Incredible sound, power, and clarity
Justin from Bakersfield, CA on 6/14/2025
I have had many Sony home theater receivers/amplifiers. This one by far tops them all. I needed a receiver that could run a 7.2.4 surround sound. I hooked this up and configured the system, and the sound was absolutely incredible! The clarity, and power bring the movies to life like nothing I have ever experienced in a commercial movie theater.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Tim from LOUISVILLE, KY on 6/3/2025
Recently bought this receiver because of the 360 sound mapping. The sound is incredible. But the unit I received is faulty. Shut off while watching a movie. for no reason. Will not turn back on unless you unplugged it . Won't recognize either net. Sits and try's to turn on and off. Reached out to Sony went through all the steps to reset with no luck.
Pros: The 360 sound mapping is wonderful
Cons: The one I received is unusable.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Faulty power supply
William from Austin, TX on 1/15/2025
DO NOT BUY! My receiver has a faulty power supply that is likely more than a power supply issue. The power supply in my unit failed. Sony required me to ship the receiver to a Sony repair center. After receiving the product back from the repair center, it worked for less than 1 hour when the power supply failed again. Again, it is likely more than a power supply issue, which was not corrected so the power supply failed again. Rather than replacing the product, Sony is requiring me to send it to be repaired again. This is terrible customer service from Sony. It's not baseball. Sony should NOT get three strikes IMO. If the unit isn't repaired properly after the first attempt, the unit should be replaced (which I expressed to them)! Sony's customer service is also terrible. I was on hold for over 45 minutes when the line disconnected, requiring me to call them back, then on hold for another 30 minutes. I will never buy another Sony product.
Pros: Sounds great
Cons: Faulty power supply. Unreliable product.
16 of 18 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Michael from Tucson, AZ on 11/20/2024
The 5000ES sounds very good, both in 2-channel stereo mode and surround sound Dolby (and other surround modes). It is the heart of my 5.1.4 system, with 4 ceiling speakers and a pair of Martin Logan Vantage electrostatics as mains. It drives them all cleanly. The "360 surround" that many reviewers talk about is just hype, it does not sound substantially different or better than Dolby Atmos, and there is virtually no content available in that format, so the 5000 is simply converting Atmos to Sony's 360 surround format. It is good, in both modes, but not substantially better than comparable AVRs. The 5000 remote is an absolute POS, not backlit, very light and insubstantial, confusing to use and does not even have a dedicated button for the FM tuner; you have to scroll thru input options using the "Other" button on the remote. There is no AM tuner, if that is important to you. To my knowledge, and per Crutchfield, there is no backlit remote available. Finally, and perhaps unforgivably for a high-end AVR, the 5000 will NOT pass thru a 4k Dolby Vision HDR signal from a 4k AppleTV to a Sony Bravia 8 TV (and I assume other TVs as well). I had to connect the AppleTV directly to the TV for the HDR signal to go thru; connected to the 5000, it would always drop back to SDR. Crutchfield's tech support is fantastic, and we found the work-around. The set up of the 5000 will take you some time, and it is helpful to have a laser measuring tool to enter the
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15 of 21 found this helpful
Reviewers are right: It's remarkable
Bill from Lenexa, KS on 9/27/2024
The Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES deserves its critical acclaim. The receiver sounds bright and dynamic, and the clarity is remarkable. And acquiring it was fast and simple, thanks to Crutchfield.
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5 of 6 found this helpful
Immersive sound
Kevin from Covington, KY on 9/4/2024
The immersive sound while listening to movies in Dolby Atmos is unlike anything I have heard before. It brings a smile to my face every time I listen to a movie. The only problem I have is that on YouTube TV it plays only 2ch unless I restart my fire cube every time to get 5ch Dolby Digitial sound and from my Sony TV I cannot get 5ch from YouTube TV. All my other apps the sound is spectacular. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys watching movies and likes to be immersed in the sounds. I do not have any of the hiss sounds that I have seen reported.
Pros: Immersive sound
Cons: Problem with YouTube TV
3 of 4 found this helpful
Poorly thought out
George from Riverview, FL on 8/26/2024
If you only need to use this receiver in a main room and don't need zone two or three it's really nice. Unfortunately, after all these years, Sony couldn't figure out how to make a receiver that will run zone two without problems. I have discussed with Crutchfield and they have no real suggestions for how to make zone to work properly so I'm returning it and going back to my Marantz processor.
Pros: Sounds
Cons: Zone two is worthless
2 of 9 found this helpful
Bad (ARC/EARC) HDMI PORT
Jeron from Stephenson , MI on 8/7/2024
Really like the functionality of the receiver but unfortunately the (ARC/EARC) HDMI PORT was found defective using Scott's help from Crutchfield's technical support team. So I had to return the receiver for a replacement. I will review the replacement receiver once it is installed
Pros: Great service from Crutchfield
Cons: Had to return receiver for a replacement. But Crutchfield made the process easy. I would suggest to anyone buying always keep the original boxes until equipment is installed and working correctly.
3 of 11 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES Dead
Jose from DRIFTWOOD, TX on 5/23/2024
I bought this about a year a ago on March 2023 and now it has stopped working. I am stuck with the unit since its over a year. Now hoping Sony can fix it. Unit was working fine and all of sudden will not power up. Instead it will make a clicking sound, turn on by it self with a "Hello" message and then shut down and repeat the cycle again and again until power is removed. Contacted Crutchfield and all they told me is not their problem and to contact Sony. Contact Sony and they said it is still under warranty. The shipping return box I received was not the proper size for my receiver and the Sony return shipping label doesn't include insurance which I found out after I shipped it back (initially was told that it did). So overall I am very un-happy. Lesson learn for me. Last time I purchase Sony and will probably sell this item if they fix it for a loss so I can go with something else. When researching the issue online, found out this same issue has been reported by others. So I would stay away from this line of receivers. I purchased the AZ5000ES. Also Sony customer service has been horrible in regards to handling my fix. The fix is been handled by a third party company out of New York and hard to reach them.
Pros: none if it doesn't work and turn on
Cons: bound to break and stop working
21 of 34 found this helpful
Exceptional A/V Receiver
James Gregor from Livermore, CA on 5/9/2024
For us neophytes, the AZ5000ES has a ton of features to discover and understand. I love this receiver and I'm certain its the last receiver I'll ever need to buy. I'm no integrator, but I can't imagine anything I could ever need that the AZ5000 doesn't include.
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5 of 6 found this helpful
Just Awsome.
Happy customer from JEWETT CITY, CT on 4/30/2024
I was looking for a home theater receiver upgrade, and I love Yamaha, I have owned two and they where great, But when I saw the Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES 11.2 channel receiver and for the price it was a no brainer . The sound is powerfull from high tones , middle, and bass, it's full, clean and clear, and when you watch movies with Dolby Atmos , you just can't get the smile off you face. I believe Sony hit a Home Run with this receiver.
Pros: Money well spent.
Cons: I just want to watch movies all the time now.
16 of 17 found this helpful
Surround Beast Powerhouse
Michael from Crown Point, IN on 4/22/2024
This beast has the best surround I've heard in any receiver I've owned.And to mention that Crutchfield is very helpful with any matters that come up.
Pros: Everything
Cons: Not much
5 of 6 found this helpful
Great sound, unforgiveable stability.
Ben from NEWPORT, KY on 4/1/2024
This receiver sat around for a few months while i built out the rest of my home theater. When operational the receiver sounds great and the spatial audio corrections they are doing are wonderful. However, occasionally the receiver will freeze. It continues to play the audio but the video will freeze. Any inputs you try to do to the receiver will not go through. Then it will restart. This has been immensely frustrating as I cannot find the conditions that recreate it. Sometimes it will be when the system is just idling, sometimes it will be when it is playing media.
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18 of 19 found this helpful
An upgrade worth every penny.
SCOTT from FULSHEAR, TX on 3/19/2024
I replaced a Yamaha AV receiver (2009) with the Sony AZ5000. My speakers are older B&W CDM 1NT's. My primary focus is music, but I will say the surround sound is fantastic on the new Sony. My plan was to make the Yamaha sound as good as possible for music, then plug the Sony in for comparison. I toed-in the speakers for the couch sweet spot. I removed the screens from the entertainment center (yes, the speakers would ideally be on stands). My subwoofer was replaced with a Klipsch R-12SW (Excellent sub for large rooms btw). I then bi-amped the speakers (This step blew my mind and made the most difference). I upgraded the cables to get modern HDMI cables and replaced my homemade speaker cables (which, honestly, were just fine). Lastly, I ripped a whole bunch of CDs to flac. This also made a huge difference. At this point, my mind is blown at how great the old system sounds. I was seriously thinking about not buying a new receiver at all, but I know the Yamaha is outdated and past it's AV prime, so I pull the trigger on the Sony and plug it in. There are no words to describe the experience! Even my completely non-audiophile wife was amazed. The sound stage is immense, the music clarity intense, and my B&W speakers have never sounded this good. I can say with certainty the receiver was worth every penny. I am in absolute audiophile heaven. Lastly, I recommend using the Chromcast built-in for music. The DAC in this receiver is great! (Please read Cons too)
Pros: Unbelievable sound, great DAC, Chromcast built-in is fantastic for streaming music from a NAS.
Cons: There is no mode that uses only 2 ch stereo and a subwoofer. This is unfortunate for me. I dialed back my surround speaker volume to help compensate for this. Not a deal breaker for me, but it's important to understand this before buying.
21 of 21 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Chris from Lebanon, OH on 3/17/2024
1 of 6 found this helpful
Subwoofer Thump Noise
vinh from FORT WORTH, TX on 3/16/2024
I have this AVR for about six months now. I am having an issue with subwoofer thump noise. It happens every times I pause/start/exit out an video. I tried with different cables, different subs, and different sources, but the issue still there which means it has something to do with the AVR. Im not sure the problem is always there or it just happens because I did not have a subwoofer when I bought the AVR. I added a subwoofer later, and I just have more time playing with the system lately. I contacted Sony to get it serviced. I will be back for an update.
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3 of 5 found this helpful
Try again, Sony
Thor from Orinda, CA on 3/8/2024
I really wanted this to be perfect but sadly it fell flat. The most egregious flaw is that of overall sound quality and boomy base. Even after tweaking the crossovers the audio just lacked clarity. Forgiving that, the lack of any heads-up display and information about decoding + a barely featured app makes remote control of the unit a pain. 360 Spacial audio wasn't effective in my environment and object placement, something reviewers raved out, was worse than my Marantz SR7011. A true let-down and now I'm back to researching.
Pros: Integration with Sony TV Supports latest AV standards Good amp power
Cons: Muddled, boomy base Unsophisticated equalizer Terrible app support Lack of accurate representation in Harmony
5 of 9 found this helpful
Outstanding Receiver!!!
Kevin from Indianapolis, IN on 2/13/2024
From the moment you pick up the ?? box, you know this is a first rate piece of equipment. Build quality is far superior to the STR DE 2100 Sony receiver this unit is replacing. The power supply is distinctively neutral and clean. I can say without hesitation this receiver will drive even the most inefficient speakers. I've only had this connected to my 7.3.4 theater for three days, but all switching of inputs have been flawless. No popping, delays or disruptions have occurred.
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12 of 13 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Terri from Ashland on 1/11/2024
Purchased in September. While using the 12v trigger with Emotiva amp the delay is not long enough and there is a speaker pop (Polk Signature series). I don't use the trigger because of this and did not have the issue with my Marantz 6013. I just got a Roku Ultra, HDMI directly to AZ5000 extreme speaker pops to all speakers while Roku set to pass through and auto. When Roku is connected directly to Sony X90J no speaker pops. I'm led to believe its AZ5000 issue. If anyone can confirm that would be great. I questioned the trigger issue with sony and he suggested factory reset and said he never heard of the issue. I felt the reset wouldn't work but did it anyway. It didn't work. I didn't go up the chain at that time and just don't use trigger to AMP. Now that I just discovered the Roku issue it may be worth my time to dig into this issue deeper with Sony and maybe return. I feel music on Marantz was more rich, less tin sounding. Otherwise, generally happy with AZ5000, the front display does need to be brighter and not sure why all speakers are set to large after using the auto calibration. I manually changed the settings.
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17 of 17 found this helpful
Spatial Mapping major Step Forward
Drew from Charlotte, NC on 1/1/2024
To be clear, this unit shines like no other at 2K price point in spatial mapping and definitely a main reason to buy this. Set up is a breeze to be up and running. Amp is exceptionally neutral and clean coming from a Class A Pass Lab amp that is sweet, and rich and 5 year warranty means it will last. Keep well ventilated still I use Zu Soul Supreme and matching center speakers with 4 Def tech legacy 8080 surrounds and 4 in celling Micca 6" atmos speakers. Installing ceiling worth the trouble to me but also reached limit of speakers willing to place. Excellent spatial mapping comes at price of slight bass drop off. Personally I prefer trade off as excessive bass is obnoxious to me . It has typical feature rich set of AVR that most do not really need. I wont use Sonos, Zones, nor much connected beyond a UB820.
Pros: *Spatial Mapping or created sound bubble. *360 Spatial feature is utterly enjoyable and relaxing *Very stable video pass through for Dolby Vision
Cons: * interface overly rich in features and LCD not entirely needed or useful * No native app for spatial mapping services like tidal * Remote lack quality and odd selection of features *bass management not present. *Binding posts are cheap. .
13 of 13 found this helpful
Lack of QMS is aweful!!! Hope to nail 360 sound stage. Stereo great!
I only have it setup for stereo sound at this time, which does not yet take advantage of its true special audio strength. It sounds great to me, but I am tweaking the settings to find the perfect fit. I found that the pure direct has sounded the best. Which then beats the question on what processing might be happening and if I have it setup correctly. I am extremely annoyed by the lack of QMS leading to the few seconds blackout. It is annoying because I realize it happens all the time. On Apple TV when the screen saver loads the next high res video, black out! When you tube puts a commercial or switches from commercial to content, blackout! And the audio keeps playing during the blackout so it is not just that it paused. It's that it blacked out content you want to see. I wish they would add support for QMS to prevent this experience. Considering feeding the Apple TV through the TV and hope the audio pass through works as I want. More to explore. That said, I wanted the magic of the fully immersive sound that reviews indicate go next level. So, I will wait and see once I get the setup working for surround and Dolby. I accepted the QMS flaw and the lack of HDR+ because I wanted this primary to focus on the sound. I assume I can just route the sound only through the receiver and focus video through the TV HDMIs.
Pros: Stereo Audio with pure direct sounds great! Looking forward to a full sound stage.
Cons: Lack of QMS is horrible with how much content switching actually happens. Fan comes in with just two speakers connected at 4 ohms during movie playback. Not so much during music.
10 of 15 found this helpful
Pretty dang nice.
Carl from Ketchikan, AK on 12/11/2023
I think I'd give the AZ5000 four and a half stars. It was easy to set up compared to other receivers we've owned, Denon, Cambridge. The speaker setup was easier than I was led to believe by other reviewers. Piece of cake really. The sound at lower to midrange volume is pretty phenomenal. Wonderful for TV watching and football. I give it 4.5 because of the remote and the remote volume control. Sony could have made a nice small but classy remote like the one on their Bravia TV's. At 130 watts per channel it can't quite reach the sonic wonder of my retired Cambridge Audio CXR-200 at 170 watts. The Cambridge was mind-blowing for concert level sound. Maybe I should have bought the AZ7000.
Pros: Almost everything
Cons: The remote is a little underwhelming
12 of 15 found this helpful
Stunning 360 Sound
Kurt from Johnston, RI on 12/6/2023
The AZ5000ES is unbeatable for gaming & cinema surround sound in this price range. On my full Focal Theva 5.1.2 setup it has tight, punchy bass, great clarity through the midrange and nice detail in the highs without being fatiguing. In addition to very competent Atmos and DTS:X handling, it's the 360SSM that really takes this unit to the next level - it upmixes to an incredibly immersive spatial sound field.
Pros: Easy setup, supports dozens of speaker configurations Much improved room correction from prior models Plenty of power on tap Awesome 360 surround mode Lots of inputs
Cons: Not as warm or lively for music as other competitors
8 of 8 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Douglas from Bronx, NY on 12/1/2023
5 of 8 found this helpful
Sony AZ5000ES
Donald from Southington, CT on 11/15/2023
I purchased the Sony AZ5000ES to replace a Sony DA-4000ES in order to enable 4K. After replacing the old receiver (hooking up the speaker wires, HDMI cables, etc.) I fired it up. I started with the easy setup, which went extremely well. After using the included microphone for the sound setup, I could not believe the difference in the sound stage. A dramatic difference from the old Sony receiver! The remote is simple and easy to use. The display is not bright, it would be nice if you could adjust the brightness. With the setup options displayed using the TV, I really didn't use the receiver's display. Since I have a new Sony OLED TV as well, the two work well together. There is plenty of power for my GoldenEar front speakers as well. I recommend this receiver for anyone wishing to upgrade from older models.
Pros: Power, sound setup, ease of use.
Cons: Display brightness is not adjustable.
13 of 13 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Crutchfield customer from LANCASTER, PA on 10/17/2023
I love this thing! The sound placement for movies and musical quality is awesome!
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10 of 10 found this helpful
New ES5000
Gary from Herriman, UT on 9/25/2023
This AVR would get 5 stars if Sony does a couple of upgrades. One the front display is very low light so a bit hard to see from a seat over 3 feet away. But the onscreen works just fine so really not a big deal. The remote could be a bit better as well if it had the learn feature. However Sony said most new TV and equipment work via Earc which would integrate some of the functions. In addition it has 3 trigger outs so that would help as well. As per function and sound, it sounds fantastic at this price point. I bought this to replace an Arcam AVR 850 which now is having some issues. I feel the Sony is sonically parallel to AVR850 and exceeds in many ways per watching movies and video content. Highly recommend this AVR.
Pros: Great build quality, awesome sound and easy setup and navigation
Cons: Needs a better remote and a brighter front display.
15 of 15 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Bryce from Riverton, WY on 9/5/2023
Full disclosure, I am not an audiophile. I don't care much about numbers and how a receiver measures out. I care about how it sounds with the speakers I have. This receiver does not disappoint. It nails it with the home theater system and is equally up to the task for music. Am I happy with my purchase? Yes
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21 of 21 found this helpful
HT in the 2020's!
Brian from Clover, SC on 9/1/2023
I replaced a 17+ year old Pioneer AVR which I thought rocked our world, until this! 360-degree sound with awesome power and easy set-up - couldn't be happier!!
Pros: Tech tech tech! Integration with Sony TV's
Cons: Styling not the best Display is hard to see
9 of 9 found this helpful
Solid foundational performance, glitches in the details
Doug from Chicago, IL on 7/27/2023
I was eager to jump to Sony's new set of receivers that supported 120 Hz (finally). Being that I only have a 5.1.2 setup but wanted an HDMI input on the front of the receiver, the AZ5000ES was my choice. The HDMI switching and foundational capabilities are exactly what I wanted, and happy with those "basics". However, I am having pesky problems with some "little" things. First, I switched to using Sony's SA-RS5 and SA-SW3 wireless surround speakers and sub. I figured it was finally time for me to jump on the wireless bandwagon. But...it was a mistake and I flushed hundreds of dollars down the toilet on problem-riddled Sony wireless gear. Despite me building a custom wooden shelf to ease connectivity issues and a host of other troubleshooting steps over weeks, my wireless RS5s cut out constantly. I also hated having the receiver's RF Channel/wireless troubleshooting screen overlay midstream while watching movies/games - that was infuriating. The wireless functionality totally failed for me. Second, After switching back to a wired sub I realized none of my wired 12V triggers works properly. I don't think the receiver is pumping out a solid 12v to keep the sub awake. So alas, my powered sub stays on in always on mode and I pump out some extra money to the power company. Finally, I used to be able to control my UBP-X1000ES 4k UHD Bluray player with the remote of my Sony X900H TV through my old Sony receiver. Now that doesn't work either, back to using 2 remotes again.
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18 of 28 found this helpful
Decent, but a lot of speaker hiss at mid volumes. Other weird quirks
Alan from MOUNT SHASTA, CA on 7/2/2023
I bought this as a replacement for an Onkyo TX-NR838, after seeing Andrew Robinson's review. Mostly for me this was to get more improved movie audio, new features, and additional audio channels. For movies, Sony's surround sound processing is excellent and gives movies extra sound stage compared to the Onkyo (granted it was almost 10 years old). I have this in a 5.1.2 setup currently, but looking to add more channels in the future. BUT if you use an AppleTV (which I do for 99% of my video content), I have to turn up the volume 2x of what it would be for other sources... while this is an AppleTV issue, but starting at the receiver's mid volume range, there's A LOT of speaker white noise hiss (which didn't happen with the Onkyo).. and takes away from a great quality experience. This happens from both the internal amplifier and an external power amplifier, plus using new high quality cables.It's not as noticeable when using other sources such as a Sony blu-ray player or music sources.
Pros: Movie surround sound processing is excellent. Lots of features. On screen setup and menus are well designed.
Cons: Speaker background hiss is bad at mid levels (35+) The IR angle for the remote seems pretty limited. The remote is pretty lacking (no backlight, no TV power) Sony labels the inputs as TV, game, instead of Video 1, 2, 3.. but can be reassigned. If the receiver is woken up by an HDMI input, it will usually switch to that input, but will display the screen source menu, requiring you to clear it. Sometimes the on screen menu will only show up on the front of the receiver and not throu
29 of 29 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Richard De from Pennsburg, PA on 6/29/2023
This AVR brought new life to my old system. The calibration & setup were a breeze. I'm so glad Sony is back in the game after all these years. Can't wait to run my new reference premier system with this beast.
Pros: Easy to setup. Built like a tank. Minimalist design.
Cons: Remote is terrible.
6 of 6 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Dave from Longwood, FL on 6/9/2023
great home theater system. does everything I wanted it to do and more.
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5 of 7 found this helpful
Sony AZ5000ES
Dariam from Garland, TX on 6/5/2023
Where to star with this receiver, right now I have mixed feelings about it. On one side the reviews were right, this thing feels like a generation ahead when it comes to how spatial and wide and opened it's sound feels. I'm actually really happy with the improvements on that department, coming from a Pioneer VSX-LX505 tuned with Dirac Live, which sounded flat and right but never exiting or super spatial like this Sony does. This is the biggest leap in sound I've heard in 5 or 6 years,comparing it to my past receivers,which have been Onkyo and Pioneers. I'm also using this and my main reason for upgrading , with a pair of rear Sony speakers wireless RS5's and the set up was a breeze. I did not have to do anything , the speakers paired on their own to the receiver and I was able to update their firmware through the receiver. Also I have not experienced any sound drop outs or anything like that, the connection has been rock solid ! Now for the bad I have turned off everything related to HDMI CEC, Bluetooth network stand by,zone 2 and 3 are off and updated to the latest firmware, which supposedly fixed this issue and I'm still getting the relays clicking randomly when in stand by. The second issue is that this receiver is having some kind of bug when it comes to HDMI handshake because sometimes I turn on my A90J and then turn on the receiver and it is like is trying to negotiate the handshake but can't and restarts itself. So right now now I'm debating if I should exchange it.
Pros: Amazing spatial separation , Atmos and surround effects. Built quality is top notch ! Remote feels on the cheap side, but it is not a problem for me as I use a Harmony Logitech Elite remote.
Cons: There seem to be a bug on the HDM side with this receiver. Even with HDMI CEC off and Bluetooth network stand by off and Zone 2 and 3 off. It feels like it is still connected to the TV with CEC. I suspect this might also be part of the problem on why the relays keep clicking on standby, as if the receiver would still be trying to communicate with the TV somehow even on Stand by.
33 of 33 found this helpful
Great sound, not for legacy devices
Doris from North Branch, MI on 5/10/2023
This Sony AVR is well built and solid. Plenty of power and amazing sound. However this AVR is not for legacy components as there is NO phono input and no audio only inputs. The 7 HDMI (one on the front) inputs are tied (although assignable) to the 4 analog inputs and 3 digital audio inputs. Maybe Sony doesn't think people still enjoy their Sony Minidisc decks anymore? If you only have HDMI devices this AVR is great! The remote control is the other let-down. Small and only a few buttons, the remote is too simple for my taste.
Pros: Sleek looks, well built, solid, excellent picture and sound quality, 8k compatible.
Cons: Minimal remote, NO phono input, and minimal legacy device support.
16 of 16 found this helpful
Old school Audiophiles rejoice!
Steve from Jacksonville, NC on 5/6/2023
If you're and audiophile who also enjoys movies, this is the receiver for you. I've own Yamaha Aventage, Pioneer elite, but Sony at this price, tops them all. I can't put my finger on it, but it produces a lively and powerful sound. ( If you can, use your stereo speakers in Bi Amp mode )
Pros: Easy to set up, latest video processing, and sound that rivals separates.
Cons: Not many legacy inputs, no vinyl support. Wish it looked pricer. Other than the ES logo, can't tell it's high end.
16 of 16 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Carlos from Eagle, WI on 4/15/2023
2 of 8 found this helpful
build quality and surround sound
mick from Lebanon, OH on 4/14/2023
I bought this receiver to replace a Yamaha 1040-A I have had a Sony ES receiver from back in the 90s and was very happy with that one. This one has crystal clear dialogue and once I got it, set up the Sony 360 surround is well I guess I'd say it's amazing. I was having trouble with my video not being good and sharp, but I set it up with Sony's receiver to do the video upgrade and it has worked out very well. My video is sharp and clear now, I am very happy with this receiver the only downside I have with this receiver is the remote. It's small and kind of cheap looking and I haven't been able to find an app for a Sony remote to hook to this receiver.
Pros: easy set up and surroundsound
Cons: Remote and no remote app
13 of 13 found this helpful
Amazing receiver if you have standard height ceilings
Kerry from Midlothian, VA on 4/5/2023
This is a sweet receiver. In the end I had to return it because I was late in understanding Atmos needed standard height ceilings to work. My living room has a cathedral ceiling, so no joy. The setup for the 360 spatial audio setup is slick. You will be asked for five or six room/ spacing measurements. I recommend a cheap laser measuring tool for this. Once the measurements are completed the system will ask you to place the microphone at two different heights in your primary listening position using the included mic stand. The two sets of calibration tones take less than a minute each. The surround sound was excellent. I did notice in my large living room I was reaching volume levels I wanted for movies but I was nearing the upper boundaries of the receiver's output. The 5000ES and 7000ES have PreAmp outputs so if this is a problem an external amp can be used, but I only used the recieiver's power and it was fine. The Surround Sound and Music modes were good. The remote is basic but functional. For this price, it's disappointing Sony didn't put some effort into creating a remote you want on your coffee table. They could also learn a thing or two about great remote design from Samsung. I ended up returning the Sony and replacing it with the Onkyo TX-RZ50. I still can't use Atmos in my room but the included Dirac Live does a great job of flattening the frequency response. I am keeping the Onkyo.
Pros: Good sound, Easy 360 Spatial setup, good onscreen menus, good build quality (heavy)
Cons: Outdated aesthetics, screen is basically non-viewable from more than a few feet, basic remote, receiver clicks when sound modes are changed.
23 of 28 found this helpful
Sony ES STR-AZ5000ES
Michael from Ft. Worth, Texas on 4/5/2023
I am a long time Onkyo person and needed a replacement for my Onkyo 717. Almost ordered the Onkyo RZ50 until I saw Andrew's youtube review. So, I ordered the Sony STR AZ5000ES and am so glad I did. The 360 ssm experiance is so imersive I almost felt my Onkyo had been running as substandard or defective. The Sony breathed in new life into my home theater system at the 'holy sh!t' level. I would never have believed this possible. I don't know what Sony did but their system of room eq and sound management made a generational leap into the future. You have to hear this to appreciate it. Just buy it.
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26 of 26 found this helpful
Great Receiver
Tyrell from Birmingham, AL on 4/3/2023
I bought this receiver because I wanted to upgrade from a 5.1.4 Integra DRX 3.4 to a 7.1.4 system. This was the cheapest one with multi channel preouts and HDMI 2.1. I also bought this on the recommendation from Andrew Robinson on Youtube and so far it has been a great receiver. I don't know what magic Sony is using for the 360 spatial mapping, but it works. Even content without native height channel information sounds almost like native Atmos. Content that is Atmos or DTS:X sound even better. Video games have never sounded better, open and more discrete. I don't really have anything to say about on board amplification as I am driving 5 bed layer speakers with an Emotiva XPA-5 gen 3 amplifier. The receiver is handling the rest. I have a Sony Bravia tv, so certain options opened up to me in my menu to control sound options on the receiver using the TV menu. Word of advice though, get a laser tape measure, you're going to need it.
Pros: -Great sound -11 channels of amplification and 11 preouts for external amplification -360 spatial mapping works like a charm, really opens up the soundstage. -HDMI 2.1 features work a charm on Xbox Series X, Nvidia 3070 PC and PS5. -If you have a modern Sony TV, this will integrate with it and give you a few more options.
Cons: -The front display is wayyyy too dim, even on the brightest setting. -There is an audible hiss with 360 spatial mapping turned on with no content being played, I don't know if that is just my set up, it goes away once sound is played. -Some options are defaulted to off that need to be turned on once you set up the receiver. HDMI control etc... -You have to do a few manual measurements because the receiver is going to ask for them. You should probably invest in a laser tape measure
21 of 21 found this helpful
Sony has a new winner
Rafael from Euless, TX on 3/23/2023
The new line of Sony ES receivers add a new meaning to 360° sound. The STR-AZ5000ES was my choice as my home theater needs are 5.1.2. The 5000ES has a clean neutral sound and has enough power to drive most any current speakers. Where I would always listen to music in pure direct mode, I find myself listening to music with the immersive 360° sound turned on. Simply outstanding. The 5000ES adds a new dimension to watching movies at home. Solid performance, simple menus and the only thing missing is the ability to access the receiver from a web browser. I also have not been able to link the receiver to the Sony Music Center app. I believe these small issues will be resolved with an upgrade. Love my new 5000ES.
Pros:
Cons:
21 of 22 found this helpful
Nice receiver, powerful
Paul from Brownfield, TX on 3/19/2023
This receiver is easy to set up, has powerful amplification, nice picture and multiple options. It has a hefty weight, looks nice and pairs well with my Sony Bravia 4k TV. I am running 7.1.2 surround speakers, and the result is really nice. I bought directly from Sony, as Crutchfield was out of stock. Works well, and is very versatile, multiple options that you can try for sound decoding and picture settings. The set-up microphone is different, and proprietary to Sony, but seems to work well. I didn't need any external amplification, as the sound of this receiver was very capable to control my speakers and push them loud w/o any hint of distortion. The remote is basic, plastic, but very functional. The manual is also basic, I think it assumes you have experience in setting up a receiver. The on-screen display is just ok, nothing too flashy. I hope this would help if you're on the fence, choosing between this and any another new receiver.
Pros: Sound, ease of set up, ease of operation. Great picture and sound.
Cons: basic remote and manual
26 of 28 found this helpful
