Sony STR-DN1040 Review and Specs

Sony STR-DN1040 is the most functional AV receiver you can find at this price. There is built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and many other things - more than any of its competitors. And the sound quality is excellent, as you would expect from a status AV receiver. See additional information and other Sony STR-DN1040 specs in this in-depth Sony STR-DN1040 review.

Sony STR-DN1040 review

Features

The Sony STR-DN1040 is a 7.2-channel home theater AV receiver with 100W (6 ohms) of output power. The STR-DN1040 has an advanced sound function that is basically similar to Audyssey's Dynamic Volume mode, only the Sony system does not work with Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio. This feature is designed to smooth out sudden transitions from quiet to loud sound during television commercials and in Dolby and DTS movies. It worked well, maintaining a higher volume level when listening to the soundtrack than in normal mode.

Design and build

Creating a large AV receiver that would look good is not an easy task, but Sony has achieved remarkable results with the STR-DN1040 and STR-DN840. The front panel looks clean and modern, no random pile of buttons - this infection of most models is not observed.

Connectivity

There are eight HDMI ports on the rear panel and a front MHL-compatible input. This is more than any other receiver with the same price tag; no manufacturer offers more than six. The remaining ports are well hidden, including three digital (two optical, one coaxial). The STR-DN1040 offers ample wireless connectivity, including built-in Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and AirPlay. Bluetooth is the easiest way to access the virtual audio stream, while AirPlay provides the highest quality sound from iOS devices.

Setup

The STR-DN1040 uses the Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (DCAC) automatic setup system, which completes the installation in approximately one minute. We had positive experience with DCAC in the past, but this time the STR-DN1040 decided that all of the speakers in our system are "big", although this is far from the case. Each tower and center speaker has two 4-inch woofers and one for small 8.75-inch surround speakers. I do not recall any other network receiver identifying the center or surround speakers as large.

Pros and Cons