Hi folks,
I've been considering replacing my MRX310 with something that can handle more channels and decided to give the Yamaha RX-A760 a go. Here are some of my impressions.
Unpacking
The unit comes packed like any other receiver you would buy. Cardboard box, foam, tape on the pouch holding the remote, manual, and other things. Nothing special to report here other than packed well enough.
First Impressions
The Yamaha does have some weight behind it and seems well built. Not quite as nice as my Anthem's powder coated, thick case and gold connectors, but does the job.
Setup
YPAO operates very quickly and I was up and running in less than 10 minutes. Yamaha's on-screen menu is one of the better ones and easy enough to navigate, although it is starting to look a bit dated compared to say the menu Sony receivers use.
Remote
The remote is the typical plastic variety you will find, but it’s well laid-out. Regardless, like most users I use a universal remote. I personally use Simple Controls and it had no problem picking up the Yamaha on my network for IP control.
Sound
So does the Yamaha sound? In all honesty, this was where I felt disappointed. I spent a lot of time after the initial setup messing with settings, EQ, etc., but just couldn't get it to have the full sound my Anthem produces. The Yamaha felt too polite and simply didn't grab all the details I've become accustomed to with the Anthem. I'm fairly certain in pure direct I probably wouldn't be able to tell a difference, but with YPAO and ARC enabled, the difference proves significant. Sorry folks, ARC crushes YPAO in every way, at least in my room and to my ears. In fairness, my MRX310 cost me $1,099 vs $569 (at Best Buy this week) for this receiver.
Summary
My review may seems like a downer for the Yamaha, but in reality the RX-A760 is a great receiver for the price. However, if you can spend another $400 or so, I would strongly suggest checking out Anthem or something using Audyssey XT32.