Pump up the power, and the smarts

SOUNDBARS sound great – until you compare them to an audio-video receiver pumping out 165 watts a channel to seven speakers and two subwoofers.

Sony’s newest mid-range powerhouse, the STR-DN1060 ($1399), delivers all of this and more while simplifying the set-up that can hamper home theatre’s potential.

Let’s face it – most of us don’t live in houses with dedicated media rooms optimised for surround sound.

Chances are your home theatre viewing is done in the same room where the kids do the homework or is open-plan with the dining area or even kitchen.

That means in most households, the home theatre experience is going to be compromised by the demands of daily living and the limitations of room configurations.

But Sony’s engineers have devised one of the best audio calibration systems yet to compensate for odd-shaped rooms or other spaces where it’s awkward to place speakers for pinpoint impact.

It automatically configures the speaker settings to deliver sweetspot perfection, whether exploiting the receiver’s full capability – seven speakers and dual subwoofers (7.2) – or using it to merely drive left and right front speakers and a sub.

If you live in a modest villa, a 7.2 set-up probably won’t be practical. But it will scarcely matter as the STR-DN1060 does a fantastic 5.1 down-conversion of the DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track on the Blu-ray of Jurassic World.

Even in 2.1 mode, the dinosaur sound effects are startling and enveloping, the dialogue never gets lost amid the mayhem, and the depth and detail of the audio is far more muscular and nuanced than a soundbar can convey.

The STR-DN1060 can be set up to excel in a variety of configurations, with the 3.1 option arguably being the most convincing and satisfying compromise for rooms where space or de´ cor rules out rear speakers.

The receiver is packed with features that make it just as big an asset for the music-minded, with its wireless multi-room capability, AirPlay and Google Cast options, compatibility with Blue-tooth headphones, its HighResolution Audio and Sony’s new LDAC technology that improves reproduction of audio files for wireless streaming.

It also has six HDMI inputs and two outputs – one of each can handle 4K video – while the useability of the on-screen graphics will be a revelation for anyone who hasn’t bought a receiver in 10 years.

There’s a couple of drawbacks: the remote control feels surprisingly cheap and plasticky (but is superbly functional); and if you do have the space for a 7.2 speaker set-up, you’ll be disappointed the receiver isn’t ready for the next generation of surround sound, Dolby Atmos.

Otherwise, and despite its strikingly square lines, the STRDN1060 is a remarkable allrounder.