Sony Str-Dn1050

Sony has made it and has reached the very top. The STR-DN1050 offers exactly the performance potential we have long desired from a Sony AV receiver – combined with an excellent price-performance ratio. The drawbacks are quickly listed: No HDMI 2.0 and no complete translation of the visually appealing menus into German. Otherwise, the Sony shines: The sound is immersive, natural, highly dynamic, captivating, and detailed. With this design, the affordable 7.2 AV receiver even becomes interesting for classical music and opera fans, who may be tempted by the three really well-made Concert Hall DSP programs. HiRes audio files are reproduced very convincingly in 2-channel mode, with fine highs, well-structured mids, and tight bass. Additionally, the built-in amplifiers are very stable at high volumes.

The video section offers little, only upscaling to 4K (with the appropriate display device). However, this is top-notch; in our tests, we noted that we rarely experienced such sharp and noise-free upscaling. Furthermore, the very good SongPal app allows for comfortable control via a mobile device.