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STR-V555ES vs STR-DA4es |
cjohnston
Rank: Sony Buff
Joined: Mar 17, 2003
Posts: 22
From: Pennsylvania
 |  Posted: 2003-05-28 16:09
I have a choice of buying either of the above. Which one would you suggest? I'm upgrading from an old Pioneer Dolby Pro-logic receiver so either would be a big improvement. Thanks.
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25730
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
 |  Posted: 2003-05-28 17:24
Based on the fact that the DA 4ES is 2 model years newer than the V 555 ES I would suggest getting the DA 4ES in that it has a wide variety of capabilities that the older model doesn't have.
-Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930
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AaronB
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Nov 26, 2002
Posts: 622
From: Ottawa, Canada
 | Posted: 2003-05-29 11:14
If you definitely, absolutely, will never even consider upgrading to a 6.1 or 7.1 speaker arrangement, then consider the V555ES. Otherwise, go for the DA4ES.
The DA4ES is, as maxxwire said, two models newer. It has a 7 channel amp, compared to the 555's 5 channel amp. That doesn't mean that it will play louder, but it means that it can use rear surround speakers (in addition to the standard side surrounds) which are required to take full advantage of DD-EX and dts-ES soundtracks. Normal DD or dts soundtracks use only the standard 5 channels.
The 4ES also has dts 96/24 capability, which most of its owners are likely to never use. You will be more likely to make use of its Dolby Pro-Logic II and/or dts NEO:6 decoding. Both of these decode a 2-channel source into surround sound and are intended as replacements for (or improvements upon) Dolby Pro-Logic. They are useful for both TV/movies and for music.
The V555ES has a few things that make it attractive. It has a slick touchscreen LCD remote which communicates two-way with the receiver, allowing you to see and adjust all of the receiver's parameters (EQ settings, level settings, surround settings, etc.) right on the remote's screen. It will display disc and track names when you use a Sony CD player/changer with that capability. The 4ES' remote is not very good, believe me.
The V555ES also allows you to turn off Pro-Logic decoding when using one of the surround soundfields (like Cinema Studio EX B) with two-channel sources (like music). The 4ES does not.
The 4ES has a great EQ, but the 555's is even better. It adds a mid band in the main EQ for the surround channel speakers, and adds a mid band for the "surround EQ" which is an EQ setting applied to all speakers, and has unique settings for each soundfield (separate from the main EQ).
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25730
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2003-05-29 13:43
I remember auditioning the V 555ES when it first came out. A friend of mine worked at the Sony Only store and told me that he thought the unit ran too hot.
To prove his point he put a blank piece of white paper on the top of the V 555ES Receiver and within seconds brown burn marks appeared on the paper where the vent holes were.
They had contacted Sony, and they said that this was not unusual for the V 555ES.
-Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930
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Craig_Nike
Rank: Ultimate Sony Reviewer
Joined: Apr 05, 2002
Posts: 2262
From: Australia
 | Posted: 2003-05-30 03:38
Go the 4ES.
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This is the last thing I need for my HT - now i'm finished!
AVR: STR-DA9000ES & STR-DA5300ES
AMP: TA-N9000ES
BLU: PS3
DVD: 999ES & 777ES
SPKR: SS-X70ED, SS-XCN70ED, SS-LA500ED
SUB: SAW-X700M
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cjohnston
Rank: Sony Buff
Joined: Mar 17, 2003
Posts: 22
From: Pennsylvania
|  Posted: 2003-05-30 14:02
Thanks for the help. I'll probably go for the 4ES. I found the V555ES in Crutchfield's scratch and dent section of their website while I was looking for a 5ES with no luck. My Pioneer doesn't even have a subwoofer output so anything will be better at this point.
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25730
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2003-05-30 14:15
I sure don't blame you for wanting to get a DA 5ES its such a primo unit, but like you said its nearly impossible to get a new one these days. I think you are doing the right thing in chosing the DA4ES over the DA 555ES.
-Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930
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Craig_Nike
Rank: Ultimate Sony Reviewer
Joined: Apr 05, 2002
Posts: 2262
From: Australia
| Posted: 2003-05-30 17:38
Or you could climb above the rabble and get a 7ES - itll put some lead in your pencil 
[Waiting on influx of 4ES owners lambasting me for paying $400 for a remote control  )
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omega1969ca
Rank: Sony Enthusiant
Joined: Dec 21, 2002
Posts: 41
From: Abbotsford BC
 | Posted: 2003-05-30 21:55
I had the V555ES prior to my DA5ES. THe V555ES ran hot and had more hiss apparent in the DSP's. It was a nice unit but the DA5 (and presumably the DA4) is a better built and better sounding receiver. In terms of the V555ES remote, it was my opinion that it was cool for the first week. After that I just hated it more and more. It did have a great "WOW" factor when guests saw it, but thats about it. The DA5 remote is no prize either mind you but all in all I prefer it to the V555ES. The onscreen setup for the DA4/DA5 is better as well as the obvious stuff like PLII, etc...
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25730
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2003-06-01 00:27
In your defense Craig the original price difference between the DA 4ES and the DA 7ES was US$ 1,200. I find it hard to beleive that someone could criticize the deal you got.
-Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930
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The-Ish316
Rank: Sony Fanatic
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 328
From: Western PA
 | Posted: 2003-06-02 09:00
As a 4ES owner, I could not criticize anyone who owns the 7ES. I would if I could have afforded it. It's much, much more robust. And Maxx is right, you got such a deal...
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DenMar
Sony STR-DA4ES, BDP-S1, DVP-NC600, KDL-52XBR9 HDTV, TC-WR6655S dual tape, SLV-676UC, & Athena AS-F2 & AS-C1 speakers; CSW Surrounds; HDR-SR12 & GV-D200; Explorer 8300
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mhedges
Premium Member
Rank: Sonyphile
Joined: Mar 04, 2003
Posts: 716
From: Ithaca, NY
 | Posted: 2003-06-02 09:59
The 7 is much more robust than the 4? I was kind of under the impression that they were very similar, except for the remote and the 3rd room capability.
Mark
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Tiny_Turtle
Rank: Sony Legend
Joined: Oct 09, 2002
Posts: 1116
From: Stockholm, Sweden
 | Posted: 2003-06-02 10:13
Yeah, but it's a very robust remote!
/Tiny TP1
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Maxxwire
Moderator
Premium Member
Rank: Sony Adept
Joined: Aug 29, 2002
Posts: 25730
From: Portland, Oregon - USA
| Posted: 2003-06-02 11:32
Judging by the pictures that Craig posted, the DA 7ES has a very robust build quality.
-Maxx
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A Satisfied Sony Fan Since 1974!
The OCCC Furu-Charged Sony DB 930
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The-Ish316
Rank: Sony Fanatic
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 328
From: Western PA
| Posted: 2003-06-02 14:44
By more robust I mean that the output is greater by 10W on each channel and as mentioned, a 3rd room capability and the remote is reportedly superior. There is a 3rd 12V trigger, a 2nd remote, and a 3rd DSP decoder.
I also have heard that there are some differences in the interior component quality (even though the THD and other benchmark stats are the same).
I suppose that the use of the word "much" may be over stating it. No doubt that the 7ES is more robust.
So the extra $$$ are for more than the remote.
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DenMar
Sony STR-DA4ES, BDP-S1, DVP-NC600, KDL-52XBR9 HDTV, TC-WR6655S dual tape, SLV-676UC, & Athena AS-F2 & AS-C1 speakers; CSW Surrounds; HDR-SR12 & GV-D200; Explorer 8300
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