Sony STR-DH190 Stereo Receiver Review! Is this the stereo receiver budget king?

Sony STR-DH190 - www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Speakers I Used (that are still available)
Sony SS-CS5 Bookshelf Speaker - www.amazon.com/Sony-SSCS5-3-D...
ELAC BS41 - www.amazon.com/ELAC-4-Passive...
PSB Alpha P5 - www.amazon.com/PSB-Alpha-P5-B...
Class A/B Stereo Receiver Alternatives
Yamaha A-S301 - www.amazon.com/dp/B00MXUCN0A/...
Onkyo TX-8220 - www.amazon.com/Onkyo-TX-8220-...
Cambridge Audio AXA25 - www.amazon.com/dp/B07THCDHHJ/...
Class D Amp Alternatives
AIYIMA D03 - www.amazon.com/dp/B098QSPJJG/...
SMSL DA-9 - www.amazon.com/dp/B091C9WV9Z/...
Loxjie A30 - www.amazon.com/dp/B08J7Z8TN6/...
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00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Features And Specs
05:41 - Assignment
05:54 - What It Gets Right
12:55 - What It Gets Wrong
19:38 - Frugality Grade
20:31 - Recommendations
22:57 - Outro

[@davidbeattie4294]

Great review. You put lots of thought and effort into your comments and its much appreciated. I think this might be the one to replace my Advent Model 300.

[@RichDavey]

Great review What I like is that you can remotely switch on this unit anywhere in your house via a Bluetooth device. It’s got good enough sound for me. Even debating getting a second to replace my ageing Technics in my bedroom. Well done 👍

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Yes, the BT is very handy. I didnt realize that the DH190 would turn on when sensing a BT signal, that is good to know!

[@DaveJohnsonOttawa]

I’ve had one of these for a couple of years, and frankly I think you’re under rating this - definitely given the cost. 1st off tho, it’s 90 wRMS @ 8 ohms. You’re right on subdued dynamics, but not really too bad. & yes I don’t like the spring connectors, but it’s cheap. Most of my library is male vocals, but where I’ve listened to female vocals, I haven’t had issues. This receiver handles good source material well, and if you have an Ortofon 2M Blue or better phono cartridge this may sound better than moderately priced DAC streaming. For the money, I’d give this a solid A.

[@ronaldweed6103]

I love mine. I got it on sale at good guys,2 yr warranty, openbox sale & I run a 14 dollar cd player through 4 speakers with it. EXCELLENT!! Sound!

[@chrisnunya7171]

Hey man, good review! I have this very reciever myself & I absolutely friggin' love it! I have mine connected to a Pioneer CD player, a Pyle dual cassette recorder & an Audio-Technica LP60X-BT. Everything works wonderfully with it! I also have it connected to a pair of Dayton Audio Tower speakers & a Dayton Audio powered subwoofer. I'm using the towers in the "A" slot & the sub in the "B" slot. Since my sub is powered, I don't think it pushes my reciever that hard & it all sounds friggin' AWESOME together! Yeah...this is absolutely worth buying in my opinion!! 100% 🤘🏻

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Yah, I too do not think you have anything to worry about using a powered sub on the B speaker terminals. I actually demonstrate this in a video on how to connect a sub to the this receiver!

[@rachelmarie633]

Nice!

[@mikeg9554]

My son bought one of those receivers a couple of years ago and is driving a pair of vintage Infinity Quantum 3 speakers that he and I rebuilt which have a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. And it sounds amazing and cranks quite well! Not supposed to use that receiver with 4 ohm speakers but it works well. We'll have to see if the Sony will hold up in the long run.

[@tjveith]

great review, thanks. I just bought the receiver along with the sony bookshelf cs5 speakers. i wanted something decent for my new audio technica turntable that sounds good but doesn't break the bank. cheers :)

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

How are you liking the system?

[@tjveith]

@@TheFrugalAudiophile I've been travelling so haven't set it up yet. I'll be back in 2 days and I'm dying to hook it all up and give it a test run! 👍

[@tjveith]

@@TheFrugalAudiophile Just set everything up, and they sound terrific together. A little bit of tweaking but I can't believe how much better the turntable and album sound then digital music. It's been so long since I had an album collection that I forgot how much better the sound actually is. I have a new stylus coming with a micro linear needle, hoping to pump even better sound out of this system. But so far I'm very pleased, and very satisfied 👍

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

@@tjveith That's awesome! Glad to hear you are enjoying the system! I recently reviewed the Sony PS-LX310BT turnable using this Sony system. That is a decent turnable, especially for a beginner, but I am almost certain hour Technics is better.

[@savanaviolenta]

Sony strdh190 is a great non expensive receiver and the Bluetooth 4. version is not a con at all, Sony is famous with fantastic Bluetooth connectivity.

[@twohandsandaradio]

Own it. Longevity. Already failing so I don't think it's worth the money if it doesn't last just beyond the warranty period. Of course that is something no one talks about and will be interesting to see if mine is just a one off or others start failing. Sound quality...could use a bit more bass. Maybe the bass setting start at 10 and then go up from there. Harsh...yeah that's a good way to put it. I certainly wouldn't give it a passing grade now.

[@crisjr6478]

I've had this receiver almost a year now and I will agree the highs were a little bright/rough at loud volumes but after a few months that TOTALLY went away it needed a little break in.

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

I have heard that can happen.

[@Nick-cs9dt]

In other words your brain got used to it and compensated.

[@crisjr6478]

@@Nick-cs9dt I have a fosi audio class D and 2 different aiyimas including this one which I gave to a friend. The dh is just better and the features are bar none sound wise they're close but the sony is better.

[@Nick-cs9dt]

@@crisjr6478 good to know, I just bought one 3 hours ago. Waiting for delivery.

[@ChillToMusic87]

​@@Nick-cs9dt Agreed.

[@jimg7423]

Now you just turned me on to tool... That chocolate chip song is amazing

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Yah, I don't listen to a lot of Tool, but "Chocolate Chip Trip' is a cool song!

[@jimg7423]

@@TheFrugalAudiophile thanks for doing that... I love songs that really use the full spectrum of the sound stage

[@Ocean_breezes]

The FM Antenna connection is crap. I assumed Sony would have put a standard balanced connector on it. I hope I could figure out how to hook it up to my outside dipole.

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Yah it is. Gotta remember tho, this is a sub $200 receiver!

[@Ocean_breezes]

@@TheFrugalAudiophile Well I hooked it up to my outside antenna. To my surprise, the reception is excellent. I was able to program 22 FM stations in Florida. And the Bluetooth works flawlessly and clearly. I'm a happy camper.

[@ivancifuentesp]

I think that sound better in the direct sound mode, more warm. I don't feel the female voice so harsh, recently i was enjoied so much the SWV "its sbout time" album , but I prefer listen in a direct sound mode. At high volume i feel the dynamics rise. other reviewers recommended a external dac for a better sound. even a cheap dac.

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Yah, its really a nice amp! What speakers were you using? An external DAC would help if it was pretty decent one.

[@Ocean_breezes]

Lots of people listen to FM radio I bought this for my outside patio Its a Receiver. I have an outside dipole antenna on a pole Ill try it out.

[@prinefan5]

No subwoofer input.

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

You mean output? no

[@charlesdonaldson962]

Trash FM sensitivity.

[@TheFrugalAudiophile]

Who uses FM? :)

[@ericmayle8510]

Most FM stations are on either Tunein or iHeartRadio. I use my TV apps for the radio.