quality. The sony is high end im this case
I must take exception to this review of the Sony STR-DH590. I've had this receiver for more than a year, and its sound continues to blow me away. I should mention as well that more than two thousand Amazon customers have awarded this unit 4.5/5 stars. I have the receiver powering two ESS AMT-1b bookshelf speakers up front and two vintage Wharfedale Diamonds in the back, and the imaging, bass, and dynamics are all superb whether I'm listening to rock, jazz, classical, blues, or TV and movies. The speakers completely disappear, and every instrument in a combo or orchestra is neatly arrayed in its own space. I don't need a center channel speaker for TV and movie dialog; the phantom center channel is rock solid. Most of all, the dynamic range is Y-U-U-G-E!!! When I watch an action film, adjusting the volume so I can hear dialog clearly, explosions have literally knocked the grills off the ESS speakers. Well, this is all after the fact anyway, as I think Sony has introduced a new 5.1 receiver to replace this one. Still, if you find one of these available at a reasonable price, I don't think you'll be disappointed...
I have to support this comment even though I don't possess a DH590. My comparison reference is a Denon S540BT. The Sony has an advantage because the Denon does not provide a way to manually or marginally set the speaker sounds up or down. The speakers' sounds are set with the calibration process and to my ear the result leaves me barely hearing the satellite speakers. Based on the hype of the capability provided, I would hope that the DH590 would satisfy this deficieny.
Have had this receiver for 6 months paired with a pair of sony cores. Sounds excellent , i returned a Denon which did not sound good at all with the sony speakers.
Paid $178 on Amazon in November 2019. Love this machine. I listen to CDs and podcasts in my kitchen and I’ve never hooked up a TV to it so I wasn’t aware of the menu system. Probably overkill for me, but it was a great price. I have the Sony SSCS5 3-ways connected and paid $73 for those.
I had a midrange Sony AVR for a month or so. Fortunately, I bought it from Best Buy, because I returned it to the local brick-and-mortar. It sounded great... sometimes. The "sometimes" is because the user interface had similar habits to a Boeing 737MAX, i.e. the receiver seemed to have a will of its own. At the very least it was uncommunicative. Every time I used it, I was unclear what mode it was initialized in; even though I was intending to leave it "straight" with no spatial or EQ wizardry in play, I had to walk the perimeter of my listening room to see what speakers were operating, and override the receiver's will if necessary. Also, the operating manual was very cryptic with respect to setup and operating modes. When I had decided to return it, and was shopping for a Yamaha replacement, I actually learned more about the setup and operating procedures of the Sony from the Yamaha online manual than from that supplied by Sony. I am more than happy with the modest Yamaha that I replaced the Sony with. I especially love the indication right on the front panel of which speakers are engaged.
A lot of companies advertise the 1 channel driven number which is only a tweeter frequency in order to make it look more powerful to the uninformed. The real number is the 2 channel driven number which is full range. Usually the approximate 2 channel driven number is half (+/-) the 1channel number. Not cool that they do that to fool the average person....... thanks for the video Randy, this has become one of my favourite channels very quickly. Appreciate your dedication to what your doing. I have a feeling that bigger things are coming your way. Cheers bud!
That's really not correct. Its true that they measure cheap amps using test tones, but not tweeter frequencies. Its just the opposite. You can't get a high power number looking at high frequencies. An amps power output is based on resistance. The more resistive the load, the easier it is for the amp to drive it. But the power rating goes down. If you look at your typical 8 ohm speaker, its really not 8 ohms. Its an average. In use, the speakers resistance changes constantly because resistance is a function of frequency. Given the above, there's 2 ways to get an 8 ohm load. One, as previously mentioned, is the average, but you can also get 8 ohms at 1 specific frequency. So, if you have an amp rated for 100 watts into 8 ohms, the only way to get that exact power rating is to play the 1 specific frequency that will yield 8 ohms resistance. If the speaker is asked to play a higher note your amps power output changes. At 16 ohms, its now a 50 watt amp, and if you go in the other direction, reproducing lower frequencies, the amps power rating goes up. The same amp should put out 200 watts into a 4 ohm load. And that's where the problem is. An amps power should double as resistance is halved, but very few do. This is where creative measuring comes into play. A test tone playing 1 frequency is very easy on the amp. Real music is dynamic, and the constant changing of resistance is much harder on the amp. In order to get good specs, they have to cheat with a test tone. It makes it look like the amp is much more powerful than it really is.
@@solarfall2728 Ok. I said what I said because it’s what I’ve read in many articles on the subject, and videos as well. I don’t have deep enough knowledge to articulate it as well as you seem to so..... ok...... Thanks for the info
I had the DH590 for a day before I got the DH790 instead. I wanted to finally get back into surround audio and the 590 lacks both Atmos and DTS-X which the 790 has and more. The 790 has more modes, one of them is auto codec- it will automatically select the codec depending on the source- you can actually watch the panel switch modes as you flip channels or even when a commercial comes on. Although they are rated the same wattage- the 790 seems to push speakers more easily and with more bass and warmth. As it sits, the DH590 has no real home- it has lots of features sure, but it does not have Atmos or DTS-X that you would want with a HT, nor does it have all the equalizer features or raw power you would want for a music receiver. The DH590 seems to stay at $199 now, and at that price it's fine, the DH790 is $350 and for all the features it has, it's worth it. I can't tell you what modes do what with a sub-woofer because I don't have one- and really don't need one with the Polk S55's I have Polk S55's up front, Sony Dolby height speakers on top, Sony Core center and Jamo S803's as the rear- Really nice setup and everything but the Receiver was 50% off or more! My entire audio system cost $950 all brand new vs. full price of $1660.
Thanks Randy - I think one of the best values in audio is a used high-end AVR, even for 2.1 channel listening. The prices seem to fall quickly, just because they don't have the latest codecs. They usually have ability to bi-amp, and good dacs. What's not to like. A high-end Yamaha, Denon, Marantz or Sony ES from a few years ago can still kick some butt - and in 2.1 mode, you don't need to go through a bunch of menus.
@@cheapaudioman I love your reviews watching your stuff frequently for more than a year now since I came across your channel. But would like to question and put my concern towards recommendation of purchasing from used market. Like why do you recommend purchasing from used market? See I understand the point of getting higher end product for cheap but then there is also an issue of it being used. Like per say a person purchase a $200 used product and it fails after just a month or two. Wouldn't it be a loss to him. Instead if purchase new product it comes with warranty and one can claim it if anything goes wrong. Because if that $200 used equipment fails then that $200 is lost and then he has to purchase new one for additional $200. That be a serious loss to one who is on budget and trying to save money by going for or limiting his budget to $200 in the first place. So I seriously don't get the point of recommending used stuff specially with the risk of it failing anytime out of the blue in which we are at serious loss.
Thank you Randy for letting us know the straight information on equipment. I want to get the most bang for my money and not buy snake oil. I purchased a Denon AVR-1713 used and feel much better after seeing this review.
Any chance we could get a 790 review? Pretty please? I'm curious if there's any upside to it over this model, other than Atmos support. Would also love a Yamaha RX-V385 vs. Denon AVR-S540BT vs. the 590 showdown. Thank you, sir.
Good friend of mine has this receiver paired with Klipsch speakers and it sounds great with HT. He's a newbie and found the setup easy, i'm sure he'll upgrade eventually.
It's a unit that works and does what it intends to do. I was hoping that it would sound a bit better with music as that's my main thing. I just think there are some better options out there and wanted to let everyone know just how this thing sounds.
@@cheapaudioman Randy will you be doing a video on the new Schitt Modi 3+, I'm looking to buy a DAC for my new Cambridge Amp and have no experience with external DAC's.
I was thinking of getting the Sony Str-DH790 with the Klipsch Reference Theater pack (first sound system above a soundbar, not trying to break the bank) About the Optical cable though...is what you are saying that it almost doesn't matter if it can do HDR, Dolby Vision etc. if I connect to the receiver with the optical cable? I dont know much about home audio just trying to learn quick before I make a purchase
A couple of errors. "Front reference" setting adjusts the response of the other speakers to match the tonal balance of the front mains. And the number of speakers in use (5.1, 2.0, etc.) can be selected directly in the "AMP" menu.
WOW. Thanks for that gem of information about matching. Why doesn't the Operating Instructions booklet mention and explain that. My front mains are -3db at 24Hz, but the centre & rears are lucky to go down to 40Hz, so trying to make them match the fronts in the extended bass frequencies is not a good idea eh? I wonder if I tell the amp that the fronts are "small" before matching it will avoid over-driving? I've just got my DH590 and from what you said I may have dodged a bullet. I will check with Sony first.
Thanks... was on the fence about getting this one. Still leaning towards the Yamaha RX-V385 for a cheap receiver (will also check out your Denon AVR-S540BT review). The last few reviews you've done have been really helpful to me. I ended up buying the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom speakers with center, and I was already leaning towards the Klipsch RB-61 II because I already have the RC-62 II center and RS-400 rears. Keep up the great work!
how was the yamaha reciver? I'm thinking of getting the same one soon. I know sony and yamaha are both as old as time in the audio and tech game so I'm comfortable with either option, but I wanted some experience from someone who bought one already
@@tylerfabish5578 I went with the Yamaha. They make rock solid equipment in general and I've never had any issues with them in the past. I find Sony stuff to be hit and miss unless you go with the their premium line. The Denon AVR seemed a bit limiting compared to the other two. Out of the three, the Yamaha seemed to be the best.
Hi I have a question I just got this receiver recently for a steal. Anyways I’m wondering if I have to have it on a certain setting if I’m only running a 3.1 setup … if so which setting would that be, thanks !
MP3s with good encoding & decoding can sound great and don't need any enhancements or restoration processing. Those are just a gimmicky attempt to make shitty MP3s sound better. They usually don't succeed in doing so because you can't enhance what's already been stripped during the encoding process. All MP3 codecs are definitely not created equal. I prefer to use EAC to rip WAVs from CDs, use Audacity for editing as necessary (mostly for trimming silence), and use the LAME codec to create MP3s. My entire collection is at least 192kbps. Most files are 256kbps or 320kbps. What doomed the MP3 was software companies using 128kbps as the default bitrate back in the day and claiming it was "near-CD quality." Most people didn't understand that higher bitrates yielded better sounding files. Although, storage was pretty limited too until the late 2000s/early 2010s when 500+GB hard drives became common in computers.
I buy albums on CDs and then rip the tracks onto my PC as 320kbps MP3s. For me it's the best balance between audio fidelity and file size. Plus, you get tag data.
Your video instruction is the best out there. This is exactly what I wanted to see. I even hD an Idea of making a video like this because I dont find them anywhere. I have subscribed. Please do more Receivers that are better quality. What receiver would tou recommend for 15” sub woofers?
Could you help me with an opinion, sir? This receiver have output for cables (to connect passive speakers) and also bluetooth (to connect active speakers, for exemple). Which would you go for?
Great review. Literally just came back from picking up a Pioneer VSX-820 from a guy on Facebook marketplace...$60 and he had the remote. I have a Pioneer VSX-1020, so the calibration mike is identical for both. These are 8-10 year old receivers. Sorry,Home Theater audio technology has not changed for the most part,, in 20 years if 5.1 is your choice.. I don't care about video pass through. I run the Toslink opticalout from my TVs to the optical input on the receiver...works great and is simple. Dont care about Atmos...my hearing isn't up to it. 5.1 is just fine. Glad to see you covering Home Theater equipment. I looked at this Sony. Not readily available...maybe at Best Buy. There are so many decent AV receivers on the used market that I can't justify the cost of a low end new one.
I have this receiver and was wanting to ask, what do you think would be a good upgrade from this receiver? I have 2 polk s55 tower speakers, 2 small polk surround speakers, and 2 klipsch powered subwoofers. I feel like i could be getting better sound maybe? For under 500$?
I have the STR-DH800 version of this receiver and am right there with you. I've never been happy with the sound of it. I drew identical conclusions as you did - the low-end just wasn't there - very thin overall. Overall presence was also lacking. It has long been retired to our bedroom receiver for basic nighttime TV watching.
The way I see it this was designed for the small apartment guy or a small media room, to be hooked with cheap speakers such as the Sony or the Pioneer. I have it connected in my guest bedroom with Pioneer FS52 and works great.
This review is spot on - I’ve had this receiver for 2 years paired with Q150 speakers… never really liked it. Fine for movies and TV, but listening to music is fatiguing, boring, thin. I demo’d my speakers in a store with a Marantz receiver and they sounded much more alive and musical.
CD and FM are ok. Bass is lacking in the phono, etc. Any ideas on how to boost it? A simple "loudness" button may have helped. Always love your videos!
i have the two speakers that came with the passport fender pd250 plus, can I hook them up to this and add a subwoofer? i believe they have 1/4 in. jack plugs
Is there a way to also have sound from the TV as well? I have this setup in my basement and only running 4 ceiling speakers. It’s not a home theater it’s a sports bar setup with 3 TV’s. The problem I have is not just stereo related but the way the ceiling is finished around the beams. 2 speakers seem much louder than the others and I’m not sure if there is a way to turn down one set front or rear and turn up the others. Maybe in the speaker setup? If you were just using this to run 4 speakers not surround how would you set it up. The louder 2 speakers on front and the two that aren’t so loud on rear or vise versa? Hope this make sense.
I bought mine for 225 I found that this receiver that I have and I own, I put two 2 ohms per speaker because I bought car speakers put them in my boxes for each speaker. Box takes two ohms with four speakers that six ohms total going into this receiver and it is 145 Measured out and that is in the manual,, that you can do and I found that it actually runs cooler. With the lower, ohms resistance speakers when I did have six ohms speakers in my boxes. It ran hotter if you’re able to build your own system this system is the best for the price.
I ran large speakers for the main four floor speakers. And then the center channel is a small speaker and put in it Pacific settings. But all those other settings you’re talking about 100% true.
Help! I have this receiver working with Samsung TV and Amazon Fire Box. However, I have never been able to bring up Easy Setup .. it did not come up automatically nor can I get it by hitting HOME. Sound Setting is 2CH/MULTI with MULTI ST. and sound is coming out of all 5 speakers. Can this be calibrated at this time? and How ? I'm lost. appreciate any help
Could you tell me if this receiver has no heating issues? Because Marantz and Denon are terrible. With other words is this receiver jumping in protection mode? Thats the only expectation from my side i need to turn up the volume without shutting down. Even my logitech g960 is better then those terrible receivers
Nice review! You cracked me up talking about the menu! I own the dh790 and it boggles my mind at how outdated the menu is. It's not even good for a standards of 20 years ago 😂 Dh790 was my first hifi purchase and with a pair of Q Acoustics 3030i it's good enough for me :) maybe once I'll collect the speakers for a 5.1 system, I'll consider upgrading the receiver. Overall a good starting point for beginners I would say. Unless you're all about the music - then I would recommend the stereo amplifier route. Cheers!
Then you should see a Sony STR-Dn840 menu, you think you ended up in the software of the receiver, just white / black without any photo and it cost around 600 euros at the time😂
Fantastic, exactly what I’m looking for/not looking for. this hdmi 2.1 snafu is really making me pause on getting a new receiver. Also, making me go just hi-fi which was not my original path
Love your vids man! Been subbed since 600 subs. Good luck with growing your channel, I described your channel to my partner as “Ron Swanson but an audiophile”
I got the 550 last year it's not bad for 230.00. it's working for me. I have the Klipsch r26 front's by wired and a little elac 10 sub and a Klipsch center and a couple bose double cube's for rears. Sounds pretty good. I would like to get something different but haven't decided yet. I'm starting to go down that rabbit hole.
Actually i found a gem in this unit. Ran my bt from phone to quarter inch plug in into the unit, and with proper dynamic drivers when turned up it sounds fantastic. Planar not so much or should i say harder to drive headphones.
BB claims Price is 399.00 down to 289.00, not going to buy after this review, however you have me considering what I can get for less with the same features. Thank you for the review, sir
Depends on your budget for sure. I haven't really heard a "good" 5 channel receiver less than $400 or so. If you really want 3 or 5 channels I'd look at a solid used receiver and then build the speakers to your budget.
Hey I've had a few Sony receivers and presently have a DH190, DH550 and ZA1100ES. I've also had the DH790, which is basically the DH590 without Atmos. The DH550 has legit banana jacks and sounds better in my opinion than the 590 or 790.
Just a heads up, the sports mode makes sports like movies. It puts the announcers through the center channel and all the ambience in the surrounds. I think it’s pretty cools for soccer games where the announcers are not so hectic / present. But I only use it when I am watching games by myself though because like you set it’s sweet spot dependent.
Would this be good for a novice who doesn't want to fiddle too much with settings, just needs good TV/movie/radio/Bluetooth of a decent quality, or is it simply a broken design and will give even a novice a lot of trouble?
Awesome! Love the channel! Very much appreciate your reviews. Also, cool intros on price comparisons :) Do you think to add “objective section”? Like Hz curves and noise/signal ratios?
I need help. Have the 590 connected to Samsung TV and Amazon Fire Box. Easy setup screen never came up nor can I get it by hitting HOME. Sound setting is 2CH/MULTI and MULTI-ST working all 5 speakers. but I can't figure out how to calibrate the sound/speakers; or with cabled mic is connected is it doing it automatically? I'm tech but no home theatre expert. can someone direct me?
So for the same price is this as good as the Yamaha v385? I’d prefer the Sony cos it will fit under my tv, unless its noticeably worse. Connecting to Polk 265rt fronts, and a sub. Possibly add surrounds in future
Another well-done video, good sir! This is like the 10th video you've done on a product I was highly considering purchasing. So, again, thank you! I really enjoyed the point you made that at this price point, one should really consider the used market because you can get a really great unit for around $100 that is built better than this one. But I do agree that at $199, it would be a strong consideration for a new unit. By the way, I got my Wharfedale 11.2's (in white) yesterday and listened to them for about an hour or so. WOW!!! They are really wonderful speakers. I love them! I heard things in familiar songs that I've never heard before and truly feel they are a serious next level up from what I had before. Loved that review as well. In closing, you continue to churn out fantastic work and I truly look forward to EVERY next video. Thank you, man! THANK YOU!
I have the 190, which for many people will probably do the trick for a good 2-channel music system. (Of course, if you have special requirements, like needing an easy subwoofer connection, or wanting very high volume levels, or needing a receiver capable of powering inefficient and/or 4 ohm speakers, this won't be what you want.) However, if I were buying a receiver for a 2-channel system today, I'd seriously consider the 590, which provides an easy sub hookup, plus the ability to high pass into the main speakers, as you described. The set-up system may make using the receiver this way too hard, so that could be a deal killer, but you can always buy it, then send it back if that proved to be the case.
Hey please help i bought this but i have no center speaker but have two front 2 back 1 sub and can't figure out how to turn off the center speaker so the voice plays through the front and right only
Very nice review thanks i have an old Sony tank ta-v777ES mint i got for 70€ and works amazing after all this Time and the sound is amazing and powerful but i want a new Onkyo receiver or maybe a nice Sony
Sony products have always been hit or miss with a whole lot of misses. They've made some decent headphones, televisions, and apparently bookshelf speakers, but I'm never liked their receivers or car audio. I know they sell a LOT, so maybe today you saved a few people a disappointment. Thanks Randy.
I have this receiver and it sync'd with my Bravia perfectly so I could use my speakers with my video sources. Flash forward to 2 years later and I was swatting a fly and broke out a bunch of pixels. New TV is an LG OLED C1. I can't for the life of me figure out how to make the eARC sound from the LG to play with my DH-590 TV HDMI port. Wouldn't happen to know why? I heard you say this does NOT do Dolby Atmos. Could that be part of the problem?
A few months ago my onkyo tx-8050 died. For my replacement i had it down to two choices. This sony avr and the denon s540bt. I didn't really want an avr but figured why not considering how much more you're getting for the money. I picked up the denon s540bt for $200 and couldn't be any happier.
![[4K] Watch SpaceX Catch A Starship Rocket From Space!!! #IFT5](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/pIKI7y3DTXk/mqdefault.jpg)
This is a breath of fresh air.Someone who is actually funny and not a comedian.
I can't wait to read the comments from people think you can actually buy andrew jones salsa. Mild, medium and british.
I recently picked this up and have been happy with it for my set up ($250 on sale at Best Buy).
Granted I am not an audiophile and have never owned expensive gear.
I had an entry level Yamaha receiver for the prior 15 years, but it went and so replaced it with this.
The Sony definitely drives the speakers harder, but it also is rated with more power, and IMO it sounds better than the Yamaha did.
I have a 3.1 system, never wanted surround speakers, can set it to 3.1 in the menu so it only uses those channels.
My front channel speakers are Sony SS-MF750H.
They are now discontinued floor/tower speakers.
1” tweeter, 3.25” mid, and two 8” woofers.
My center channel is also discontinued, Yamaha NS-C225.
4 small woofers and a tweeter.
I had a Polk sub previously, and when the sub amp went bad replaced it with a Klipsch R12SW.
It sounds much cleaner than the Polk I had, and gets louder during movies.
I run the receiver on the Multi channel stereo mode when listening to music as I think it sounds the best of all the options.
And Dolby PLII for movies.
I tried the auto calibration and thought it sounded bad, so set the parameters myself.
I have the speaker distances set correctly.
I have the center channel set at 0dB and the L/R channels at +6.5dB.
The center volume was overpowering the L/R speakers before making the adjustments.
This gets them balanced, and when I tried it on 2ch mode (center off), the L/R channels center in the room very well.
I make the sub adjustments on the sub.
Crossover at 80 Hz. Gain at the second line for music.
This seems to be the right blend where it doesn’t overpower the music with bass and blends in nicely with the music.
Turn the sub up to about 3/4 of the way up for movies, as this is where it needs to be for good LFE sound/pressure.
And turn the center channel up to +5dB for movies, to get the dialogue volume where it sounds best.
And with the four 8” woofers in the tower speakers the system has decent bass without a sub.
But the sub is a definite improvement in filling out the bass.
I don’t watch a lot of movies, so mainly use it for music.
But did want my audio system with the TV for TV watching and when I do watch a movie.
And don’t have a separate room where I listen to music, all in the living room.
For music I mostly use Amazon music.
Run the HDMI streamer/dongle directly into the receiver, and HDMI out of the receiver for the video signal.
There is definitely a difference in clarity/quality of Amazon HD (CD quality) compared to listening to RUclips or streaming music through Bluetooth.
I bought an Amazon Firestick 4K max so that I could get Ultra HD and spacial music.
I was not happy with the sound vs my current streamer (Sling Air TV), it just sounded like it processed the music differently or something and I preferred the sound of the Sling device.
I know there are other components you can add to the system to improve it, but this is a basic system and I’m not trying to add a bunch of complexity and cost.
The Firestick was capable of streaming Ultra HD and spacial, and it showed the streaming rates of each track to verify.
I couldn’t hear any quality improvement with my system for Ultra HD.
And I didn’t like the sound of spacial audio, thought it sounded worse, but my system is a 3.1 so might not be ideal.
So I returned the Firestick.
I’ve been really happy with the set-up.
Of course like I said I’m not an audiophile.
And I know it can’t compare to a high end system, when judging all of the details of the sound.
But I know what sounds good to me.
It sounds crisp and clear, clear delineation of the different parts and details of the music, and can hear lots of details.
It is also not harsh or shrilly on the top end, can listen for hours at a time at good volume and it is pleasant and not fatiguing.
It easily fills up the living room where I have it located, and envelops you with sound.
You can turn it up to an uncomfortable level (get the neighbors attention) and it still sounds clear without distortion.
And on heavy bass music (like rap), it will rattle the room, at extremely loud levels without break up/distortion.
I currently have a Polk Audio Signa S2 and I wanted a receiver mainly for having a center channel so I can boost the vocals. Would you recommend me going with a receiver like this and going to 3.1 like yourself?
This man is a blessing to humanity.
You are very kind to say that.
@@cheapaudioman Bless his heart. Does that mean the same thing where you are from?
@@donpettit7107 well in texas it usually means that someone is an idiot and then another says... bless their heart
@@cheapaudioman So, similar.
@@donpettit7107 that was rude
A man who speaks my language who I can understand it's great I really enjoy your channel and I will keep on watching thanks
Thanks for the review. Love how matter of fact and unbiased you are! I bought this receiver at $120. No regrets.
Same..... I just got this reciever from a local pawn shop asking $180; PAID $75 (I said make me buy its; which he absolutely did) replacing my ancient Onkyo Polk (4)Rti8's, Csi5, PSW303....SUPER HAPPY WITH IT......has plenty of power for my listening levels. For $75-$150 epecially to replace antique AVR making me realize its age & deteriorated sound quality. The sony is high end im this case
I must take exception to this review of the Sony STR-DH590. I've had this receiver for more than a year, and its sound continues to blow me away. I should mention as well that more than two thousand Amazon customers have awarded this unit 4.5/5 stars.
I have the receiver powering two ESS AMT-1b bookshelf speakers up front and two vintage Wharfedale Diamonds in the back, and the imaging, bass, and dynamics are all superb whether I'm listening to rock, jazz, classical, blues, or TV and movies.
The speakers completely disappear, and every instrument in a combo or orchestra is neatly arrayed in its own space. I don't need a center channel speaker for TV and movie dialog; the phantom center channel is rock solid.
Most of all, the dynamic range is Y-U-U-G-E!!! When I watch an action film, adjusting the volume so I can hear dialog clearly, explosions have literally knocked the grills off the ESS speakers.
Well, this is all after the fact anyway, as I think Sony has introduced a new 5.1 receiver to replace this one. Still, if you find one of these available at a reasonable price, I don't think you'll be disappointed...
What is the receiver that replaced this one to your knowledge?
I have to support this comment even though I don't possess a DH590. My comparison reference is a Denon S540BT. The Sony has an advantage because the Denon does not provide a way to manually or marginally set the speaker sounds up or down. The speakers' sounds are set with the calibration process and to my ear the result leaves me barely hearing the satellite speakers. Based on the hype of the capability provided, I would hope that the DH590 would satisfy this deficieny.
Have had this receiver for 6 months paired with a pair of sony cores. Sounds excellent , i returned a Denon which did not sound good at all with the sony speakers.
Paid $178 on Amazon in November 2019. Love this machine. I listen to CDs and podcasts in my kitchen and I’ve never hooked up a TV to it so I wasn’t aware of the menu system. Probably overkill for me, but it was a great price. I have the Sony SSCS5 3-ways connected and paid $73 for those.
good deal. The important thing is that you enjoy it.
A whole surround system for podcasts 😂😂 love it
I had a midrange Sony AVR for a month or so. Fortunately, I bought it from Best Buy, because I returned it to the local brick-and-mortar. It sounded great... sometimes. The "sometimes" is because the user interface had similar habits to a Boeing 737MAX, i.e. the receiver seemed to have a will of its own. At the very least it was uncommunicative. Every time I used it, I was unclear what mode it was initialized in; even though I was intending to leave it "straight" with no spatial or EQ wizardry in play, I had to walk the perimeter of my listening room to see what speakers were operating, and override the receiver's will if necessary. Also, the operating manual was very cryptic with respect to setup and operating modes. When I had decided to return it, and was shopping for a Yamaha replacement, I actually learned more about the setup and operating procedures of the Sony from the Yamaha online manual than from that supplied by Sony. I am more than happy with the modest Yamaha that I replaced the Sony with. I especially love the indication right on the front panel of which speakers are engaged.
A lot of companies advertise the 1 channel driven number which is only a tweeter frequency in order to make it look more powerful to the uninformed. The real number is the 2 channel driven number which is full range. Usually the approximate 2 channel driven number is half (+/-) the 1channel number. Not cool that they do that to fool the average person....... thanks for the video Randy, this has become one of my favourite channels very quickly. Appreciate your dedication to what your doing. I have a feeling that bigger things are coming your way. Cheers bud!
That's really not correct. Its true that they measure cheap amps using test tones, but not tweeter frequencies. Its just the opposite. You can't get a high power number looking at high frequencies. An amps power output is based on resistance. The more resistive the load, the easier it is for the amp to drive it. But the power rating goes down. If you look at your typical 8 ohm speaker, its really not 8 ohms. Its an average. In use, the speakers resistance changes constantly because resistance is a function of frequency.
Given the above, there's 2 ways to get an 8 ohm load. One, as previously mentioned, is the average, but you can also get 8 ohms at 1 specific frequency. So, if you have an amp rated for 100 watts into 8 ohms, the only way to get that exact power rating is to play the 1 specific frequency that will yield 8 ohms resistance. If the speaker is asked to play a higher note your amps power output changes. At 16 ohms, its now a 50 watt amp, and if you go in the other direction, reproducing lower frequencies, the amps power rating goes up. The same amp should put out 200 watts into a 4 ohm load. And that's where the problem is. An amps power should double as resistance is halved, but very few do. This is where creative measuring comes into play. A test tone playing 1 frequency is very easy on the amp. Real music is dynamic, and the constant changing of resistance is much harder on the amp. In order to get good specs, they have to cheat with a test tone. It makes it look like the amp is much more powerful than it really is.
@@solarfall2728
Ok.
I said what I said because it’s what I’ve read in many articles on the subject, and videos as well.
I don’t have deep enough knowledge to articulate it as well as you seem to so..... ok...... Thanks for the info
I had the DH590 for a day before I got the DH790 instead.
I wanted to finally get back into surround audio and the 590 lacks both Atmos and DTS-X which the 790 has and more.
The 790 has more modes, one of them is auto codec- it will automatically select the codec depending on the source- you can actually watch the panel switch modes as you flip channels or even when a commercial comes on.
Although they are rated the same wattage- the 790 seems to push speakers more easily and with more bass and warmth.
As it sits, the DH590 has no real home- it has lots of features sure, but it does not have Atmos or DTS-X that you would want with a HT, nor does it have all the equalizer features or raw power you would want for a music receiver.
The DH590 seems to stay at $199 now, and at that price it's fine, the DH790 is $350 and for all the features it has, it's worth it.
I can't tell you what modes do what with a sub-woofer because I don't have one- and really don't need one with the Polk S55's
I have Polk S55's up front, Sony Dolby height speakers on top, Sony Core center and Jamo S803's as the rear- Really nice setup and everything but the Receiver was 50% off or more! My entire audio system cost $950 all brand new vs. full price of $1660.
Nice thanks for this comment, im waiting for mine to come in the mail and start my first 5.1 system
Thanks Randy - I think one of the best values in audio is a used high-end AVR, even for 2.1 channel listening. The prices seem to fall quickly, just because they don't have the latest codecs. They usually have ability to bi-amp, and good dacs. What's not to like. A high-end Yamaha, Denon, Marantz or Sony ES from a few years ago can still kick some butt - and in 2.1 mode, you don't need to go through a bunch of menus.
Couldn't agree more. And even with home theater just optical out of the tv.
@@cheapaudioman how to update the firmware on this receiver? looking through it's menu there's an option for updating.
@@cheapaudioman I love your reviews watching your stuff frequently for more than a year now since I came across your channel. But would like to question and put my concern towards recommendation of purchasing from used market. Like why do you recommend purchasing from used market? See I understand the point of getting higher end product for cheap but then there is also an issue of it being used. Like per say a person purchase a $200 used product and it fails after just a month or two. Wouldn't it be a loss to him. Instead if purchase new product it comes with warranty and one can claim it if anything goes wrong. Because if that $200 used equipment fails then that $200 is lost and then he has to purchase new one for additional $200. That be a serious loss to one who is on budget and trying to save money by going for or limiting his budget to $200 in the first place. So I seriously don't get the point of recommending used stuff specially with the risk of it failing anytime out of the blue in which we are at serious loss.
You're the only dude on youtube that tells people that their money is better spent elsewhere
Carefull, he'll Polk you in the eye....
I have this receiver. Super happy with it.
I ran the dn 840 for 15 years everyday. Loved it! I powered a full 5.2, another 2, and another 2 in different rooms off it.
Thank you Randy for letting us know the straight information on equipment. I want to get the most bang for my money and not buy snake oil. I purchased a Denon
AVR-1713 used and feel much better after seeing this review.
I googled my new receiver and somehow you popped up. I am not turning this off at this point. This was great!
check out my other videos, man. this one was a bit dry
Any chance we could get a 790 review? Pretty please? I'm curious if there's any upside to it over this model, other than Atmos support. Would also love a Yamaha RX-V385 vs. Denon AVR-S540BT vs. the 590 showdown. Thank you, sir.
Good friend of mine has this receiver paired with Klipsch speakers and it sounds great with HT. He's a newbie and found the setup easy, i'm sure he'll upgrade eventually.
It's a unit that works and does what it intends to do. I was hoping that it would sound a bit better with music as that's my main thing. I just think there are some better options out there and wanted to let everyone know just how this thing sounds.
@@cheapaudioman Randy will you be doing a video on the new Schitt Modi 3+, I'm looking to buy a DAC for my new Cambridge Amp and have no experience with external DAC's.
I was thinking of getting the Sony Str-DH790 with the Klipsch Reference Theater pack (first sound system above a soundbar, not trying to break the bank) About the Optical cable though...is what you are saying that it almost doesn't matter if it can do HDR, Dolby Vision etc. if I connect to the receiver with the optical cable? I dont know much about home audio just trying to learn quick before I make a purchase
I’m seeing a lot of people critique the 590, with mine I always enjoy movies & especially music, bass is crazy good at least for me
What about the DH790? Would love to see a review of that because there shockingly aren’t any.
I keep up with you thanks. Will keep my pioneer 1050 going though my neighbors enjoy the music.
A couple of errors. "Front reference" setting adjusts the response of the other speakers to match the tonal balance of the front mains. And the number of speakers in use (5.1, 2.0, etc.) can be selected directly in the "AMP" menu.
WOW. Thanks for that gem of information about matching. Why doesn't the Operating Instructions booklet mention and explain that. My front mains are -3db at 24Hz, but the centre & rears are lucky to go down to 40Hz, so trying to make them match the fronts in the extended bass frequencies is not a good idea eh? I wonder if I tell the amp that the fronts are "small" before matching it will avoid over-driving? I've just got my DH590 and from what you said I may have dodged a bullet. I will check with Sony first.
So what do you recommend in the 200 to 300 range. I currently have a Sony STR-DH520 and it is starting to have problems.
I went from a focusrite to this. So far I'm happy. I wouldn't know the difference though.
Thanks... was on the fence about getting this one. Still leaning towards the Yamaha RX-V385 for a cheap receiver (will also check out your Denon AVR-S540BT review). The last few reviews you've done have been really helpful to me. I ended up buying the Paradigm Monitor SE Atom speakers with center, and I was already leaning towards the Klipsch RB-61 II because I already have the RC-62 II center and RS-400 rears.
Keep up the great work!
how was the yamaha reciver? I'm thinking of getting the same one soon. I know sony and yamaha are both as old as time in the audio and tech game so I'm comfortable with either option, but I wanted some experience from someone who bought one already
@@tylerfabish5578 I went with the Yamaha. They make rock solid equipment in general and I've never had any issues with them in the past.
I find Sony stuff to be hit and miss unless you go with the their premium line. The Denon AVR seemed a bit limiting compared to the other two.
Out of the three, the Yamaha seemed to be the best.
Odd question here...The little Hi Res sticker on top corner, are they 12mm or 15mm? I have 2 sizes and want to put on..
I just got this and happy with it just need a sub to go with the bookshelf speakers
Hi I have a question I just got this receiver recently for a steal. Anyways I’m wondering if I have to have it on a certain setting if I’m only running a 3.1 setup … if so which setting would that be, thanks !
MP3s with good encoding & decoding can sound great and don't need any enhancements or restoration processing. Those are just a gimmicky attempt to make shitty MP3s sound better. They usually don't succeed in doing so because you can't enhance what's already been stripped during the encoding process. All MP3 codecs are definitely not created equal.
I prefer to use EAC to rip WAVs from CDs, use Audacity for editing as necessary (mostly for trimming silence), and use the LAME codec to create MP3s. My entire collection is at least 192kbps. Most files are 256kbps or 320kbps. What doomed the MP3 was software companies using 128kbps as the default bitrate back in the day and claiming it was "near-CD quality." Most people didn't understand that higher bitrates yielded better sounding files. Although, storage was pretty limited too until the late 2000s/early 2010s when 500+GB hard drives became common in computers.
I buy albums on CDs and then rip the tracks onto my PC as 320kbps MP3s. For me it's the best balance between audio fidelity and file size. Plus, you get tag data.
I had this one, it is nice and very basic for a surround receiver.
Congrats on monetizing your channel!
What is the max lvl for base? Is it powerful?
Your video instruction is the best out there. This is exactly what I wanted to see. I even hD an Idea of making a video like this because I dont find them anywhere. I have subscribed. Please do more Receivers that are better quality. What receiver would tou recommend for 15” sub woofers?
just got one of these open box from best buy. the thing won't even turn on, but that's probably just my unit. glad others have had better luck
Many years ago I had a Karmon Kardon rated 25 watt per side. Best sounding amp I ever had.
Could you help me with an opinion, sir?
This receiver have output for cables (to connect passive speakers) and also bluetooth (to connect active speakers, for exemple). Which would you go for?
The funniest audio guy on youtube hands down.
Great review. Literally just came back from picking up a Pioneer VSX-820 from a guy on Facebook marketplace...$60 and he had the remote. I have a Pioneer VSX-1020, so the calibration mike is identical for both. These are 8-10 year old receivers. Sorry,Home Theater audio technology has not changed for the most part,, in 20 years if 5.1 is your choice..
I don't care about video pass through. I run the Toslink opticalout from my TVs to the optical input on the receiver...works great and is simple. Dont care about Atmos...my hearing isn't up to it. 5.1 is just fine.
Glad to see you covering Home Theater equipment. I looked at this Sony. Not readily available...maybe at Best Buy. There are so many decent AV receivers on the used market that I can't justify the cost of a low end new one.
I got mine on black Friday for 150 bucks a few years ago. It's ok but will upgrade eventually. It was only for the time being. Good review!
I did the same. I will be getting one of the new yamahas coming out in a couple months.
I have this receiver and was wanting to ask, what do you think would be a good upgrade from this receiver? I have 2 polk s55 tower speakers, 2 small polk surround speakers, and 2 klipsch powered subwoofers. I feel like i could be getting better sound maybe? For under 500$?
20 seconds into my first video from this guy and hit the subscribe button.
Thanks for walking us through the menus Randy. I have a similar reciever and it helped alot
This might be a stupid question, but can I hook up a turntable (with a preamp built in) to this?
The NutNfancy of the audio world
And I meant that as a compliment! Very practical advice!
Ahhh, another TNP'er
I love this comparison lol
Hi, I know this is an old video, but I'll chance it.
Q-Is the Yamaha RX-V385 5.1 better than the Sony STRDH590, I'm asking for some help, thx :)
I have the STR-DH800 version of this receiver and am right there with you. I've never been happy with the sound of it. I drew identical conclusions as you did - the low-end just wasn't there - very thin overall. Overall presence was also lacking. It has long been retired to our bedroom receiver for basic nighttime TV watching.
You can hook it up with HDMI to the computers HDMI output and get digital sound thru the HDMI
The amp will show up as an audio device.
The way I see it this was designed for the small apartment guy or a small media room, to be hooked with cheap speakers such as the Sony or the Pioneer. I have it connected in my guest bedroom with Pioneer FS52 and works great.
This review is spot on - I’ve had this receiver for 2 years paired with Q150 speakers… never really liked it. Fine for movies and TV, but listening to music is fatiguing, boring, thin. I demo’d my speakers in a store with a Marantz receiver and they sounded much more alive and musical.
CD and FM are ok. Bass is lacking in the phono, etc. Any ideas on how to boost it? A simple "loudness" button may have helped. Always love your videos!
My old Denon AVR487 hooked to Four 15s Fisher...still does the Trick for me....
i have the two speakers that came with the passport fender pd250 plus, can I hook them up to this and add a subwoofer? i believe they have 1/4 in. jack plugs
Bought this receiver for home audio, sounds great
Is there a way to simultaneously listen to bluetooth audio and watch tv on this receiver?
yes, i am also curious, just got this, i cant figure out how? i bet he didn't test it
Do "banana clips" have better sound than jus the normal clips?? Is there signal loss?
Is there a way to also have sound from the TV as well? I have this setup in my basement and only running 4 ceiling speakers. It’s not a home theater it’s a sports bar setup with 3 TV’s. The problem I have is not just stereo related but the way the ceiling is finished around the beams. 2 speakers seem much louder than the others and I’m not sure if there is a way to turn down one set front or rear and turn up the others. Maybe in the speaker setup?
If you were just using this to run 4 speakers not surround how would you set it up. The louder 2 speakers on front and the two that aren’t so loud on rear or vise versa?
Hope this make sense.
I bought mine for 225 I found that this receiver that I have and I own, I put two 2 ohms per speaker because I bought car speakers put them in my boxes for each speaker. Box takes two ohms with four speakers that six ohms total going into this receiver and it is 145 Measured out and that is in the manual,, that you can do and I found that it actually runs cooler. With the lower, ohms resistance speakers when I did have six ohms speakers in my boxes. It ran hotter if you’re able to build your own system this system is the best for the price.
I ran large speakers for the main four floor speakers. And then the center channel is a small speaker and put in it Pacific settings. But all those other settings you’re talking about 100% true.
I don’t need a subwoofer because the base out of these floor speakers is very nice
Your doing fukn great bro. I've been watching since you first speaker shootout. Loving going broke with every episode
Help! I have this receiver working with Samsung TV and Amazon Fire Box. However, I have never been able to bring up Easy Setup .. it did not come up automatically nor can I get it by hitting HOME. Sound Setting is 2CH/MULTI with MULTI ST. and sound is coming out of all 5 speakers. Can this be calibrated at this time? and How ? I'm lost. appreciate any help
Seems like I am not able to get much bass with my cerwin Vega sl12 with this receiver.
300watt speaker/ 145ish watt receiver.
Is that why?
Ordered a 55gal drum of Andrew J. Salsa-- Excited! Thanks.
Smart move
Could you tell me if this receiver has no heating issues? Because Marantz and Denon are terrible. With other words is this receiver jumping in protection mode? Thats the only expectation from my side i need to turn up the volume without shutting down. Even my logitech g960 is better then those terrible receivers
Could this run sub shakers and a normal sub at the same time? I saw there were to sub outs.
Nice review! You cracked me up talking about the menu! I own the dh790 and it boggles my mind at how outdated the menu is. It's not even good for a standards of 20 years ago 😂 Dh790 was my first hifi purchase and with a pair of Q Acoustics 3030i it's good enough for me :) maybe once I'll collect the speakers for a 5.1 system, I'll consider upgrading the receiver. Overall a good starting point for beginners I would say. Unless you're all about the music - then I would recommend the stereo amplifier route. Cheers!
Then you should see a Sony STR-Dn840 menu, you think you ended up in the software of the receiver, just white / black without any photo and it cost around 600 euros at the time😂
Fantastic, exactly what I’m looking for/not looking for. this hdmi 2.1 snafu is really making me pause on getting a new receiver. Also, making me go just hi-fi which was not my original path
I have the 2.1 issue too. High end pc I cant utilize through a receiver so i just use the receiver through earc and play pc and ps5 through the TV
Is the wiim amp an upgrade over this if I have elac ub5 and a sub in a small room?
Love your vids man! Been subbed since 600 subs. Good luck with growing your channel, I described your channel to my partner as “Ron Swanson but an audiophile”
Awesome thank you!
I got the 550 last year it's not bad for 230.00. it's working for me. I have the Klipsch r26 front's by wired and a little elac 10 sub and a Klipsch center and a couple bose double cube's for rears. Sounds pretty good. I would like to get something different but haven't decided yet. I'm starting to go down that rabbit hole.
Actually i found a gem in this unit. Ran my bt from phone to quarter inch plug in into the unit, and with proper dynamic drivers when turned up it sounds fantastic. Planar not so much or should i say harder to drive headphones.
Love mine
BB claims Price is 399.00 down to 289.00, not going to buy after this review, however you have me considering what I can get for less with the same features. Thank you for the review, sir
I am wanting to put together a 3.1 or 5.1 in my office. What would you recommend for bookshelves, center channel & AVR cheapaudioman style?
Depends on your budget for sure. I haven't really heard a "good" 5 channel receiver less than $400 or so. If you really want 3 or 5 channels I'd look at a solid used receiver and then build the speakers to your budget.
Above and Beyond! Great Review 👍
Thanks, Gino. What did you have for breakfast?
@@cheapaudioman 🤣 Coffee and toast! Followed by more coffee. How about you?
Hey I've had a few Sony receivers and presently have a DH190, DH550 and ZA1100ES. I've also had the DH790, which is basically the DH590 without Atmos. The DH550 has legit banana jacks and sounds better in my opinion than the 590 or 790.
good,,, must get two of these
Just a heads up, the sports mode makes sports like movies. It puts the announcers through the center channel and all the ambience in the surrounds. I think it’s pretty cools for soccer games where the announcers are not so hectic / present.
But I only use it when I am watching games by myself though because like you set it’s sweet spot dependent.
Randy, great job on the codec description. People don’t get that stuff or the fact many devices default to SBC.
So, you speaking at the camera like I'm one of your bro's - hooked me. "There might be a better way, but I don't know how". Liked / Sub'd
This receiver sounds crisp on top of an empty cake. Returned
What a refreshing take on reviewing.
Would this be good for a novice who doesn't want to fiddle too much with settings, just needs good TV/movie/radio/Bluetooth of a decent quality, or is it simply a broken design and will give even a novice a lot of trouble?
Thanks man you helped me out so much 👍
Awesome! Love the channel! Very much appreciate your reviews. Also, cool intros on price comparisons :) Do you think to add “objective section”? Like Hz curves and noise/signal ratios?
Ron over at ruclips.net/user/NewRecordDay is teaching me a lot about measurements and I will probably incorporate that later on in the channel.
I need help. Have the 590 connected to Samsung TV and Amazon Fire Box. Easy setup screen never came up nor can I get it by hitting HOME. Sound setting is 2CH/MULTI and MULTI-ST working all 5 speakers. but I can't figure out how to calibrate the sound/speakers; or with cabled mic is connected is it doing it automatically? I'm tech but no home theatre expert. can someone direct me?
Thanks for the review! Would you pick this over the Denon S540BT for a 2.1 setup?
I don't have any time with the Denon. But I'd probably pick a lot of things over this.
So for the same price is this as good as the Yamaha v385? I’d prefer the Sony cos it will fit under my tv, unless its noticeably worse.
Connecting to Polk 265rt fronts, and a sub. Possibly add surrounds in future
Another well-done video, good sir! This is like the 10th video you've done on a product I was highly considering purchasing. So, again, thank you! I really enjoyed the point you made that at this price point, one should really consider the used market because you can get a really great unit for around $100 that is built better than this one. But I do agree that at $199, it would be a strong consideration for a new unit. By the way, I got my Wharfedale 11.2's (in white) yesterday and listened to them for about an hour or so. WOW!!! They are really wonderful speakers. I love them! I heard things in familiar songs that I've never heard before and truly feel they are a serious next level up from what I had before. Loved that review as well. In closing, you continue to churn out fantastic work and I truly look forward to EVERY next video. Thank you, man! THANK YOU!
I have the 190, which for many people will probably do the trick for a good 2-channel music system. (Of course, if you have special requirements, like needing an easy subwoofer connection, or wanting very high volume levels, or needing a receiver capable of powering inefficient and/or 4 ohm speakers, this won't be what you want.) However, if I were buying a receiver for a 2-channel system today, I'd seriously consider the 590, which provides an easy sub hookup, plus the ability to high pass into the main speakers, as you described. The set-up system may make using the receiver this way too hard, so that could be a deal killer, but you can always buy it, then send it back if that proved to be the case.
Nice review as always. Sorry I missed the live stream
I would not have the desire, energy, or guts to navigate that "menu" even once.
i don't care about avr menus, i go hdmi from blu-ray to tv and optical from tv to avr.
The GUIs are there for your conveniency. So they’re nice to have.
I just bought this Sony for 29.99 at Salvation Army today . 👍
what are some good speakers that pair well with this receiver? great vid by the way!
Hey please help i bought this but i have no center speaker but have two front 2 back 1 sub and can't figure out how to turn off the center speaker so the voice plays through the front and right only
What happened to all the speakers, sold out? unless you pay retail or more.
Very nice review thanks i have an old Sony tank ta-v777ES mint i got for 70€ and works amazing after all this Time and the sound is amazing and powerful but i want a new Onkyo receiver or maybe a nice Sony
Channel-multi means the AVR has an analog input for each of the surround channels. FL FR FC LS RS and LFE all have RCA inputs not just L and R
Thanks, for that.
Sony products have always been hit or miss with a whole lot of misses. They've made some decent headphones, televisions, and apparently bookshelf speakers, but I'm never liked their receivers or car audio. I know they sell a LOT, so maybe today you saved a few people a disappointment. Thanks Randy.
Because you're not using the right speakers
Can u witlre a equalizer with it or woulf that be too much distortion
Do i need a screen to use this receiver?
I have this receiver and it sync'd with my Bravia perfectly so I could use my speakers with my video sources. Flash forward to 2 years later and I was swatting a fly and broke out a bunch of pixels. New TV is an LG OLED C1. I can't for the life of me figure out how to make the eARC sound from the LG to play with my DH-590 TV HDMI port. Wouldn't happen to know why? I heard you say this does NOT do Dolby Atmos. Could that be part of the problem?
A few months ago my onkyo tx-8050 died. For my replacement i had it down to two choices. This sony avr and the denon s540bt. I didn't really want an avr but figured why not considering how much more you're getting for the money. I picked up the denon s540bt for $200 and couldn't be any happier.
Had a Denon X2300W, it sounded way worse than my $300 Sony mini hi-fi system which was bought in early 2000s.
Trust me Denon isn't meant for music.