NEARLY PERFECT? | Sony AZ3000ES AVR REVIEW | 360 Spatial Sound Mapping

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The Sony AZ3000ES may not have a full set of pre outs, even though it is a 9 channel AVR. But despite that limitation, it has some incredibly unique features that I can get behind! 360 Spatial Sound Mapping doesn't sound that great...UNLESS you engage a certain feature in the initial setup. Then it sounds AMAZING! Check out this deep dive into this stellar AVR and see if it's going to be your next purchase!

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MY HOME THEATER SETUP
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Valencia Oslo Luxury Home Theater Seating

65” LG C1 OLED TV

Marantz SR7015

IOTA AVX17 Preamp Processor

Outlaw Audio Model 7000x Amplifier

Aperion Audio E7 Energy External Amp

Peachtree Nova300 Stereo Integrated Amp

Emotiva BasX A3 Amplifier

FRONT LCR
Aperion Audio Theatrus T80 Cinema/Studio Monitors

Aperion Audio Verus Theatrus T65S Slim Design Cinema/Studio Monitor

FRONT WIDES & VOICE OF GOD
Aperion Audio Novus Slim N6SC LCR

SURROUNDS
Aperion Audio Theatrus T65 Cinema/Studio Monitor

SURROUND BACKS
Aperion Audio Novus N6T Tower Speakers

ATMOS HEIGHT SPEAKERS
Aperion Audio A5 Height Module

LG UBK90 4K Blu-ray Player

2022 AppleTV 4K WiFI + Ethernet (3rd Gen)

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MY VIDEO GEAR
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Audio Interface – Focusrite Scarlett 18i20

Sennheiser MKE600

Sony A7 II Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

DJI OM 4 SE

Shure KSM32 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

XLR Male to Female Microphone Cable

JOILCAN 81" Tripod

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LINKS
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Everything you need can be found at the link below! Woohoo!

#sony #productreview #hometheater

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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Intro
1:01 SPECS
5:16 SETUP
15:46 App Runthrough
18:23 HOW DOES IT SOUND?
20:56 Practical vs Virtual Spaces
23:28 Some Bugs/Quirks
25:10 Wireless Speakers?
26:43 Center Speaker Enhancements
27:21 Price Comparisons
28:44 The Future of Immersion
31:00 Outro

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DISCLAIMERS
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[paulgross]

Ealan, this is a great video. Very well done and most informative I have seen in a while. Your live walk through was fantastic. Keep up the great work.

[Joejoemilanczuk]

You are the only one to do a full and real review on the 3000 so thank you everyone else is doing either the 1000 or 7000

[psyphonyxaudio]

I enjoyed the live walk through with the set up. All the AVR will have a different process ..so that's nice to get a full walk through.

[cpg]

Great thorough review! You delved into it all. This is a really nice AVR. My only concern are the software/electrical gremlins you experienced. I hate when stuff like that happens as it just makes me think there are unpolished edges that will eventually show up again, and there is never a good time for issues to happen. Reliability is paramount!

[feiyulu]

The 5000 definitely sits in the best spot in the lineup, and could be a good alternative to Denon and Marantz if the room correction works for you, which is really hard to tell without actually comparing it back to back with DIRAC.

[nogunnofear]

I ordered the 3000 ES after looking at a lot of models in that price range. I don't care for Dirac live (the cost and the required internet connection) so that's a plus for me and I have never needed pre-outs. The basic equipment works for me as long as it sounds excellent. And boy it does sound incredible. DCM Time Windows front and center channel with Klipsch surrounds and subs. It rocks! Great set up video. Picked up a few good pointers. Thanks!👍

[mikemmikem]

This is the most thorough setup video I've ever seen. Glad you did a step by step procedure. I have always been a big fan of Sony tv and ES receivers (not their prices though), evidenced by my still functioning vintage (1987) GX10 ES receiver powering my new Martin Logan Motion 15i speakers. Re: Audyssey, I'm ambivalent about it and run my system Flat vs Reference. Audysey is notorious for incorrect surround settings but especially poor sub calibration, so after Audyssey I fine tune those settings via SPL meter. So, I think I'll wait for the Nakamichi new sound system even though it's very expensive. Lastly my July 4th movie is always Independence Day 4K is DTS-X and what a treat it is. My system has never sounded better - and while the surrounds really pump - the subs (2 SVS PB1000) really slam tight and punchy. Thanks for another great video.

[chadharwood]

This is exactly what I need. Theater in the family room. Three sides with a huge kitchen on the other side, Virtual sound would work fantastic. But I have a Outlaw 5000x so need the preouts. When will Denon get on board with this tech. You have connections. Make it happen. I'm counting on you E.

[no-mayo-please]

You showed me how to tweak my AZ7000ES settings. Thanks brother.

[MrNiceKnife]

Been so happy with my SONY STR-DH790 that I got for a steal when Best Buy did a half off audio sale. 5.1.2 setup with 2 subs in my config. I know there are much better but this setup is waaay better than ANY sound bar.

[htenthusiast]

Very nice detailed review, loved it. I was looking forward to hear your comments about the 360 spatial and also believe this is the trend of the moment, allowing to create a near perfect envelop with your existing speaker setup. Interesting that Sony nailed the sub output right, it took me a while to dial it in with Audyssey, and had to find a compromise, just wish the subs were independent. The nail on the coffin to me is the lack of pre-outs, and also fully agree about the dated look. The menu structure also seems a little simplistic, missing the polished features and adjustments from D&M. Super nice review. It would be interesting to have an A-B comparison between known movie scenes with your Iota. Keep up with the great work 🖖🏻🙌🏻

[kman]

Funny that this review came out the same day I just picked up the Sony vpl xw5000es and AX 5000es 😊

[JulyLe-og]

HI Ealan, thank you for the review. I got my AZ3000ES after watching your reviews and some reviews on different forums. I am impressed by this AVR. I first got the Denon 4800H and I hated the music performance of it. No matter what mode I selected with Dirac or Audyssey, it sounded very thin and lack of bass, just horrible. Then I got the Marantz Cinema 40 and it sounded just as bad for music. For movie watching they both sounded amazing though. I then took a chance and got the AZ3000ES and I have been very impressed by its musical performance. The Sony really brings out the details of the tracks when it comes to vocal and instruments and the bass is decent. However, I wish the sound stage was wider though, but it could be because the power output is not enough while the speakers I have are not that easy to drive (Martin Logan XT-F200, Bowers Wilkins 702 s2, Bowers wilkins 706 s2, Focal Aria k2 936). What I like about the Sony is that when I switch the speaker impedance from 8 ohm to 4ohm, I can really tell the difference!! When I did that with the Denon and Marantz, it made no difference at all. the Sony powers my XT-F200 pretty well, but not as good as my Arcam SA30 as I never expected it to. I am planning to return the AZ3000ES and get the AZ5000ES so that I can connect it to an amp. If the AZ3000ES had pre outs for amp, I would be very happy to keep it. I will be using the Sony to listen Atmos/spatial sound music, which my SA30 cannot do.
Ealan, I am wondering if someday you could start reviewing one of those class D DAC or amp. I recently purchased a SMSL AO200 Mkii for my desktop and I couldn't believe how good it sounded when I first got it. It has much better sound stage than the AZA3000ES if you can believe it, but I could hear a tiny bit of distortion for the vocal when i crank it up passing 80 db. I have a feeling that after a few years these Chinese class D amps will close the gap between cheap integrated amps and the high end ones.

[TheUsmc]

My man! I’ve been waiting for your review!!! I’m bummed as well that the 3000 doesn’t have preouts. I’ve got the 3100 and original 3000 and they both have the pre outs. They sound amazing and the 3100 with Atmos is still relevant. Will be upgrading soon though! What’s interesting is the 3100 es and older ZA3000 es have the center channel lift up. It does move the sound but like you said you can tell if you get closer that the heights are adding the effect. Great review!

[SlotHits]

Great run through on this! The pre out thing is a must, total fail on Sony.. they should refresh with a 3100 model that adds the pre outs

[PeterBiel-wm]

Thank you so much...love your videos. Your recommendation and overview of the 360 spatial mapping+virtual speakers made all the difference. After years of budget 5.1 receivers (Yamaha and Onkyo)...I finally moved up to Atmos and bought and setup a new Sony 1000 7.2 atmos receiver yesterday(including using amazon basics banana plugs which are awesome). This decision was driven purely for the 360 spatial mapping+virtual speaker placement correction along with virtual surround backs (makes my 5.2.2 setup seem as having more speakers)...I used the "engineer" sound curve (“the Sony listening room standard” frequency characteristics)....simply mind blowing! I never knew my system could sound so massive, so enveloping, and so crisp/clean. It is the first time ever I ran a calibration and never needed to make a single adjustment. It's wonderful.

I don't need external amps as I never listen at reference levels nor do I have demanding speakers in my relatively small/medium room.

[scottwrezenski]

I love the new Sony lineup I have the ES7000 and it's epic and a beast

[elmerbais]

Try engineer setup and lift the front (only applicable if FH is set) speakers to 3 or 4. It will widen the front like having another center or like having front wide speakers..
Cons. you will only get rear atmos.
Also try adjusting manually after the easy setup. It will give you more better sound.
The old model of sony za3100es / za5000es can make all this 360 feels like if you know how to play with it.

[gvppiwi]

Great video. Just bought. Still researching ease of use.

Sony *DSEE ULTIMATE* alone is a must have.

this is Still better than HT-A9 also mark 2 (*i hate the overall look and also lack of BLACK color option)

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For people complaining about cost (sony has a *military discount* @ 10% off majority of products bought directly) join the military

Pre-outs are getting outdated due to technology (but sony should have kept it for AZ3000 atleast for front 2.1 setups)

[darthjerell]

Great reviews!!! This is the receiver that I want to upgrade to. I agree with someone's comment about many of today's receivers have too many features that I don't need. We currently own the Sony STR-DH790 receiver. It's an excellent entry receiver as a great introduction to Atmos/DTS-X. Now that I have taken this receiver as far as we can go, the AZ3000 is the upgrade that we need. It has the right amount of channels, & we don't need to add a amplifier. I really don't feel it's right for the $1700 price tag, for features that we don't need. We're saving up for the model regardless. But your review was what I really needed to hear, so I'm sold on it. Thank you so much!!!