i highly suspect the RX-Z9 replacement will be announced before too long. i have been very persistent in trying to track down a RX-Z9 in Atlanta, a very big city obviously, and have had zero luck. i called the high tech network inc, the yamaha distributor for this area. yamaha told me they would be only ones who could give me info on the availability of the RX-Z9. well, that distributor had no information on how i could find that model. my gut tells me that if i can't find that item in a city like atlanta, then it is either about to be replaced or totally discontinued. since i believe that yamaha will still offer a flagship receiver, my thinking is that a new model can't be far off, especially since denon's flagship already has HDMI and the RX-Z9 does not.
i think gene mentioned in the other thread that a yamaha person told him on the cruise that there was no info on a replacement (i can't recall exaclty what he was told, but it was indicated that there was no replacement on the immediate horizon). however, manufacturers are required to be very secretive until announcements are ready to be made. it's a competitive business.
bottom line - i can't offer any specific info that would confirm the RX-Z9 replacement is on the horizon. however, my detailed searching and talking to various people has allowed me to put together a mosaic of information that leads me to believe the RX-Z9 is on the way out in preparation for a replacement.
