AV Receiver Reviews

Upconversion is also possible when using the component video output. Resolution is, however, limited on this output. Maximum resolution over the component output is 1080i, not 1080p and it will not upconvert 480p if the source has copyright protection.

The Sony STR-DA4300ES includes onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as well as multichannel PCM audio, making it compatible with hi-res audio in every significant form from HD DVD and Blu-ray players.

This Sony AVR also offers several simulated surround sound modes for two-channel sources including Dolby Pro Logic IIx (Movie, Music, and Game), DTS NEO:6 (Cinema and Music) and THX's Neural Surround. You can set the STR-DA4300ES to the simulated surround effect of your choice whenever you play two-channel sources. My preferred setting was the Auto Format Direct (A.F.D.) mode that automatically detects the incoming signal and plays it back as it was originally recorded and encoded since I tend to like my two-channel sources without effects.

Evaluation
To get started on my sonic evaluation, I found myself in the mood to reconnect with my heavy metal roots and threw in the newly re-mastered Led Zeppelin anthology, Mothership. It's initially apparent that the new disc offers greater imaging and more vocal presence, especially on such songs as "No Quarter." It begs the question, how much is this was due to the remastering of these classic rock tunes and how much to the Sony STR-DA4300ES? I tossed in the original and it is much flatter, lacking the depth of the re-master with significantly more tape noise. An AVR like the STR-DA4300ES, which provides a high degree of precision and reproduction of what actually goes into it, will reveal the good and bad of any recording immediately.

Despite the re-mastering, Mothership is still based on old recordings that were unable to capture dynamics in full resolution during the recording process. If you still like head banging but with the added sophistication of some art rock motifs, you should check out Porcupine Tree's album called Absentia. The opening guitar on "Trains" is clean and bright without being strident, and is so full of presence that you practically feel the strokes of the pick across the strings. Then when the band kicks in, the tight and volcanic punch just knocks you back in your seat. The STR-DA4300ES has plenty of power and finesse to deliver both the subtleties and sheer guts possessed on this track.

Watching chapter 3 of House of Flying Daggers on Blu-ray demonstrated the delicacy and distinctiveness of uncompressed audio, and also showed off the brilliant colors and sharp details of Blu-ray Discs. At the top of the scene, the captain of the guard throws these beans at a group of drums that form a semicircle around a blind dancer. She has to replicate the rhythm of the beans as they hit various drums using her extremely long and willowy scarves. It's typical Chinese fantasy storytelling but it is beautiful to watch and the separation of various elements in the audio soundtrack is jaw-dropping. At some point, the captain tosses the entire bowl of beans and they scatter hitting several drums and land on the floor in a thunderous avalanche. You can distinctly hear each bean as it hits the individual drums and then the floor. There is far more clarity and spatial placement than the compressed Dolby Digital version. It's quite spectacular, heightening the emotional elements of the scene.

In the same movie, during Scene 9, two characters are chased by people swinging through the treetops and throwing bamboo staffs at them. I could practically feel every rustle of the tree branches against my skin. The bamboo shafts plunge deep into the ground, with a decisive and deep 'thwak'. The uncompressed audio realism on this disk is unbelievable and one that is worth having in your library.

Adding some music to the video experience, I used the Blu-ray version of Chicago. Again the uncompressed 5.1 audio soundtrack offered exceptionally good definition. Dialog and sound effects were easily discernable, offering the appropriate amount of separation, against the dominant musical number of "All That Jazz."

The Sony STR-DA4300ES always felt comfortable with whatever material I threw at it. It is musical when it needs to be and extremely dynamic when the material calls for it. Personally, I would have liked to have a bit more direct control over the midrange EQ, particularly in the center channel, but other than that I found the frequency response to be smooth and natural.

Conclusion
The STR-DA4300ES is definitely a product for the high-definition generation providing all the key features you'll need to enjoy music and movies in full high-definition video and audio. Moreover, it has harnessed those features in a way that is accessible and easy to control. It offers enough automation for the person who likes to set it up and forget about it while providing enough custom features for users, like myself, who like to tweak with the settings until its exactly how we want it.

The cost of entry for a high quality AVR, just like flat panel TVs, has gotten far more affordable. Some might not consider $1,299.99, the price of the STR-DA4300ES, as inexpensive but it certainly is modest considering all that is packed inside. Except for the potential limitation of three HDMI inputs, the STR-DA4300ES has the goods to be the centerpiece of a quality mid-sized home theater that is technologically up-to-date for several years.

Highlights
• Advanced, but easy to set up, use and control
• Clean and bright, but not strident
• The right connectivity for next-gen HD