Yamaha RX-A2080 vs Yamaha RX-V2085

[adam_rostron90]

Hi Everyone,
I have been following this forum for a while but haven't posted before.
My current AV receiver is 10/11 years old and is a very basic Yamaha RX-V463.
There is the age old argument.. If it isn't broken don't fix it..but.........
Well the receiver still works just like the day I got it but It's time for an update and I am in a better position financially than I was 10 years ago so I have a bit more of a budget

My speakres are Dali Ikon 6 floor standers and the Ikon series of bookshelfs and centre speaker. I don't have a sub but pretty sure I'm going to purchase a Yamaha NS-SW300.

As the title states, I am lost regarding the two receivers. My current receiver has lasted me this long so I want to stick with the brand.
The Yamaha Aventage RX-A2080 and the Yamaha RX-V2085 are the two I'm trying to decide against.
Here in Australia there is a $300 price difference and not a lot of information available locally or from what I can find online to tell me what really is the difference between the two.
I'm hoping someone can shed some light on the two products for me, because as far as I can tell the only difference is the Aventage has the middle leg?
They have the same Dacs, Same 2Channel Power rating, same features, the back panels are identical, the front looks the same except one says "aventage" and the has "cinema dsp".

Does anyone have direct experience between the two and can help me make a choice? At this stage I don't know why I'm paying $300 more for the Aventage product???

Thank you in advance!

 

[TechHDS]

The two look identical and seem to have the same feature sets. I just got off of Yamaha’s website I can’t find anything difference between the two. Umm I’m sure one of the old timers will jump in and help you out, I’m sure Gene could answer this, but he stays bowed up most of the time with reviews and testing but has been known to pop in once In a while. PENG, TLS and a few other are very knowledgeable with tons of experience surly can answer this.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It is confusing. The Yamaha Avantage models are supposed to be for the "professional custom installation" crowd with more tweaking abilities and better build quality (flagship),whereas the RX-V series are supposed to be a "step down" and aimed toward the "consumer home" crowd.

Without knowing all the individual parts, it's difficult to see why the Avantage is supposed to have better build quality and craftsmanship.

For 1 thing, the V series has 2YR warranty, while the A-series has 3YR warranty.

 

[PENG]

It is confusing. The Yamaha Avantage models are supposed to be for the "professional custom installation" crowd with more tweaking abilities and better build quality (flagship), whereas the RX-V series are supposed to be a "step down" and aimed toward the "consumer home" crowd.

Without knowing all the individual parts, it's difficult to see why the Avantage is supposed to have better build quality and craftsmanship.

I have only owned one RX-V, namely the 659, a very nicely built unit. There are lots of dealer bs about how the Advantage supposedly are better built with better components/parts. @M Code may disagree, otherwise afaic, the comparable ones such as the RX-V2085 and RX-A2080 are almost identical twins. They needed more money for the Advantage dealers to provide better support and a longer warranty (3 vs 2 years if iirc).

 

[PENG]

The two look identical and seem to have the same feature sets. I just got off of Yamaha’s website I can’t find anything difference between the two. Umm I’m sure one of the old timers will jump in and help you out, I’m sure Gene could answer this, but he stays bowed up most of the time with reviews and testing but has been known to pop in once In a while. PENG, TLS and a few other are very knowledgeable with tons of experience surly can answer this.

Actually M code may have the last say on this, though if he said the A2080 used better parts and components (electronic parts that is..) I would then most likely disagree with him in advance.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, @M Code probably knows a bit more detail, but on the surface, the V and A series look almost like twins (except for 1 less YR of warranty and 1 less anti-vibration foot ).

RX-V2085 $1400
RX-A2080 $1600

 

[TechHDS]

Actually M code may have the last say on this, though if he said the A2080 used better parts and components (electronic parts that is..) I would then most likely disagree with him in advance.

Yep, “M code” is pretty suave for sure.

Mike

 

[TechHDS]

I just went back to Yamaha’s site again went over specs, build, anesthetics the two A2080/V2085 even weigh the same. Like ADTG posted price seems to be the only difference.

Mike

 

[M Code]

The 2080 & 2085 are basically the same product, I find no difference for their respective internals....
So I checked with my Yamaha contact and she advised the differences were the model #s' & longer warranty for the 2080. The 2080 is for their installer/specialist channels and the 2085 is for the big-box and internet sellers. Yamaha like the other surviving AVR brands was under pressure from the mass market to offer a step-up AVR...
As now they want to go upmarket..

Just my $0.02....

 

[Andrein]

Interesting. There is no 3085 model, but there is 3083, which probably one more step down comparing to 85 series.

 

[PENG]

Interesting. There is no 3085 model, but there is 3083, which probably one more step down comparing to 85 series.

Like M Code said, they wanted to go upmarket..

 

[TechHDS]

The 2080 & 2085 are basically the same product, I find no difference for their respective internals....
So I checked with my Yamaha contact and she advised the differences were the model #s' & longer warranty for the 2080. The 2080 is for their installer/specialist channels and the 2085 is for the big-box and internet sellers. Yamaha like the other surviving AVR brands was under pressure from the mass market to offer a step-up AVR...
As now they want to go upmarket..

Just my $0.02....

Hey M Code, back in the day 70’s I use to race my muscle cars in the 70s, State Capitol Dragway and Houston Dragway. Man that was the good old days! Fast cars, hot women and ice cold brews!

Mike

 

[Andrein]

2085 is not available in UK. 685 iss the top of V series and it is 7.2 whereas 2085 is 9.2

 

[M Code]

As posted previously...
Yamaha like other CE audio/video brands needs to generate sales $ to survive..
But the audio/video specialist needs to have products not blasted everywhere by warehouse clubs, big-box and internet sellers....
So they take a basic model in their lineup revise minor ID changes, extends the warranty period...

IMHO..
The masters of this strategy are the HD flat panel display brands such as Samsung, LG, Visio..
Now each marketing channel has their own product an unique model but inside behind the panel are common parts/tooling.
Note that the sales generated by the warehouse clubs, big-box and internet sellers can typically be 5 or 7X higher in unit sales volume greater than the audio/video specialist....
And this unit volume is crucial..
To get the lowest pricing for internal component parts plus running the product line @ high efficiencies.

Just my $0.02...

 

[M Code]

Actually M code may have the last say on this, though if he said the A2080 used better parts and components (electronic parts that is..) I would then most likely disagree with him in advance.

 

[M Code]

Hey M Code, back in the day 70’s I use to race my muscle cars in the 70s, State Capitol Dragway and Houston Dragway. Man that was the good old days! Fast cars, hot women and ice cold brews!

Mike

Mike..
We have a stable of Mopar muscle cars... Some for show, some racing.. Been doing it for >40 years.. Still enjoy hitting the weekend shows, races, cruises in SoCal..


Just my $0.02...

 

[TechHDS]

Mike..
We have a stable of Mopar muscle cars... Some for show, some racing.. Been doing it for >40 years.. Still enjoy hitting the weekend shows, races, cruises in SoCal..


Just my $0.02...

M Code, very sweet man, nothing like it!

Mike

 

[3db]

The 2080 & 2085 are basically the same product, I find no difference for their respective internals....
So I checked with my Yamaha contact and she advised the differences were the model #s' & longer warranty for the 2080. The 2080 is for their installer/specialist channels and the 2085 is for the big-box and internet sellers. Yamaha like the other surviving AVR brands was under pressure from the mass market to offer a step-up AVR...
As now they want to go upmarket..

Just my $0.02....

Yamaha has done this upmarket thing before. My 2 AVRs, the RX-V1800 and RX-V1900 were the upmarket models to the HTR-6080 and HTR-6090. I remember when Yamaha had all three series out for a couple of years, HTR, RX-V, and A series. Maybe they were in a transition phase at that time. Either way, one got very solid products when one got near the top of the series chain.

 

[adam_rostron90]

Hey Guys,

Thank you for all the positive feedback.
I ended up purchasing the RX-V2085 through Harvey Norman. I got it for a $2089 including a 4 year product replacement warranty. The RX-A2080 Best price I could find was $2399...
I will let you know how it goes when I finally get the product here and get to test it

 

[Boxhead]

Hey Guys,

Thank you for all the positive feedback.
I ended up purchasing the RX-V2085 through Harvey Norman. I got it for a $2089 including a 4 year product replacement warranty. The RX-A2080 Best price I could find was $2399...
I will let you know how it goes when I finally get the product here and get to test it

Hi

I'm looking at purchasing the yamaha rx-v2085 as well. Can you tell me what you think about it. How would you rate it out of 10 and what's the bad?