SONY UBP-X800

NETWORKED AV RECEIVER

SONY STR-DN1080

We have got a little behind with the evolution of Sony’s AV receivers — the last one we plugged into our system was four years ago in 2013. That was the Sony STR-DN1040, and we were quite impressed by it. The model presently under review — the Sony STR-DN1080 — is, we deduce, the natural successor after four annual updates, and it arrived for review with Sony’s first Ultra High Definition Blu-ray player. Needless to say, the receiver is fully equipped to make the best of such a high-quality source. Let’s see what they can do together.

EQUIPMENT

One thing that hasn’t changed is the the receiver’s rated power output. Sony quotes this only into six ohms: 100 watts from each of the seven channels across the full audio spectrum at 0.09% THD. We think that’s for two channels operating. That would mean an output of at least 75 watts per channel into eight-ohm loads, perhaps a bit more if output current was