Sony STR-AZ5000ES Review – An Outstanding AV Receiver

Sony STR-AZ5000ES Review

In the world of high-fidelity audio, Sony’s latest marvel, the STR-AZ5000ES, has emerged as a game-changer. This comprehensive Sony STR-AZ5000ES review delves into the heart of what makes the STR-AZ5000ES not just another addition to the crowded market of AV receivers, but a standout masterpiece in Sony’s prestigious ES line. Renowned for its exceptional build quality and unparalleled sound performance, the STR-AZ5000ES is a testament to Sony’s commitment to audio excellence. 

This article takes you on a journey through its cutting-edge features, including its revolutionary sound processing capabilities, robust build, and user-friendly interface. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking the pinnacle of sound quality or a home theater enthusiast looking to elevate your cinematic experience, the STR-AZ5000ES promises to exceed expectations. 

We’ll explore why it might just be the best investment for your audio-visual setup. Prepare to be immersed in a detailed exploration of its unique attributes, from its Dolby Atmos support to its seamless integration with various home entertainment systems. The Sony STR-AZ5000ES is not just a product; it’s a journey into the future of home audio. Join us as we uncover the magic behind this exceptional AV receiver.

Build Quality and Design of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES

Robust Construction

The Sony STR-AZ5000ES AV receiver is noted for its solid and durable build, akin to a tank. This robust construction is evident in its substantial weight of 43 pounds, indicating a sturdy and reliable design. The receiver’s durability is further underscored by Sony’s confidence in offering a 5-year parts and labor warranty.

Design and Aesthetics

The Sony STR-AZ5000ES’s weight and build suggest a focus on functional design and durability. The receiver’s design seems to prioritize performance and longevity, with less emphasis on decorative aspects.

Advanced Internal Design

Internally, the STR-AZ5000ES showcases Sony’s commitment to quality with a thicker frame for the 2023 models, enhancing stability and component protection. The digital circuit board features varied fin lengths to reduce resonance and protect against vibration-induced noise. Attention to detail is evident in the use of Sony’s exclusive Fine Sounds Resistor and high-purity ES solder, aimed at delivering purer sound quality.

Innovative Features for Enhanced Performance

The receiver includes a newly designed frame beam base chassis, offset screw position foot, and a refreshed digital circuit board. These features collectively work to improve sound quality by reducing resonance and ensuring stable operation. The inclusion of a 32-bit DAC with a new analog power supply and a buffer amp for the DAC further enhances audio clarity and precision.

In summary, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES stands out for its robust build quality and internal design innovations aimed at delivering high-quality audio performance. The focus is clearly on functional durability and sound excellence, with less emphasis on external aesthetics.

Sony STR-AZ5000ES – Features

The Sony STR-AZ5000ES is a high-performance 11.2 channel 8K AV receiver that offers a range of features designed to enhance the home theater experience. Here are some of its key features and the benefits they offer to users:

1. 11 Channels of Audiophile Level Power: This receiver has a powerful amplifier section, providing 130 watts per channel. This power brings speakers to life, offering users a dynamic and immersive audio experience.

2. Incredible Surround Sound Effects: The receiver’s advanced processing allows for precise placement of surround sound effects, creating an immersive audio environment. It asks for detailed room measurements, including ear height, screen height, and distances from speakers, to optimize sound placement.

3. Robust Build Quality: The STR-AZ5000ES is built like a tank, weighing 43 pounds, which indicates a solid and durable construction. This robust build quality ensures longevity and consistent performance.

4. Advanced Video Support: It supports 8K and 4K/120 HDMI connectivity, making it future-proof for the latest video technologies. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who want the best visual experience with the latest high-definition content.

5. Gaming Enhancements: The receiver supports ALLM and VRR for low-latency gaming, making it an excellent choice for gamers seeking an edge in responsiveness and smoothness.

6. Wireless Speaker and Subwoofer Support: It is compatible with Sony’s wireless surround speakers and subwoofers, offering flexibility in speaker placement and easy setup, especially in spaces where running speaker wires is challenging.

7. Center Speaker Lift Up and Acoustic Center Sync: These features enhance the audio alignment with the visuals on the screen, providing a more integrated and realistic sound experience, especially for large-screen viewing.

8. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping: This technology creates an immersive sound field that adapts to the environment, offering a cinematic experience akin to being in a movie theater or concert hall.

9. Digital Cinema Auto Calibration IX: This new technology by Sony precisely corrects the distance, angle, sound pressure, and frequency response of each speaker, ensuring an ideal sound field tailored to the specific home theater setup.

10. Integration with Home Control Systems: The receiver supports leading control and remote monitoring systems like Control4, Savant, Crestron, and OvrC, making it a versatile choice for integrated smart home setups.

11. Flexible Connectivity Options: With 11.2 channel pre-outputs, multiple HDMI inputs and outputs, and support for various wireless and streaming protocols, the STR-AZ5000ES offers extensive connectivity options for a range of audio and video sources.

12. High-Resolution Audio Support: It supports High-Resolution Audio, ensuring that music is played back in the highest quality, true to the artist’s original intent.

These features collectively make the Sony STR-AZ5000ES a versatile and powerful AV receiver, suitable for audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts, and gamers alike, seeking top-notch audio and video performance.

Connectivity Options of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES

HDMI Inputs and Outputs: The STR-AZ5000ES is equipped with 7 HDMI inputs and 3 HDMI outputs. This allows for extensive connectivity with multiple devices such as Blu-ray players, game consoles, and other HDMI-enabled devices. The multiple outputs enable connection to different displays or projectors.

Digital Audio Inputs: The receiver includes both coaxial and optical digital audio inputs, providing flexibility in connecting digital audio sources.

Analog Audio Inputs: For traditional audio sources, the receiver has multiple analog audio inputs.

Phono Input: A dedicated phono input is available for connecting a turntable, making it suitable for vinyl enthusiasts.

USB Port: There’s a USB port for connecting USB drives and playing digital music files directly.

Pre-Outs: The STR-AZ5000ES features pre-outs for additional amplifiers, allowing for expansion of the system or integration into more complex setups.

Ethernet Port: For a stable network connection, there’s an Ethernet port, which is crucial for streaming and firmware updates.

Wireless Connectivity: The receiver supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast built-in, offering a range of wireless streaming

Sound Quality of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES

Audiophile-Level Power

The Sony STR-AZ5000ES impresses with its powerful amplifier section, which has been lauded by stereo enthusiasts. Its substantial power supply and amp section bring speakers to life with remarkable power, ensuring a dynamic and robust audio experience.

Immersive Surround Sound

The receiver’s advanced calibration process, which includes detailed measurements of room dimensions and speaker placement, enables precise surround sound effects. This meticulous setup results in an immersive audio environment, making the listener feel surrounded by the action or music.

Advanced Audio Technologies

The STR-AZ5000ES supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for immersive surround sound. It also offers options for wireless surround speakers and subwoofers, catering to various home theater setups. Additionally, it includes a phantom rear speaker mode for enhanced audio simulation.

Precision and Clarity

The receiver’s audio performance is akin to high-end British amplifiers, characterized by a neutral sound that strikes a perfect balance without leaning towards either warmth or brightness. This results in clear, precise, and high-fidelity audio reproduction.

Innovative Calibration and Customization

Sony’s Digital Cinema Auto Calibration IX and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technologies allow for an exceptionally accurate and immersive audio experience. The detailed calibration process, which includes extensive measurements, contributes to one of the most precise audio reproductions available in AV receivers.

Overall Recommendation

Considering its price point and the level of immersive effects it delivers, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES stands out as an excellent value for a high-performance home theater receiver. Its combination of power, precision, and advanced features make it a top recommendation for audio enthusiasts.

This detailed analysis of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES’s sound quality highlights its strengths in power, precision, and immersive audio experience, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a high-quality home theater receiver.

Sony STR-AZ5000ES – Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. 11.2 Channels of Audio: Offers immersive audio capabilities with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony’s own 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technologies.

2. High-Quality Video Support: Features seven HDMI 2.1 inputs and two outputs, supporting 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz, along with HDR compatibility (Dolby Vision, HLG, HDR10).

3. Gaming-Friendly Technologies: Supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Quick Frame Transport (QFT), Quick Media Switching, and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), making it ideal for gaming setups.

4. Enhanced Connectivity: Offers ARC and eARC capabilities, facilitating easier setup with soundbars and other audio equipment.

5. Advanced Internal Design: Includes a new chassis beam design, refreshed digital circuit board designs, new 32-bit DACs, and a new DAC analog output buffer circuit design.

6. Powerful Output: Rated to produce 130 watts of power into 8 ohms, with two channels driven.

7. Integrator-Friendly Options: Features 12-volt triggers and RS-232 for easy integration into control systems.

8. Competitive Price Point: Offers a high level of value and performance at a market-competitive price.

Cons:

1. Complex Remote Control: The companion remote is described as busy with lots of buttons, which may not be user-friendly for some.

2. Auto Calibration Process: The auto-calibration process could be more descriptive to help simplify the user experience.

3. Lack of Legacy Component Support: As noted in a customer review, this AVR may not be suitable for legacy components as it lacks a phono input and certain audio inputs.

These points provide a comprehensive overview of the Sony STR-AZ5000ES, highlighting its advanced features and performance capabilities, as well as noting some areas where it may fall short for certain users.

Conclusion: Sony STR-AZ5000ES Review

A Leap Forward in Home Theater Experience

The Sony STR-AZ5000ES emerges as a remarkable achievement in the realm of home theater receivers. It’s a product that not only meets the expectations of audiophiles and home cinema enthusiasts but also sets new standards in audio and video quality. With its 11.2 channels of powerful audio, support for the latest surround sound technologies like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and Sony’s innovative 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, this receiver delivers an immersive and dynamic listening experience.

Balancing High-Tech Features with User Accessibility

Sony has successfully integrated high-tech features such as 4K and 8K video support, enhanced gaming technologies, and advanced connectivity options, making the STR-AZ5000ES a future-proof investment for any home theater setup. The receiver’s user-friendly interface, coupled with its robust build quality, reflects Sony’s commitment to both performance and ease of use. 

Addressing the Shortcomings

While the STR-AZ5000ES excels in many areas, it’s not without its drawbacks. The complexity of the remote control, the less intuitive auto-calibration process, and the lack of support for legacy components are areas where Sony could improve. However, these cons are minor when weighed against the receiver’s overall performance and capabilities.

The Verdict

In conclusion, the Sony STR-AZ5000ES stands as a top-tier choice for anyone looking to elevate their home theater experience. Its blend of cutting-edge technology, exceptional audio and video quality, and user-centric design make it a standout product in its category. Despite a few areas for improvement, it represents a significant step forward in home entertainment, offering a level of immersion and quality that few other receivers can match.