I've used the older version of the ZA5000ES for years, it has amazing sound and incredible build quality. I look forward to hearing these new monsters in action!
For the price point, the STR-AZ7000ES seems very interesting. Sony is catching up or even surpassing other receivers on the market. Can't wait to see some dual-center testing.
I’ve always purchased my Sony ES receivers locally in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. Was wishing Sony would incorporate a large screen in their newest receivers showing album art from the streaming services. Hope it’s coming in the next iteration.
We do love large screens. You should check out the HiFi Rose streamers if you want to add something that has a beautiful screen on it - www.audioadvice.com/shop-by-brand/hifi-rose
@@oblivion_007 i just meant in terms of audio. Even w vintage audio, marantz and pioneer units are so sought after. The sonys were kinda overlooked till recently. I think when people hear Sony, they think tvs and PlayStation. They have always made great audio gear. I just dont think its as well known.
I've been living with a STR-DA5300ES since it came out (2007???). I was satisfied with it for many years EXCEPT for the fact the amp would go silent at 60min when using DTS. Switching input then back again would restore the audio. It was a known issue that Sony had a fix for, but by the time I figured it out, I got the run around from Sony USA because I lived in Japan. Sony support stopped responding after their initial response and I never got it fixed. I just don't use the sound setting that cuts out. My point is, even after all these years, I'll wait for several months before purchasing another Sony receiver/amp but I hope it's a successful product.
We totally understand. Thanks for sharing. We experienced no issues in any of our testing and we know Sony put a ton of work in these! If you purchase your next one from our website, you'll get free lifetime support.
I'm confused about the comment at the 10:50 mark about multiple sub-woofers not being allowed for the 5000 and 7000. The details say it allows two pre out (subwoofer). When you say multiple, do you mean more than two sub-woofers? Thanks.
It is a bit confusing. Yes there are two subwoofer outs, but they are just connected in parallel, so you can not calibrate them as separate units like some other brands allow you to do. Hope this helps
Great review of these receivers. Your detail and insights are always one level better than everyone else. I have used an older Sony ES receiver and its sounds this is a straight forward upgrade.
Do i need to go all the way to the 7000 to get a front HDMI input? I have my Amazon Fire stick connected to my Denon AVR X4000 via a front HDMI. Do not want to have to connect on a rear port. What are my options please?
no Auro3D, I'll have to stick with Denon. I upmix 95% of content, recently nfl playoffs had statium and crowd crazzies going nuts up there in the heights We weren't ready for the military planes flyover and the6 heights with vog channel damn near brought the party down with people ducking! hahahah it was great
Finaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyy. I was waiting for new receivers. Here in Europe is a bit complicated to buy those from Sony, so, I'm really glad they're coming back.
They come a long ways , even from my str dn 1010 to a 1060 was a huge jump , to a str dn 1080 was a huge jump over a 1060 . These new ones I couldn't imagine.
I had an old Sony ES line receiver in the 90s, and loved it. I'm thinking about upgrading some of my current equipment. How would you expect the new Sony ES to compare to Denon X series in terms of 2.1 stereo performance?
I had a Sony ES AVR about 20 years ago and it was awesome. I have since move on to Denon having purchased the AVR-X8500HA. I would be interested in the Sony ES7000 only if it was made in Japan.
I saw all their ES receivers were listed as 'Discontinued' and bought a used STR-ZA2000ES two weeks ago. I was worried they were getting out of the receiver business.
My only disappointment here is no phono input, and likely no ability to turn off amp stage when using pre-outs. The main reason I was interested in a receiver with Dirac Live was to get a better spatial audio experience, but it seems like Sony is doing better with its implementation here. This review alleviates my concerns with 2 channel performance. I was waiting for a HDMI 2.1 receiver that felt enough of a improvement than my Denon 4300h, and the 500ES seems to be it.
@@AudioAdvice these reviews are really on point for the enthusiast/prosumer like myself. I don't see other channels engaging as much as you either. Since BestBuy screwed their points system, I'll visit your site to get the 500ES when I'm ready. Thanks.
We did not put it into an environment that would cause them to run fast. It is likely though the two will keep the noise level down more than just one. Thanks for watching
Funny story. Back in the mid 90's I was at a local A/V place with $3k burning a hole in my pocket, a salesman approached me and asked if I needed help. Was looking at the Sony ES system from way back then and the salesman proceeds to tell me... "You know this system is like $2700 with the Bose speaker system I wanted to get with it" I of course said "Yes" he walked away and never came back... Never did get it anywhere else cause it was more than I had on me... I still want it lol.
Just a note: if you are trying to set up sony tv as center channel using s-center on the new ES receivers, you can only use two height channels instead of four.
I'm looking at some AV reciever's to get a sound system going for my new setup. Got a Bravia 9 75" TV and was looking into starting off with a 5.1 Klipsch RP-500m II (x4), Klipsch RP-500c II or RP-404C II, and Klipsch RP 1000SW. Going into my rather small bedroom 10'x12' and will be used for both gaming on my PC, video content, and music. Starting off with just some bookshelf speakers for now, as I'm a bit limited on space for full on floor standers, and I'm in an apartment complex so I don't need anything too powerful just yet, just something better than my TV speakers lol. As for AV receiver's I'm looking for something that supports most of the new HDMI 2.1 features 4k 120hz and such. But also give me some room down the road to upgrade the system. Been looking at the Pioneer VSX LX-505 and the Sony STR-AZ3000ES. Theres a fair bit of a price gap between the two.. I'm kinda leaning towards the Pioneer it seems to offer better features on the spec sheet, and a lower price. I'm leaving room for down the road to eventually upgrade to a 5.1.2 setup, or 7.1.2/7.1.4 all depending on where I may move next, and what I'm interested in.
What is the pre-out voltage on the 5000? Is the pre-amp quality good enough to add a robust 2 channel amp power my Magnepan 1.7is? Or would a separate integrated amp with htb be better suited?
Sony does not give a spec, but we have not had trouble using separate power amps with Sony receivers in the past. Your speakers will benefit from a lot of high current power. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to help select the best one.
I'm curious what you would go with between a Marantz Cinema 40 and the 7000ES? Running Martin Logan motion XTI's, an Arcam PA240 driving the fronts, Motion AFX Atmos speakers and two over head's.
Fantastic overview/review, thanks for sharing this! I see that Zone 2 audio can be delivered via HDMI. Is the audio passed through from the source in its original format so a soundbar in the room can do the processing?
That's a great question and we would imagine that should work. However, we didn't have a chance to test something like that when we had our demo units. I'd recommend reaching out to our experts at audioadvice.com before you purchase if that is a feature you need. Thanks for watching!
Awsome review. I have been waiting on new ES receivers for several years as my last purchase was in 2008 (STR-DA3400ES). Looks like its time to do a major upgrade!
We did not test that but check out this link to the help guide, it looks like it does helpguide.sony.net/ha/strza5/v1/en/contents/TP0000963110.html?search=3d
I'm interested in the STR-AZ5000ES in combination with the SA-RS5 wireless speakers. The wireless speakers have previously used a direct connection to Sony soundbars in the same room. However, in my situation, the AVR would be in a rack in a different room. I'm concerned that the connection would be problematic. Is the connection to the AVR direct (through walls) or via the wireless network where I have multiple access points and excellent coverage? Would you consider testing that function? Thanks for the excellent video review.
Good question, in reading the manual (www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/5034/61411f8c33e85939b6d780f1380ab18d/50345001M.pdf ) they appear to use their own wireless network as they say having lots of wireless devices may limit their range, but there is an option to change them to RF which should work through walls. Hope this helps and please consider purchasing your 5000 from Audio Advice to support our small business. Thanks
Either one of these - AZ5000: www.audioadvice.com/sony-str-az5000es-home-theater-receiver AZ7000: www.audioadvice.com/sony-str-az7000es-home-theater-receiver
@@AudioAdvice Thanks and that to me is a miss on Sony's part. Since the processor is probably the same for each unit to process more channels would be easy and use the wireless speakers to make your system fuller. The main cost driver is the each amplifier channel so Sony selling more amp channels or more wireless speakers is a win either way. Regardless I will be looking for more details on the implementation of the 360 audio processing as with the HT-A9 on home grade speakers will be interesting.
What do you think of the 5000ES vs the Onkyo RZ70 puts it in line with the 5000SE, which is quite intriguing. I’m not sure why the RZ70 was so expensive when it seems to be more aligned with the 5000SE. In fact, the Sony has quite a few features that the RZ70 doesn’t have. I’m curious your thoughts between the two? I can’t find anything online that directly compares the two. Most reviews of the Sony SE line as well as the RZ70 are glowing, for the most part. The power is slightly down on the Sony, but it seems to be feature rich. Minus the sub output. Which would you choose? 🙏
Help! with this 3000ES can you listen to streamed music in Surround sound utilizing all available channels?? From Spotify/Pandora? Source would be from smart phone. Im getting conflicting info. My old ES receiver used to do that utilizing Dolby digital EX & DTS ES sound modes if I remember correctly. Very important for me. I loved listening to music in Surround...thnx in advance 👍
Automatic (only what is programmed will be used = programming takes 15-30 minutes) ***Actual electric use*** you can *POWER* use 1, 2 or 3 zones Independently (2nd/3rd aren't being used all the time) Set power on/off controls (trigger AUTO ON with device = auto "standby" or OFF after predetermined time) ***best to leave on AUTO ON/OFF with TV***
Sony does have a very well thought out room calibration system but it's very hard to beat Dirac. It may come down to your specific system needs. I'd recommend reaching out to one of our theater experts at audioadvice.com and chat with them to see which one may be best.
Considering upgrading my home theater setup: 77" CX 4K Smart OLED (2020) with HDR/Dolby Vision, Denon AVR-X3700H in a 5.4.4 Surround Setup, and four subwoofers in a 37'2" x 27'10" room. Wondering if the Sony STR-AZ7000ES is a worthy upgrade from the Denon. I unfortunately cannot add DIRAC to my AVR because of the age. The portion of the review that discusses the way it handles spatial audio really caught my ear, but is it worth it? #HomeTheaterUpgrade #SonySTR-AZ7000ES
Sony has done an incredible job with their room correction and it makes Spatial Audio super good! We'd recommend you call or chat with our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you decide what's best for you!
Not big on the looks of these, at least on the ones with so many buttons on the front. Does Sony have any stereo offerings in their latest receiver line?
I was looking at the onkyo tx-rz50. But now the az3000 looks pretty good to. The Phantom rear sounds perfect for my situation. If it works well. Because I have no good place for rears. The ability to go from 5.2.4 to 7.2.4 with the onkyo is great but I have nowhere to put them.
I am in the market for a new receiver to replace my Denon air-x3300. Power means nothing to me because I am using an outboard amplifier. But sound and reliability mean everything. I was all set to get the Anthem AVR-11 before this was announced but I wondering if I should wait for the Sony. Roughly around the same price and both have the same feature set with Sony seeming a little stronger on video setup. But I am most concerned about the quality of the music playback and which one will last the longest . Please help.
Do I need to go from 3000 to 5000 is I'm running 2 towers, a center, sub, and MAYBE a couple of ATMOS speakers. MIGHT add surround probably would go Sony wireless. THAT'S IT. Any advantage going to the 5000?
Currently using Marantz SR5011, got a chance to buy AZ1000ES though, not decided it as i have samsung QD-OLED. I really wished this receiver supports HDR10+.
I always liked the design of the Sony ES receivers. There is such a weight difference between the 1000ES and the others. The 1000ES only weighs 20lbs (according the the details on the audio advice website), while the other models tip the scales at 40lbs and over. Seems like better components are being used for the 3000ES through 7000ES models. I would start with the 3000ES model if someone were looking to upgrade their receiver. Even if you don't need all 9 channels on the 3000ES, it seems like it's better built than the 1000ES.
Yes, that is a great observation. The 3000 - 7000 are really killer deals. IF you have budget, starting at the 3000 is a great choice. Thanks for sharing!
Sony AV Receiver doesn't do Gapless Music playback so if you like albums like Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, you will get annoying gaps between tracks, instead of continuous playback without gaps
Yes I've owned STR dn 1010 and 1060 and 1080 STR DN 1080 I use now a days .... Amazing AVR definitely built like tank , no doubt I had other brand burnout if you even touch wires together , Sony AVR never once let me down.
EVERY Reciever should have Preamp Outputs. Arguably especially the lower end ones. A way for the companies to preempt a future upgrade I suppose. No dual sub outs on the 5000ES/7000ES? That's Blasphemy, a dealbreaker! A software option? NO, they need to build a REV.2
We have the current prices here www.audioadvice.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=az5000 We stopped talking prices in our videos with them changing so often. You can always check our site for the current selling price. Thanks for watching
Terrific review guys. Do I have to worry about bandwidth with this if I have a current XBox or Playstation or am I totally covered for the immediate future?
Thank you! It has pretty much what all of the others have these days. We do recommend to be totally safe to just connect your console to your TV and use eARC for audio. Thanks for watching
Audio advice, what is your opinion on sonys room correction ("Sony digital cinema auto calibration IX") vs the competition: Dirac, trinnov, Auddessey, etc. Also, what is your opinion on their: 360 sound mapping which looks like its just an enhancement to the already dolby atmos, dtsx, etc..
The room we tested it in was pretty good acoustically so its hard to say. We are building a test facility that will be challenging for the eq systems to compare them better. Trinnov is hard to beat, but ARC and Dirac are very good. We do like the way you input all the various distances. Logically you would think that would allow the processor to better map the sound field. It did track effects extremely well. We think they are on to something with the multiple measurements which should give the unit almost as much info as the 4 microphone unit the Trinnov uses.
The single SW is a deal breaker. I have Yamaha rx-a6 and it’s a must have future. It’s possible to buy another device to make that happen but it will be expensive and you need to know what you are doing
Some have two connections but they are all in parallel. There is no independent control. We suggested to Sony they could through software do multiple sub outs using the zone outs, we shall see if that goes anywhere. Thanks for watching
Questions, 1. apart from processing 11 and 13 channels, how many channels can the az5000 and az7000 amplify at the same time without need of a power amp? can I do 7.2.4 out of the box? 2. are they able to convert composite to HDMI? 3. when using zone 2 and main zone simultaneously, are they able to output 8k at the same time without an issue?
Often times customers want the flexibility to have their rears (wired or wireless) simply be able to replicate the front two stereo channels (and not do any type of surround sound at that time). Do any of these receivers have the option of doing that for when the customer deems it desirable to do so? I think in the past this used to essentially be done by Dolby ProLogic II. I know it sounds odd, but there are certain times when customers just want to bring the front R and L stereo channels to the back of the room (at the volume level of their choosing) using the rear speakers - and not have any surround sound processing involved at that time. Can this be done by any of those new receivers or are the rears only able to be used for surround sound effects?
My 92 GX99ES has dual transformers dual centers eq 5 ch spectrum analyzer phono tape monitor and sounds fantastic, so I feel like without the digital enhancements the best of these is a downgrade for me personally, but very nice looking and powerful otherwise
That was a beast of a receiver, but we think you would find, at least from the 5000 and up, the new ones would sound much better. Room correction has improved a whole lot and would work much better than just a basic 5 channel eq, you would loose the phono input and tape monitor which would be a problem if you wanted to record to a cassette deck or r to r. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice That's where the tape monitor comes in handy, I have it looped through a 10 band per channel eq that adds clarity and headroom. I have the option to buy new or vintage and after a lot of research I purchased the GX99ES for it's made in Japan extremely good build quality. The display and input options are better than anything built today sadly. I'd invite you over to watch this video listening to it through the GX99ES you'd be impressed! Thanks for your reply have a great day 😀
@@AudioAdvice Every TV program and with streaming movies. The Auro3D upmixer is absolutely incredible, and far superior to the Dolby upmixer. Music is mind blowing.
You might want to check out the "details" section on your site under the the new Sony AZ7000ES receiver as it is listed as including DTS:X Pro (as it should since it has 13 channels).
@@kalexan9 Thanks, they definitely do not from what we saw, but we just checked out site, those details are actually a feed from Sony, so we need to further investigate, their new site on the receivers does not say they do, we will get back with you
Oh waw , front wides are niiiiiice . ( Oh try 120 hz , the LFE on sub starts at 120hz or try 90 or 60hz , don't just go with 80hz pleaseeeeeee believe ) There is a gap at that location The amps and low distortion is great , even from a 1060 to a 1080 I was like waw 😍 oh love that mic stand , the stereo mic is nice too 1080 str dn has it as well , no stand tho
Read our detailed article here: audioadvice.io/SonyESReceivers
➤ Sony STR-ZA1000ES: audioadvice.io/SonySTRAZ1000ES
➤ Sony STR-ZA3000ES: audioadvice.io/STRAZ3000ES
➤ Sony STR-ZA5000ES: audioadvice.io/STRAZ5000ES
➤ Sony STR-ZA7000ES: audioadvice.io/STRAZ7000ES
I've used the older version of the ZA5000ES for years, it has amazing sound and incredible build quality. I look forward to hearing these new monsters in action!
Yes, the Sony ES units have always been built like tanks. Thanks for watching
For the price point, the STR-AZ7000ES seems very interesting. Sony is catching up or even surpassing other receivers on the market. Can't wait to see some dual-center testing.
They certainly did a great job! We are hoping to do a lot more tests with them!
Sony ES receivers have always been one of the best values on the market. Looks like this new generation got some serious upgrades!
Totally agree!
I’ve always purchased my Sony ES receivers locally in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. Was wishing Sony would incorporate a large screen in their newest receivers showing album art from the streaming services. Hope it’s coming in the next iteration.
We do love large screens. You should check out the HiFi Rose streamers if you want to add something that has a beautiful screen on it - www.audioadvice.com/shop-by-brand/hifi-rose
I have an older sony 5.1. Its not even ES. Lack of hdmi aside, it still sounds amazing. Always an underrated audio brand
That's awesome, thanks for sharing!
Sony underrated?!... They are jack of all trades.. And master of almost everything they tried except mobile phones
@@oblivion_007 i just meant in terms of audio. Even w vintage audio, marantz and pioneer units are so sought after. The sonys were kinda overlooked till recently. I think when people hear Sony, they think tvs and PlayStation. They have always made great audio gear. I just dont think its as well known.
@@oblivion_007 Great Analogy! Thanks for sharing
About Time! I've been waiting for 4years...I ended up buying a Denon last year...
These were worth the wait! Thanks for watching!
I've been living with a STR-DA5300ES since it came out (2007???). I was satisfied with it for many years EXCEPT for the fact the amp would go silent at 60min when using DTS. Switching input then back again would restore the audio. It was a known issue that Sony had a fix for, but by the time I figured it out, I got the run around from Sony USA because I lived in Japan. Sony support stopped responding after their initial response and I never got it fixed. I just don't use the sound setting that cuts out. My point is, even after all these years, I'll wait for several months before purchasing another Sony receiver/amp but I hope it's a successful product.
We totally understand. Thanks for sharing. We experienced no issues in any of our testing and we know Sony put a ton of work in these! If you purchase your next one from our website, you'll get free lifetime support.
I'm confused about the comment at the 10:50 mark about multiple sub-woofers not being allowed for the 5000 and 7000. The details say it allows two pre out (subwoofer). When you say multiple, do you mean more than two sub-woofers? Thanks.
It is a bit confusing. Yes there are two subwoofer outs, but they are just connected in parallel, so you can not calibrate them as separate units like some other brands allow you to do. Hope this helps
@@AudioAdvice Thank you for the clarification, that helps.
Great review of these receivers. Your detail and insights are always one level better than everyone else. I have used an older Sony ES receiver and its sounds this is a straight forward upgrade.
We appreciate your kind words :) Yes, these will be an awesome upgrade!
ES Series rocks
Sony crushed it with these!
Looks like a hell of a value
They are! Sony nailed it.
Do i need to go all the way to the 7000 to get a front HDMI input? I have my Amazon Fire stick connected to my Denon AVR X4000 via a front HDMI. Do not want to have to connect on a rear port. What are my options please?
The 5000 also has it
Sony Receivers are well made and sound great.
Yes they are, thanks for watching!
no Auro3D, I'll have to stick with Denon. I upmix 95% of content, recently nfl playoffs had statium and crowd crazzies going nuts up there in the heights We weren't ready for the military planes flyover and the6 heights with vog channel damn near brought the party down with people ducking! hahahah it was great
That sounds amazing! I'd stick with what you have then!
Loving this revamp and the features added!
Thanks for watching!
Finaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyy. I was waiting for new receivers. Here in Europe is a bit complicated to buy those from Sony, so, I'm really glad they're coming back.
It's about time! These were worth the wait :) thanks for watching!
They come a long ways , even from my str dn 1010 to a 1060 was a huge jump , to a str dn 1080 was a huge jump over a 1060 .
These new ones I couldn't imagine.
There are really nice features on these receivers, and I like that they work with Sonos. Looks like Sony put some serious work into these models.
They sure did! Thanks for watching!
I had an old Sony ES line receiver in the 90s, and loved it. I'm thinking about upgrading some of my current equipment. How would you expect the new Sony ES to compare to Denon X series in terms of 2.1 stereo performance?
Thanks for sharing. The Sony sounded very warm to us in a 2 channel environment.
I had a Sony ES AVR about 20 years ago and it was awesome. I have since move on to Denon having purchased the AVR-X8500HA. I would be interested in the Sony ES7000 only if it was made in Japan.
Great choice. Thanks for sharing!
I saw all their ES receivers were listed as 'Discontinued' and bought a used STR-ZA2000ES two weeks ago. I was worried they were getting out of the receiver business.
Nope! Just more upgrades 😁
My only disappointment here is no phono input, and likely no ability to turn off amp stage when using pre-outs. The main reason I was interested in a receiver with Dirac Live was to get a better spatial audio experience, but it seems like Sony is doing better with its implementation here. This review alleviates my concerns with 2 channel performance. I was waiting for a HDMI 2.1 receiver that felt enough of a improvement than my Denon 4300h, and the 500ES seems to be it.
The AZ5000 we tested sounded great, and it should as it is a beast.
@@AudioAdvice these reviews are really on point for the enthusiast/prosumer like myself. I don't see other channels engaging as much as you either. Since BestBuy screwed their points system, I'll visit your site to get the 500ES when I'm ready. Thanks.
Noticed the 5000 model has two cooling fans and was wondering if anyone has noticed any significant fan noise during low volume segments of playback?
We did not put it into an environment that would cause them to run fast. It is likely though the two will keep the noise level down more than just one. Thanks for watching
No review or mention of the new 360 Spacial audio...? It is probably one of the best selling features of these new AVRs...
Thanks for the feedback. There was a lot to cover for these!
I have str-da2800es from 2012 a $1000 when it was new. It sounds amazing !!
Thanks for sharing, Sony has always made great gear.
Funny story. Back in the mid 90's I was at a local A/V place with $3k burning a hole in my pocket, a salesman approached me and asked if I needed help. Was looking at the Sony ES system from way back then and the salesman proceeds to tell me... "You know this system is like $2700 with the Bose speaker system I wanted to get with it" I of course said "Yes" he walked away and never came back... Never did get it anywhere else cause it was more than I had on me... I still want it lol.
That is a funny story and shame on that salesman!
@@AudioAdvice I guess some "kid" in a muscle shirt and cut off sweats was just too trashy looking for him lol ;)
I had this happen to me, also! On MORE than one occasion! Turns out this was fortunate, as I would own a laserdisc player.
how does this compare to the denon x3800h
Call or Chat with one of our experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you compare to see which one might be better for you!
Will the higher models with centre height option work with IMAX-Enhanced DTS:X soundtracks which also offer true centre height, above screen?
We are not sure, although we felt the center height option sounded like the fronts were out of phase. Thanks for watching
Just a note: if you are trying to set up sony tv as center channel using s-center on the new ES receivers, you can only use two height channels instead of four.
Yes, that is true, thanks for sharing
Awesome review!
From my research, it seems Sony hasn’t included a phone app to control the unit or even simply turn it on. Is that true?!
My uncle Ned says NO
We have not seen an app for these as of now.
I'm looking at some AV reciever's to get a sound system going for my new setup. Got a Bravia 9 75" TV and was looking into starting off with a 5.1 Klipsch RP-500m II (x4), Klipsch RP-500c II or RP-404C II, and Klipsch RP 1000SW. Going into my rather small bedroom 10'x12' and will be used for both gaming on my PC, video content, and music. Starting off with just some bookshelf speakers for now, as I'm a bit limited on space for full on floor standers, and I'm in an apartment complex so I don't need anything too powerful just yet, just something better than my TV speakers lol.
As for AV receiver's I'm looking for something that supports most of the new HDMI 2.1 features 4k 120hz and such. But also give me some room down the road to upgrade the system. Been looking at the Pioneer VSX LX-505 and the Sony STR-AZ3000ES. Theres a fair bit of a price gap between the two.. I'm kinda leaning towards the Pioneer it seems to offer better features on the spec sheet, and a lower price.
I'm leaving room for down the road to eventually upgrade to a 5.1.2 setup, or 7.1.2/7.1.4 all depending on where I may move next, and what I'm interested in.
Thanks for sharing, please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss the best options.
Anthem 1140 8k or Sony STRAZ7000 ES? what would you choose
Tough choice! Reach out to our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you decide which one is better for you!
What is the pre-out voltage on the 5000? Is the pre-amp quality good enough to add a robust 2 channel amp power my Magnepan 1.7is? Or would a separate integrated amp with htb be better suited?
Sony does not give a spec, but we have not had trouble using separate power amps with Sony receivers in the past. Your speakers will benefit from a lot of high current power. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to help select the best one.
I'm curious what you would go with between a Marantz Cinema 40 and the 7000ES? Running Martin Logan motion XTI's, an Arcam PA240 driving the fronts, Motion AFX Atmos speakers and two over head's.
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to determine which is the best solution for your system. Both are great receivers.
Thanks I'm glad they finally came out with some new how does the compare to the denon x3700
We were happy to see them as well. Both are good units, please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for the pros and cons of each.
Fantastic overview/review, thanks for sharing this! I see that Zone 2 audio can be delivered via HDMI. Is the audio passed through from the source in its original format so a soundbar in the room can do the processing?
That's a great question and we would imagine that should work. However, we didn't have a chance to test something like that when we had our demo units. I'd recommend reaching out to our experts at audioadvice.com before you purchase if that is a feature you need. Thanks for watching!
@@AudioAdvice I looked at the details on crutchfield and it says 2 channel.
Awsome review. I have been waiting on new ES receivers for several years as my last purchase was in 2008 (STR-DA3400ES). Looks like its time to do a major upgrade!
It sure will be! Thanks for watching!
Does the AZ5000ES support front wide speakers like the AZ7000ES?
It does not
Do they have 3d pass through. Please mention
We did not test that but check out this link to the help guide, it looks like it does helpguide.sony.net/ha/strza5/v1/en/contents/TP0000963110.html?search=3d
Where was the link for setting up one of these with 2 subs?
www.audioadvice.com/videos-reviews/how-to-setup-calibrate-subwoofer
I'm interested in the STR-AZ5000ES in combination with the SA-RS5 wireless speakers. The wireless speakers have previously used a direct connection to Sony soundbars in the same room. However, in my situation, the AVR would be in a rack in a different room. I'm concerned that the connection would be problematic. Is the connection to the AVR direct (through walls) or via the wireless network where I have multiple access points and excellent coverage? Would you consider testing that function? Thanks for the excellent video review.
Good question, in reading the manual (www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/5034/61411f8c33e85939b6d780f1380ab18d/50345001M.pdf ) they appear to use their own wireless network as they say having lots of wireless devices may limit their range, but there is an option to change them to RF which should work through walls. Hope this helps and please consider purchasing your 5000 from Audio Advice to support our small business. Thanks
Which receiver is needed to output 7.1.4?
Either one of these - AZ5000: www.audioadvice.com/sony-str-az5000es-home-theater-receiver
AZ7000: www.audioadvice.com/sony-str-az7000es-home-theater-receiver
If you choose a 7.2 channel model, can you only process 7.2 channels or by adding in wireless SA-rs5 can you get to 9.2 or more speakers?
That depends upon the model. If the unit has 9 channels of processing you could do 7 powered and 2 wireless. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Thanks and that to me is a miss on Sony's part. Since the processor is probably the same for each unit to process more channels would be easy and use the wireless speakers to make your system fuller. The main cost driver is the each amplifier channel so Sony selling more amp channels or more wireless speakers is a win either way. Regardless I will be looking for more details on the implementation of the 360 audio processing as with the HT-A9 on home grade speakers will be interesting.
Do they upscale sd/ hd video to 4k/ 8k like marantz or denon receivers do?
yes
We tested the composite input on the AZ5000 and it did not, which appears to be why they also have a composite output
Think Sony should of done HDR10+ pass through, not just HDR10 and at least front Preouts for Sony STR-AZ3000ES at this price
Those would have been good features. We will pass along the info. Thanks for sharing!
Please tell me that all 11ch on the 5000 are powered? 🤞🏽
They are. Thanks for watching
What do you think of the 5000ES vs the Onkyo RZ70 puts it in line with the 5000SE, which is quite intriguing. I’m not sure why the RZ70 was so expensive when it seems to be more aligned with the 5000SE. In fact, the Sony has quite a few features that the RZ70 doesn’t have. I’m curious your thoughts between the two? I can’t find anything online that directly compares the two. Most reviews of the Sony SE line as well as the RZ70 are glowing, for the most part. The power is slightly down on the Sony, but it seems to be feature rich. Minus the sub output. Which would you choose? 🙏
Both are great units. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss which is best for your particular system. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice thanks, I actually reached out yesterday. What is your typical response time?
Help! with this 3000ES can you listen to streamed music in Surround sound utilizing all available channels?? From Spotify/Pandora? Source would be from smart phone. Im getting conflicting info. My old ES receiver used to do that utilizing Dolby digital EX & DTS ES sound modes if I remember correctly. Very important for me. I loved listening to music in Surround...thnx in advance 👍
It should up-convert but we have not tested that feature.
I want to hear how the Sony receiver works with the UB 820 or 9000.
If you mean the Panasonic BR players, it should work great. Thanks for watching
Can you turn off un-used channels to save power
With any AVR, you tell it how many speakers you have and the un used ones would not receive a signal.
Automatic (only what is programmed will be used = programming takes 15-30 minutes)
***Actual electric use***
you can *POWER* use 1, 2 or 3 zones Independently (2nd/3rd aren't being used all the time)
Set power on/off controls (trigger AUTO ON with device = auto "standby" or OFF after predetermined time) ***best to leave on AUTO ON/OFF with TV***
Do you guys feel the Sony az5000 without Dirac beat out the model 50?
Sony does have a very well thought out room calibration system but it's very hard to beat Dirac. It may come down to your specific system needs. I'd recommend reaching out to one of our theater experts at audioadvice.com and chat with them to see which one may be best.
Can't wait to upgrade my Sony STR-DH790 to one of these bad boys.
We are here when you are ready, thanks for watching
Does the 3000 have 2 powered zones? Replacing a Pioneer SC-95 that has 2 powered zones as I only use 5.1.2
It has one if you only use 7 channels. Thanks for watching
Considering upgrading my home theater setup: 77" CX 4K Smart OLED (2020) with HDR/Dolby Vision, Denon AVR-X3700H in a 5.4.4 Surround Setup, and four subwoofers in a 37'2" x 27'10" room. Wondering if the Sony STR-AZ7000ES is a worthy upgrade from the Denon. I unfortunately cannot add DIRAC to my AVR because of the age. The portion of the review that discusses the way it handles spatial audio really caught my ear, but is it worth it? #HomeTheaterUpgrade #SonySTR-AZ7000ES
Sony has done an incredible job with their room correction and it makes Spatial Audio super good! We'd recommend you call or chat with our team of experts at audioadvice.com and they can help you decide what's best for you!
Not big on the looks of these, at least on the ones with so many buttons on the front. Does Sony have any stereo offerings in their latest receiver line?
They all come with magnetic faceplates to cover the buttons. No stereo offerings that we know of yet. Thanks for watching!
Subwoofer setup video link?
th-cam.com/video/JQ_biZoOY3M/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/dLpPGuDFqSg/w-d-xo.html
I was looking at the onkyo tx-rz50. But now the az3000 looks pretty good to. The Phantom rear sounds perfect for my situation. If it works well. Because I have no good place for rears. The ability to go from 5.2.4 to 7.2.4 with the onkyo is great but I have nowhere to put them.
We felt it worked pretty well in our test environment. Thanks for watching
I have the rz50 and it’s phenomenal, I don’t have place for back rear surround either but it still sounds amazing
@Mike Blenheim It is a really nice receiver. Anything after that I think you run into the wall of diminishing returns pretty hard.
I am in the market for a new receiver to replace my Denon air-x3300. Power means nothing to me because I am using an outboard amplifier. But sound and reliability mean everything. I was all set to get the Anthem AVR-11 before this was announced but I wondering if I should wait for the Sony. Roughly around the same price and both have the same feature set with Sony seeming a little stronger on video setup. But I am most concerned about the quality of the music playback and which one will last the longest
. Please help.
You should reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to help with the best solution. Thanks for watching
Do I need to go from 3000 to 5000 is I'm running 2 towers, a center, sub, and MAYBE a couple of ATMOS speakers. MIGHT add surround probably would go Sony wireless. THAT'S IT. Any advantage going to the 5000?
Depends on the sensitivity of your speakers. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss best options
Currently using Marantz SR5011, got a chance to buy AZ1000ES though, not decided it as i have samsung QD-OLED. I really wished this receiver supports HDR10+.
It does support Dolby Vision and IMAX enhanced.
@AudioAdvice true, but my marantz does support dolby vision too
I always liked the design of the Sony ES receivers. There is such a weight difference between the 1000ES and the others. The 1000ES only weighs 20lbs (according the the details on the audio advice website), while the other models tip the scales at 40lbs and over. Seems like better components are being used for the 3000ES through 7000ES models. I would start with the 3000ES model if someone were looking to upgrade their receiver. Even if you don't need all 9 channels on the 3000ES, it seems like it's better built than the 1000ES.
Yes, that is a great observation. The 3000 - 7000 are really killer deals. IF you have budget, starting at the 3000 is a great choice. Thanks for sharing!
The yellow transformer inside this new receiver looks exactly like the receiver I bought in 1998. How can this be?
Interesting. It could have just came from the same transformer manufacturer. Thanks for watching
Aren’t the Sony wireless the ones that cause home Wi-Fi problems ?
Interesting, we sell a lot of them with the Sony soundbars and have very few returns. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice LTT did make a video last week
Sony AV Receiver doesn't do Gapless Music playback so if you like albums like Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, you will get annoying gaps between tracks, instead of continuous playback without gaps
Thanks for pointing that out!
Sony master of electronics
Yes, we have liked them for a long time.
Yes I've owned STR dn 1010 and 1060 and 1080 STR DN 1080 I use now a days ....
Amazing AVR definitely built like tank , no doubt
I had other brand burnout if you even touch wires together , Sony AVR never once let me down.
Yes, they are built like tanks! Time to step up to a 3000 :)
I like the new ones!! Very cool!
Sony did a great job!
I'm shocked how little Sony achieved in home theatre other than the 1080. I thought they were leaders in audio industry???
These are very good receivers with more of a focus on sound and build quality than a jillion features. Thanks for watching
Sony should made a 2.1 modern amplifier for analog audiophiles
That would be cool!
Auro 3D?
No, sorry
🤩👍🏻 YESSSS
Glad you liked it!
I'm still on a 2012 entry level 2012 AVR. It beats Yamaha, Denon and Onkyo with it's functions, sync with TV, and audio quality for it's price!
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!
impressive
Thank you, glad you like them
My main question. Will they be available in Europe ? Can you find out ?
We are not sure, sorry.
@@AudioAdvice can you find it out?
THE question Indeed
Great review, tanks you. It 2 subwofer it indépendant?
Thank you very much. Unfortunately they are in parallel.
EVERY Reciever should have Preamp Outputs. Arguably especially the lower end ones.
A way for the companies to preempt a future upgrade I suppose.
No dual sub outs on the 5000ES/7000ES? That's Blasphemy, a dealbreaker!
A software option? NO, they need to build a REV.2
Agreed! All of these have 2 subwoofer outs.
Prices please
We have the current prices here www.audioadvice.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=az5000 We stopped talking prices in our videos with them changing so often. You can always check our site for the current selling price. Thanks for watching
Sony is a Powerhouse
Agreed! Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Appricate the video i reccomend audio advice in many of my videos 😃 Great Company
@@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120 Thanks so much!
@@AudioAdvice Company makes for an easy reccomendation 😃
Audio Advice-buy this? You video makes me confused as to what I should buy. Specs I can read from Sony's online manuals.
You can always reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss the best choice for your system.
Terrific review guys. Do I have to worry about bandwidth with this if I have a current XBox or Playstation or am I totally covered for the immediate future?
Thank you! It has pretty much what all of the others have these days. We do recommend to be totally safe to just connect your console to your TV and use eARC for audio. Thanks for watching
Any market we can get one of those that has a power voltage of 220V?
Sorry, we are not sure on that
Wow ..😁 Great Stuff!!
Thanks! 😁
Enjoyed the video and subscribed but please cut down slightly on the hands constantly moving which reminds me of Rtings reviews.
Noted!
Audio advice, what is your opinion on sonys room correction ("Sony digital cinema auto calibration IX") vs the competition: Dirac, trinnov, Auddessey, etc.
Also, what is your opinion on their: 360 sound mapping which looks like its just an enhancement to the already dolby atmos, dtsx, etc..
The room we tested it in was pretty good acoustically so its hard to say. We are building a test facility that will be challenging for the eq systems to compare them better. Trinnov is hard to beat, but ARC and Dirac are very good. We do like the way you input all the various distances. Logically you would think that would allow the processor to better map the sound field. It did track effects extremely well. We think they are on to something with the multiple measurements which should give the unit almost as much info as the 4 microphone unit the Trinnov uses.
sont hates australia as the es7000 isnt available here
Sorry to hear that.
The single SW is a deal breaker. I have Yamaha rx-a6 and it’s a must have future.
It’s possible to buy another device to make that happen but it will be expensive and you need to know what you are doing
Yes, that is true. We hope they do some kind of software upgrade. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice I hope! Can the PS5 use Sonys 3D sound with it? it will be a big selling feature.
For now it only works with headphones and their HT-A9
Denon next level
Thanks for watching
i was hoping for some AV separates.
Those were the good old days. Sony had a very nice pre-pro back when it was just Dolby Digital. Thanks for watching
How many SUB outs? Independent sub control?
Some have two connections but they are all in parallel. There is no independent control. We suggested to Sony they could through software do multiple sub outs using the zone outs, we shall see if that goes anywhere. Thanks for watching
Questions, 1. apart from processing 11 and 13 channels, how many channels can the az5000 and az7000 amplify at the same time without need of a power amp? can I do 7.2.4 out of the box? 2. are they able to convert composite to HDMI? 3. when using zone 2 and main zone simultaneously, are they able to output 8k at the same time without an issue?
The AZ5000 has 11 amp channels and the AZ7000 has 13. They do not upconvert. We did not test your last question. Thanks for watching
Often times customers want the flexibility to have their rears (wired or wireless) simply be able to replicate the front two stereo channels (and not do any type of surround sound at that time). Do any of these receivers have the option of doing that for when the customer deems it desirable to do so? I think in the past this used to essentially be done by Dolby ProLogic II. I know it sounds odd, but there are certain times when customers just want to bring the front R and L stereo channels to the back of the room (at the volume level of their choosing) using the rear speakers - and not have any surround sound processing involved at that time. Can this be done by any of those new receivers or are the rears only able to be used for surround sound effects?
We understand what you mean. They do have a multi stereo sound mode which should do what you are referring to. Thanks for watching
Need the STRAZ5000 to get pre-outs
It does on all channels
Yes, as T Camm says, it does. Thanks for watching
This is a welcomed announcement
We agree!!
No phono??? Wow...
Yes, that is correct
What are the dimensions?
You can find them on our site, this is a link to the AZ5000. www.audioadvice.com/sony-str-az5000es-home-theater-receiver Thanks for watching!
My 92 GX99ES has dual transformers dual centers eq 5 ch spectrum analyzer phono tape monitor and sounds fantastic, so I feel like without the digital enhancements the best of these is a downgrade for me personally, but very nice looking and powerful otherwise
That was a beast of a receiver, but we think you would find, at least from the 5000 and up, the new ones would sound much better. Room correction has improved a whole lot and would work much better than just a basic 5 channel eq, you would loose the phono input and tape monitor which would be a problem if you wanted to record to a cassette deck or r to r. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice
That's where the tape monitor comes in handy, I have it looped through a 10 band per channel eq that adds clarity and headroom.
I have the option to buy new or vintage and after a lot of research I purchased the GX99ES for it's made in Japan extremely good build quality. The display and input options are better than anything built today sadly.
I'd invite you over to watch this video listening to it through the GX99ES you'd be impressed!
Thanks for your reply have a great day 😀
Does it have DTS:X Pro (for processing 13 channels and above)? If not, that's a HUGE miss. And where's Auro3D?
Neither one. Just out of curiosity, how often do you use Auro 3D?
@@AudioAdvice Every TV program and with streaming movies. The Auro3D upmixer is absolutely incredible, and far superior to the Dolby upmixer. Music is mind blowing.
You might want to check out the "details" section on your site under the the new Sony AZ7000ES receiver as it is listed as including DTS:X Pro (as it should since it has 13 channels).
@@kalexan9 Thanks, they definitely do not from what we saw, but we just checked out site, those details are actually a feed from Sony, so we need to further investigate, their new site on the receivers does not say they do, we will get back with you
No independent multiple subs, absolutely no deal.
Fair enough
I swear I saw multiple sub out on back?
Good catch, you did, but they are in parallel. Thanks for watching
Oh waw , front wides are niiiiiice .
( Oh try 120 hz , the LFE on sub starts at 120hz or try 90 or 60hz , don't just go with 80hz pleaseeeeeee believe )
There is a gap at that location
The amps and low distortion is great , even from a 1060 to a 1080 I was like waw 😍 oh love that mic stand , the stereo mic is nice too
1080 str dn has it as well , no stand tho
Thanks for sharing! The 1080 was a great sounding unit.