Sony STR-DH790
Pros
- Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
- Compact Size Makes it Easy to Place on an AV Rack
- Good Sound Quality
Cons
- Strains at High Volume Levels
- Only 4 HDMI Inputs
The Sony STR-DH590 is one of my favorite entry-level receivers. After spending some time with that unit, I was curious to see what the step-up model, the Sony STR-DH790 had in store. Suffice it to say it didn’t disappoint.
The Sony STR-DH790 gives you two additional channels when compared to its little brother the STR-DH590. With these two extra channels, the 790 has something that the 590 doesn’t. It has Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but before we talk about, that let’s look at the stats.
Sony STR-DH790 Features
Like the 590, the Sony-STRDH790 is a sexy beast. At a mere 5 ¼” tall, the 790 is one of the shortest AV receivers on the market so it should fit easily on most AV racks. The remote that’s partnered with the receiver is simple and intuitive.
Sony STR-DH790 Connectivity
The 790 supposedly pumps out 145 watts per channel, but don’t get too excited about that. Most AV makers reach that number by driving only one channel. In the real world with all 7 channels humming along you will probably be between 60-80 watts per channel. This being said, watts aren’t everything and trust me, the Sony 790 doesn’t suffer from a lack of power.
The connection choices for the Sony STR-DH790 are pretty good at its price point. You get 4 analog inputs, one digital optical and one coaxial. Unfortunately, the 790 doesn’t include dedicated turntable or USB inputs. Sony supplies 5-way binding posts for you to connect the left and right channels and the rest of the speakers are forced to use spring clip connections. Four HDMI inputs and 1 output adorn the top of the receiver. Unsurprisingly, the Sony 790 supports 4K video and most of its key features such as HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, 4:4:4 color space, and HDCP 2.2. If you’re looking for a network receiver, then the Sony STR-DH790 may not be the amp for you. It doesn’t have ethernet or WiFi, but it does have Bluetooth. So even though you can’t stream music over your network, with Bluetooth it’s still possible to stream music from your favorite music app to the receiver.
The 790 supports all the standard Dolby and DTS surround sound formats, but as mentioned earlier, it’s also equipped to tackle Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Both of these formats are designed to create 360 degrees of immersive sound with the aid of overhead speakers or specially designed units that bounce sound the ceiling and down into your listening area. The resulting sound field is about as life-like as we’ve seen in a home theater setting.
Sony STR-DH790 In Action
Sony includes a calibration system with the 790. By utilizing the included calibration microphone, the amp will set the appropriate levels, distances, and crossover frequencies for the speakers in your set-up. One thing I did encounter with this is that calibration software mistakenly set all of my speakers to full range, which they aren’t. Once I realized this I went in and manually adjusted the crossover settings myself. This issue isn’t isolated to the Sony STR-DH790. Many calibration systems have a habit of doing this. As a result, I usually doublecheck the settings once calibration is done.
The first Blu-Ray I decided to take for a spin was Men In Black: International. I set-up the 790 in a standard Atmos 5.1.2 speaker arrangement. I enjoyed Sony’s entry-level STR-DH590 so much I expected the 790 to at least match it in terms of sound quality and it did. MIB: International takes full advantage of its Atmos soundtrack. Ambient sounds like rushing overhead wind made the listening experience more dynamic than a standard surround sound environment. Bass was tight and detailed coming from the Sony STR-DH790. When the on-screen action kicked-in the sound was wide and tall with each sound effect precisely positioned.
Next-up was Shazam. This superhero movie which stars Zachary Levi as Captain Marvel (not to be confused with Marvel’s Captain Marvel) features your typical superhero menagerie of action mixed in with a pinch of magic. Like MIB, the 790 handled the Shazam soundtrack quite well. The amp did an excellent job panning sound effects around my listening area. Atmos effects were strategically placed throughout the movie at key instances and when they were there, you noticed them. The 790 also handled the few quiet moments in the movie well. Dialogue was focused and precise. The only time I noticed a crack in the Sony 790s armor was when I cranked the volume up. The strain caused the amp to lose some of its focus and detail. This being said, if you place this puppy in a small or medium-size room it will do just fine.
Conclusion
The Sony STR-DH790 is a solid receiver. Can you get a better sounding receiver? Yes, but not at this price point. For all intents and purposes, the 790 is an entry-level receiver with a little more power and punch. I really enjoyed the Sony STR-DH590 but, considering that for a few dollars more you get the added benefit of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, I would recommend the Sony 790 over its little brother.
