Sony STR-AZ1000ES Review – Great Value For Money

Sony STR-AZ1000ES Review

Sony STR-AZ1000ES is not just another AV receiver; it’s a testament to the brand’s commitment to elevating home theater experiences. This 7.2 CH 8K A/V Receiver is a beacon of Sony’s renowned ES quality, designed to impress both in terms of audiovisual performance and its array of features tailored for integrators. With optimized configurability, it offers flexible connectivity options and advanced IP control compatible with leading control systems. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking impeccable sound or a professional integrator looking for installation-friendly features, the STR-AZ1000ES promises to be the total package. Dive into this Sony STR-AZ1000ES review to discover how Sony has once again set new standards in the realm of home entertainment.

Sony STR-AZ1000ES – Build and Design

The Sony STR-AZ1000ES is a testament to Sony’s dedication to delivering unparalleled audio and visual experiences. Its design is both sleek and robust, ensuring that it not only fits seamlessly into any home theater setup but also stands the test of time. The chassis incorporates a sub-chassis structure on the rear of the front panel, enhancing the receiver’s rigidity, reducing vibration, and improving overall sound quality. This meticulous attention to detail is further evident in the newly designed power supply capacitors and the large-capacity power transformer, both developed by Sony to enhance stability and sound quality. 

Furthermore, the digital section of the STR-AZ1000ES has been redeveloped to allow all signal processing to be performed on a single chip, providing lower impedance, increased capacitance, and better stability. The unit also boasts a new DAC that enables 32-bit operations, ensuring that digital PCM signals are processed at their optimal quality. The DAC’s analog power supply utilizes a low-noise power supply IC, ensuring high-fidelity performance. Additionally, a new DAC analog output filter circuit has been designed using a JFET and op-amp, resulting in an improvement in the noise floor and sound clarity for wide-bandwidth sources like high-resolution audio. 

In summary, the Sony STR-AZ1000ES is not just about powerful performance; it’s about precision, attention to detail, and a commitment to delivering the best audiovisual experience possible.

Sony STR-AZ1000ES – Features

Elevated Sound Quality and Powerful Amplification

With 100 watts, the STR-AZ1000ES delivers cinema-like surround sound and crystal-clear music reproduction.

8K and 4K/120 HDMI Connectivity

Equipped with four 8K HDMI inputs and two outputs, the STR-AZ1000ES supports the latest HDMI technology, delivering stunning picture quality and clarity.

Advanced Object-Based Audio Formats

The receiver supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Speaker Virtualization, DTS:X, DTS Virtual: X, and DTS: X Pro, offering an elevated object-based surround-sound experience.

360 Spatial Sound Mapping

Sony’s exclusive technology reproduces a physical sound field that adapts to your environment, creating an immersive experience similar to a large movie theater or concert hall.

Digital Cinema Auto Calibration IX

This technology by Sony precisely corrects various parameters of each connected speaker to create the ideal sound field for any home theater setup.

HDR Support

The STR-AZ1000ES supports leading HDR formats, including Dolby Vision, HDR10, Hybrid Log Gamma, and IMAX Enhanced.

“Works with SONOS”

The receiver integrates seamlessly with a Sonos whole house music system.

Multiple Streaming and Connectivity Options

The STR-AZ1000ES supports audio streaming via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay. It’s also compatible with Google Assistant.

Roon Tested

The receiver offers seamless integration with the Roon system for a comprehensive music experience.

Sony Music Center App Compatibility

Users can control the STR-AZ1000ES from their mobile devices, accessing features like source selection, zone control, sound field control, and more.

Center Speaker Lift Up and Acoustic Center Sync

These features enhance the sound in multiple ways, including raising the sound from the center speaker to match the TV’s visuals.

Integration with Leading Home Control Systems

The STR-AZ1000ES supports leading control and remote monitoring systems like Control4, Savant, Crestron, and OvrC.

USB Front Input with Settings Save Option

Users can apply system updates via the front-mounted USB and save all receiver settings to a flash drive.

Wireless Connectivity

The receiver is compatible with Sony’s wireless rear speakers and subwoofers, offering flexibility in setup.

DSEE Ultimate

This AI-based technology upscales audio to near-high-resolution sound quality.

HDMI 2.1 Support

This feature enables higher-quality video output and reduced latency from input devices like game consoles.

Chassis and Sub-Chassis Design

The addition of a sub-chassis structure increases the rigidity of the receiver, reducing vibration and improving sound quality.

Hi-Res Audio and 360 Reality Audio

The STR-AZ1000ES supports High-Resolution Audio for crystal clear precision and 360 Reality Audio for an immersive live concert or studio session experience.

Sony ES 5-Year Limited Warranty

All ES-Series receivers come with 5-year parts and labor warranty, ensuring long-term reliability and peace of mind for users.

These are some of the prominent features of the Sony STR-AZ1000ES. The receiver is designed to offer superior audio and video performance, making it an ideal choice for home theater enthusiasts.

Sony STR-AZ1000ES – Connectivity

The Sony STR-AZ1000ES is a feature-rich AV receiver that offers a plethora of connectivity options to cater to various audio and video needs. Here’s a detailed overview of its connectivity features:

HDMI Connectivity: The STR-AZ1000ES is equipped with six HDMI inputs. Out of these, two inputs support 8K and 4K/120 video sources, while the others support 4K. Additionally, there are two HDMI outputs, with the main one having eARC support and the other designated for zone 2.

Digital and Analog Inputs: The receiver features a single Coaxial and Toslink digital input. It also has three analog audio inputs. Two of these analog inputs come with composite video, but the unit does not upconvert this to HDMI.

Wireless Connectivity: The receiver supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay 2 for seamless audio streaming.

Sony STR-AZ1000ES – Sound Quality and Performance

The Sony STR-AZ1000ES is a notable addition to Sony’s ES line of high-end audio/video receivers. Here’s a comprehensive analysis of its sound quality and performance 

1. Channels and Sound Output

The STR-AZ1000ES boasts seven channels of onboard amplification. Sony provides a “Reference Power Output” of 100 Watts/Ch in stereo mode when driving an 8-ohm load with a 1 KHz test tone. However, a more realistic measure is 70 Watts per channel in stereo mode, driving an 8-ohm load with a full bandwidth (20 Hz to 20 KHz) signal. When all seven channels are driven, the power output per channel might decrease slightly, which is common for most modern A/V receivers.

2. Special Sound Features

The receiver supports advanced sound formats like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX:Enhanced, and Sony’s new 360 Reality Audio immersive sound format. It also offers Sony’s “360 Spatial Sound Mapping” (360SSM) feature, which creates virtual speaker channels to produce a more seamless and immersive surround sound field. For those without height channels, the receiver supports Dolby speaker virtualization and DTS:Virtual X to simulate phantom height channels. However, real height channels provide a superior sound experience.

3. Sound Analysis from Different Perspectives

Immersive Sound: The Sony AZ1000 supports various immersive sound formats, with Dolby Atmos being the most widely recognized. Immersive sound aims to place the listener at the center of the audio experience, with sound coming from all directions, including above.

360 Reality Audio vs. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping: 360 Reality Audio is an encoding format used during content creation, while 360 Spatial Sound Mapping enhances immersive sound formats to be even more enveloping. The latter uses electronic processing and psychoacoustics to create a seamless dome of sound around the listener.

Listening Experience: Tracks encoded in 360 Reality Audio, such as those available on TIDAL and Amazon Music, offer an enveloping soundscape, similar to Dolby Atmos. Classic songs remastered in these formats provide a fresh listening experience, drawing the listener into the center of the mix.

Movie Soundtracks: Films like “Gravity” and “Dune” showcase the capabilities of the STR-AZ1000ES when decoding Dolby Atmos. The receiver excellently resolves individual voices and sounds, creating an immersive soundscape that fills the room.

 2-Channel Material: High-res audio tracks from artists like Coldplay, Lorde, and Daft Punk sound pristine on the STR-AZ1000ES, with excellent frequency spectrum coverage, tight bass, detailed treble, and solid stereo imaging.

In conclusion, the Sony STR-AZ1000ES is a versatile and powerful A/V receiver that offers a rich and immersive sound experience. Its support for advanced sound formats, combined with its robust amplification capabilities, makes it a worthy addition to any home theater setup.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Latest Video Support: The receiver offers both 4K and 8K video support, ensuring compatibility with the latest video formats.

2. Advanced HDMI Features: With HDMI 2.1 and HDCP 2.3, the receiver is future-proofed for upcoming technologies.

3. 360 Reality Audio Decoding: Apart from standard formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the receiver also supports Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, providing a wide range of audio decoding options.

4. Works with Sonos: The receiver is certified “Works with Sonos”, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with the Sonos whole home music platform.

5. Audiophile-Grade Components: Being an “ES” (Elevated Standard) model, the receiver boasts high-quality components, ensuring top-notch audio performance.

6. 5-Year Warranty: The receiver comes with a 5-year warranty, highlighting Sony’s confidence in its durability and performance.

7. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping: This feature enhances the immersive sound experience, creating a more seamless and enveloping sound field.

8. Comprehensive Connectivity Options: The receiver offers a plethora of connectivity options, including HDMI, analog audio inputs, digital inputs, and wireless connections like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, and Apple AirPlay.

Cons:

1. No Turntable Input: The receiver lacks a dedicated turntable input, which might be a downside for vinyl enthusiasts.

2. Complex Set-Up Process: The set-up process, especially for certain features like “Works with Sonos”, can be a bit intricate and might require some time to get accustomed to.

3. Issues with 360SSM: Engaging the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping feature while listening to 360 Reality Audio tracks via Chromecast led to a noticeable drop in bass frequencies.

These pros and cons provide a comprehensive overview of the Sony STR-AZ1000ES, highlighting its strengths and areas of improvement.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the Sony STR-AZ1000ES stands as a testament to Sony’s unwavering commitment to audio excellence and innovation. This 7.2 CH 8K A/V Receiver is not just a piece of equipment; it’s an experience, designed to elevate home theater setups to new heights. With its renowned ES quality, the STR-AZ1000ES promises impeccable audiovisual performance, making it a must-have for both audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.

Its advanced features, from 8K HDMI connectivity to immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, ensure that users are always at the forefront of entertainment technology. Moreover, its integration-friendly features make it a favorite among professional integrators. Whether you’re setting up a new home theater or upgrading an existing one, the Sony STR-AZ1000ES is a choice that guarantees satisfaction, performance, and a cinematic experience like no other.