Sony STRDH190 2-ch Home Stereo Receiver with Phono Inputs & Bluetooth Black

In addition, I would give SONY high marks for design and build quality in general. This receiver, however, is not one of them. Allow me to pose a question: When it comes to speaker connectors, how important are they? For decades, many tried-and-true methods, such as screw-drivers, have been available. banana-shaped binding posts and, even better, connectors for plugging in The "clamp-down" method is used by only the very poorest. "reduced" version Sony, on the other hand, has taken the term "cheap" to new heights. Read on. br>br>Most of us are aware of the importance of using decent speaker wires, which, for all practical purposes, contain a reasonable amount of wire within the insulation, with the exception of "monster cable. " Isn't it roughly the same diameter as electrical wire used in appliances? (I'm so paranoid that I even tin the wires' tips to keep them from unraveling. ) br>br>However, Sony decided to make it impossible to use good speaker wire on this receiver: not only is it a cheap "clamp" type connector, but the opening is barely large enough to insert a paper clip, let alone good speaker wire (see photos). Even the speaker wire connection posts on the old Radio Shack "Sherwood" receiver that this unit is replacing were in good shape. So, when it comes to hook-ups, When it was time to turn on the lights, I had no choice but to clamp on an electrical connector and cut one of the "fingers" off so it would fit into the tight space. I'm so disgusted by this that I'm considering returning the entire unit! This is yet another example of a product that has not been subjected to any type of quality assurance testing, particularly by the engineers who designed the unit. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony had no involvement with this receiver other than to license its name. These days, it happens all the time. So, if you're desperate enough to buy this cheap receiver, keep in mind that you'll almost certainly need to buy some speaker connector pins as well (which I despise!). br> On the other hand, keep in mind that the receiver itself has only a few functions. Tome controls? Manual volume control, input selector, off/on, and so on. Forget about it. That can be found on the remote. Is it possible to pair Bluetooth devices? On the remote once more. In fact, the remote control controls nearly all of the "critical" adjustments. I suppose this is useful when you're sitting on the couch, but if you misplace/lose the remote control, get it wet, or break it, you're out of luck when it comes to using this receiver. You may want to order a backup just in case! br>br>For low, mid, and high frequency tonal adjustments, as well as some other critical functions like loudness, tape monitoring, and so on, I've always preferred to have actual KNOBS on my receiver; however, you don't always get what you pay for. So that's just a heads up. You might want to broaden your search a little to include a different manufacturer, as "good" as this receiver appears to be in the marketing advertisement and from other "reviewers. " Clearly, this is not the Sony I am familiar with.

Genevieve McBride

| Dec 13, 2021

My Yamaha receiver, which had served me well for the past 30 years, needed to be replaced. I looked for a low-cost receiver with a phono input, which is becoming increasingly difficult to come by. I chose this Sony and have been pleased with it thus far. It was a breeze to set everything up. The phono jack with grounding wire was easy to connect, and the additional RCA inputs allow you to plug things in however you want. You can rename the inputs on the remote control to specify which goes where. Speaker wires are easily inserted into the back clamps. It has excellent sound quality. When the grounding wire is properly tightened, the phono has no buzz. My bookshelf Polk speakers deliver a well-balanced audio experience. Bluetooth, which I quickly paired with my laptop and which plays my iTunes library without interruption, is a nice feature that my old receiver lacked. A radio with an FM tuner is also useful. There are a few drawbacks to it that I can think of. Bluetooth can only be paired with one device at a time, such as your computer or iPhone. There is no AM on the tuner, but those stations can be found online or on my home clock/radio, so it isn't a big deal to me. The radio has three presets that can be accessed via the remote. You can have up to 30, but you'll have to use the remote's forward button or scroll with the onboard knob to get to the next one. In addition, the tuner scans for stations at a very slow rate. However, if it isn't critical to you, this is a very good home receiver at a reasonable price.

Scott Lam

| Jan 19, 2021

It appeals to me. Mine has only recently been connected. It's hooked up to a set of Bowers and Wilkins DM305 speakers. The speakers are nothing more than bookshelf speakers mounted on a pedestal. The sound, on the other hand, is fantastic. It has a rich, warm sound that includes plenty of bass and treble (both of which can be adjusted). It's also plenty powerful for the unit's location, which is in a medium-sized room. Sooo, br>br>Sooo, br>br>Sooo, br>br> This is a VERY rudimentary piece of equipment. There aren't any unnecessary extras. It connects to my iPhone via Bluetooth (which is how I normally listen to music, so audiophiles beware) and has a few more inputs; the unit will automatically detect and wake up a paired Bluetooth device. This is exactly what I was looking for, but if you want sub outputs, DTS processing, HDMI, or digital inputs, you'll need to upgrade. While this unit is loud enough, you should look for something a little bigger if you want to connect it to monster speakers and try to annoy your neighbors. br>br>I am extremely pleased with this unit and am glad I chose it. I hope this has been of assistance.

Tate McIntosh

| Jul 01, 2021

There is a phono preamp on this model. A wide range of sound. Nice equivalence. Simply put, this is a great, basic, high-quality receiver for the average person who wants good sound but does not want to open a line of credit on their home because of the cost. I've had mine for about three months, and it's fantastic with my Pioneer PL 990 record player and AIWA XC 37M CD player. When the volume is turned up, the music sounds great thanks to the Bluetooth connection.

Elias Whitehead

| Sep 18, 2021

I needed a good, low-cost receiver for a vintage turntable that didn't come with a preamplifier. I've only had it for a week, but so far I'm very pleased. The sound quality is excellent, and it connected to my phone without difficulty. It's not for audiophiles or those who want a lot of customization options. The simple interface isn't appealing; I'd rather use knobs than a remote, and there aren't many sound settings to choose from. It's a low-cost solution to my turntable problem, and it replaces the obnoxious, moody bluetooth speakers I'd been using in recent years.

Benicio Logan

| Aug 20, 2021