Just saw this posted at Sony.com. Says it will be available in August (which in Sony terms probably means end of September)for $800.00. Should be able to pick it up for around $700.00 online. It also has a lot of other pretty cool features. Here is the press release:




SONY UNVEILS FIRST A V RECEIVER DESIGNED TO OPTIMIZE BLU-RAY DISC, OTHER HD SOURCES

LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2006 – Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) players now have a new companion with Sony’s latest A/V receiver.

Whether it’s 1080p pass-through, eight channels of uncompressed audio, smooth video switching, simplifying set-up of a surround sound system, and automatically adjusting performance, this new A/V receiver is optimized for a full high-definition experience.

The STR-DG1000 receiver has several HD enhancing features, beginning with dual HDMI active intelligence, which automatically detects and receives the best possible video and audio signals from connected devices. This all-digital path from source to display also handles 1080p resolution and up to eight channels of uncompressed audio.

“Blu-ray Disc™ technology will help redefine home theater by creating an unparalleled experience from source to display,” said Jeff Goldstein, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Products Division. “This receiver is the final link in the HD chain, showcasing the beauty of Blu-ray Disc’s imagery and the immense power of its sound.”

Additionally, the unit can simplify multi-channel surround sound set-up for a perfectly balanced home theater experience with Sony’s Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (DCAC) technology. This helps customize the receiver’s audio performance based on its room environment. Simply plug in the supplied microphone and the DCAC automatically adjusts for speaker placement, distance and delay based on information collected by the microphone and processed in the receiver.

The receiver also offers a redesigned on-screen display for set-up and control, as well as a powered multi-room function for two-channel enjoyment in an adjoining room along with XM Connect and Play™ satellite radio capabilities.

The 7.1 channel audio/video receiver has 120 watts of system power per channel. The receiver supports HDMI switching and the up-conversion of composite, S-video and component video sources to HDMI, minimizing the number of connections between the receiver and display.

The model requires the purchase of an XM Connect and Play antenna and radio subscription. Once you connect the antenna and subscribe to the service, you can navigate XM stations displayed on the front panel of the receiver.

Sony’s new receiver also features a Portable Audio Enhancer feature so you can plug virtually any portable audio player into the receiver. The receiver then applies digital signal processing on the compressed audio, improving its clarity and depth by adding information to the audio signal that had been removed during compression.

The receiver also offers a powered multi-room capability. While you enjoy 5.1 channel sound in the main room, the remaining two channels can be routed into a second room that allows you to independently play any device connected to the receiver. The A/V receiver also comes with assignable HDMI, component and optical inputs, as well as five inputs and two outputs for A/V, and three inputs and one output for audio.

It will be available in August for about $800 online through sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores, and at authorized dealers nationwide.

If it was part of the ES line I would think about it, oh and it must be made in Japan or no way would I buy it.

put this in the "if you've enjoyed the rape from our 1k+ machines, here's something else for you" column.

This is good news though because it looks like HDMI 1.3 is on the way. Now, if a company that actually makes a quality receiver releases one like this I will definitely think about buying a new receiver.

Can this receiver actually decode TruHD, DD+ and DTS-HD?

If not, why is it an improvement over all the other AVRs already out that can accept PCM over HDMI? My AVR already also does 1080p switching, also.

Yes, it can convert True HD and DTS HD. Those are both uncompressded audio formats, and being able to transmit those is the whole point of this receiver.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA are lossless compressed audio formats.

Too bad I really think that Sony makes a terrible receiver. This one sounds like it does alot.

I'd stick with displays and DVD players with Sony; not audio.

This receiver does not have HDMI 1.3, nor does it have DD+, TrueHD, or DTS-HD decoders. What good would one of those decoders be without HDMI 1.3 to transmit the raw bitstream into the receiver in the first place anyway?

As far as what the whole point of this receiver is, well it's a marketing scam basically.

How do you know it does not have HDMI 1.3? It does not specifically say. Since Sony announced all of their other receivers in March except for this one, I would guess it will have 1.3. Otherwise it really does not make sense. It would be the same receiver as the 900 with a few more bells and whistles and a $300.00 price increase. The 1.3 spec is supposed to be finished this month sometime, so a August/ September debut for this receiver with 1.3 sounds right.

Do you have a (official) link/source for this?

I think I read it in Video Business or TWICE back when the PS3 was delayed. One of the reasons for the delay was, supposedly, because Sony wanted to incorporate HDMI 1.3. It was said that the manufacturers basicly had a complete spec, but were hesitent to start incorporating it until the HDMI group had signed off on it.

Is that supposed to mean "fuck up"?

When DVD first hit I was so excited when the first Sony receivers that had both DD & DTS decoders came out. I'm still happy with mine. I'm just as excited though about this receiver or whatever and whenever we see the first receiver that has HDMI1.3 and can decode all the new audio formats. Whether it's this model or another one, we're almost there....

If this receiver could decode TrueHD and DTS-HD, you'd think they might want to mention that in the specs or the press release. Funny how they don't....

Josh is right - it's not HDMI 1.3 - it's only 1.2a.

Sounds like something Sony would say. Except you forgot to add the obligatory "well, that's what we were planning all along."

Huh? I have no idea what you mean.

Oh wait. You were being serious?

Sorry.

I wonder what they mean then by "capable of processing uncompressed HD audio". Without HDMI 1.3 there is no way to get uncompressed audio out of a player to a receiver is there? This seems to be a new low for marketing speak, unless I am missing something.

So if I'm following,if you could get HD Audio into it (which you can't) it would be capable of processing it?

So if I had money to throw away (which I don't) I'd be capable of buying Sony's new receiver.

"Capable of processing uncompressed HD audio" sounds like marketing-speak to me. Would 7.1 analog inputs qualify as "uncompressed HD audio"? Probably. Does that mean that there is anything new or different about this receiver (other than HDMI switching for video signals and older audio codecs)? Nope.

Exactly. Any receiver with pre-ins would be able to play uncompressed HD audio. Including that RCA from 1961 in your dad's garage. Now, compressed HD audio (like DD+, TrueHD) might be a little tougher.

Hint: there's no "processing" if it is "uncompressed". Not beyond PCM processing, which is over 20 years old. And the way the players work, if you use the digital output, you've already removed the "HD" from the audio.

Another Sony PR with "Marketechture"

Geez can these guys just lay off the hyperbole every now and then?