Sony reveals new 3200ES, 5200ES 1080p A/V receivers

Sony has dropped two new 1080p A/V receivers, which should go well with the new Bravia LCDs that the company also announced today. First up is the STR-DA5200ES (pictured), a 1080p upscaling 7.1 channel receiver with 120 watts of power per channel which is coming this October for $1,500. Thanks to a Cortez Advanced controller chip the 5200ES can upscale any source connected via HDMI or component inputs: the chip also supports on-the-fly color correction, picture-in-picture, and second room video sources. The other feature that Sony is keen to promote is the new menu system inspired by the Cross Media Bar (XMB) used on the company's PlayStation 2 and PSP game consoles, but the 5200ES also comes with a 30-second auto speaker calibration system and a USB port for hooking up your flash-based PMP for some spontaneous tunes. Sony has also revealed that it is shipping the $900 STR-DA3200ES this month, a receiver capable of passing-through (not upscaling) 1080p signals via the HDMI and component inputs. Like its bigger brother, the 3200ES will also pump out 120 watts over each of the 7.1 channels, although it doesn't come with the 5200ES's funky XMB-inspired menu system. Peep the STR-DA3200ES and the menu system after the break.

The STR-DA3200ES.

The STR-DA5200ES's icon based interface.

[Adam Scott @ Sep 14th 2006 8:37AM]

wow that is a really cool piece of hardware

[zargon @ Sep 14th 2006 8:52AM]

Too bad it is a Sony receiver, Sony receivers are not known to be of high quality. It is a good sign though, it just means that companies like Denon, marantz, Onkyo and H/K are right behind the corner.

I wonder if Outlaw Audio will be jumping on this boat. They make solid products, but their lineup is rather limited due to the fact they are a small time operation. However, for what you get, their prices are near impossible to beat.

[par @ Sep 14th 2006 8:56AM]

and ugly

[Baumann @ Sep 14th 2006 9:15AM]

Sony's ES series is VERY HIGH quality. I've had mine for over 6 years and it still runs like the day I unboxed it. I'll gladly upgrade mine when I finally get a TV with HDMI so I can switch from my PS3/DVD/Cable on the Receiver to one input in 1080p. Outstanding; I've been waiting for this!

[tank @ Sep 14th 2006 10:54AM]

I agree with Baumann. The ES series is far superior to the Sony stuff you find at Best Buy. That said, Sony still hasn't mastered ease of use. This receiver sounds like a good product but if all your video is piped through it, the wife and kids need to be able to operate it .

I have an ES series receiver but we only use it when watching movies or listening to music. When watching live TV, Tivo or DVD (kids movies), the receiver's off.

[Rick @ Sep 14th 2006 11:16AM]

I dunno about this whole ugly, low quality Sony stuff... I have a very old STR-D550Z receiver, (15-20 yr old??) Still pumping away. Can't bring myself to retire the old warhorse. When she does die, she'll get a proper burial complete with music befitting the occasion!

[archie4oz @ Sep 14th 2006 12:48PM]

Indeed, the ES line is actually quite decent unlike the blah standard gear (at least in build quality). Anyways, still no DTS-HD or Dolby TruHD decoding yet...

[Vanderbilt @ Sep 14th 2006 3:53PM]

Good to see affordable 1080p receivers out there.

The whole HDMI thing was totally pointless until now since HDMI sent both Audio/Video on one cable, but connecting my device by HDMI directly to my HDTV meant I get crappy 2ch sound.

I used DVI to my HDTV(not 1080p set) and optical to my receiver for 5.1 sound.

Still have to invest $900 though. . .1080p ain't cheap.

[Donavan @ Sep 14th 2006 3:53PM]

>>and ugly

Stop being a Sony-bashing troll.

Its a receiver, and looks pretty good, and the UI is absolutely gorgeous compared with the ugly blue menu screens in most receivers that are cumbersome to use.

[Gromit @ Sep 14th 2006 3:53PM]

>>Sony's ES series is VERY HIGH quality.

Yes they are, especially for the price. There are better receivers out there but they cost more and the ES usually has much more features and more then great quality for the speakers that will fit in the price range.

[Shawn @ Sep 14th 2006 4:20PM]

It looks like sony is actually using a more realistic power rating now. Hopefully they have done away with thier "170 watt", high-distortion S-Master digital amp technology which basically sucked. If sony does go back to thier great high-current amps of old, I'll be back on board. if not, then I'll stick with my Denon. Great looking GUI though.

[Floppy Dork @ Sep 14th 2006 6:44PM]

Luckily today's Sony recievers seem to be more reliable than receivers released in 1991. I had an STR-AV1070X (upper of average line, a kajillion buttons) and that sucker would just automatically raise the volume when you're asleep.

Sony's ES line is to Pioneer's Elite line. Both brands have a couple models from the "average" line with the prestige badging slapped onto them, while the majority of the prestige line not sharing boards and chassis of the like from the "average" line.

[Philip @ Sep 14th 2006 10:12PM]

I bought a Sony receiver (admittedly a low-end model) in 2002. I got rid of it 3 years later because it had problems. One of the receivers I tried was a brand new model from Sony (DG500, I believe). It went back the very next day because I had to either turn it off and back on or switch back and forth between inputs to get it to detect Dolby Digital via optical in. I now have a Yamaha and will probably never buy another Sony.

[Seth @ Sep 17th 2006 2:29AM]

Phillip, you're probably a youngster and don't really know the whole story of the Sony products. Back in the 70s and 80s Sony meant exclusivity. Not everyone could or would afford to buy Sony and the people who could afford it would buy their products for quality and reliability. Those days are gone and people nowdays are looking for cheap stuff (Samsung, Maxent, Olivia and other crappy brands)and not really looking to spend more money so that they'd get better thing that would last a long time. If you had purchased the higher end Sony (especially ES) you would not have said what you said. The ES and higher end Sony are indestructable. I have actually purchased used Sony in the past if I could not afford new ones just because of their reputation that's been with me for over 30 years. I'm 36 and have never bought anything but Sony and don't plan on changing either. Good luck with your Yamaha, it's not a bad unit but it's not a Sony.

[Shadow Lord @ Sep 18th 2006 9:54PM]

A couple of questions:

1. Is this HDMI 1.3 compatible?
2. So is this suppose to be a worse receiver then the 7200ES and 9200ES? It certainly seems to have more features..
3. Does this support HD radio?

This sounds like a very good receiver (Not mentioned are auto setup of surround speakers and XM radio support)... Hoewever, I miss the days of the pre-amp and amp lines form sony.. I wish companies, when making a high end component, truly make it high end with all the latest bells and whistles... After all they are targeting two groups of people those in the know who want it all, and those who are clueless but have too much money and will pay for all (even though they will never use it...)

[Wendell Gee @ Sep 28th 2006 12:52PM]

Zargon --

I think Denon, Marantz, Onkyo and H/K are already on board with XM-ready tuners, but I believe only Denon offers XM HD Surround so far.

That looks like the "XM Ready" logo in the lower right hand corner of the receiver.

[sewround @ Oct 4th 2006 11:46AM]

WHen I started shopping this month for AVR I was amazed at the circa 1970 type of OSD the AVRs have. I stumbled across the Sony demo online of their new 5200 and thats a GUI thats more approriate for 2006. That along will give it strong consideration from me.
what do you think the street price will be on the 5200es.?

[tbeale @ Oct 23rd 2006 9:00PM]

Won't last long, $565 delivered.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=110047350713&rd=1&rd=1