The Sony STR-DH790’s seven channels are or­ganised with sufficient flexibility to allow you to bi-amp the front stereo pair of speakers, or drive rear surround speakers or a pair of height speakers for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, both of which are supported. As for music, again the results were very strong so long as I remained within the capabilities of the receiver and used speakers suited to it. And switched the sound of stereo music to ‘Stereo’ or ‘Direct’ or to ‘Pure Direct’, rather than the silly ‘All Channel Stereo’ default. The more advanced stereo microphone, 16-band EQ system of Sony’s Digital Cinema Auto Calibration could make this receiver more user-friendly and also more valuable for people seeking fine tuning capabilities. Video Capabilities Sony STR-DH790 connections

Although it is an entry-level AVR, it delivers exceptional soundstage and detail for movies and music. Sony’s DCAC is arguably one of the best calibration technologies available and does a great job of tuning your receiver to suit your listening space. The Sony STR-DH790 is truly a premium performer and one of the best 7.2 receivers that you can get your hands on out there. If you’re using a different combination of speakers and audio components, Sony’s DCAC (Digital Cinema Auto Calibration) speaker calibration system is a great feature to have onboard. The receiver automatically examines the room acoustics or speaker distance and adjusts the settings to optimize the system in any room. In addition, the included microphone aligns the characteristics of the left channels to be in phase with the right channels to deliver a matching and more effective sound quality. Up to 3 DSPs With support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you get surround sound like they have in movie theatres. Rich, lifelike and all-encompassing. Sony STR-DH790 AV Receiver is a 7.2ch Home Theatre AV Receiver with Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth and 4K HDR support. The Sony STR-DH790 is equipped with ample inputs and output to let you connect basic audio components, including DVD players, Blu-ray play, CD players, gaming consoles, and more. The unit offers:The STR-DH790 offers three DSPs, and all of them support a range of audio formats to ensure accurate signal decoding. Equally important, the receiver uses a discrete amplifier design that helps prevent distortion by providing clean power. The amplifier is expertly designed with heat sink technology to help dissipate excess heat to provide a cool running environment. Unmatched video and picture quality The Sony STR-DH790 is a fully featured home theater receiver with a user-friendly interface that will leave you impressed. One thing that we really liked is that it delivers a very powerful bass compared to the Sony STRDH 190 that we had an opportunity to review earlier. Further, much of the networking stuff may be duplicated in your TV — especially given that Sony’s own models (such as our award-winning KD65-A1 OLED) favour the Android interface which is absolutely born to network. We didn’t have the A1 to hand, but for Netflix I used the Netflix app on an LG OLED TV and had it deliver the sound to the Sony receiver via the HDMI cable using the Audio Return Channel. This arrangement worked almost as seamlessly. The Sony sound also isn’t to everyone’s liking. We found that pairing this with high-quality speakers produced a significant improvement in overall sound, showing that this receiver has the potential to be excellent, but it sounded a little forced and harsh on budget speakers.

By supporting High Dynamic Range (HDR) signal pass-through, you can enjoy the incredible jump in contrast and brightness it brings – and the additional shadow detail and highlights further enhance picture detail and brings colour to life. Latest HDR standards such as HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) and Dolby Vision™ are supported. TV and had it deliver the sound to the Sony receiver via the HDMI cable using the Audio Return Channel. This arrangement worked almost as seamlessly. IN USE AND PERFORMANCE It accommodates a standard 7.2 surround sound speaker configuration, which provides a room-filling sound in large spaces. The best part is that you can even start off with just two front stereo speakers thanks to the S-Force PRO function. The S-Force PRO is a surround sound technology by Sony that helps create a virtual surround sound field by using only two front speakers The Sony STR-DH790 is a 7.1-channel audio video receiver that offers many of the best surround sound options, excellent video resolution, and a number of advanced features that will ensure you get the most from your AV receiver. We will begin with a look at the appearance and functionality of the receiver and then get in-depth with the features that make this such a good choice for the average person. Sony STR-DH790 Physical Features Appearance If you’re working with different combinations of speakers, our seamless auto calibration technology will have them all delivering the same high-quality sound. Automatic Phase Matching aligns the phase characteristics of your speakers to the front left and right speaker channels, so they all work perfectly together to deliver a more effective surround sound experience.Square wave performance was outstand­ingly good in ‘Direct’ mode, and exactly as I’d expect in ‘2CH’ mode. The two graphs ac­companying this review show a 10kHz square wave reproduced in the ‘Direct’ mode and a 5kHz square wave reproduced in ‘2CH’ mode by way of comparison. You can clearly see the limitations introduced by the analogue/ digital/analogue conversion process. Further, much of the networking stuff may be duplicated in your TV—especially given that Sony’s own models (such as its award-winning KD65-A1 OLED) favour the Android interface which is absolutely born to network. I didn’t have the A1 to hand, but for Netflix I used the Netflix app on an LG OLED The rear panel also houses HDMI inputs, antenna connections, and an enhanced audio return channel to seamlessly connect your compatible television. Overall, the appearance of the Sony STR-DH790 is above-average. The brushed metal face and turned-finish knobs offer a touch of class to an otherwise utilitarian design. The Sony STR-DH790 shares a lot in common with the Onkyo TX-SR494. They’re both 7.2 channel receivers that are capable of being configured in 5.2, and they’re both aimed at the entry-level home theater consumer. They both support most of the same formats, like Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 4K HDR video.