The Best BUDGET Stereo Receiver? Sony Receiver Review! – Sony STRDH190
The Best BUDGET Stereo Receiver? Sony Receiver Review! – Sony STRDH190
The Best BUDGET Stereo Receiver? Sony Receiver Review! – Sony STRDH190
Get the Sony DH190 Receiver: https://amzn.to/2TDQu7X & https://bit.ly/3mlJqJN & https://bhpho.to/3fYnh24 (⬇︎MORE⬇︎)
Budget stereo equipment that sounds good can be found outside of the used market if you look hard enough. While most audiophiles will argue that you should “just buy used” if you’re on a tight budget, used audio gear isn’t always the best solution. Used often doesn’t come with a warranty and nor does it always amount to huge savings. If you are just getting started in home audio, going with a 2 channel stereo receiver is a great place to start for a beginner hifi setup. So when we came across the Sony STRDH190 stereo receiver for under $100*, we had to try it. Can you really achieve quality sound with something so cheap? Let’s find out!
*Price subject to change based on availability.
► REVIEWING THE SONY STR-DH190 STEREO RECEIVER
SHOP AMAZON
▹▹ SONY STR-DH190 RECEIVER: https://amzn.to/2TDQu7X
▹▹ SONY SSCS5 3-Way Speakers: https://amzn.to/3oEwVKZ (also reviewed)
SHOP CRUTCHFIELD
SONY STR-DH190 RECEIVER: https://bit.ly/3mlJqJN
► MORE FROM SONY
RECEIVERS
5000ES: https://amzn.to/34e7yaI
2100ES: https://amzn.to/2Uzgthc
1100ES: https://amzn.to/36QuQno
STR-DH790 7.2: https://amzn.to/2HkkKSs
STR-DH590 5.2: https://amzn.to/3jjRHM2
STR-DN1080 7.2: https://bit.ly/STRDN1080
TVs
X950G TV: https://bit.ly/s950G
X950H TV: https://amzn.to/32T5vrr
A8H OLED TV: https://bit.ly/SONYA8H
A9G OLED TV: https://amzn.to/3iLxkah
Z9G 8K TV: https://bit.ly/8KZ9G75
HEADPHONES/SPEAKERS
WH-1000XM4 Headphones: https://bit.ly/WH1000xm4
CS5 3-Way Speakers: https://amzn.to/3oEwVKZ
► TESTING THE SONY DH190
SPEAKERS
Klipsch RP-8000F: https://bit.ly/8000F
Jamo S809 Towers: https://amzn.to/356tnK5
Jamo S803 Bookshelf: https://amzn.to/2F6hMQw
Q Acoustics 3010i: https://amzn.to/33tCZxq
Q Acoustics Concept 300: https://bit.ly/C300wsA
Sony CS5: https://amzn.to/3oEwVKZ
Fluance XL8 Bookshelf: https://amzn.to/2ZSnahy
TURNTABLE
Fluance RT85: https://bit.ly/RT85player
OTHER SOURCES
Arylic S50Pro: https://bit.ly/AS50P
LG 8K TV: https://bit.ly/LG8K99TV with this HDMI Adapter: https://amzn.to/2GE91OJ
🍿 MOVIES
Emma (2020): https://amzn.to/2JfQ9GC
Live Free or Die Hard: https://amzn.to/3mdWOjd
🎧 MUSIC
Harry Styles, Fine Line: https://amzn.to/2JaMGcW
Diana Krall, Girl in the Other Room: https://amzn.to/2In20T0
Dexter Gordon, Tower of Power!: https://amzn.to/3q8xs8M
Ariana Grande “My Hair” from Positions: https://amzn.to/3fLNOPT
King Princess “Only Time Makes it Human”: https://amzn.to/374HIX4
► COMPARABLE STEREO RECEIVERS
Arylic A50: https://bit.ly/A50amp
► WHAT TO PAIR WITH THE SONY DH190
STEREO RECEIVER + SPEAKER COMBO under $300 TOTAL*
Sony DH190 https://amzn.to/2TDQu7X + Fluance Bookshelves: https://amzn.to/2ZSnahy
ADD the Audio Technica https://amzn.to/33OfgXO for a GREAT system under $500*
*Price subject to change based on availability.
★ MORE ANDREW ROBINSON REVIEWS
➔ Sony 2100ES AV Receiver Review: https://youtu.be/q2mrqkj1Se4
➔ Sony A8H OLED TV Review: https://youtu.be/pR-67ou4JF4
➔ Sony STR-DN1080 AV Receiver Review: https://youtu.be/pQJSyAMdda0
➔ Arylic A50 Review: https://youtu.be/MArw0djIXAI
► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM
POWER
Naim Uniti Atom All In One Music System: https://bit.ly/NaimAtom
Musical Fidelity Integrated Amp: https://bit.ly/M5si
LOUDSPEAKERS
Q Acoustic Concept 300: https://bit.ly/C300wsA
Klipsch Heresy IV: https://bit.ly/heresyiv
Jamo S809: https://amzn.to/356tnK5
SPEAKER STANDS
Kanto Bookshelf Speaker Stands: https://bit.ly/Kanto26
SolidSteel Speaker Stands: https://bit.ly/SolidAA
TURNTABLES
Audio Technica LP140XP: https://amzn.to/33OfgXO
Cambridge Audio Alva: https://bit.ly/AlvaCA
RECORD PLAYER CARTRIDGES
Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge (best): https://bit.ly/BLKAA
HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless NCX Headphones: https://bit.ly/WH1000xm4
SOUNDBARS
SENNHEISER AMBEO: https://bit.ly/35yLQO1
TOP SMART TVs
LG 8K TV: https://bit.ly/LG8K99TV
Hisense H9G: https://bit.ly/H9GTV
TCL 6 Series: https://amzn.to/35Vn9NO
BLUETOOTH / DESKTOP SPEAKERS
Naim Mu-so V2: https://amzn.to/33ASZxI
Klipsch The Fives: https://bit.ly/fivesUS
Kanto YU: https://bit.ly/YUdesk
► MY STREAMING SERVICE
TIDAL (60-day FREE Trial): http://bit.ly/TIDALrobinson
► SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
ARTICLE LEATHER CHAIR: http://bit.ly/NirvanaChr
ARTICLE SOFA: https://bit.ly/2HI6cMH
ART: https://bit.ly/howfaryt
TV / MEDIA CABINET: https://bit.ly/BDIMEDIA
EVERYTHING ELSE: https://bit.ly/ARdecor
► STAY CONNECTED
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FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links above are affiliate, meaning we make a small percentage if you buy through the link but it won’t change the price for you! Thank you for helping to support the channel.
@sonyglobal
#sony #audio #hifi
What about the Fluance separate preamp? PA10 High Fidelity Phono Preamp
I got the str-dh190 bought back in 2018 and i love this receiver.
It’s sound great and i have a old Philips record player and it perform quite well.
I will recommend this one indeed if you have a low budget.
Sounds great, but cant find it for less than 200€ arouns here
I put this sony against an old technics sa-110 and technics won. More punchy sound. The bluetooth would be a nice addon but I’ll go with the technics. Here the sony costs 199€.
★ *YES, the PRICE has FLUCTUATED since going LIVE ON 11/29*
★ *Available here **https://amzn.to/2TDQu7X**, **https://bit.ly/3mlJqJN**, **https://bhpho.to/3fYnh24*
★ *QOTD: What other NEW <$100 receivers should we look at?*
★ NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *Love our outtakes? Be sure to watch to the end*
★ *COMMENT RULES:*
– No outside URLs, YouTube links or email addresses
– Keep it civil. It’s okay to disagree, just don’t be a jerk about it.
Every Sony I ever bought sounded like crap
lots of "blah blah blah"… hearing a little bit of its sound would be much more helpful
Would the headphone output be enough to run an HD600 properly? I’ve had them for almost a decade but I’ve never really had anything that is giving me the proper experience with those excellent cans.
im gonna hook this up to the samsung q60 t to use with my blue tooth headphones, with no speakers, hoping this works, as samsung gets really low audio volume.
Hi, can i connect tv via BT to this amp? Like soundbar i would.
Priced at $128.00 everywhere now.
I’ve had the STR-DH190 for I guess about 2 years now…….I’ve been VERY happy with this receiver! I believe I payed more like $150 or so. Picked it over a comparable Yamaha receiver because the Sony had the phono preamp, which was important. I have a relatively small listening room, & no interest in home theater, surround, etc. Just two channel for my turntable & CD player. The remote for this unit is very good, which doesn’t get talked about any in this review…..
I’m currently running the SONY STR-DH190 and love it! I have the Fluance RT-81 turntable, the ONKYO C-7030 CD player, a set of 1985 KENWOOD JL-540Ws that I picked up at a thrift store costing $10 for the pair (I recapped the crossovers and recovered them). The sound I get is perfect for me! I also have a pair of KLIPSCH RP-150M. I prefer the sound I get from the KENWOODS. Thanks for the review.
Hello Andrew! Again, another stellar review! Could you imagine if they would make an upgraded version of this with a subwoofer out, a decent DAC, bumped up power supply/amp section for like $200 – $300 with NICE 5-way binding posts/banana clip terminals???? They would DESTROY the 2-channel market and would be a killer unit. Merry Christmas and I love your better half’s commentary at the end. Incorporate her more! And JEE-ZUS the ending was FUNNY!!!!! God bless!
Ouch. I see $230 CAD on Amazon right now. That’s a long way from under a hundred even with exchange. Mind you, everything from computers to lumber to house paint is an extreme prices due to pandemic demand.
Seems like the price isn’t "Sub" $100 anymore. When I first watched this video about 1-2 weeks ago, it was $128.00 on Amazon. Now it’s $148.00. Almost $50.00 increase in less than ONE month. I’m sure there’s something out there just as good for $150.00 or better.
Its NOT a 99 dollar equipment, it actually cost around 150-200 dollars.
Costs starting 180€ in Estonia 😀 no one would ever buy it
More than $600 AUD for this product. Even those Sony speakers cost hundreds more than they should.
Sucks buying anything in Australia.
$99 bucks is all this pile of Sony is worth, not a cent more.
My receiver won’t stay 🙁
Got a turntable for xmas and have been going crazy watching YouTube trying to learn coming from zero knowledge lol. Andrew thanks for the info, I’ve learned a ton from you in the last few days. You and your wife are awesome 🙏🏾. BUT the audiophile subculture is literally the pits. A lot of you folks are some miserable SOB’s and flat out the way y’all speak to each other makes me almost not wanna go forward. I’m not new to the internet or trolls but y’all are on a whole different level with the vitriol and snobbishness.
Happy New Year Andrew…. This Sony vs a Pioneer SX – 10 AE to serve a separate Amp for the Zone 2 off the Preouts from my Denon DRA-800H Receiver ? Just looking for an Amp to drive the Zone 2 – to Fluance Signature Series HiFi Bookshelf speakers in a separate room. The Zone 2 feature requires an Amp. I tried a Pyle Amp which did not work out well… But I’m not sure if that is due to some sort of problem with the Denon (spent 20 minutes with a Denon Rep to get it to deliver sound to the Zone 2 speakers to no avail). Advice is well appreciated . Oh yeah: Sony now $149. Pioneer at $179 , but it has Banana plug speaker connections, and Preouts for a SW, which the Sony does not.
I bought one today for $130 with curbside pickup. It sounds great. I have it paired with a $79 DAC/digital preamp from Amazon that uses a Sabre 9018. To complete this little experiment, I use a pair of bookshelf speakers that I designed and built (anodized aluminum cone woofer and dome tweeter).
I stream FLAC lossless music and upgrade sound from a cheap CD player (coaxial connection). Makes a great home office system for many purposes.
The wattage this unit produces has been moderately stated at 100 per channel it’s more like 130 per at 6 ohm
I have an Adcom 555 system, Braun Atelier, multiple vintage pioneer receivers, a Kenwood stack and a couple Onkyo’s, and I find I use the Sony more than the rest combined. It’s easy to setup and use, sounds decent, and the bluetooth works well. I paid $104 as an open box at a big box store. It punches above it’s cost, easily. Is it better than my other systems at high volumes? Maybe, maybe not. Is it the one I recommend to everyone that asks me for audio advice? Absolutely. Thank you for your review, I feel you hit all of the highs and lows on this receiver, just like all of your reviews. Thank you!
Hey Andrew, great review as always! It’s really exciting to see the high value audio stuff coming out now (although it seems like the price of this reciever has raised recently unfortunately!) Does this reciever have the option to play both A and B speakers at the same time, making it possible to hook up an active sub to the 2nd speaker output?
hi is this good ought to connecto t omy pc? i currently have a dac/amp setup but it’s not able to drive my headphones properly. Can these do the job? Thanks.
(other than size) option for headphone DAC, amp, separate, combined … vs Schiit, Liquid Spark…@ $200+ for the stack?
He should be an actor.
Yeah, thanks, your review Just skyrocketed the price in Italy.
I love reviewers will try a cheap amp on expensive speakers and concludes the amp is really good for this price
I plan to buy this receiver and build an Atmos system around it with the klipsch 8000f and also klipsch Atmos speakers, rear, sub, and center speaker. Will it work fine? Will it deliver enough punch to the speakers or I should consider another option?
the price has doubled… and I had an $800 sony system way back in the 90’s… got the extras just need a base unit to hook up – yep I built my own computer system.
I’m still banging my head to this day not hopped on that deal. damn
Thanks for trying to tell people about a good budget receiver. Eff the haters man. Keep fightin the good fight.
My parents have that one, it’s great.
Does this need a dac as well? How do I connect it to my phone?
there’s an out… so i put a sub on it and it works
Hey Andrew I saw your review for the Klipsch Cinema 600 and bought it right away. So I was wondering would this Sony Stereo Receiver work well with the 600’s? I’m very new to stereo receivers so I wouldn’t know where to start. Also, I use my laptop most of the time to watch movies/videos on my TV
I think this is a crap receiver. If you just want music and do not care about sound quality and especially bass, yeah it’s worth $99.
My Sony STR-D1015, went into Protector Mode after 20 yrs or so, so I got this to replace it. I just wanted 100wpc. I immediately noticed how small and light it was compared to my 1015 and no punch of the bass at all! The mids are…meh.
I’m going to get the STR- D1015 repaired and give this one to my son.
This receiver would be great for a kid or for your garage, or if you just want sound and don’t care about sound quality, especially using BT where it’s even worse.
As somebody else said:
It’s the same old deal on cheap receivers: the power supply is easily overtaxed, the output filters are at the edge of insufficiency, and the output semiconductors are easily overdriven. Attach a pair of speakers that might go to 5+ ohms at some frequencies, and the whole thing, power supply, filters, semiconductor operating points, all drop off the edge of their design points.
Do not think that you can get away with 4 or 6 ohm (nominal) speakers with most of these. And don’t expect good sound if your speakers drop well below 8 ohms at various frequencies (most do). If your impedance is low, you’ll run out of current capacity. If your impedance is high, you’ll run out of voltage on peaks. That 100 watt rating, at 8 ohms measured with a 1KHz sine wave into a resistor, in actuality quickly degrades to ~20% of that in music transient capability with real speaker loads. You can expect these amps to develop a frog in their throat with complex, louder music. That said, if you want to listen at elevator music SPL’s all day long, these are the cat’s booty.
These receivers are like cheap, shiny street shoes, in a world that appreciates running shoes, Capezios, and climbing boots.
Caveat cheapskate.
Why would you round off $99.99 to $99?? Would you round off 99 cents to free? Or, $1? Otherwise, great review. I love to hear about underachieving stereo equipment.
This thing literally performs worse than those $15 TI based chip amps
It is 148 now, cause people know what a bargain it is. That is still a pretty good price. I have their CMT-SBT100 system. I have had that thing for about 6 years now. But if it ever dies in the near future, I know what to use to replace it.
NAD 3020 from secound(third) hand in europe is killing this Sony in this price range 😀
I love the simplicity plus bluetooth. Perfect for casual listening.
Excellent and responsive remote for ALL functions. I never touch the knobs that folks complain about. Apple streaming very good to my old ears.
It’s 330$ here in Italy, wtf
200€ / 243.1605 U.S. Dollar where I live… 🙁