TESTED: Sony STR-DA6400ES A/V Receiver & BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Player

Mainstream Multichannel

But these are secondary considerations to the true mission of the ES receiver and player, which is to transform your system into a high-resolution A/V wonderland. Among the Blu-ray discs I played were titles like Tropic Thunder (Dolby TrueHD), WALL-E, and Pan’s Labyrinth (DTS-HD Master Audio). The one common sonic ingredient is the way these formats bring musicality back to the soundtrack. Whereas the early compressed surround formats sounded relatively edgy and ultimately synthetic, the Sony combination outputs movie audio with complex multi-layered conviction. It’s a more elegant kind of immersion—as if music’s fabric had been changed from burlap to silk. It envelops the room with a dimensionality and image specificity that make the average movie soundtrack sound, well, symphonic. Surround effects are similarly enhanced. During the opening desert ambush sequence in Ironman, the steering precision of the system was tested by a deadly buffet of small arms fire and diagonally cross-panned explosions and ricochets. Each cue was discretely imparted with its own specific timbre. Meanwhile, midway between the front speakers and the surround speakers, helicopters hovered in a specific airspace. My ears could track the movement of these images seemingly within inches—a task earlier surround formats could never accomplish in my room. Note: The one downside is that with higher resolution and dynamics comes the need for speakers that can match full-range demands. Begin with a great pair of front L/Rs and a strong, timbre-matched center channel—something along the lines of Paradigm’s Monitor 9s (Issue 192) and its CC-290 center channel (a fabulous system and a great value).

The Essence of ES

By any standard the Sony STR-6400ES and BDP-S5000ES are  impressive. Only you can decide, however, whether you’ll need all the network firepower and connectivity these flagships provide. And there’s a final issue I haven’t touched upon. A large part of the draw for these bespoke ES designs has to do with the Sony’s product line integration. From its VAIO media PC, Walkman personal player, PS3, and flat-panel displays, each element is designed to form a seamless familial whole. Sony’s wagering that this calling card will prove irresistible. After luxuriating with the STR-6400ES and BDP-S5000ES for a few months, you won’t find me betting against it.

SPECS & PRICING

 Sony STR-DA6400ES 7.1-channel A/V reciever

Power Output: 120Wpc (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, two channels driven)
Video Inputs: Six HDMI, three component, five composite
Video Outputs: Two HDMI, two component, three composite
Audio Inputs: Five optical, three coaxial, four analog audio, one eight-channel discrete
Audio Outputs: Two optical, one analog audio, one six-channel discrete
Control: RS232C, 12V, IR inputs
Dimensions: 16.9" x 6.75" x 16.9"
Weight: 34.5 lbs.
Price: $2500

Sony BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray player

Video outputs: One HDMI, one component, one S-video, and one composite
Audio outputs: One optical, one coaxial, one analog, one eight-channel discrete
Control: RS232C, IR input
Dimensions: 17" x 4.92" x 14.37"
Weight: 22 lbs.
Price: $1999

Sony Electronics
16530 Via Esprillo
San Diego, CA 92127
(858) 942-2230
www.sony.com