RX-V2600 Audioholics Review?

hopjohn said:

The sources are a VCR @ 480i w/ composite, DVD player @ 480p w/ component, XBox @ 480p-1080i (game dependent) w/ component.

jeff if it isn't too much trouble could you try duplicating one of these types of connections without using any HDMI inputs and see if you can access HDMI upscale and use 720p to your display. Also it would be helpful if you could tell me what the menu setting signal info > video is saying with the above connection made.

I'd appreciate it.

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Sorry Hop, I did not see your post until today. Yes this weekend I will play around with it and see what I come up with.

hopjohn

I am using the 2600 with my Xbox 360. The 360 is set to output at 720p over component. With DVDs, the 360 outputs 480p and the 2600 is upscaling them to 720p and outputing it on to my tv over HDMI. I also hooked up a 480i source this morning (regular Xbox) and the 2600 upscaled that to 720p without a problem. I hope this answers your question. You can go to the "Signal Info" dialog on the 2600 and hit the right cursor and it will show you the signal input and output information so you can verify the upscale is being performed by the 2600.

from the creators of the 2600!

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/dsp/rx-v2600doc/index.html

Mike, that was cool. I knew the 2600 was different from the very first moment I turned it on. It was instantly apparent that it sounded better than the 2500 I traded up for it. That is interesting about the power supply being one bigger than on the 4600 too.

why did you decide on upgrading from a 2500 to a 2600? (being so close in model)

mike c said:

why did you decide on upgrading from a 2500 to a 2600? (being so close in model)

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Couple of reasons, I wanted HDMI switching, I wanted to be able to apply PEQ and sound THX to DVD-Audio, and although the 2500 sounded good, I knew it could be better. And lastly, cause it only cost me 299 to do so since I only owned the 2500 for about 4 months, Tweeters has a trade up policy and I got my full 999 back on the 2500

hopjohn said:

Are you able to upscale a 480i or 480p source to 720p or 1080i with the RX-V2600 when using a dvi input on your display?

My "HDMI up-scaling" options are grayed in the Yamaha's GUI, and I can only get a 480p signal sent out of the 2600.

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OK, I finally had some time to look at this. I am able to receive 720p (and have the upscale options) with a Westinghouse 42" LCD via DVI-D. This is with a 480i source.

Keep in mind that you CANNOT upconvert/scale anything other than a 480i/480p input. So if your source component was sending out 720p or 1080i (like an HD cable box) the upconversion options would be greyed out (though the display should still register the HD pass-through signal). In either case the Yamaha RX-V2600 does not seem to have a problem going from HDMI to DVI-D in my system.

And the RX-V2600 does not handle 1080p input.

jeffsg4mac said:

Couple of reasons, I wanted HDMI switching, I wanted to be able to apply PEQ and sound THX to DVD-Audio, and although the 2500 sounded good, I knew it could be better. And lastly, cause it only cost me 299 to do so since I only owned the 2500 for about 4 months, Tweeters has a trade up policy and I got my full 999 back on the 2500

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lucky you!

Clint DeBoer said:

And the RX-V2600 does not handle 1080p input.

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Thank you for confirming this.

What about sound quality?

All,
The Audioholics' review on RX-V2600 does not compare sound quality against its predecessor - 2500.

There have been a few posts in this forum saying that 2600 sounds better because of the upgraded Burr-Brown DACs. Wouldn't it be nice if this can be confirmed by Audioholics too?

Thanks

I believe my review discussed its sound quality.

We don't have both units to compare and so I don't feel that our mere "recollection" of a product we had last year would be sufficient.

I know there are some reviewers out there with seemingly bionic brains who can compare the most miniscule of differences between products simply from memory... heck, some can even do it just by putting their ear against the cardboard packaging... but we can't seem to perform those ethical acrobatics.

mike c said:

from the creators of the 2600!

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/av/products/dsp/rx-v2600doc/index.html

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Nice Read! Thanks for the link!

Yamaha RXV-2600

Okay people I am new to this site and have read everything on the Yamaha RXV-2600 (I Think). I have made up my mind to purchase one but I am wondering if anyone has had any warranty problems or issues by not buying from an authorized dealer? I understand from Yamaha's web site that they will not honor any warranty unless the receiver is purchased from an authorized dealer. If any one has purchased one from other than an authorized dealer did you also purchase an extended warranty. I have found that I can save between $400.00 and $500.00 from purchasing from a so called unauthorized dealer with a 3 year extended warranty. I really do not think a person would ever have warranty problems but you never know, my current receiver a Sony has never had a problem and is going on 8 years. Any input on this subject will be appreciated. Thanks.

Rick

rgriffin25 said:

Nice Read! Thanks for the link!

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welcome! they changed so much yet I feel most of those don't affect me
I would have wanted to hear ... "we changed the amp section and installed capacitors the size of D size batteries"

but still pretty good.

hopjohn said:

mjharris: Maybe I should rephrase the question since I can't be certain the way you phrased your response that we are talking about the same thing. Are you able to upscale a 480i or 480p source to 720p or 1080i with the RX-V2600 when using a dvi input on your display?

My "HDMI up-scaling" options are grayed in the Yamaha's GUI, and I can only get a 480p signal sent out of the 2600.

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I am still getting nowhere upscaling an analog 480p signal to HDMI into a DVI input display. I am about to give up and buy an Oppo for my HD needs.

This was an email from Yamaha UK which I referenced from UK AV Forum.

Dear Mr
The reason the different resolutions are greyed out is due to the fact that
the EDID from your projectors DVI socket is not allowing the RXV2600 to
apply further scaling and saying that is does not support these
resolutions. It the EDID data does not say the resolutions are supported
then the HDMI repeater assumes that it can not support that resolution. In
some cases, this data has been omitted from the EDID and to overcome this,
we are looking at a firmware upgrade to offer to consumers who require
although this is not quite completed. Once available, you will need to
contact your dealer or a service centre to have this installed. This will
allow the amp to "ignore" the communication from the projector and apply
levels of scaling which the projector is not saying it will allow. Please
be aware that this could result in the image being incorrectly displayed as
the amp will now be able to display any resolution even though the
projector is not saying it can support this. Also, the upgrade is
irreversible.

I would envisage that this upgrade will be available in around 3 or 4 weeks
time.

Regards

That makes sense. Its nice they are offering that update.

Clint DeBoer said:

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.

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Hi Clint, sorry to sound like your wife, but the "i will verify this week" is now a month ago.....

hi

the firmware is apparently available for 2600 to enable upscaling via HDMI for DVI display in the UK as read from AVForums. This is to resolve the inability of 2600 to recongnise that a DVI display is able to display more than 480p.

Is there any news from USA Yamaha? I am from HK.

Thanks

DexS said:

hi

the firmware is apparently available for 2600 to enable upscaling via HDMI for DVI display in the UK as read from AVForums. This is to resolve the inability of 2600 to recongnise that a DVI display is able to display more than 480p.

Is there any news from USA Yamaha? I am from HK.

Thanks

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About this upgrade - can I install it or do I need to send my unit for upgradesomewhere? (If I can install it - is it available for download?)

Also is there any complete list of improvements&/chnages the new software will bring?

I contacted Yamaha regarding this issue and their technical support said that the RX-V2600 upscaling (not to be confused with upconverting) does not work with DVI, the options should be grayed out when connected in this manner. That's their official stance. He also said that there has not been a firmware release, and could not confirm whether or not one was in the works. Keep in mind that even if the UK has a firmware update available it wouldn't necessarily be a compatible fix with U.S. units since the UK uses PAL.

Now, obviously Clint's Westinghouse LCD worked, but might that be because it also has an HDMI input, which could make it more inclined to have the correct EDID information, or somehow else more capable of communicating with the 2600. I don't know for sure, but I do know that I'm not the only one having this problem.

If and when an update is available it would only be offered through an authorized Yamaha service center only, and don't expect Yamaha to let you know by way of an announcement. It's something you'll have to ask them about.