Sony is one of the few brands that have built-in wifi in a receiver in this price range. But even if the predecessor had bluetooth, it has disappeared from the STR-DN1040.
Sony STR-DN1040
-
Sound Quality - 95%95%
-
Features - 90%90%
-
Ease of Use - 85%85%
-
Build Quality - 90%90%
SUMMARY
The large and lifelike sound image and the nice punchy power almost make you wonder if the Sony STR-DN1040 has fallen into the wrong price class.
Brilliant dynamics.
Large soundstage.
AirPlay.
Wi-fi.
No phono input.
Music can be streamed via DLNA or AirPlay, Internet radio is in place and the unit can be controlled remotely from an Android or Apple mobile device. Two apps exist: TV SideView provides general operation of the receiver and Network Audio Remote specializes in streaming. It delivers the smoothest and fastest streaming via DLNA of all the receivers we´ve tested, but can not compete with AirPlay, which is the absolute easiest way to stream music.
The auto calibration is fast. A couple of polyphonic tones, and the whole system is set up. Manual settings are less easy to do afterwards, because you have to go into each individual channel and adjust the parameter levels, distance and size without seeing the levels of the other channels until you exit the menu.
Sound Quality
The sound is very impressive. The dialogue is clear and natural and the sound is great. The midrange is rich but does not stand out from the rest of the mix. It sounds unusually seamless, the channels gel together very well, giving a rare enveloping soundscape in surround mode. This is really good.
The dynamic contrast - we know no other receiver in this price range that is as good as the STR-DN1040. Sony is not far behind the more expensive models with the Yamaha RX-A1030 at the top. At moderate volume you get the feeling that the STR-DN1040 has as much muscle as the more powerful receivers. But when the volume goes up, it is obvious that it does not. With the same volume in the living room as it is in the cinema, the Sony runs out of breath in the most intense scenes. Anything else one can not expect and there will be no minus points for that.
Music also benefits from the open soundscape. The sound is incredibly comfortable, with a solid bass. The strings on classical guitars sound delicate and clear, without sounding pushy. Piano resonates beautifully.
GET IT ON eBay!
- FEATURES
- SPecIFICATIONS
- IN ThE bOX
- Delivering 7.2 channels of powerful sound (165W x 7 @ 8ohms 1kHz 0.9% THD with 1 ch. driven), the STR-DN1040 sports a truly modern user interface with crisp, high-definition graphics and sound quality
- Includes built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay support to wirelessly stream audio from smartphones and tablets
- Built-in Wi-fi enables integrated networking features without a wired Ethernet connection, including DLNA, firmware updates, and streaming services such as Pandora, Slacker, Sony Music Unlimited, and Internet radio
- 8 HDMI inputs (up to 4K capable) on the back panel and a front-panel input that's MHL compatible; 2 component inputs (1080/60i capable) provide added HD-capable connectivity and versatility
- On-screen wizard for easy step-by-step set-up guide; Control the A/V receiver with a redesigned intuitive on-screen display user-interface - change inputs, adjust settings and confirm volume levels on-screen
Leave a Reply