Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock Review

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(More customer reviews)I work from home and listen to an iPod quite a lot. Recently, I purchased a Sony Home Theater System (model DAV-HDX 500). Initially, I connected my iPod to the Sony via the ubiquitous Apple iPod cradle; however, controlling the iPod manually got old in a hurry.
The unit came equipped with an attached digital media port cable, which connected directly to the Sony receiver's DMPort. A separate video cable was supplied, which I connected directly to the TV's video-in RCA connector. The unit can also be used with a separately purchased video cable connected between the receiver and TV.
Setup was very simple and after I configured my Sony receiver to "DMPort1" and the TV to "AV1", a facsimile of the iPod's screen appeared on the TV and I was able to control the iPod by way of the Sony remote.
Visually, the menu is a little on the chunky side, but highly legible. Screen color may be set to Red, Green, Blue, and a couple variants of Gray. There are also modest on-screen controls for a screensaver, song shuffle, and song repeat.
The only moving part on the TDM-iP1 is a button, which allows users to switch between the iPod's own controls and control by way of a remote control.
The TDM-iP1 does charge the cradled iPod. This, however, may be the unit's major weekness, since the AV system must be powered for charging to occur. A separate power input would have been a nice touch.
At present, the Sony TDM-iP1 is selling for just under $100. In time, I would think the cost might drop to about $50, which is what I believe it's worth, despite its functionality and appearance. The unit's high price is why I've given it four stars; otherwise, the Sony TDM-iP1 functions as advertised.
As an aside, the Logitech Harmony 520 remote control can be configured quite nicely to control a TDM-iP1 by way of the Sony DAV-HDX 500. Nothing like one remote for all your audio and video components.

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Display your iPod® on the smooth and modern Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock and unleash the power of your music. Take full advantage of your DMP compatible BRAVIA® home theater system or audio receiver's sound when you connect an iPod® to the DMP. It lets you search through your music or view video from your iPod right on your television. For added convenience, the dock also charges your iPod's battery.

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Sony STR-DN1000 7.1-Channel Audio Video Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the STR-DN1000 as an upgrade to my old Yamaha receiver that didn't have audio decoding through HDMI which I really needed since I've recently added a couple additional HDMI components to my set-up and needed HDMI switching. I bought it based on reviews of sound quality (anyone saying this amp has anything less than great sound doesn't know what they're talking about or doesn't have their amp set up correctly!), price, and features (4X HDMI being the most important). I am relatively pleased with my new receiver. Sound and video processing are both excellent, and aside from a few issues, this is a great receiver. Before I go into more detail, here is my home theater set-up:
1) 5.1 surround sound consisting of: Polk Audio TSi200 L + R speakers, a Polk CS20 Center Channel Speaker, and a Yamaha subwoofer and two Yamahah back channel L & R speakers.
4) A Sony DVP-NS700H/B DVD player
5) Toshiba 42" Regaza LCD
6) Comcast Digital Cable box
7) WD TV Live HD Media Player
All devices connected using Version 1.3 Category 2 HDMI Cables.
Setting things up:
Set-up is a breeze. Everything is laid out well enough, and the included wire-map which gives a blown-up overview of the connections makes things even easier. The wire screws for connecting the speakers are made of plastic and are not as easy to turn as I might have liked, but this was a minor issue at best. They do support Banana jacks if that's your thing. I had all my speaker wires and HDMI cables connected in about 10 minutes (all of them were already in place so it might take significantly longer if you are running new wire). Just a note for reciever set-ups: give yourself an extra 3-4 feet of wire for each speaker so you can connect your amp OUTSIDE your AV cabinet/rack. This will make things much easier because you can work on the amp with it's back facing you!
GUI (Graphic User Interface), Programing, and Auto Calibration:
The DN1000 comes with a built in GUI for adjusting settings. It is a rudimentary text based interface in black, white and blue, but it is easy to navigate and use even if it isn't pretty. I was easily able to program in radio pre-sets, assign inputs *More on that to come*, and run the Auto Calibration. Auto Calibration involves connecting a provided mic and placing it in the correct location and then letting the amp put out some test tones to each speaker and the amp. The whole thing takes about 30-40 seconds. The manual states that this will involve "very loud" sounds, so I was a bit worried what that would be like. Thankfully it wasn't loud at all, so don't get freaked out when the manual warns you to watch out for small children, dogs, and angry neighbors. The GUI could be a bit more intuitive; you are frequently required to git an 'option' button that is on the remote itself. It would have been much simpler to just have that button in the layout of the GUI itself.
Programing custom inputs and renaming inputs was my biggest complaint with this amp. First, you CANNOT re-map the TV, Satelite, DVD, etc., buttons to be linked with the HDMI inputs. Each time you re-map an input it asks for both an audio and video input. I wanted to re-map the DVD button on the remote to work with my HDMI DVD player. I was able to choose the correct HDMI in, but because the amp also requires an audio input, you are FORCED to choose from coaxial, analog LR channel or digital. Choosing any of these overrides the HDMI's sound, and gives you video but no sound! This is incredibly frustrating and very stupid on Sony's part since the amp supports HDMI sound processing natively and all they would need to do is tweak the GUI to allow the user to select either HDMI or 'None' for sound input! I called Sony tech support to verify this is the case and they said they have no plans to issue a firmware update to correct this issue. I was able to re-name the HDMI inputs to DVD, WD LIVE, and COMCAST so that the amp displays the correct input when one of the HDMI buttons is pushed, but that isn't ideal considering the layout of the remote:
The Remote:
On first glance, the remote appears to be well laid out and to have excellent built quality (no squeeks when you hit the buttons, feels nice and solid in your hand, responsive buttons, etc). It is solidly made, but functionally it has some major flaws:
1) Because there are nice big, well labeled "DVD, TV, Satelite, etc." buttons on the top third of the remote, it will be highly confusing to have to explain to non-tech savvy people "when you want to watch a DVD you hit HDMI 3, not DVD" or something similar due to the inability of the receiver to re-map those buttons! Basically the usefulness of having 'quick launch' buttons on the remote is destroyed by not being able to map them correctly!
2) The mute button location is horrible. It is at the bottom lower third of the remote on the left side. It is also the smallest button on the remote and a real pain to hit with your thumb since it requires balancing the very end of the remote in your hand or using two hands. In my opinion, the button you're most likely going to use more than any other should be easily accessible!
Sound Quality:
I put the amp through its paces with the following:
1) Comcast TV (College Football) with Dolby Digital Surround
2) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (DVD) & The Matrix (DVD)
3) Various lossless audio files streamed over my WD media streamer
4) Battlestar Galactica HD streamed over my WD media streamer
Surround sounds is just about perfect. Crystal clear highs, nice punch with the bass (although my sub really isn't anything to write home about) and excellent, authentic reproduction of even complex sound files like Feist and Metallica playing from a FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) file. I ran through a few excellent (in my opinion) surround sound movies and all sounded fantastic. Orcs screaming from behind me, thunderous sounds of war, the steely tones of Mr. Smith threatening Neo, all sounded lovely.
Video Quality:
HDMI video pass through was great. Suffice it to say that I didn't use this receiver to decoded low-res video files (something it does, but according to other reviews not that well). The video decoder in my WD media streamer does that job. I can confirm that the receiver did not affect inherent video quality to either good or ill.
Aesthetics:
This is a slick receiver and looks great on my AV rack. It matches my DVD player which I guess is a good thing, and even (sort of) matches my Toshiba TV. The LED screen is adequate if not amazing. It is easy to read from across the room (about 12 feet in my smallish living room). Text is clear and crisp which is all I really need.
Heat:
This unit does produce more heat than my old Yamaha, but much less than my friend's Onkyo (you could fry an egg on that thing!). In a well ventilated AV rack or cabinet it should never be an issue.
Conclusions:
For the price (sub $300 range) there isn't a better option out there as of this review. You could spend a hundred more and get a Pioneer (which does come with an ipod connect wire included in the price) but you're not gaining anything other than a few more connection options. Sound quality wise, this receiver is very, very good. If you can live with the crap remote and a few problems with the GUI, it's well worth the price. I'll probably just get a Harmony remote to make things simple for my family and friends.
4/5 Stars.
Thanks for reading my review. Feel free to ask questions and I'll do my best to answer them in the comments section.

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The STR-DN1000 7.1 Channel A/V Receiver delivers the Full HD 1080 experience to a home theater system. It features 7 HD inputs including 4 HDMI inputs with "Active Intelligence". In addition, the STR-DH700 is compatible with 24p True Cinema technology video signals and decodes uncompressed audio (LPCM via HDMI) making it compatible with Blu-ray Disc Player, the PlayStation 3 technology and other HD sources. Speaking of an enhanced experience, how about listening to music in a different room? Now share your favorite songs wirelessly throughout your home with ease. Simply plug in the optional S-Air transmitter and turn on the AirStation client (sold separately).

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Sony STR-DH810 7.1-channel A/V Receiver with 7 HD Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)I just received my new Sony STR-DH810 7.1 on Friday afternoon. I already had the previous version, the STR-DH800 set up in the living room. The DH810 I got for the den. It took less than an hour to pull the plugs out of my old Sony (non-HDMI) receiver and set-up the DH810. I would recommend that anyone getting this get a set of banana plugs for the speaker inputs. You "can" get the wires in the "screw-in" connectors, but banana plugs are just so much easier to deal with. I am using all 3 component inputs, 3 of 4 HDMI, Composite and CD, including DVD Coax, and all Optical audio inputs. Everything is very accessible and clearly labeled.
Once I had everything set up, I ran through the Audio/Video set-up manually. The DH810 comes with a mic that allows you to automatically configure your sound system (the receiver does all the work, but I prefer to do the "tweaking" manually. But that's just me. However, that said, after manually setting up my system, I reset the receiver and allowed the included mic to automatically detect and set up my sound system (just to see how it handled the task) and it did a bangin' job! Very easy automated and intuitive set-up.
The initial set-up is a breeze. Hold down the On/Off button on the receiver for 5 seconds until the receiver says CLEAR (which you can do anytime you want to undo any major blunders or just start fresh). Press the speaker button on the receiver until your speaker set-up appears, select your desired input button on the remote, crank up the volume and you have sound! From there, the remote's menu allows you to configure all the tweaks like EQ, Speaker distance, balance, bass, treble, you TVs resolution, etc. I would prefer some kind of TV-On-Screen Menu, but that is not really a big deal to me.
The sound is phenomenal and the DVD upscaling is very cool. I have Avatar on DVD (not blu ray) and the picture upscaled crisp and clear. The sound coming out of the speakers is clean and crisp. My audio CD's, movies, Cable TV, all sound great with the DH810.
I had been putting off buying this until someone gave it a rating, and I finally found a couple on the web that convinced me to give it an "early-adopter" try. Suffice to say, I am NOT DISAPPOINTED! The Price of $285 with no shipping was just a BIG plus too.
I will probably add to my rating later on, but for now, I HEARTILY recommend the STR-DH810 to anyone that has been hankering to upgrade their sound system with an upscaling 1080p A/V Receiver.

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Take your HD surround sound experience to new heights with the STR-DH810 A/V receiver. Offering an abundance of connectivity options (4 HDMI, 3 component), you will have room for all your components including a Blu-ray player, PS3 system, DVD player and more. And with DVD upscaling via HDMI you can watch DVDs in near HD quality. This 7.1-channel receiver has LPCM, Dolby trueHD and dts-HD decoding technologies for audio that is true to the original master recording. The STR-DH810 features wireless 2nd zone audio capabilities, which allows you transmit wireless audio in up to 10 additional rooms via optional S-AIR accessories. Additional features include Audio Return Channel which eliminates the need for extra cables connected to your TV, and standby pass-through that lets you access all of your HDMI connected devices without having to power on the receiver.

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Sony STR-DN1010 7.1-Channel A/V Blu-Ray Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It has only been a few days since I received and setup my STR-DN1010. I purchased it along with the BDP-S570 Blu-ray player. Its interesting that Sony calls the receiver a Blu-ray receiver, they really go together. After three years I replaced my Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray and five year old Sony DE898 receiver where both devices preformed well, they did not offer the sound and features that I now have. The DN1010 is a good receiver, but with the addition of the S570, you have a wonderful sounding system with all the features that one would want in a new system.
Upgrading from your old devices is not that simple. If you have a lot of devices like I do, you need to create a diagram to lay it all out where each device will be plugged in. To start I would not begin without using banana plugs, as I do not like the plastic connectors on this receiver. Connecting the HDMI devices is easy. For me it was the Blu-ray player, a HD-DVD player, and an AT&T U-Verse receiver. I also have a Sony Turntable that was pluged into a phono jack on my old receiver. I changed the EQ switch to on and plugged it into the only analog audio port that being the SA-CD/CD Audio In and it works just fine. Now I also have an old CD Recorder. I used an Optical cable and plugged it into the optical port 1. My next device I needed to port was a Laser Disc player. I used its S-video output and went directly to my Samsung TV as Video 1 and ported the sound using its digital optical port to the receiver's optical port 2. Now all I had left was my Roku Soundbridge (great for internet radio). It has a coaxial port that I plugged into the receiver's coaxial port. Before I got my new receiver, I never had enough digital ports. You can not change the keys on the remote, but the name of all my devices show up just fine on the receivers display and when using the GUI display on my TV. Renaming is very easy using the GUI mode and the tools/options key on the remote. It all works and after setting up the speakers using the Auto Cal and a little fine tuning, I was ready to try it out. I put in my David Foster and Friends Hit Man Blu-ray disc and Wow, the sound is so much better then the setup of my old receiver. It is that good and every device works so well together. The receiver does not have DNLA streaming, but using that feature on the BDP-S570, I have online my whole music collection and using the Blu-ray's HDMI connection to the receiver, the sound is much better then what I am getting from my Roku Soundbridge. You can view on your TV what playlist you want to listen to, select it and then turn off the TV if you like. After a few days I desided to switch back the U-verse HDMI cable directly to the TV and use its speakers without turning on the receiver. I can also use the optical out from the TV and connect it to the receivers TV optical in and can enjoy surround sound from the receiver by selecting the TV key on the remote.
I hope I helped anyone interested in this receiver in getting the most out of a great system. And know that you are ready when the day comes when you purchase that 3D HD TV we may all want someday.
Update December 19th.. Just purchased a Sony 55HX800 3D TV and works great. When TV sees the receiver is on, sound switches to the receiver. All my Sony devices talk to each other. Only thing I do not like is when you turn the TV off, everything else turns off. Using Uverse or any other source I still recommand running a HDMI cable from the box directly to the TV. Most new TV's have an optical out from the TV and the receiver has optical TV in. With this TV which does not have the best speakers, when the receiver is on the TV will automatically switch to the receiver. With receiver off, sound will switch back to the TV. One last comment, because you have the same network features on the Blu-ray and the TV, I would use them from the Blu-ray because you have a HDMI connection to the receiver and then to the TV, where as you would need an optical cable from your TV to the receiver. Still both work great with great sound and picture.

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Take your high-definition surround sound experience to the next level with the STR-DN1010 7.1-channel Blu-ray Disc A/V receiver. Enjoy 3D images while hearing sound closer to the way it was captured, plus improve image quality of non-HD video sources to HD using one convenient cable. Offering plenty of connectivity options for your expanding lifestyle, this A/V receiver features 4 HDMI inputs, 3 component inputs and is SIRIUS Satellite Radio-ready. You can also share your music in multiple rooms with wireless 2nd zone technology.

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