11 Dec 11 very good sound . I have have it a few month hooked-up via hdmus to a new 55in Sony Bravia KDL55EX720 HDTV . both work fine right out of the box . do not need the Sony firmware download to make the bd player work . hook it up to the internet via my wifus router and to we 64-bit Windows 7 laptop via the dnlum capability . only problem so far be the remote . the button that open the bluray tray quit work so I just use the button on the receiver . also the 970 be hooked-up to a Directv HR24-100 HDTV receiver via Sony tv hdmi sound feed back capability . 4-star because the remote have a flaw .