Does anyone have any information on the new sony 777es receiver? Any information greatly appreciated.

There's a photo of it in the latest Audio Video Interiors. Looks VERY nice. Here's some basic specs on the STR-DA777ES that I got a while ago:

* 5-channel, 2-channel, and 2-channel BTL (bridged) operation
* surround mode: 120W x 5, 4 or 8 ohms, 20-20000Hz, 0.02% THD
* stereo mode: 120W x 2, 4 or 8 ohms, 20-20000Hz, 0.02% THD
* BTL stereo mode - 200W x 2, 8 ohms
* 24-bit Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic decoding
* dual 32-bit DSP engines support Digital Cinema Sound processing and
Virtual 3D modes for unprecedented resolution
* 2nd room line-level output with independent source selection
* 5.1 multichannel input
* 96 kHz / 24 bit capability
* parallel push-pull output stage
* two-way learning, touch panel LCD remote control with macro capability

- preamplifier outputs
- 4/8 ohms switching
- Dynamic 5-amp design
- Super Legato Linear
- 4 optical digital inputs
- 1 optical digital output
- 1 coaxial digital input
- 5 analog audio inputs / 2 outputs
- 5 video inputs / 3 outputs, all with S-video
- S-Link control system Control A1 and Control S
- Soundfield Link
- Dual subwoofer outputs
- 2 AC outlets
- Gold-plated headphone output
- Screw-type speaker terminals
- Anti-resonant aluminum front panel
- Large lapped power supply
- Cast aluminum heat sinks
- 5 year limited warranty

Thanks Daniel for the information on the 777es receiver.

I've just ordered the 777 to replace my DA90ESG.
Anyone wanting to take the old one off my hands, it's available at: [Link: cgi.ebay.com]

Fellas,
Drop the Sony stuff and go for the last receiver that you'll ever have to buy!!! B&KAVR202, the only board upgradable receiver on the market!! Made in USA!!!! RS232 port (to connect to computer), 4 12 volt triggers (for lighting, blinds, projection screens, etc), multiroom capability, sound quality that will literally kick any competitors ass!!! Email me if interested!!

John

Hmm, the B&K is the only receiver I've ever seen that has S-Video inputs & outputs for CD & Tape! ()

Having all inputs be A/V is actually pretty cool. Cost increase is probably minimal and I'd love the extra flexibility, especially given I just ran out of video ins on my Sony 50ES while I still have 2 audio-only ins free... But why didn't B&K just finish the job and provide a digital in for every input... and digital out for zone 2?

So John - what can you control via RS232? How do the control outputs work (what triggers them?)... and (the answer I probably don't want to know) how much does one of these go for?

Only a MSRP of $2,800 USD.

Todd,
Having spoken with the owner, designer, and engineer behind the AVR202, the reason why they didn't do digital zone 2 is because what happens when Zone 1 is in use for home theater?? The AVR202 would then need 2 separate Motorola D/A converters to drive zone 2. Besides, most people who have digital outs on their CD's DVD's Laser are sending their digital signal to the zone 1. Those sources always have analog outs that are rarely ever used.. well, they can all feed the zone two!! As for RS232.. well you can control any aspect in terms of setting up the receiver or speakers. Also, any type of software upgradability can be done through RS232.. Plus if you have an AMX or Phast system.. she'll plug right in.
As for the triggers in the back, the remote can send the signal into the receiver to trigger, say, the zone 2 amp to turn on, the cd player to turn on, or the lights turn on! The only thing that is required is the necessary wiring for zone 2 speakers and an IR relay system.. IR systems can be had for only $150!! a steal for having a completely separate room for sound!! (you also have to factor in the cost of a 2nd amp or use an old receiver that you probably already have!!!)

John

Hmm, maybe the designer/engineer can get these things at a discount? $2800 is not exacly in my means. :-)

John, thanks for all the info, it's certainly helpful... However, like Daniel, $2800 is a bit outside my price range at the moment (and I think I need a new TV long before I need a new receiver).

Anyways, I didn't notice at first that zone 2 input can _only_ come from an analog source. I was thinking that incoming digital inputs would get D->A and sent out zone 2. Is the same true of the zone 1 outputs, or will those get an analog version of an incoming signal?

Ideally, I'd like to see the D->A conversion happen, plus A->D so any analog signals will get converted to digital and sent out a zone 2 digital output. I wonder how much adding these converters (and a TOSLINK output device) would add to the cost - although note that you only ever have to be doing one direction at a time, so maybe one DSP chip could handle it all... but if I were willing to spend $2800 I'd likely be willing to spend an extra couple hundred to get this capability.

My thinking is that a remote (zone 2) amp would benefit greatly from digital out. You can send the signal for pretty much any distance you want over fiber - with no degradation.

Daniel,
2800 bucks out of your price range for never ever having to buy another receiver ever again?? Add the costs of all the other receivers that you already had owned.. then factor how much it's really worth!! Todd... In order to run two separate rooms both utilizing a digital run would require 2 separate D/A converters.. 2 converters in a single chassis would definitely interfere with the signal (jitter, clock misalignment, etc) If you had a digital in on a remote amp, it wouldn't be called an amp anymore.. it would be a digital pre/pro amplifier.. (phwew!!) your remote amp can be located in the same location as your main system.. that's what's so great about it.. no necessary extra equipment in other rooms. As for long runs of digital optical.. there are 2 types of optical, toslink (like the ones for 99% of the DVD players out there), and AT&T ST glass optical. The toslink is total junk, worthless interface for transfer of digital signal.. If you were to run this stuff over 4m, there is a dramatic loss in sound quality!! Toslink is made of plastic, not glass. The 2800 bucks is definitely worth it since it's completely upgradable.. I have a Theta Casablanca.. i paid one hefty price for it, but i can upgrade any part of it I want!! As a matter of fact, i can use separate outboard D/A converters for it!!

John

OK, I actually have the B&K Ref 20, which is basically the preamp part of the receiver you are talking about.

I have had no use for the RS-232 port at all. Is there any software around that can used it?

The output triggers are fairly usefull though. You can configure them fairly flexibly, and have them trigger devices that will accept the 12 V signal. (There is an X-10 module that will send a command based the signal)

As for it being the last reciever you will ever need to buy? I doubt it. I have not seen any upgrade options for these things, even though B&K claims they are upgradeable.

I am actually please with the purchase, just thought I'd make these points.

I'll admit I'm not an authority on the subject, but I don't see a reason why you couldn't have 2 D->A converters in the same chassis. "Splitting" the digital signal to send it to two sources is fairly trivial, at that point it's just a matter of proper isolation. Consider my CD player sitting on top of my receiver. Both of them have D->A converters (and in fact both can be doing D->A on the same signal), they're fed from the same power source, and they don't interfere with each other... and there's no reason they couldn't be in the same box if you wanted.

I do have some experience with fiber, though; I work for a company that manufactures network (primarily ATM) switches that have plenty of fiber interfaces... Still, I did some research for the information below, and found out some things I didn't know, so it was a good exercise.

As far as TOSlink, the specifications for a typical sender/receiver, i.e. Toshiba TOTX173/TORX173 are: data rates from 0-6Mbps at distances up to 10m. Cost is about $10 each in quantity 1, obviously less in bulk to manufacturers. And, the cables are something like $15-40 (depending on whether you want Sony or Monster :) FWIW, I found references to modern plastic fiber being capable of 100Mbps over 100m distances, but it's probably not the stuff we're getting.

So, it's a pretty low-cost interface; it doesn't cost the manufacturers much to add a lot of them (say 5 in, 1 out) to their equipment. I didn't know that the length was so limited when I made my initial comments. Regardless, the typical application is well within spec. Max data rate is probably about 1.4Mbps (16 bit @44.1k stereo PCM). I'm not sure if DVD-audio (24 bit @96k stereo = 4.6Mbps) ever goes over the interface. So, I'd find any claims of audio degradation over TOSlink to be questionable.

Still, the 10m limit is almost certainly why there is no zone 2 digital out :(

Regardless, I would like to see one long-haul interface. Toshiba does make a multimode fiber interface (TOTX1220/TORX1220) for audio applications. Range is up to 2km!

I had been wondering how much fiber costs since I started working here, and this finally prompted me to go look it up. I found a random vendor with online price lists at:

[Link: sys-concept.com]

And you can see we're basically getting ripped off for TOSlink cables! A large part of the cost for glass fiber is polishing the ends and fitting connectors. So, 1m of multimode (glass) fiber with ST connectors (ST, SC, FC are different connector types) costs $10.25 and each additional meter is only $0.80! Good for astounding data rates (I run 622Mbps over mine, not sure what the limit is :-) and distances (2km). And we're paying $15-40 for TOSlink crap that only handles 1% as much data over 0.5% of the distance :(

Unfortunately, I can't find a price for the Toshiba parts online... it would certainly be interesting to know. Of course, then I need a remote amp with the corresponding receiver... or a converter box...

anyways... I think we're wayyyy off topic now.

Todd,
As much as you would luv another type of interface, nobody's gonna do it! Besides, there's AES/EBU digital balanced interconnects that'll run as far as you want. Only the esoteric stuff have that type of I/O jacks, and the equipment itself needs to be fully balanced.
As for the RS232 port, it is designed primarily for home integration use (at this time anyways) Phast and AMX systems use RS232 to control many aspects of the home (ie. lights, HVAC, hot tub, etc). There is a new program coming out by B&K that is going to interface with the RS232 port. 1st of all, there is a new board that will be placed in the unit (whether it be a Ref 20 or AVR202) ie. upgradablility, that will allow computer control over every aspect of the processor. It is a 2-way communications system between the processor and the computer. The computer will show real time analysis of what's going on inside the unit. Why would you need this? Well.. say you had your installer balanced, adjusted and leveled your surround system for you.. your kid comes and messes with the remote and clears all the settings.. would ya rather have the guy come back out and charge you again for the re-balancing, re-adjusting, and re-leveling of your system, or would you prefer to just plop a disk into your computer, plug it up and find your correct settings......

John