You’re scouring eBay or digging through a dusty thrift store shelf and you see it. The Sony STR-DH520. It looks like every other black box from the early 2010s. Boring? Maybe. But for anyone trying to build a home theater without taking out a second mortgage, this specific piece of gear is a total sleeper hit.
I’ve seen people dismiss these entry-level Sony units as "plastic junk" more times than I can count. Honestly, they’re wrong.
While the audiophile snobs are busy arguing over $5,000 tube amps, the STR-DH520 has been quietly powering 7.1 surround sound setups in basements and living rooms for over a decade. It’s not perfect. It lacks Wi-Fi. It won't talk to your smart fridge. But it does exactly what a receiver is supposed to do: it takes a signal and makes it loud and clear.
What the Sony STR-DH520 Actually Brings to the Table
Most people buy a receiver because they want "surround sound," but they don't really know what that entails. The STR-DH520 is a 7.1 channel beast. That means you get your standard front, center, and surround speakers, plus two extra "surround back" channels. If you’ve ever watched Master and Commander or Dune with a full 7.1 array, you know that those extra two speakers aren't just for show. They fill the "sonic hole" behind your head.
Sony rated this thing at 100 watts per channel. Now, let’s be real for a second.
That rating is measured at 1kHz with 1% THD. In plain English? It’s a bit optimistic. If you’re pushing massive, power-hungry floor-standing towers, you might notice it straining at high volumes. But for a standard set of bookshelf speakers or a high-quality satellite system? It’s plenty. It’s punchy.
It handles 3D pass-through, which was a huge deal when it launched. Today, 3D is mostly a gimmick of the past, but that same high-speed HDMI tech means it plays nice with 1080p signals and Blu-ray players without a hiccup. You get four HDMI inputs. For a modern gamer with a PS5, an Xbox, a Switch, and an Apple TV, you’re topped out immediately. You’ll have to prioritize.
The Setup Process is... Old School
Don't expect a fancy on-screen GUI with high-res icons. Setting up the Sony STR-DH520 is a bit of a throwback. You’re looking at a segment display on the front of the unit. You'll spend a lot of time clicking through menus that look like they belong on a 1990s calculator.
But here’s the saving grace: DCAC.
Digital Cinema Auto Calibration. Sony includes a tiny mono microphone in the box. You plug it into the front, run the setup, and it emits these weird, futuristic "chirp-pop" noises. It measures the distance from your seat to each speaker and adjusts the delay and levels. It’s surprisingly accurate. It saves you from having to sit there with a tape measure and a sound pressure level meter.
Where It Might Let You Down
We have to talk about the 4K problem. The STR-DH520 was born in a 1080p world. If you have a shiny new 4K OLED TV and you’re trying to run your 4K Netflix stream through this receiver, you’re going to have a bad time. It won't pass that signal through.
You have two choices here:
- Plug your devices into the TV and use an Optical cable (Toslink) to send audio back to the Sony.
- Use HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel).
The STR-DH520 does support ARC, which is a lifesaver. It allows the TV to send audio back down the HDMI cable to the receiver. It simplifies everything. One remote can often control the volume. Just keep in mind that ARC from this era doesn't support the high-bitrate lossless formats like Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio that you get from physical Blu-rays. For streaming? It's fine.
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Another quirk? The spring clips for the surround channels.
The front Left and Right channels have nice binding posts that accept banana plugs. Everything else? Cheap plastic spring clips. If you’re using thick 12-gauge speaker wire, you’re going to be fighting those clips for an hour. Use 16-gauge. Save your sanity.
Comparing the DH520 to Modern Alternatives
If you go to a big-box store today, you'll see the Sony STR-DH790. It’s the spiritual successor. It adds Dolby Atmos and 4K HDR support. It’s also several hundred dollars.
Is the Atmos upgrade worth it?
If you aren't planning on cutting holes in your ceiling for height speakers, maybe not. The Sony STR-DH520 handles Dolby Pro Logic IIz, which tries to simulate height using "front high" speakers. It’s not Atmos, but it adds a sense of scale to the front soundstage that's actually pretty convincing for older tech.
Real World Performance: Music vs. Movies
Sony has always had a "house sound." It’s generally bright and clinical.
When you’re watching an action flick—say, John Wick—the DH520 excels. The snap of the gunshots and the shards of breaking glass have a sharp, aggressive edge. It feels fast. For music, it’s a mixed bag. If you’re a vinyl purist (there’s no Phono input, by the way, you’ll need a preamp), you might find it a bit "digital" sounding.
But for a party? Throw it into "Multi Stereo" mode. It pumps the music out of every single speaker in the room. It’s loud, it’s fun, and it doesn't distort until you’re at "neighbors calling the cops" levels.
The Thermal Issue
These units can get warm. Not "fire hazard" warm, but they need to breathe. I’ve seen people stack a cable box or a PlayStation directly on top of their STR-DH520 and then wonder why it shuts down during a movie. Don't do that. Give it at least two or three inches of clearance. The heat sinks inside are effective, but they rely on passive airflow.
Technical Specifications Breakdown
Let's look at the raw numbers for those who need the data:
- Channels: 7.1
- Power Output: 100W per channel (8 Ohms, 1kHz, 1% THD)
- HDMI Inputs/Outputs: 4 In / 1 Out
- Audio Decoders: DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, LPCM
- Weight: About 16 lbs. It’s got some heft, which usually points to a decent power transformer.
- Features: Bravia Sync (CEC), 3D Pass-through, Deep Color, x.v.Color.
It’s worth noting that this unit was part of Sony's push to integrate their ecosystem. If you have an older Sony TV or Blu-ray player, the "Sync" features actually work pretty seamlessly. You turn on the player, the receiver wakes up, and the TV switches inputs automatically.
The Used Market Value Proposition
Currently, you can find these receivers on the used market for anywhere between $50 and $100.
Think about that.
For the price of a mediocre Bluetooth speaker, you’re getting a full-scale home theater brain. If you’re a college student, someone setting up a secondary gaming room, or just someone who realizes that 1080p still looks great, this is one of the best values in used audio.
The reliability is generally high. Sony’s STR line from this era didn't suffer from the massive capacitor failures that plagued some other brands. The most common "failure" is actually just a settings issue—someone accidentally turned on "Speaker B" or messed up the HDMI assignment.
Myths and Misconceptions
People often think that because it doesn't have 4K, it's useless. That’s a massive misconception. Most of the content we consume—YouTube, older games, standard HD cable—is 1080p anyway. And even if you do have a 4K source, the audio quality of a DTS-HD track on the DH520 is still lightyears ahead of any soundbar you’ll find for under $400.
Size matters too. Modern receivers are getting taller and deeper. The STR-DH520 is relatively slim. It fits in standard IKEA cabinets without sticking out the back or hitting the glass door in the front.
Actionable Steps for Potential Owners
If you’ve just picked one of these up or you’re thinking about it, here is how you get the most out of it.
First, factory reset the unit. You have no idea what weird EQ settings the previous owner messed with. Usually, you hold the power button for five seconds while the unit is in standby to clear everything.
Second, buy the calibration mic if it didn't come with one. You can find them for $15 on eBay. It makes a world of difference in balancing the surround levels, especially if your room is an awkward shape.
Third, manage your HDMI expectations. If you have a 4K TV, plug your 4K devices into the TV directly. Use the Optical Out from your TV to the "TV/SAT" optical input on the Sony. You’ll lose the lossless TrueHD audio, but you’ll keep your 4K HDR picture. It's a trade-off that most people won't even hear unless they have $2,000 speakers.
Finally, check your impedance. This receiver is rated for 8-ohm speakers. If you try to wire up some 4-ohm high-end speakers, you’re going to trigger the "PROTECT" mode pretty quickly. Stick to standard 6 or 8-ohm home theater speakers.
The Sony STR-DH520 isn't the king of the mountain. It's not a "legendary" piece of audiophile history. It’s a workhorse. It’s the reliable old truck of the home theater world. It won't win any beauty contests, and it doesn't have the latest tech, but it will shake your floorboards and make your movies feel like an event. In a world where everything is disposable, there's something respectable about a budget box that just keeps on ticking.