The Sony STR-DN1080 is one of the most powerful AV receivers in Sony’s arsenal. An affordable AVR which is highly rated and praised by critics, it even won a few awards over the years. From the accolades that the Sony STR-DN1080 have gotten, we are more or less assured of its sonic prowess but which speakers are best suited for this AV receiver so that it could bring out the best in them. If you are asking that question then you are at the right place.
We are planning to share with you the best matching speakers to go with your Sony STR-DN1080 but first, we need to find out more about this talented AVR. By learning more about this AV receiver, we get to know its merits and sonic characteristics, these are useful information that can be reused to find new matching speakers in the future.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Sony STR-DN1080
The Sony STR-DN1080 has a minimalistic front where all the buttons and knobs are neatly featured which also makes it uniquely a Sony AV receiver. This is a 4K 7.2 channel AV receiver packed with loads of features and has a power output of 165 Watts at 6 Ohms with 1 channel driven. At this price point, this power output is considered good and can drive most loudspeakers including easy-to-drive floor-standers. As long you include 1 or 2 powered subwoofers, the subs can help ease the load off the AVR by taking over the bass reproduction which takes a lot of power to deliver. The frequency response of Sony STR-DN1080 is 20Hz-20kHz which is expected from a modern AV receiver.
The Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are supported, and with the Phantom Surround Back feature, you can set it up as a 7.1.2 channel speaker setup. The STR-DN1080 supports playing back high-resolution audio files such as DSD, up to 5.6MHz 5.1ch, and more. Another notable feature that improves your music listening experience will be the DSEE HX upscaling. The 4K visual quality of the Sony STR-DN1080 is top-notch but is a pity that Sony does not have 8K AVR models. Another notable feature will be the D.C.A.C EX which automatically optimizes all your connected speakers’ frequencies, phases, and delays for optimal performance in your HT room.
More Details at Amazon – Sony STR-DN1080 7.2-ch AV Receiver: 4K HDR, Dolby Atmos
The clarity of the sound reproduction is incredible, every detail can be heard clearly which is very important for an engaging home cinematic experience. The sound effects in a movie describe the scene in its own way, for instance, the sound of a car explodes, with various metal parts, glass, and other debris falling all over gives you an impression of how damaging that explosion was. The massive details and subtleties also help build up the mood in the movie, as we can clearly hear medieval warriors clashing their axes and swords all around us while the main protagonist and antagonist duke it out in the middle of the scene.
Sony STR-DN1080 subsonic bass performance is impeccable as well, the impact and slams are what make action movie scenes exhilarating to watch and the low rumbles which build up each scene before the grand crescendo. The low-end reproduction works seamlessly together with the rest of the frequencies and with the accuracy of the imaging delivers a vivid sonic performance, providing us with an exhilarating cinematic experience. Music presentations are cleanly delivered and with plenty of oomphs, still, a little more refinement and warmth would make it sound even more musical. You will still be able to enjoy listening to your favorite tunes but will enjoy even more when watching your favorite movies via the Sony STR-DN1080 AV receiver.
At this price point, there’s nothing much to complain about but if we were to nitpick, the STR-DN1080 is not powerful enough to really drive high-quality floor-standing speakers. If there were outputs to connect to external power amplifiers then it wouldn’t be an issue. All in all, the Sony STR-DN1080 is a fantastic AV receiver and delivers an amazing home cinematic experience. The STR-DN1080 can be quite bright when the volume level is been pushed hard though. We have the important information we need and it is time to start sharing with you the list of the best speakers to pair with the Sony STR-DN1080 AV receiver.
Sony STR-DN1080 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts into 6 Ohms (2 channels driven), 165 Watts into 6 Ohms (1 channel driven)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Wireless: Bluetooth Connection, Wi-Fi, AirPlay
- Inputs: 6 HDMI inputs, 4 Analog inputs, 1 Optical input, 1 Coaxial input, Ethernet, 1 USB input
- Outputs: Headphone output, 1 Composite output, 1 HDMI eARC, 1 HDMI output, 2 Subwoofer outputs
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 430mm x 156mm x 331mm (17″ x 6.1″ x 13″)
- Weight: 9.1kg (20lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Sony STR-DN1080
The Q Acoustics 3020i will be one of the best speakers to match with your Sony STR-DN1080, setting them as your main left and right channel as well as surround speakers. Use Q Acoustics 3090Ci as your center channel speaker and add a high-quality active subwoofer, and you got yourself an exceptional home theater speaker pack. The 3020i are award-winning bookshelf speakers that have a warm sonic characteristic which helps ease the STR-DN1080 brightness a little. The rich and full-bodied sound reproduction of the Q Acoustics 3020i speakers makes them suitable for music playbacks too.
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3020i
More Information at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3090Ci Center Speaker
If you are looking for a home theater satellite speaker pack then the SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 will be an ideal choice for you. What we really like about this speaker pack is that it comes with a high-performance and powerful active subwoofer, SB-1000 Pro. SVS subwoofers are some of the very best on the market and with matching SVS Prime satellite speakers, you got an HT speaker pack that will rock your home cinematic experience without breaking your wallet. The only qualms we have is that the pack’s center channel speaker is not the SVS Prime Center Speaker.
More Details at Amazon – SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 Package
The Klipsch RP-600M stand-mounters and RP-600C as the center channel loudspeaker will be some of the best speakers to match with the Sony STR-DN1080 AVR especially if you like to play your movies at loud volume. The Klipsch speakers are famous for their efficiency and high speaker sensitivity, allowing your AV receiver to drive and push them at high volume levels with ease. The Klipsch RP-600M and RP-600C are also capable of producing very detailed sound quality with plenty of clarity to boot. If you like lively speakers with bright-sounding nature then these Klipsch speakers will be suitable for you. Just remember to include an active subwoofer into the mix.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch RP-600M
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch RP-600C
For a warm-sounding system, you might want to go with the Wharfedale Diamond 230 floor-standers as the main left and right channel speakers. As for the surround speakers, the popular Wharfedale Diamond 220 stand-mounters are more than worthy to take the role and the Diamond 220C will take the center channel role. These Wharfedale speakers will provide smooth, energetic, and very detailed sound reproduction with a touch of warmth. They do not add brightness to the overall sound quality which makes them a suitable match with the Sony STR-DN1080. You’ll just need to integrate an active subwoofer of your choice and the HT speaker system will be complete.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 230
More Information on Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220
To set up a Home Theater system for Dolby Atmos playback, you can either use ceiling speakers such as Q Acoustics Q Install QI65P speaker or Sony SS-CSE Dolby Atmos enabled speakers where they will project the sound effects upward, bounce the sound off your ceiling towards the listeners’ location. Using in-ceiling speakers will provide better sonic quality but will cost more and can be a hassle to install. Dolby Atmos speakers such as Sony SS-CSE is cheaper due to the easy set-up as you just need to place them on top of your main left and right speakers but the sound quality will vary largely depended on your ceiling, e.g. if the ceiling is uneven then you will get uneven overhead surround sound dispersion.
More Information at Amazon – Sony SSCSE Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers
It is okay to go with similar brand active subwoofers as it will provide a more cohesive overall sound reproduction due to a similar sound signature but if you really want performance, you should go for brands that specialize in making subwoofers such as SVS. If you are planning to use your HT system for both music and movie listens, then the SVS SB-1000 Pro will suffice. Go for ported cabinet design such as SVS PB-1000 Pro if your main entertainment is watching movies. For larger home theater rooms, you might want to go for bigger subwoofers like SVS PB-3000. These powered subwoofers are also sanely priced and are really worth the investment.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 13″ Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
It is really impressive for an AV receiver at this price range to have such spectacular visuals and excellent sound quality. The speakers listed here are some of the very best to match with the Sony STR-DN1080 and it is recommended to have a listen first. You should always audition them before making the decision, as you need to know if you like what you hear. Do include the active subwoofers that you are planning to get during the auditioning so as to get a more accurate sonic result.
