Review on Sony STR-DH520 7.1 Channel 3D AV Receiver (Black) - Discontinued Model by Jennifer Davis

I recently bought this Sony receiver to replace a much older Pioneer receiver that has failed and is a JVC replacement that I threw away out of frustration. I believe the best aspects of this receiver are reflected quite well and consistently in other good reviews. Nothing fancy, a budget receiver that does great home theater movies and vastly improves the performance of most flat screen TV speakers. It's easy to connect your iPod to the receiver and get great sound. On the back of the Sony there is a special port labeled 'portable' which allows you to add an auxiliary connection from your iPod to the receiver. Alternatively, you can purchase a jack that plugs into the iPod headphone jack and branches out to Y-Connect RCA jacks that can be plugged into the available input on the back of the receiver. I chose the last option and my iPod sounds really good. I found the "standby" mode very interesting, which makes it possible to continue listening to TV through the speakers and therefore does not require the Sony receiver to be switched on. I don't always want/need a home cinema sound system or receiver to quickly check the weather. Just to note that this feature is disabled by default and you have to work your way through the system menu to enable it. After turning it on, it works great. The only wish is that the receiver has an on-screen menu. But that's a minor inconvenience. Once the receiver was set up the way I wanted it, I didn't have to go back and go through the menu again. So if 20 minutes of minor inconveniences put a few more euros in my pocket at the expense of the price drop, to me it was worth it!