AV Receiver Reviews

Conclusion
The Sony's closest competitor in this price range is the Yamaha RX-V1800, which carries the same MSRP and has similar specs. I haven't auditioned that particular model, but I did review its higher-priced sibling, the RX-V3800 ($1700), and found it to be a stellar performer with four HDMI inputs. Another option at the $1700 level is Sony's top-of-the-line STR-DA5300ES, which provides six HDMI inputs, HD video to a second zone, and DSD decoding for SACD fans, though it has slightly less power than the V3800 (120Wpc with 0.09% THD vs. 140Wpc with 0.05% THD, both into 8Ω).

There is a lot to like about the Sony STR-DA4300ES AVR, but there are certain negative qualities that can't be overlooked. On the plus side, I was extremely impressed with the video processing of analog sources, the easy-to-navigate GUI, and the ability to decode the advanced audio codecs. But three HDMI inputs is somewhat skimpy, and the inability to apply the excellent video processing to those inputs is unfortunate if you have an HDMI source that outputs a program's native resolution, such as the TiVo Series 3. The less-than-stellar audio at higher volume levels might be less of an issue than I made it out to be, since it could be attributable to the particular interaction between my M&K speakers and the Sony, though I did set the AVR for a 4Ω load. If the strengths of this AVR intrigue you, put it on your short list, especially if $1300 is your maximum budget for an AVR. But if you can swing it financially, I would take a close look at the $1600-$1800 price range for the extra amplifier power and the additional HDMI input(s).

Highs
Excellent video processing of analog sources
Easy-to-use GUI
Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding

Lows
Only three HDMI inputs
No video processing on HDMI inputs
Poor performance at loud volume levels, at least with my M&K speakers