My first AVR - a used Yamaha

[mjcmt]

I purchase a used '06 Yamaha RX-V659 (100w x 7) for pretty cheap. It sounds better than I expected, and I'm really enjoying it. It was missing the 'optimizer mic' so I set it up using the manual settings. I'm learning the different Codecs and settings. It seems like there is more than I need coming from a 2 channel stereo background.

I'm only using 3.0 with DIY 'SEAS Froy3' (L/R), Vienna Acoustic Theatro (center) also bought used. I have some JBL Control 1 mini-monitors I can use for the rear but haven't hooked them up because I'm looking for some flat 4 conductor speaker cable to keep our open space looking nice and clean. And a sub will have to wait for another time.

I'm enjoying the virtues of multichannel so much, that my 2 channel system is up for sale locally. I am willing to spend a small part of the proceeds from its sale to complete this budget HT rig, and the rest goes to our mortgage.

 

[Adam]

Congrats on the new gear! You wouldn't happen to have any friends with a Yamaha that would let you borrow the mic, would you?

As for four-conductor flat wire, I bought some Gecko Cable and am happy with it, but I think that the company is no longer. Taperwire looks just like it to me, though.

 

[mjcmt]

Borrowing the mic is a good idea, but I don't know anyone with a Yamaha. One may show up somewhere.
I think I would like some speaker cable along the lines of the Rega FSC Quattro, so I can secure it to the baseboards with clear push pins for easy removal with decor changes.
Rega cables and interconnects

 

[Adam]

If your looking for white cable to run along baseboards, you might want to check out this Monster Cable spool from Amazon. It's only two-conductor, but you get 500 feet for $80 (at the current price). My buddy just bought some this week and seems pleased with it, but he said it's not as thin as listed (which is under 0.6mm). He wasn't sure how thick it was, but from his description, it seemed around 2mm to me.

 

[XEagleDriver]

PM sent with potential solution depending on geography.

Cheers,
XEagleDriver

 

[mjcmt]

PM sent with potential solution depending on geography.

Cheers,
XEagleDriver

I got your PM and replied.

 

[mjcmt]

I probably should list the rest of the system and how I have it configured:

Denon DVD1930ci ('06) universal player > TV via HDMI for video.
Denon DVD1930ci > AVR via coaxial digital (pre HDMI) for sound.
Sony 46" Bravia LCD > AVR via optical cable for TV sound (for free over-the-air HDTV, no cable or satellite TV).

Basic but effective.

 

[timoteo]

YPAO Mic!!

Mike:

I have an older Yamaha YPAO mic that doesnt work with my RXA2000 (plus i have the new mic that does work). A friend that knows im into home theater found it & gave it to me thinking i could use it. Its been setting in a drawer for a year now. Id be more than happy to send it to you to try it out & keep if you like? I have no use for it & would much rather it go to someone who could. Let me know!! Either respond on this thread or PM me.

 

[mjcmt]

Mike:

I have an older Yamaha YPAO mic that doesnt work with my RXA2000 (plus i have the new mic that does work). A friend that knows im into home theater found it & gave it to me thinking i could use it. Its been setting in a drawer for a year now. Id be more than happy to send it to you to try it out & keep if you like? I have no use for it & would much rather it go to someone who could. Let me know!! Either respond on this thread or PM me.

timoteo,
That would be very cool indeed. I would be willing to put it to good use. Thanks too much. (I will try to send a PM. Sometimes I can't seem to make those things work but I'll try. Let me know by replying back.)

 

[timoteo]

Thanks for the PM Mike, ill dig that mic up & send itto the address you gave me! I hope it works for ya! To be honest i dont know why i said it doesnt work with my RXA2000 in fact ive never tried it since i have the mic mine came with. It could very well work with any Yamaha. When you get it let me know the outcome!

 

[Pyrrho]

timoteo,
That would be very cool indeed. I would be willing to put it to good use. Thanks too much. (I will try to send a PM. Sometimes I can't seem to make those things work but I'll try. Let me know by replying back.)

It will only be good if it is the right microphone for your receiver. Since it performs equalization as well as setting levels and delays, it needs to be the right one for that particular receiver. Otherwise, any deviation from the frequency response of the microphone designed for that unit will mess up the frequency response you get when using it.

 

[timoteo]

After speaking with you Mike, i got the mic out & looked over the whole thing for a part #. There is the Yamaha logo on the base but absolutely no other marking or #. While i cant say if it will work, i did go online & pulled up a pic of the mic that does work with your RX-V659. The model you need is WB699600. Looks wise the one i have is identical. The best & only way to find out for sure is to try it so ill send it by tuesday. If it doesnt work just do whatever you like with it. The one you do need works with about 12 models so theres a good chance it will. We'll see....

 

[LAB3]

I have had Great service from both of Yamaha AVR..my first one is 2003 RX-V2400 I have in the bedroon.... no HDMI or HD decoders or it would still be in the den with the HT speakers etc. I know have a 2009 RX-V1900 HD AVR
and it too has been a plug and play. I have noticed the AVR that go online seem to need Firmware updates from time to time that my models do not even have any updates as I check the Yamaha factory site every now and then and look. I never stack any device on top of my AVR for better venting and longer life. I know it looks trick but I advise you not too. Enjoy the Yamaha I sure like mine.

 

[mjcmt]

Thanks for the PM Mike, ill dig that mic up & send itto the address you gave me! I hope it works for ya! To be honest i dont know why i said it doesnt work with my RXA2000 in fact ive never tried it since i have the mic mine came with. It could very well work with any Yamaha. When you get it let me know the outcome!

Thanks Tim. It was good talking with you yesterday. When I get it I will let you know if it works with my receiver. I presume there is a cable attached to the mic that plugs into the front of the receiver for running Auto set-up.)

 

[LAB3]

Thanks Tim. It was good talking with you yesterday. When I get it I will let you know if it works with my receiver. I presume there is a cable attached to the mic that plugs into the front of the receiver for running Auto set-up.)

There is, it's made in one section with a long wire. Darn nice of Tim to do this. I see his helpfull posts all the time on here. The first time I used the YPAO I had to turn off the A/C any fans etc... get the room quiet and have the mic face up at ear level where you are going to set. You have to measure the distance from each of your speakers to input this into the AVR. You will see, I had to run mine a time or two to get the sub to work. Enjoy
Louis

 

[timoteo]

Yes there is a long cord attached to the mic.

Im not sure what the older YPAO measures for you. It may do the distances for you. The newer ones do set that for you but maybe the older YPAO doesnt.

Yes set the mic on a tripod or as i do, a stack of pillows, at your main seats at ear level. After you run it, always go back into the settings & make sure all the speakers are set to SMALL & start with the crossover set to 80hz. If you dont see SMALL or LARGE as options then it might say FULL which stands for FULL RANGE (same as LARGE), dont have the speakers set to FULL or LARGE.

All receivers will set some of your speakers to LARGE depending on what the mic hears. But you should change that manually. If you want to know an in depth reason for this then GOOGLE: "Why set speakers to Small?"

Bottom line is you want to take advantage of the Bass Management.

With the crossover, start with 80hz but you can set it somewhere between 60hz-120hz, try the settings in this range & see which sounds best to you. If you have bookshelf speakers then typically 90-120hz is good. If you have towers or larger size speakers then typically 80-100hz is good.

If YPAO doesnt automatically set the distance then yes, measure from your main seat,ear level, to the front of the speaker for each & enter that in.

For your subwoofer, have the volume knob on the sub itself set between 40%-50% before you run YPAO. Ideally you want YPAO to set the sub level in the receivers settings between -3dB & 0dB.

 

[LAB3]

Tim you may be correct. I had a Onkyo HD AVR TX-SR805(fried HDMI parts several times) before I purchased the RX-V1900 HD AVR. I think it the Onkyo was the AVR we had to measure the distances first... my Bad getting older.

 

[mjcmt]

I've got all the speaker distances set exactly. The LCR speakers are set to large because I do not have a subwoofer yet. The rear speakers are set to small and sub is off because I have none. Though I'm not using the LFE output to a sub I still used the lowest xover setting of 40hz just to make sure it doesn't cut off the mains.

I will set the mic on the backrest of the sofa which is at ear height.

Thanks for the input.

 

[XEagleDriver]

Bass Mngmt on the 659

I've got all the speaker distances set exactly. The LCR speakers are set to large because I do not have a subwoofer yet. The rear speakers are set to small and sub is off because I have none. Though I'm not using the LFE output to a sub I still used the lowest xover setting of 40hz just to make sure it doesn't cut off the mains.

I will set the mic on the backrest of the sofa which is at ear height.

Thanks for the input.

FYI: YPAO on the RX-V659 will measure speaker distances on its own, you do not have to input it manually to make it work correctly.
Generally YPAO distances are quite accurate, although do watch the sub distance (when you get one) it sometimes goes squirrely.

With Sub set to "NONE" the LFE crossover setting is used in relation to speakers set to "SMALL", not in relation to the source material signal in general. In your case, any LFE signal (think helocopter blades) or low freq music signal sent towards the rear speakers (if I copied your last post correctly) will be re-routed by the AVR to the front speakers. See the Note on manual p. 86.

FWIW the 659's manual is obtuse and frustrating!!

The 659 (as with most AVRs) does not have a "LFE out", it has a "Subwoofer out" which is more than just AV semantics. It is a subwoofer out because that output connector transmits both LFE and low frequency music signals to the sub if you have one.

In your case, when either or both these signals are part of the source material, such as a DVD or Bluray (plus some MC music disks), the low portions of these signals will be sent to your front speakers as long as you ensure the BASS OUT is set to "FRNT" (vice SWFR or BOTH).

Clear as mud?
Cheers,
XEagleDriver

 

[ElCid79]

Congrats on your new kit. I had a Yamaha for a long time. I really liked it. it was an RV1105 if I remember correctly. I liked it so much I sold my father on buying one of the more expensive models.

I had it for about 7 / 8 years. Then one day I was out of town, and a bad bad storm rolled though. My roommate was watching TV.... And lightning hit the house.... Literally. It busted a huge hole in the roof. Friend most everything that was plugged in. He said that a bolt of electricity shot out of the face of the receiver and hit the wall across the way! Scary stuff.

But, in that I lost my AVR. So I gave my speakers to a friend for a while.

Now I am running a Marantz SR7001 through a NAD T955. Love it too.