Sony TA-AN1000

Sony's new home cinema amplifier is worth the wait

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Sony is finally back in the AV amplifier game with the TA-AN1000 home cinema amp. It has been more than five years since the Japanese tech giant graced us with its serial Award-winning STRDN1080 AV receiver which took home Product of the Year in 2017 and 2018 (the year in which it also entered into our Hall of Fame), and it held a firm place on our Awards lists until 2020.

So surely a new AV amp from Sony is a cause for celebration? While this certainly is the case with the company’s new TA-AN1000, we first find ourselves wondering why, despite the fact that it looks near identical to the DN1080, is it double the price?

The TA-AN1000 is a new European exclusive model whose £999 price tag means it slots neatly between its two closest competitors. Both are Award winners and both are made by the same company. There’s the Denon AVC-X3800H which currently retails for £1200, and its stablemate AVR-X2800H which we originally tested at £869.

Sleek and modern looking

The AN1000 looks almost identical to the STR-DN1080 bar some very slight changes to the rear panel. Releasing a new product that strongly echoes a six-year-old design may not sound like a good thing, but the new Sony still looks sleek and modern, and feels well made.