Sony STR-DG910 AV-receiver
The new Sony STR-DG910 AV receiver belongs to the mid-range models, but in terms of its capabilities it is very close to the representatives of the top ES-series.
At a very reasonable price, this device is quite capable of competing in terms of equipment with many.
It has a full set of necessary interfaces, including HDMI with 1080p support and the proprietary Bravia Theater Sync device synchronization system. This is one of the varieties of the HDMI-CEC protocol, which allows you to control a complete home theater system based on proprietary components and connected via this interface.
In addition, there is a DCAC system for automatically setting acoustic parameters, which also compensates for the shortcomings of the listening room and sets the optimal delays in all channels. Fans of multimedia entertainment will undoubtedly come in handy with the DMPORT digital media port. It is used to connect portable Walkman players, mobile phones and laptops, allowing you to play audio files stored on these devices. Traditionally for Sony receivers, there is a Digital Cinema Sound surround sound system that imitates the acoustics of the world's best concert halls and sound studios.
Listing the functional features of the model, it should be mentioned that the supplied remote control "remembers" the control codes for equipment from other manufacturers and can be easily configured to work with equipment of various brands.
In the case of an analog connection, the sound of the receiver can be described as neutral and fairly accurate with a slight cold tint in the mids. The resolution in the upper range is especially impressive - it is unexpectedly high for a device of this level and would do honor to an expensive Hi-Fi amplifier. Separately, it is worth noting the weighty bass register, which only slightly lacks control in its lowest part. There are small problems with the formation of the sound stage. With its rather large width, separation in depth is expressed very conditionally. The localization of virtual images is also not clear enough, there is a tendency to their chaotic arrangement in the sound space.
The digital sound is noticeably more preferable, when switching to an optical connection, the resolution in the entire range increases quite noticeably, and the playback dynamics expands. Improvements are especially noticeable in the upper middle - the haze that covered the tweeters of our speakers dissipated without a trace.
Bass control was significantly improved, but the lowest parts still lacked expressiveness and confidence. The sound stage has also undergone changes. As expected, the positioning of sound sources in space has improved, its depth has appeared (albeit somewhat conditional). In general, such a manner of forming a musical panorama is quite expected for this price category and did not present a big surprise.
