Sony updates with four AV receivers
updated 12:45 pm EST, Tue February 26, 2008
New Sony AV receivers
Continuing its publicity blitz, Sony has announced four new high-end AV receivers. All of them are capable of 1080p24 output, and in some cases can upscale standard-definition video to that maximum resolution, so long as owners connect to a similarly-equipped TV with HDMI input. The best of the receivers are the STR-DG820 and DG920, which can produce 110W for each of their 7.1 channels of audio; supported sound codecs include Dolby TrueHD and Digital Plus, as well as DTS-HD High Resolution and Master Audio.
In terms of video the systems are equipped with four HDMI inputs each, and support x.v.Color (the xvYCC gamut) for greater color range. The 920, specifically, is capable of the Deep Color output associated with HDMI 1.3, and has an onboard upscaling chip. It also uses a separate icon-based menu system for control and configuration. The 920 will be ready in June for $600, while the 820 is expected in May for $400.
The 7.1-channel DG720 outputs 105W for each speaker, but scales back to three HDMI inputs. The DG520, meanwhile, is only a 5.1-channel system, and likewise has just two HDMI inputs. Both receivers will be ready in March, with the 720 costing $300 and the 520 $200.
