Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73933 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Sony
• Model: STR-DG820B
• Released on: 2008-08-26
• Dimensions: 18.52 pounds

Manufacturer's Description
The STR-DG820 7.1 channel A/V receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. This new 1080p A/V Receiver features HDMI with "Active Intelligence", plus x.v.Color and 1080/24p signal capability. In addition to decoding uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI), the STR-DG820 decodes the latest audio formats from Dolby Labs and DTS making this model fully compatible with Blu-ray Disc. Now, you can hear the original mix of your favorite BD titles regardless of audio format. Need more HDMI inputs? The STR-DG820 features four HDMI inputs that allows for more HD content to be connected. Looking for simplicity? BRAVIA Sync provides a one button operation (via HDMI) of your entire A/V experience with a select number of BRAVIA televisions. Because no room is perfect, Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (and its supplied microphone) simplifies speaker set up and optimizes speaker performance with the push of one button in just 30 seconds. This full featured A/V receiver expands its ability to playback music from various audio sources (i.e. iPod and Walkman music devices, PC, etc.) with the DIGITAL MEDIA PORT and one of the various accessories (sold separately). Would you like to listen to satellite radio? The XM Connect-and-Play Ready feature provides the ability to access XM satellite radio programming in surround sound.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Great Amp
This is a great Amp, the SkyHD problem has been fixed now so all the amps now decode dolby digital properly, there is a slight buzz when the volume is high (don't notice it that often) but this can be got rid of with a button on the remote. I bought this to upgrade my old Sony Dolby Digital amp as this one has Dolby True HD.
It is so easy to set up and excellent value for money, 4 HDMI inputs, 1 HDMI output, loads of other inputs and great sound quality.

But can you connect a turntable?
For the benefit of other greybeards like myself who may still want to be able to play their old vinyl, I should like to add that of the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, STR-DG820 and STR-DG920, only the last-named has a phono input!

Beware of the Hum/Buzz!
I bought one of these amps a few months ago. It's all very well that it can decode all HD audio and has 4 HDMI ports but there were two crucial things wrong with it.

1) There is an issue with SKY+ HD where you cannot listen to Dolby Digital 5.1 on it where you are using HDMI with the amp, as DD 5.1 can only be used with the optical/co-axial cable on SKY+ HD. I had to take the amp to a shop where they installed a fix. This was an annoying waste of time and should have been thought about BEFORE being put on the market.

2) THE most important thing about an amp Is how it sounds and this one sounds awful. There is a horrible and annoying hum/buzz that comes through all 5 speakers, regardless of what speakers you use or what input you use. I listened to several STR DG 820's in many shops all over London and they all sound the same. DTS is unbearable to listen to with a loud angry hissing and buzzing noise. Watching a quiet scene with just dialogue, the humming noise is very easy to hear. I had to stop watching several movies, regardless of whether the soundtrack was Dolby Digital, LPCM, DTS HD Master etc. Albeit the buzz/hum appears to go away when there is a loud scene with music/explosions it IS still there! It becomes extremely prevalent again during quiet scenes. It really is not good enough.

I exchanged my STR DG 820 for an STR DA 2400. It's a little pricier, but worth every penny in my opinion. No hum, no buzz, no SKY+ HD issues, it can decode all HD audio, has four HDMI ports - I wish I would have bought this one in the first place!