CE Pro June 2023 - 74

CE Products
FIELD TEST | EDITOR'S PICK | NEW PRODUCTS
Sony Steps Up AV
Receiver Game with
STR-AZ5000ES
By Robert Archer
FEW COMPANIES in the
electronics industry can
match the resources, including
research & development
(R&D) capabilities of Sony.
So, when the electronics giant
decides to throw those
resources at a product line
it is not surprising the company
can create products
like its new STR-AZ5000ES
11.2-channel AV receiver.
Available at a competitive
price point among its
recently announced line of
AVRs, it is easy to envision
integrators specifying
high-performance, immersive
AV systems that feature
the Sony STR-AZ5000ES
receiver paired with Sony
projection or TV products.
Features & Setup
Like other modern AVRs, it's
probably easier to list what
the new Sony receiver does
not offer.
Highlighting some of
the STR-AZ5000ES' most
important features, the AVR
offers 11.2 channels of audio
that include immersive
capabilities via Dolby Atmos,
DTS:X and Sony's own 360
Spatial Sound Mapping
technologies that are avail74
| CE Pro June 2023
able once the receiver's auto
calibration is implemented.
On the video side, the
IMAX Enhanced certified
receiver via its seven HDMI
2.1 inputs and two outputs
offers 4K 120Hz, 8K 60Hz,
and HDR compatibility
with formats such as Dolby
Vision, Hybrid Log Gamma
(HLG) and HDR10.
Integrators assembling
Sony-based systems can also
suggest Sony TVs, projectors
and, of course, the PlayStation
5 gaming console.
Because of HDMI 2.1's specs,
the STR-AZ5000ES supports
gaming-friendly technologies
such as Variable Refresh Rate
(VRR), Quick Frame Transport
(QFT), Quick Media
Switching, and Auto Low
Latency Mode (ALLM).
In addition, through HDMI
2.1, the AVR provides ARC
(audio return channel) and
eARC (enhanced audio return
channel) to simplify the
setup process when using
components like soundbars.
A major aspect of the new
Sony AVRs is their internal
redesign. The current line,
including the STR-AZ5000ES,
incorporates a new
chassis beam design, reThe
new STR-AZ5000ES offers rock-solid build quality and
is loaded with features.
freshed digital circuit board
designs, new digital-to-analog
converters (DACs) that
process at 32 bits, and a
new DAC analog output
buffer circuit design.
On the power and control
front, Sony says the AVR is
rated to produce 130 watts
into 8 ohms with two channels
driven, and it provides
options such as 12-volt
triggers and RS-232.
I swapped the hefty
42-pound unit into my
equipment rack, then took
the HDMI cables from my
4K Apple TV, Dish Hopper
3 set-top box (STB), and
Panasonic DP-UB820 UHD
disc player and connected
these components to their
corresponding HDMI inputs,
which are prelabeled on
the rear panel (interestingly,
the first HDMI input is
labeled " gaming console " ). I
then took my FIBBR optical
HDMI cable that's connected
to a Digital Projection
E-Vision 4000 and plugged
it into the main HDMI output
of the STR-AZ5000ES.
I concluded the physical
connections by connecting
my speaker cables to
a 9.4.2-channel array that
features Aerial Acoustics
speakers in the front, Emotiva
surrounds, and OSD
Black subwoofers.
Using the supplied remote
I powered on the receiver
and was greeted by a main
menu that offered " watch, "
" listen " and " sound effects, "
" zone control, and " setup "
choices. Admittedly, this was
my first experience with a
Sony AVR so the interface
was completely new to me,
and it took me a few minutes
to get acclimated to the
user interface's navigation.
Choosing to first start with
a manual setup, I selected my
preferred processing mode
- Dolby - before moving
on to set speaker distances,
levels and sizes plus channel
configuration. For the most
part the UI was easy to use,
even for a first-timer. One
minor knock with the remote
that admittedly might be a
" me problem " is that most
have some type of mechanical
wheel that enables
users to quickly access
setup menus, but Sony's
was lacking. Instead, it has
four buttons on the bottom
for " HDMI Out, " " Settings, "
" Test, " and " Auto Cal. "
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