Yamaha RX-A1000 Aventage Receiver First Look

[MichaelJHuman]

Interesting

After the dissapointing recent models, I have to admit I am pretty interested in these new models (but not in the market, as I bought a Z7 a year ago.)

Someone asked about something like Dolby Volume. I have not found anything in the manual that's equivalent, which is a dumb omission by Yamaha, IMO. It's an important bullet point for some shoppers, and they are still missing it. They do have DRC, which only works with bitstream, according to the manual.

 

[GlocksRock]

I would be very interested in a receiver that could do at least 9.1 with PLIIz and not make me have to choose between the surround backs or front height speakers, even if I do have to have an external amp of some sort. The new Yamaha RX-A series doesn't use PLIIz, it uses it's own Cinema DSP's to create the front presence channels, which I don't care for, I think they should give you the option for PLIIz instead, this alone would keep me from buying one of these receivers.

 

[3db]

I would be very interested in a receiver that could do at least 9.1 with PLIIz and not make me have to choose between the surround backs or front height speakers, even if I do have to have an external amp of some sort. The new Yamaha RX-A series doesn't use PLIIz, it uses it's own Cinema DSP's to create the front presence channels, which I don't care for, I think they should give you the option for PLIIz instead, this alone would keep me from buying one of these receivers.

Have you heard Yamahas' own implementation of PLIIz? I'm just curious to see if it is that noticeably different.

 

[GlocksRock]

Yamaha has presence speakers instead of front height, which only work when you use the Cinema DSP modes, which add their own effects/alterations to the audio, and since I prefer regular unaltered dolby or dts audio, I choose not to use the Cinema DSP modes, not to mention I prefer surround back to front presence/height speakers, but I would like to use both at the same time. My friend has a RX-V1900 and he uses presence speakers, but I don't think he has everything set up properly so I can't judge it fairly. I have also not heard PLIIz, I do have PLIIz in my Denon AVR-1910 but it will only allow you to use either surround back or front height, but that is a limitation of the receiver, not a limitation of PLIIz. But the room that I have the AVR-1910 in is used mainly for 2 ch. music, and not watching video, although I do have my old BP1.2x setup as surrounds, so I can not really evaluate the height channels and how much of a difference it makes.

 

[3db]

Yamaha has presence speakers instead of front height, which only work when you use the Cinema DSP modes, which add their own effects/alterations to the audio, and since I prefer regular unaltered dolby or dts audio, I choose not to use the Cinema DSP modes, not to mention I prefer surround back to front presence/height speakers, but I would like to use both at the same time. My friend has a RX-V1900 and he uses presence speakers, but I don't think he has everything set up properly so I can't judge it fairly. I have also not heard PLIIz, I do have PLIIz in my Denon AVR-1910 but it will only allow you to use either surround back or front height, but that is a limitation of the receiver, not a limitation of PLIIz. But the room that I have the AVR-1910 in is used mainly for 2 ch. music, and not watching video, although I do have my old BP1.2x setup as surrounds, so I can not really evaluate the height channels and how much of a difference it makes.

I'd like to take the time out of my hetic life and here the differences just to see how much they add to the listening enjoyment. If I do find it worth while, I will then need to come up with a solid excuse that would include buy-in from my better half. That would be my biggest hurdle.

 

[AH Store Admin1]

shipping dates

FYI

the RX-A700 will begin shipping Tuesday 8/10

the RX-A800 is in stock today!

the RX-A1000 will be shipping this month, and the RX-A2000 and RX-A3000 are due in September

as usual, you can be the first to get your hands on one if you buy from the Audioholics Store!

 

[caper26]

so PL-IIz is like what PL-IIx does for surround back, except for front heights?

 

[GlocksRock]

so PL-IIz is like what PL-IIx does for surround back, except for front heights?

Yes, but it also does surround backs as well as height.

 

[tom67]

The A700 just another whimpy 23 lb "also ran" for $600....obviously the new line designed to scare up the price and avoid big discounts a little longer in the sales cycle simply because some buyers will be confused and assume this is something better....same reason cereal makers change their box design every so often when same crap inside..

 

[Hi Ho]

Does anyone know if Yammy offers Dolby Volume or a similar feature to save me from the commercial volume shock syndrome?

Regards,

Chris

Yamaha calls it "Adaptive DRC". It does essentially the same thing as Dolby Volume.

The new Yamaha models are very impressive. I too was quite disappointed with the changes they made last year and I am happy to see them revamp their higher end models without making scrifices in quality.

The A3000 is the first new model I have seen that would even make me consider upgrading from my RX-V2700.

 

[Pyrrho]

Looking at the manual for the RX-A1000, it looks like the crossover setting is global.

May be different on the higher end models, but at least from the RX-A1000 down, it's likely the same... -TD

For an ideal setup, that does not matter, as one will use identical speakers in all positions (other than the subwoofer(s) obviously). You will not get perfect "voice matching" if you do anything else (just look at frequency response graphs of different but supposedly "voice matched" speakers and you will see that they are generally [probably always] not identical performers, even in the midrange). Of course, most people have far from ideal setups, so it would be good if this receiver did allow for different settings for different channels. But for me personally, that would not make any difference, as I am using identical speakers all around (other than the subwoofers obviously), and I will never go back to having different speakers in different channels.

Anyway, this sounds like a nice receiver, and it almost makes me wish I were in the market for a new one. But my Yamaha RX-V2700 does everything I need it to do, and I doubt I will be needing any new features or improvements any time soon. I personally think the new 3-D is just a passing fad, though time will tell.

 

[rgriffin25]

What about hdbaset that is supposed to be out later this year / early next year? I was hoping yamaha would do a refresh in November adding this functionality. I really like the idea of 7 HDMI inputs, but how long will that matter? Or am I silly to think this new technology will catch on any time soon?

 

[Audioholics]

What about hdbaset that is supposed to be out later this year / early next year? I was hoping yamaha would do a refresh in November adding this functionality. I really like the idea of 7 HDMI inputs, but how long will that matter? Or am I silly to think this new technology will catch on any time soon?

Because HDBaseT isn't taking on HDMI directly, I think you have quite a bit of time before it becomes the norm. They seem to have backed off since the initial overexuberance of their debut and are not acting as if they will be somewhat subservient to HDMI. Bottom line is I'd issue a "buy now" advisory...

 

[GlocksRock]

Because HDBaseT isn't taking on HDMI directly, I think you have quite a bit of time before it becomes the norm. They seem to have backed off since the initial overexuberance of their debut and are not acting as if they will be somewhat subservient to HDMI. Bottom line is I'd issue a "buy now" advisory...

That is very unfortuante too... I heard your rant about it on the AV Rant podcast, too bad they were being so misleading, I like what HDBaseT has to offer. I like some of the features on the new Yamahas, but I don't care for the way they look, I like the look of their older models better.

 

[3db]

That is very unfortuante too... I heard your rant about it on the AV Rant podcast, too bad they were being so misleading, I like what HDBaseT has to offer. I like some of the features on the new Yamahas, but I don't care for the way they look, I like the look of their older models better.

Bring back the "ORANGE"

 

[jinjuku]

One more Tidbit

So Yamaha has an ad out talking about the smallest of details on sonic improvements:

The Lowly Fuse.

 

[Buckster]

thats a wind-up surely ?

if they've gone down to that much detail - I assume they've also choosen the best op-amps in both the DAC section and pre-out section then

 

[Herr Eickhorn]

Anyone got a RX-A1000 yet? Lets hear about it!

 

[techenvy]

nice

im not sure about the a1000 but i thinkt he a3000 is literally the first a/v receiver i have found that has toslink output!!!!!

i wish i new this years ago as i have alot of gear that could have used this

 

[M Code]

Yamaha calls it "Adaptive DRC". It does essentially the same thing as Dolby Volume.

Not exactly..
Yamaha's DRC does control dynamic range but is less advanced than Dolby Volume. Dolby Volume does a far superior job especially for a loss-less stream such as DTS MA for late-nite watching. Dolby Volume actually has 2 parts, 1st part is the leveler and the 2nd is the modeler for frequency contouring.

Just my $0.02...