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Sony STR-DH790 review
A good home AV receiver is a combination of features and good sound performance. This is exactly what the Sony STR-DH790 is. In the course of our review, this model received a rating of 5.3 out of 10. This is a receiver from famous manufacturer Sony released in 2018. This model is capable of process 7.2 channels.
Sony STR-DH790 Pros
- ✔Bluetooth is now one of the key wireless communication protocols. In AV receivers, it is used for audio signal transmission or remote control. And it is in the model under review that Bluetooth support is implemented.
- ✔The presence of a USB port allows the receiver to play content from external media.
- ✔Dolby Atmos technology has been included in this model specifically to create a 3D effect when watching movies, which reveals all its features with a minimum 5.1 configuration.
- ✔Sony STR-DH790 with an adaptive and flexible DTS:X surround format can support any speaker configuration, unlike Dolby Atmos.
- ✔With HDR10 pass-through support, it is possible to transfer data over the STR-DH790 with a much wider range of colors.
- ✔With 4K/60Hz pass-through support, it is possible to pass data through this model without degrading image quality.
- ✔ARC feature eliminates the need for an additional composite or optical cable when connecting this unit to a TV.
- ✔eARC is more bandwidth-intensive than ARC and therefore allows Sony STR-DH790 to support advanced high-quality audio formats.
- ✔The manufacturer claims support for CEC in Sony STR-DH790 and therefore you can control any HDMI-connected device using one remote control.
- ✔This receiver supports the data encryption protocol HDCP 2.2 which allows licensed devices to play high definition audio and video.
- ✔Sony STR-DH790 uses bi-amping to amplify each dynamic in a speaker separately, resulting in clearer, better sound.
- ✔The reviewed receiver has a Pure Direct mode, when used it feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.
- ✔When using the STR-DH790, it is possible to switch between the main and additional set of speakers - speaker A/B switching.
- ✔With the included microphone, the Sony STR-DH790 can use the auto speaker calibration mechanism to create the most suitable soundstage.
Sony STR-DH790 Cons
- ✖The receiver has not a function of wireless connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi.
- ✖The STR-DH790 has not a phono (MM) input for connecting a phonographer or turntable.
- ✖AirPlay is not supported.
- ✖Sony STR-DH790 is unable to use Amazon Music.
- ✖Spotify music is not supported.
- ✖There is no voice control function.
- ✖Energy-saving ECO mode is not implemented.
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Sony STR-DH790 back and front view
Sony STR-DH790 specs and features
Amplifier
| Channels | 7.2 |
| Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 90/6 |
| Output impedance, Ohm | 6 |
| Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz |
| THD in stereo, % | 0.09 |
Audio features
| Digital to analog converter (DAC) | 192 KHz/24-bit |
| Bi-amping | ✔ |
| Pure direct (straight) | ✔ |
| Auto speaker calibration | DCAC |
| Speaker A/B switching | ✔ |
| Other audio features | Hi-Res audio |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | ✖ |
| USB | 1 (USB 2.0) |
| Bluetooth | ✔ |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | ✖ |
| DLNA | ✖ |
| MHL | ✖ |
Streaming services
| Apple Music (AirPlay) | ✖ |
| Amazon Music | ✖ |
| Spotify | ✖ |
| Other streaming services | has not |
Extensive connection
| HDMI input/output | 4/1 |
| HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ |
| HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ |
| HDMI CEC | ✔ |
| Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 |
| Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 |
| Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 |
| Optical digital input | 1 |
| Coaxial digital input | 1 |
| Composite input | 0 |
| Component input/output | 0/0 |
| Phono (MM) input | ✖ |
| Front panel connectors | phones, setup mic |
| Multi channel preamp output | ✖ |
Video features
| HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 |
| 4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz |
| 8K signal pass-through | ✖ |
| HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ |
| 3D signal pass-through | ✔ |
| HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ |
| Video conversion | ✖ |
| Analog to HDMI scaling | ✖ |
| HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✖ |
| Dolby Vision | ✔ |
| Other video features | HLG |
Additional features
| Voice control | ✖ |
| App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
| Display | colour OSD |
| Tuner | AM, FM |
| Sleep timer | ✔ |
| Auto power off | ✔ |
| ECO mode | ✖ |
| Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✔ |
| Setup assistant | ✔ |
| Firmware update | USB |
| Other additional features | has not |
Multi-room
| Multi-room zones | has not |
| Zone audio output | has not |
| Zone HDMI output | has not |
| Multi-room control | has not |
| RS-232 | 0 |
| Remote control input/output (IR) | 0/0 |
| DC trigger output (12V) | 0 |
Multichannel surround
| Dolby Atmos | ✔ |
| Dolby TrueHD | ✔ |
| Dolby Surround | ✔ |
| Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus |
| DTS:X | ✔ |
| DTS HD Master | ✔ |
| DTS Virtual:X | ✖ |
| DTS Neural:X | ✔ |
| DTS (other) | DTS-ES, DTS 96/24 |
| Auro-3D | ✖ |
| IMAX Enhanced | ✖ |
| Multichannel stereo | ✔ |
Audio file formats
| MP3 | ✔ |
| WMA | ✔ |
| AAC | ✔ |
| WAV | ✖ |
| FLAC | ✖ |
| ALAC | ✖ |
| Other audio file formats | has not |
Power
| Operational power consumption, W | 240 |
| Standby consumption, W | 0.3 |
| Removable power cord | ✖ |
Dimensions
| Size W x H x D, cm/inches | 43 x 13.3 x 29.7/ 17 x 5.3 x 11.4 |
| Weight, kg/lbs | 7.4/15.4 |
Other
| Release year | 2018 |
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