RX-V2600 Audioholics Review?

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Yamaha RX-V2600 Receiver Review

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/avhardware/YamahaRXV2600receiver1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 76px" alt=[YamahaRXV26001] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/YamahaRXV26001_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>In reviewing the new Yamaha RX-V2600 I feel like I’m swearing in a new justice of the Supreme Court... After all, it’s new and exciting, but there’s also a lot of discussion and debate surrounding the newcomer. With the RX-V2600, Yamaha has entered that place where the label “AV processor” really starts to emphasize video processing. Let’s face it, while there was always plenty of audio processing going on, the “video” part of the AV equation was mostly limited to switching. No longer. The new RX-V2600 breaks new ground and starts anew with a set of updated features that gives notice to the competition (and has even caused a couple manufacturers to have to go back and rework their product lines).

[Read the Review]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Benchmark Tests]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [Processor Checklist]

Yay, it's finally done. Thank you Clint.

Hi Clint,
Thanks for the review - looks good and I am already a RX-V2600A owner but a couple of things:
1) 1080p over HDMI: Were you able to check if the V2600 can pass a 1080p signal over HDMI (eg not upconvert from Analogue)? I want to be able to hook the upcoming PS3 and a Media Player outputing 1080p over HDMI to a 1080p display.....Yami told me so (so it must be true )

2) You might want to add to the review that for the PAL world the V2600 can also deinterlace 576i to 576p and according to the specs upscale 576i to 720p/1080i (I've currently only got an Analogue TV so can not test myself).

3) FYI - I also tested feeding a 480i signal to my Yami (configured to deinterlace 576i to 576p) while the signal info screen was up to see if was it would output. It autosensed the input as 480i and spat it out as 480p (to which my LOEWE TV really did not like displaying!) - so I guesing the Yami will autosence and deinterlace a 480i or 576i signal but will not covert a 480 to 576 (eg NTSC to PAL) or vice versa.

Nathan

jmone said:

2) You might want to add to the review that for the PAL world the V2600 can also deinterlace 576i to 576p and according to the specs upscale 576i to 720p/1080i (I've currently only got an Analogue TV so can not test myself).

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Yup - it can upconvert the pal signal to 720p or 1080i.
(Have connected it to my projector)


Now - should I or shouldn't I enter the RX-V2600 contenst?
(Could get a black instead of my silver one, as I would prefear... )

Hi Clint,
Thanks for the review - looks good and I am already a RX-V2600A owner but a couple of things:
1) 1080p over HDMI: Were you able to check if the V2600 can pass a 1080p signal over HDMI (eg not upconvert from Analogue)? I want to be able to hook the upcoming PS3 and a Media Player outputing 1080p over HDMI to a 1080p display.....Yami told me so (so it must be true )

Click to expand...

It will NOT pass 1080p.

When I emailed Yamaha about this, they said it should pass 1080p. I'm not doubting you when you say it won't pass it, but do you know why? HDMI 1.1 specs say 1080p is possible and there is enough bandwidth for it.

First off I really appreciate the review. This is a product ive been really wanting to buy and have been holding off to see what you say.

However i am somewhat disappointed in the review. Despide the good scores you gave it you didnt seem nearly as excited about this reciever and its capabilies as in other reviews like the denon 3805 for example.


Im left feeling like maybe the yamaha is not great but just decent.

Other than HDMI support, which is quirky, I dont see what all the fuss is about. Or am I missing something?

mikey d said:

First off I really appreciate the review. This is a product ive been really wanting to buy and have been holding off to see what you say.

However i am somewhat disappointed in the review. Despide the good scores you gave it you didnt seem nearly as excited about this reciever and its capabilies as in other reviews like the denon 3805 for example.


Im left feeling like maybe the yamaha is not great but just decent.

Click to expand...

I am also disappointed. It seems like the video processing is extremely poor... come on, a score of 28 on the HQV Testing, even a $30 cyberhome player can do better, that’s a joke. And almost all the test shows a quality lost when upconverting. So what is the idea. To have a new receiver with all the new tech, but that performs worse. I always been a Yamaha fan but I am also objective (maybe is not Yamaha fault, personally I think that all the HDMI deal is a way to tent the costumers to get up and buy, but does not do nothing to improve the quality, come on, most of the people that says the HDMI improve the picture need a test pattern to see the differences, because can’t see it otherwise, isn’t that silly or what, what’s next a magnifier). And there is not much eximent in the audio part so maybe is not what we hope to. But this is what reviews are for, to inform the costumers and this is why this site is so important . I only wish they did a all channel test (For example a did a AB test with my DSP-A1 and a RX-V1400, both are 110 rms, and the DSP-A1 sound a lot more powerful). Well to wait to the RX-V2700, Fingers crossed.

When I emailed Yamaha about this, they said it should pass 1080p. I'm not doubting you when you say it won't pass it, but do you know why? HDMI 1.1 specs say 1080p is possible and there is enough bandwidth for it.

Click to expand...

It's not a spec issue, its a hardware issue and its NOT upgradeable in firmware.

And there is not much eximent in the audio part so maybe is not what we hope to. But this is what reviews are for, to inform the costumers and this is why this site is so important . I only wish they did a all channel test (For example a did a AB test with my DSP-A1 and a RX-V1400, both are 110 rms, and the DSP-A1 sound a lot more powerful). Well to wait to the RX-V2700, Fingers crossed.

Click to expand...

Geez All Channels Driven Test again. READ THE STICKY THREAD on that Topic. The Amp section in 1400 is no match for the DSP A1 nor should it be, the 1400 is nearly 1/3 the price and weight

Read our article on Product Managing Power in Receivers to understand why this is so about to equally power rated receivers .

mardelgo said:

I am also disappointed. It seems like the video processing is extremely poor... come on, a score of 28 on the HQV Testing, even a $30 cyberhome player can do better, that’s a joke. And almost all the test shows a quality lost when upconverting. So what is the idea. To have a new receiver with all the new tech, but that performs worse. I always been a Yamaha fan but I am also objective (maybe is not Yamaha fault, personally I think that all the HDMI deal is a way to tent the costumers to get up and buy, but does not do nothing to improve the quality, come on, most of the people that says the HDMI improve the picture need a test pattern to see the differences, because can’t see it otherwise, isn’t that silly or what, what’s next a magnifier). And there is not much eximent in the audio part so maybe is not what we hope to. But this is what reviews are for, to inform the costumers and this is why this site is so important . I only wish they did a all channel test (For example a did a AB test with my DSP-A1 and a RX-V1400, both are 110 rms, and the DSP-A1 sound a lot more powerful). Well to wait to the RX-V2700, Fingers crossed.

Click to expand...

None of you should be disappointed with this review nor should you get hung up on the up-converting to HDMI. As the review states if your are up-converting older stuff such as VHS, Laser Disc, SVHS, etc., then the up-converting works quite well. There is no quality loss if you are just using the receiver to pass HDMI. The real value on this receiver is the ability to have HDMI switching and the much improved amp section. As I previously owned a 2500 and also several Denons, I can tell you this receiver is by far the best one yet in terms of raw power and sound quality. Add to that the ability to have HDMI switching and you have nothing to complain about.

If you wanted a high quality video section, then this receiver would cost several hundred more. Think of it as an much improved 2500 with better Dacs, better amp section and now the ability to have HDMI switching and it suddenly becomes a hell of a deal. I have had mine for several months now and it is absolutely the best receiver I have ever had and the amp section blows away several separates I have owned in the past. This is a great receiver, maybe the best one right now in this price range.

There really is a misconception going on here. First of all, we're talking about a receiver. The very fact that this review even has an HQV test section is profound.

And as has already been said here, the key is that the HQV score is only affecting a 480i input signal... how many of you plan on doing that? If you are sending is progressive input, then you have an excellent scaler (in my opinion) for basically free and you are free to make some choices as to how the RX-V2600 handles the inputted video signals.

This is good stuff, guys, don't read too far into the HQV scores that you miss the forest for the trees.

Hi Clint,
Sorry to bring up the 1080p stuff, but I want to get my facts straight before I talk to Yammi here in Oz (they told me it would prior to buying).

1) What happens when you feed the Yammi a 1080p signal over HDMI, do you get anything at from the HDMI out port, any error message, or nothing at all?

2) Was it Yammi US that confirmed that 1080p over HDMI is a hardware limitation and can not be upgraded.

Thanks
Nathan

jeffsg4mac said:

This is a great receiver, maybe the best one right now in this price range.

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Jeffsg4mac - I just bought the Denon 3806 and am testing it out. It was a tough decision, one I am not so sure of. Have you had a chance to listen to this reciever, and if so how would you compare it to the 2600? Thanks - Will

will873 said:

Jeffsg4mac - I just bought the Denon 3806 and am testing it out. It was a tough decision, one I am not so sure of. Have you had a chance to listen to this reciever, and if so how would you compare it to the 2600? Thanks - Will

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It's a tough choice, I had to make the same choice. For me the clincher was a several things, 2600 decodes DVD Audio via HDMI, HDMI switching/scaling, Front presence channels with dialog lift, and here is the big one, manual overrides of the parametric EQ not just the graphic. The 3806 has some features that the 2600 does not, such as, selectable rear speakers, HDCD, Denon link and SACD ready, and the more accurate Audessy setup. You will have to decide what features that are important to you They are both great sounding and well built pieces of gear. They are very close in power and you probably would never hear any differences in sound. It really all comes down to features.

jmone said:

1) What happens when you feed the Yammi a 1080p signal over HDMI, do you get anything at from the HDMI out port, any error message, or nothing at all?

2) Was it Yammi US that confirmed that 1080p over HDMI is a hardware limitation and can not be upgraded.

Click to expand...

1080p over HDMI is supported by the HDMI spec, but needs to be enabled and implemented by the hardware manufacturer. Now that I have a 1080p display and source in house I'll test this. My current understanding is that the Yamaha RX-V2600 will not pass 1080p, but I will verify this week.

im glad i posted my comments and got the feedback i did.
The video part wasnt my major conscern the audio was and you just didnt seen EXCITED in the review as with other reviews of yours that i read.

I should have a 2600 in the next week.
thanks for yoru comments and review

jeffsg4mac said:

It's a tough choice, I had to make the same choice. For me the clincher was a several things, 2600 decodes DVD Audio via HDMI, HDMI switching/scaling, Front presence channels with dialog lift, and here is the big one, manual overrides of the parametric EQ not just the graphic. The 3806 has some features that the 2600 does not, such as, selectable rear speakers, HDCD, Denon link and SACD ready, and the more accurate Audessy setup. You will have to decide what features that are important to you They are both great sounding and well built pieces of gear. They are very close in power and you probably would never hear any differences in sound. It really all comes down to features.

Click to expand...

was a great review, i enjoyed reading it. i am in a similar position choosing between the 2600 and the 3805 which right now is in the same price bracket. in australia the 3806 is over $1000 more than the yammy so i haven;t considered it at all. is it really in the same price category over there ? is it worth the extra money iyo ?

one thing that id like your feedback on...the denon 3805 seemed to drive boston VR-3 speakers better at volume...is there a reason for that or was it just my imagination ??