Sony DA5300ES/S or Yamaha RX-V1800 or RX-V663

[E1b0t]

The Sony looks like a good option,but how does it actually compare to the Yamaha's? I see a lot of negative remarks about Sony, but yet on some review site they rate the Sony the best ever they tested....

What would you guys buy? (Not considering budget but actual brand comparison). I can't find any head to head comparisons or reviews with these spesific models.

[Intamin]

I've listened to the 5300 and wasn't too impressed. I was listening to it compared to a NAD 765, and the NAD sounded a lot more open. I mean, the Sony sounded okay, but there are better receivers in the price range if you ask me. Haven't actually heard the 1800, but the 663 sounds nice for what it is, but I'd suggest listening to all 3 if you can.

[nbxfan]

I recently purchased the Sony even though it had some bad reviews from end users. It is an excellent receiver and, it has the room to grow which means I can use it for several years before it becomes obsolete. I currently use 4 of the 6 HDMI ports. I did a lot of research and read a lot of bad things but, they all seemed to be about a firmware update which should no longer be an issue. Even then, the machines with the serial numbers having issues had only a very small portion that had any issues.

That said, Yamaha is also an excellent company and I have previously had a Yamaha product that still is great and used as a secondary receiver in my bedroom. Absolutely nothing wrong with it and, I've been very happy with it. If it weren't for the fact that it doesn't have HDMI ports, and only a couple of optical ports, I would likely still be using it. I don't know anything about the Yamaha you are specifically talking about but, if they have continued in the same vein as the one I have, I would easily recommend it as well.

I would recommend the www.avsforum.com to read up on the receivers you are interested in. I did find even as a registered member trying to find information out, I was pretty much ignored but, was definitely worth reading thru.

[budkole]

Well...heres my 2 cents. I originally bought a onkyo 805...returned it for the pioneer elite 92...returmed it for the sony 5300. Out of those 3, the sony 5300 had the best sound and way better picture quality...especially since my plasma and bd player both use xvycc and deep color very effectively! The first thing i notice was the improved pq the sony produced..sounds crazy, but true.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by budkole

Well...heres my 2 cents. I originally bought a onkyo 805...returned it for the pioneer elite 92...returmed it for the sony 5300. Out of those 3, the sony 5300 had the best sound and way better picture quality...especially since my plasma and bd player both use xvycc and deep color very effectively! The first thing i notice was the improved pq..sound crazy, but true.

E1b0t,i think this is an important statement right Here

The truth is you have to make you own Decision with this .

I could tell you to get the Yamaha 1800 but that would be my personal choice out of the 3 you mentioned.What i tell you for sound could be different then what you hear.

I know this kind of sucks but there's really no easy answer. you just have too do some sound checks or even start taking some recievers home.

In my opinion, your be Happiest with the 1800,But see thats just me

[callas01]

As already stated, the choice is gonna be yours, you need to hear them both. Meaning the 5300 and the 1800, I wouldn't be putting the 663 anywhere near the class of receivers those 2 are.

Sony tend to be very neutral sounding, and Yamaha's are on the warm side. It is a personal preference as to which you prefer. When I was shopping not to long ago, I listened to the major 4 brands on this site and yamaha was too warm for me, Onkyo was to edgy, the pioneer and sony where in the middle. I ended up choosing the Sony, but it was a hard choice.

Once again though, it was MY preference.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by callas01

As already stated, the choice is gonna be yours, you need to hear them both. Meaning the 5300 and the 1800, I wouldn't be putting the 663 anywhere near the class of receivers those 2 are.

Yamaha's are on the warm side. I listened to the major 4 brands on this site and yamaha was too warm for me, Once again though, it was MY preference.

This is a perfect example, I had a Marantz 7002 and the sound was to warm for me.I have a Sony Str-De 635R Receiver upstairs and i wanted to get away from the Sony sound.
I found the Yamaha reciever bright like the Denon i had before it.

I had a Yamaha reciever 10 years ago and it was my best reciever , So i felt good trying out the Yamaha RX-V3800 ,it`s the best reciever i`ve ever had to date

Some one says it sounds warm and someone says it sounds bright .Who`s right

We both are

It also depends what speakers everyone has as well

[DiverSpear]

I own the 5300ES and think the sound is incredible. I listened to other other receivers and wasn't impressed. I like 6 HDMI inputs and the multi-room/multi-zone feature. It is equally adept at music or movies. I have owned Sony products for over 20 years and have never had a single thing go wrong. Just my opinion.

[billt928]

Originally Posted by DiverSpear

I own the 5300ES and think the sound is incredible. I listened to other other receivers and wasn't impressed. I like 6 HDMI inputs and the multi-room/multi-zone feature. It is equally adept at music or movies. I have owned Sony products for over 20 years and have never had a single thing go wrong. Just my opinion.

I agree with you here I own the 5300ES using as a pre-amp driving a Sunfire TGA7200 200x7 amp. I'm bi-amping a pair of Martin Logan ReQuest (not a easy load) Theater i Center, Script i Rears and 2x Sunfire True Sub Signature Subwoofers.

I'm using 4 of the HDMI's also. The 5300ES is a good all around product, more connection options than you will ever use. Replaced a 9000ES and have been very happy with it, My SN is thousands of units past the reported problem range. The big plus here is the 5 year warranty. Have used it for a A.D.F auto issues not auto detecting DD as 3.2.1 at random and 2 days later Sony had a new 5300ES at my door.

The Amp is a little weak for the speakers I own even with using zone 2 set to bi-amp, but did test it out with a 2000 vintage system that is now in my bedroom. It has Polk RT1000, CS1000, FX1000 and 1x PS1200 That I did a A/B next to my old 777ES receiver. The 5300ES had no issues at all driving these speakers right up to a steady 115db and sounded good all the way through. and sounded very dynamic/neutral at normal listing levels

I think the 5300ES is a good choice for most home theaters.