Sony STR-DH500 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver
- 100-watt 5-channel audio receiver
- Sony unique chassis design
- 5 HD inputs (3 passive HDMI and 2 component inputs)
- HD film quality with 24p true cinema video signal via HDMI technology
- Multi function audio port (digital media port)
Product Description
The STR-DH500 5.1-channel A/V receiver delivers an HD experience. This new 1080p A/V receiver features HDMI pass-through and 1080/24p capability thus making it compatible with the latest HD sources (i.e. Blu-ray Disc Players, and the PlayStation 3). The STR-DH500 HD connectivity doesn’t stop there. It features 5 HD inputs thus providing ample connection options at an inexpensive price. Finally, the STR-DH500 has a digital media port input which expands the flexibili… More >>
Sony STR-DH500 5.1-Channel A/V Receiver
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This receiver has been nothing but a pain in the ass since I got it. It does not work right and I have to take it to a repair center and hope they can fix it. If not, it will go in the trash. Also it cant run a second set of speakers. This receiver is a waste of money !!!!!!! Trust Me, buy something else.
If I had bought this at Best Buy, I could walk out with a new one, now I am screwed.
The new Sony stuff is not made in Japan and its junk. The reason I always bought Sony in the past is because it USED to be the best. It sucks now
VERY DISAPPOINTED
Rating: 1 / 5
Purchased this unit primarily to enable me to use one remote control to operate my Blu-Ray and my HD-DVR with only one remote control. Spotting 7 buttons labeled TV on the remote control(“count ‘em, SEVEN),and noting that the remote is labeled as “AV SYSTEM” I naturally thought this unit would control my A V SYSTEM, including my new 65inch HDTV. After all, my two previous SONY Receivers were easily programmed to do so, my ten year old Radio Shack Tuner even does it! Seemed like a minimal expectation. However, be forwarned…
THIS REMOTE CONTROL CANNOT BE PROGRAMMED TO OPERATE ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT UNLESS IT IS A SONY!!!!!!! IT WILL NOT OPERATE YOUR “AV SYSTEM” UNLESS YOUR SYSTEM–INCLUDING THE TV–IS ALL SONY.
In my case, that means I still have to use TWO remote controls. One to turn on my TV, and the new one to operate the receiver/amp. If you use any other brand of DVD, Blu-RAy, CD player, or whatever, you must continue to use each unit’s remote control in addition to the remote for the “AVSystem”.
If you are considering this unit as the advertised “switching unit” and “AVSYSTEM” controller, you will still have to use at least one addition remote control for each piece of “non-Sony” equipment you use.
By the way, even with Sony’s own Blu-Ray, it also does not open and close the door. You have go to the blu-ray player, hit the switch manually, and continue crouching while it decides to open the door to accept a disc.
Rating: 2 / 5
I bought this unit to connect to my Sony XBR6 (nice tv) only beacuse of the Bravia Sync feature. I went with a Sony tv because I liked the idea of all my A/V units being in sync. Easier to control.
This unit is listed on Sony’s website as having the Bravia Sync feature but it does not. I spent time online with Sony’s chat support and they said it does not have it.
Not a huge deal but now I have to turn this on and off to watch tv. One more control laying around. Also, I did not know, if the reciever is not on at all then you can not send a cable box or game or dvd signal through it and only use the tv speakers.
All this on/off, switch this, turn that, is too confusing for my family. I will look into a Logitech Harmoiny One, although now I see that it won’t operate a PS3, unless you buy a IR to BT USB adapter.
Otherwise the STR DH500 puts out good sound and has many options for TV watching, movies, and CD’s.
Rating: 3 / 5
OK. I don’t know how good the audio quality is compared to similar products in this price range, but none of that really matters, because from a usability standpoint, this thing really sucks. Really.
My plan was to run several devices into this one, and then run HDMI out to the TV (getting around a problem with the TV). It doesn’t work that way, though. First, the HDMI signal to the TV only carries the HDMI signals coming in, not component, composite, etc. In order to get those to work, you have to run another connection to the TV other than HDMI. None of this is really called out in the manual with any clarity, though it is hinted at in the footnotes. And there are other little landmines. For example, if you plan to connect a DVD player with component cables, you can’t use analog audio – has be digital audio – which means you can’t use the component connections labeled DVD for something like a Wii.
This is the part where I started putting it back in the box, but I’ve read from others that there are similar stupidities all along the way if you try to connect it to you speakers (sound from HDMI requires yet another connection back to the receiver FROM the TV.
This is an abusive product.
Rating: 1 / 5
Got the unit, was so disappointed I sent it back after I found out it did not do what the manual said it would.
The manual tells you how to connect the TV. It tells your how to connect the video sources. What it does not tell you what will actually receive signals from what. In the part on connecting the TV, it shows connecting HDMI, component, and composite and says that not all these cables are required. This is misleading, because any or all of them can be required if you actually want to watch video, depending upon your sources.
If you have a VHS tape player that has only composite output, then you will HAVE to connect the composite video cable. You will not be able to see the video on either component or HDMI.
If you have a DVD player with component output, but no HDMI, then you will have to connect the component cables to the TV. You will not be able to watch the video on composite or HDMI.
And it is obvious that if you have a source with HDMI, you will have to connect the HDMI cable. What is curious is that manual explicitly mentions this restriction, but utterly fails to mention anything about the others.
In fact, the unit is not able to convert any format to any other format. I wish they simply stated that someplace in the manual, but they never do. Instead, there is a confusing statement that says in order to see the component input, you will have to connect the HDMI-out OR the component-out. This strong suggests that you can connect either and see the video, but this is not the truth. It is standard “Jinglish” manual that is so unclear as to be confusing.
The whole point was that I wanted an audio/video switching center, where I could switch one box, and see and hear a different device. But the fact is that I have to switch the receiver, and then switch the TV according to the video format attached. For me, this was no benefit over my old setup, which always involved switching the TV and the receiver separately, so I sent the unit back.
No problem returning it, so I am happy I got it at Amazon. Maybe once I “decode” what the other receiver really do, I will get a replacement.
Rating: 1 / 5