Second day after setup and I have been pleased with the Sony BDV-E770W. I am viewing on a Sony KDL-40EX700 HDTV. This is a good and inexpensive entry level HTiB which should be more than adequate for most folks. Later in my review, I will address some issues that others have posted in earlier reviews. Forgive the length, but I figured I would lay out everything for the next person who comes along and can benefit from my online homework.
As previously mentioned by Common Sense in his review, many issues can be resolved simply by viewing the online manuals while you are waiting for your unit to be shipped. Included in the box is the manual and a Quick Setup Guide, both of which are available online. The Quick Setup Guide does a good job of showing the different ways to hook up your video and audio.
Even without reviewing the online manuals ahead of time, your system will be up and running very quickly simply by using the Quick Setup Guide. Everything is color coded and easy to understand. The rear speakers are attached (by color coded speaker wires) to the wireless amplifier. I placed the wireless amp under my couch and ran the rear speaker wires to the left and right sides of my couch. I kept having a problem with my rear amp dropping the signal and the rear speakers would go mute. There are three different selections (frequencies) that are easily changed on the back of both the main amp and rear amp. Once I changed the frequency, I was in business. The Auto Speaker Calibration does a good job of calibrating everything. If you desire, one can calibrate each individual speaker, but I was happy with the auto calibration. While writing this review, I cranked Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight," and it sounded great. A previous poster had mentioned the small speakers, but I found this not to be a problem. Sound has been great. The Blu-Ray disks on the system are unbeatable and the DVD Up conversion was a very obvious improvement over my standard DVD player's output.
Two things I would like to address that others have had to deal with.
First, the Update that has "bricked" others' systems. As a previous person suggested, I used a LAN cable instead of the wireless adapter that comes with the system....and I sat on my hands and didn't touch a thing. My system turned itself off when it was finished....the whole thing took about seven minutes. If you can't use a LAN cable, then setup the included USB wireless internet device and test it by going into the system's online library and view some videos before accomplishing the update. If all is well, then initiate the update.
The second thing I would like to address is a previous poster's need for an optical cord for the Audio. What he was referring to is the Cable/SAT/DISH audio to your Blu-Ray system's speakers. Your Cable/SAT/DISH audio and video signals run to your HDTV. Your Blu-Ray video signal runs to your HDTV and the Blu-Ray audio signal goes to the speakers, but how do you get the Cable/SAT/DISH audio signal (the audio for the television shows) to your new speakers? The first two ways are in the Quick Setup guide... one being the optical audio cord and the other using RCA jacks directly from your Cable/SAT/DISH box to the back of the Blu-Ray. But there is a third way that is listed on page nineteen (19) of the owner's manual. There is something new called Audio Return Channel function which is an industry standard and NOT unique to Sony. If your HDTV supports this function, then you only need to use an HDMI cord between the Blu-Ray and HDTV and the audio signal coming from the Cable/SAT/DISH box will then run backwards through this HDMI cord into your Blu-Ray and it's speakers. This function is something that has been added to the HDMI technology as they continually update it. You only need to have an HDMI cord that is version 1.4 (the latest HDMI version). So my system only has two HDMI cords....one from the cable box to the HDTV and one from the Blu-Ray to the HDTV. The system does not include an HDMI cord nor an optical cord. Buy these (if you need both) before your unit arrives. At first, the Audio Return Channel function didn't work, but I found in the HDTV manual that this function only works from the HDMI input labeled Number One (I have four in all). Once I switched to HDMI port number one, I was in business.
The last thing I would like to address is a question I had asked Common Sense concerning using the 770W with something called Sony S-AIR wireless speakers. I found out the answer and here's the bottom line....This system is designed to work with these wireless speakers. They are truly wireless and can be plugged into sockets around your house to hear whatever is being heard from the system's speakers....music, the TV, or the movie playing in the Blu-Ray. The 770W is already transmitting to the wireless rear amp, therefore the other speakers would act as receivers as well, the difference being that these units are all-in-one receivers/speakers....no need to run wires to a seperate speaker. This solves my problem of piping music out to the garage or back porch while having a BBQ. Take a look at the link below for the S-AIR speakers available.
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26 August 2010 S-AIR wireless speaker review
For some reason, Amazon will not let me post the URL for the Sony Style S-AIR speakers. I will try to post it again as well as a product link from Amazon. I just tested the socket speaker I received (used from eBay) and it works great. It worked on the back porch and the garage also. Good sound. Don't expect the volume to crank on the socket speaker, but it was just fine for the back porch for family BBQ, etc. If you want some volume, you might consider the "Premium" which is a bigger wireless speaker.
Of course Sony - Air Air SA50R - Wireless speaker system - 16 Watt (Total) - black
Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray Disc Player Home Entertainment System, Black Features
- 1000 watt, 5.1-channel surround sound system with Blu-ray Disc player
- Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p, including 3D Blu-ray Discs
- BRAVIA Internet Video for instant streaming of content from Netflix, YouTube, Slacker, and more
- Wireless S-AIR rear speakers minimize wire clutter
- Turn your iPhone or iPod touch into a remote with a free app
