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Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver - Black | 
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| Brand: Sony
Category: CE
List Price: $499.99
Buy New: $299.00
You Save: $200.99 (40%)
New (3) Used (1)
Avg. Customer Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 175
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 17.1
Dimensions (in): 12.3 x 16.9 x 6.3
MPN: STRDG820
Model: STRDG820
UPC: 027242727465
EAN: 0027242727465
ASIN: B0015HPYDK
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 7.1 Channel Audio/Video Receiver | | • | 100 Watts X 7 Amplifier Power (8 ohms, 1Khz, 1.0% THD) | | • | Accepts 1080/60p and 24p video signal via HDMI | | • | HDMI Active Intelligence: 4 in/1 out(Video and Audio) | | • | Optimized for Blu-ray Disc and other HD Sources |
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Product Description
Give your entertainment the power it deserves. The STR-DG820 7.1 channel A/V receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. This 1080p A/V Receiver features HDMI with Active Intelligence plus x.v.Color and 1080/24p signal capability. Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration simplifies speaker set up and optimizes speaker performance in just 30 seconds, with the push of one button. The XM Connect-and-Play Ready feature provides the ability to access XM satellite radio programming in surround sound. The STR-DG820 supports Linear PCM and has four High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) inputs that are capable of accepting resolutions up to 1080p. Powerful HDMI connectivity combined with Active Intelligence offers automatic detection of optimal video and audio signals from all connected components with convenience of a simple one-wire connection. Sony's original Digital Cinema Sound(TM) technology uses exclusive DSP technology to recreate the precise environment of three Hollywood Dubbing Stages where your movies are created. Mic - Mono Digital Cinema Auto Calibration Pre Programmed Remote Control Screw Binding Posts (A), Spring Lever (B) Speaker Terminal Type Ports - 3 Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Inputs (Rear), 1 Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output (Rear), 4 Composite Video Inputs (1 Front/3 Rear), 1 Composite Video Output (Rear), 2 Optical Audio Inputs (Rear), 1 Optical Audio Output (Rear), 1 Coaxial Audio Digital Input (Rear), 7 RCA Audio Inputs (3 Dedicated/4 Audio/Video), 2 RCA Audio Outputs (1 A/V Output, 1 Output), 1 Subwoofer Output (Rear), AC Outlet, 1 AM Loop Antenna Terminal (Rear), 1 FM 75 Ohm Antenna Terminal (Rear), 1 Headphone Output (Front- Silver), 3 HD Component Video Inputs (Rear), 1 HD Component Video Output (Rear), 4 HDMI Connection Inputs (Rear), 1 HDMI Connection Output (Rear), and Digital Media Port Input Dimensions - 16-15/16 x 6-1/4 x 12-1/4 (430x157.5x310mm) Weigh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Great video Receiver January 6, 2009
The receiver w/ instructions makes it easy to make a complete system for my large room. Easy connections in the back of the unit with no hassles.
 Decent, but returned due to quality concerns January 5, 2009
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Got this receiver to replace my eight-year-old Harmon Kardon AVR-210 and enjoy HDMI goodness and lossless audio support.
Everything went fine at first. Setup was a breeze, and the surround sound was clean and well-defined. I popped in a few Blu-ray discs and smiled ear to ear at the clarity and depth of the HD audio formats.
And then things started to go downhill. My problems started while we were watching TV on our TiVo HD over the holidays. The picture and sound would just cut out for a few seconds before the DG820 regained its bearings. At first I worried it might be a problem with the TiVo, or perhaps an HDMI handshake issue between the TiVo and the receiver. But then it began happening with our Blu-ray player (a Sony BDP-S350) and our AppleTV.
Over the course of a week, the cutouts became more and more frequent, to the point where movies became unwatchable.
At that point, enough was enough. We're returning the DG820 and plan to spring for a Denon AVR-789 instead.
best receiver for the money January 2, 2009
I had a Denon 4802 for the past 6 years that I paid around $1500 for. It was so complicated I don't think I ever got it set up right. Now, I have a new HD TV with HDMI inputs and decided to get a new receiver. Money is tight, so I decided to get a lower cost receiver. I was suspect about how good it would be, but it is fantastic. It took me about 30 minutes to get it all set-up and the sound is way better than the Denon ever was. I have a 5.1 setup and all speakers work great now. I am playing Dead Space on my xBox 360 and the sound is incredible. Football games sound like I am there. Video quality is great, as would be expected because I have everything set up with HDMI. I expect excellent sound and this has produced it. I highly recommend this unit.
Excellent 7.1 Receiver January 1, 2009
I got this receiver to replace a 2 year old Sony STR-D600 which was working perfectly but did not have HDMI switching. I was very happy with that unit and am similarly pleased with the 820. I am using it with a Panasonic DMP-BD35 Blu-ray player, a Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD player and Verizon FIOS HD TV service connected to a Samsung HL56A650C1F DLP 1080p display. Everything interfaced perfectly, set up was as easy as can be expected - given experience with this stuff. Anyone new to these kind of set-ups will likely have some difficulty given the need to get into sub-menus for the Blu-ray and/or HD-DVD players to get the best out of the players. The Sony 820 is fairly simple using all HDMI connections. Results were outstanding. The high bit rate audio via the HDMI connection really is a step above the audo obtained from either a coaxial or optical connection. Better definition, separation, clarity and localization. Contrary to one other review there is NO shortage of low frequency effects - but as usual, the sub must be set up correctly. Follow the directions in the 820 user manual for auto calibrating and you will be fine. As was true with the STR-D600 the auto-calibration is simple and very effective - much improved over the use of a sound meter. Beware that once the calibration is complete and you are prompted to press "enter" you must press the AMP button first or the unit will not accept the "enter." That was the only glitch. Also, you should run Auto Calibration for each input source. Video pass through is excellent and the unit supports all current video (e.g. Deep Color). All in all an excellent receiver. [...]
Surprising warmth and clarity for music and movies December 31, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I had problems with THREE separate receivers - Panasonic SA-XR57 (kept going into protect mode with 8 ohm speakers at very low levels), Harman Kardon AVR 247 (atrocious menu system for setup, wierd input gremlins), and an Onkyo 605 (heat, sparkling HDMI, humming on HDMI inputs) and began to think I just expected too much for under $300. I bought this Sony after the last receiver went back to the Amazon mothership and WOW. Just wow.
Sony gets a lot of flack for overstating their power ratings or not rolling out receivers that are as feature rich as Onkyo, Yamaha, Pioneer, et al. As for the power ratings, it's regrettable but true - when driving all seven channels, this Sony is theoretically limited to around 35-40 watts a channel. This is, of course, nearly impossible to achieve, however. No film or orchestral soundtrack would likely send a high-intensity signal to all channels at all time; a current limitation with all channels driven does not mean that in everyday usage this receiver won't sound as powerful as its stated power would claim. Then again, there's a lot more to sound than numbers.
And that sound is where this thing delivers. No other receiver I've heard is as warm, detailed, and spacious as this Sony model. It's very easy on the ears - while the Onkyo might provide more titanic blasts, its high-end was always a tad forward leading to terrible ear ringing in bed after watching a loud movie or two. No such problem with this unit. I've been impressed with its ability to drive large speakers with a nice, fast bass sound - using Polk RTi A5 and Infinity Primus 362s from the other room in my apartment, I got sound that was a little different, though likely no worse, than what the NAD integrated amp in my music system produces. I'm floored and still can't fathom why, if all Sony receivers sound like, they get a bad rap on audio boards all over the internet.
Potential cons for the 820:
No OSD
No video upscaling of analog inputs
No phono stage
For anyone for whom any of those are a dealbreaker, the STR-DG920 model includes all three along with the same amp-section. For those of us living in a fully digital world (or, like myself, armed with an offboard phono pre-amp), this Sony STR-DG820 is a fantastic bargain and the best I've heard in the ultra-budget HT price range with modern capabilities. Totally love it.
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