Gauntlet Thrown: Yamaha RX V663. HDMI 1.3, Dolby True HD, DTS Master, $549.99.

[Seth=L]

nice to have the power on tap when needed.

Yes, very much so. While the RX-V661 is a great receiver it was disappointing to see they put a less powerful amplifier in it. The RX-V659 is a monster for the price, and I expect the RX-V663 will be very similar, if not the same, in this regard. The picture could be a of prototype, hopefully they want revert back to the smaller amplifier. The only think I see that they should have done to be a cut above the competition, would have been to fill that empty space with another HDMI port.

The fact it has preouts makes it killer anyway.

 

[Seth=L]

Ok, this drives me insane. Just like the Onkyo TX-SR805 and TX-SR875, the differences between the RX-V663 and RX-V863 are very little. The RX-V863 adds some Bluetooth features and a scaler, neither of which the average consumer needs or will use. They both weigh exactly 26.2 pounds and have the same volt amp ratings, indicating heavily that they are using the same basic proponents for operation, meaning, same cabinet, same power supply, same heat sink, same circuit boards, ...etc.

The price difference

RX-V663 - MSRP 549.95

RX-V863 - MSRP 999.95

You would have to be nuts to buy the RX-V863 if you knew what they where really packing. They have completely different power output specifications, which is either misleading or they are limiting the output of the lower model through firmware more than likely. I find the latter unlikely and they probably will exibit similar power ratings in a real world bench test.

 

[mike c]

the 863 has a 3rd HDMI input
but agree the price difference is crazy.

 

[Sheep]

It's a shame it's ugly as sin... It most likely will be my upgrade when ever I get around to it.

SheepStar

 

[Sesquipedalian]

According to the Yamaha site the 863 will do HD Radio if anyone cares about that.

http://yamaha.com/yec/compare/Detail.html?compitem1=567570&compitem2=558291&compitem3=567571&CTID=5000200&VNM=WORKING&B_compare.x=25&B_compare.y=2&comp_items=567571&comp_items=567570&comp_items=558291

 

[3db]

I'm disappointed with this new model. It doesn't have a phono stage anymore. The one thing they kept thru most of their models even at a time when Vinyl was surely dead and now thats its howing life of coming back a bit, Yamaha decides to drop the "phono" stage. I don't get it.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm disappointed with this new model. It doesn't have a phono stage anymore. The one thing they kept thru most of their models even at a time when Vinyl was surely dead and now thats its howing life of coming back a bit, Yamaha decides to drop the "phono" stage. I don't get it.

The probably figure it isn't a big selling point for most potential buyers. Better they drop that than preouts IMO. You can always get an in-line or separate phono preamp, allowing you to use the Yamaha with a record player.

 

[Audioholics]

I'm disappointed with this new model. It doesn't have a phono stage anymore. The one thing they kept thru most of their models even at a time when Vinyl was surely dead and now thats its howing life of coming back a bit, Yamaha decides to drop the "phono" stage. I don't get it.

It's mostly because 99% of people don't use it, and the 1% that do typically opt for a nicer external phono preamp. Makes perfect sense to me. Next up I hope they start dropping more composite and s-video inputs on higher-up models.

 

[3db]

The probably figure it isn't a big selling point for most potential buyers. Better they drop that than preouts IMO. You can always get an in-line or separate phono preamp, allowing you to use the Yamaha with a record player.

Thats just it. Its the timing of if it all. Vinyl is making a resurgance but I don't know how big or how long it will last. Oh well, Just gotta find another outlet to plug in the pre-amp .

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...I wonder what it can do with the dual mono subwoofer pre-outs?

Dual subwoofer pre-outs is pretty much unheard of even in mid-fi receivers let alone entry level.

Can't you just buy one high quality $15 Y-Cable (1-M, 2-F) from Blue Jeans Cable and turn any single subwoofer output to 2?

Can't you just buy 3 high quality JBC Y-cables for $45 and turn any single SUB output into 4?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

It's a shame it's ugly as sin... It most likely will be my upgrade when ever I get around to it.

SheepStar

You would still buy it even though you think it looks ugly?

I know performance is priority number one, but I still have to look at my components everyday and if I think they look ugly, I just couldn't take.

 

[mike c]

Can't you just buy one high quality $15 Y-Cable (1-M, 2-F) from Blue Jeans Cable and turn any single subwoofer output to 2?

Can't you just buy 3 high quality JBC Y-cables for $45 and turn any single SUB output into 4?

depends if the receiver simply splits the subwoofer output. but if the receiver adds at least separate distance settings for each sub, that would be a great big help.

 

[patnshan]

This will kill tke 605, given that it can do matrix PLIIx over HDMI audio. That's why I got the 661 instead, which I love. If this is just the 661 with the extra features listed, it will be an amazing receiver! I would however consider the new marantz as well for similar pricing and features.

Yamaha vs. Marantz with same features and same price= I choose marantz.

Pat

 

[patnshan]

It's mostly because 99% of people don't use it, and the 1% that do typically opt for a nicer external phono preamp. Makes perfect sense to me. Next up I hope they start dropping more composite and s-video inputs on higher-up models.

I agree. They stopped including LD and cassette inputs on a lot of these awhile back too

FWIW, I have a buddy who is totally still into vinyl too and I continue to harrass him too!

Pat

 

[Seth=L]

I don't think a phono input is much to fret about with a $550 receiver that seems to have just about everything you could ask for.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Yamaha vs. Marantz with same features and same price= I choose marantz.

Pat

What are you talking about? What Marantz has True HD and DTS MA and street at $500?

 

[patnshan]

What are you talking about? What Marantz has True HD and DTS MA and street at $500?

My bad, I thought the 5002 did it.

Pat

 

[thisonekidmongo]

Amazing. It always bugged me that receivers in this price range are lacking pre-outs. To get pre-outs on Onkyos or Denons you have to spend hundreds more for the higher-end model, and when you do that you're getting a better internal amp as part of the package anyway, which seems redundant.

Are pre-outs really that hard/expensive to add to a receiver? Well, looks like Yamaha found a way. That plus HDMI video upconversion, and the ridiculous second subwoofer input...this should kill the Onkyo 605, and I'll be interested to see how it matches up against the upcoming budget Pioneers.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Are pre-outs really that hard/expensive to add to a receiver?

Not at all, it's a business decision, forcing people to buy higher end models. It's the same reason why Pioneer stopped the Drop down door on the 1016, 1017, and 1018. The 1015 was immensely popular, cutting into sales of the Elite line.

Think about it, if a smaller company like Onkyo wa able to put DTS MA and True HD decoders on the inexpensive 605 and still profit from it, why didn't Denon put them on the 1908 or the 2308? Anyone who has heard the 1908/788 knows how good it sounds. I bought one and had to return it because I "mis-remembered" that it didn't have preouts for my NAD 216. They make more money on the 2808, 3808 etc... The store profit margin may not be much higher, but you can bet it is for the manufacturer.

 

[tomd51]

From what I've seen in the past, Denon and HK typically only have their lowest entry level receiver w/out pre-outs. Onkyo and Yamaha have a few, not sure of Pioneer's entry level lineups.

I imagine it is a cost issue, but IMO, it's an absolute necessity. It's the one option that can keep a receiver from complete obsolescence... -TD