What is Yamaha's Best AVR w/ best amp section - past or present?

[mjcmt]

The goal: I am integrating my 2 channel system from another room into the home theater system in the living room.

What I'm doing: A turntable, cd player, and preamp is directly feeding 2 channels of my '06 Yamaha AVR's 5.1 input. With the touch of a 'multi-channel' button from the remote, I can by-pass the pre/pro section and use only the power amp section driving the front L&R speakers, and now I can operate the 2 channel system and use the home theater front L&R speakers. And when we watch movies or TV I turn off the 'multi-channel' input function and use the AVR with all 5 speakers as designed. I hope I've made myself clear.

Now the question: OK gear-aficionados, what is Yamaha's Best AVR w/ the 'multi-channel' mode so that the power amp section will more closely match the caliber of the 2 channel system I'm building upon. I don't mind if the AVR is not the latest model. I should be clear stating I'm interested in the best amp section as I'm getting by w/o HDMI now. Is it the Yamaha RX-V1, RX-Z7, etc?

Below are a few photos so you can see my crazy space-saving set-up to help elevate the confusion in my post.

 

[3db]

I would say that all of Yamaha's upper end AVRs have stout good quality powers supplies and clean amplifiers in them. You will not go wrong picking from any of them.

 

[Jeepers]

Some say it's the RX-Z9, others will select the RX-Z11. I used to have the Z11 and I was very happy with it. I sold it 2 years ago because I returned to a 2-channel setup. Both AVR's have been reviewed by AH.

 

[PENG]

RX-Z11 was their flag ship, to me that was their best.

 

[cpp]

for just an amp, Yamaha MX2000 but the MX10000 if you can find one buy as only 250 where made back in the late 80's. Yamaha MX-10000 on thevintageknob.org

 

[cpp]

for just an amp, Yamaha MX2000 but the MX10000 if you can find one buy as only 250 where made back in the late 80's. I've been looking for years for one. Yamaha MX-10000 on thevintageknob.org

 

[3db]

for just an amp, Yamaha MX2000 but the MX10000 if you can find one buy as only 250 where made back in the late 80's. I've been looking for years for one. Yamaha MX-10000 on thevintageknob.org

Apparently, this is by far their best amp......... talked about by many audiophiles not that really matters

Here's the guts of one ..very nice build from what I can see

 

[slipperybidness]

for just an amp, Yamaha MX2000 but the MX10000 if you can find one buy as only 250 where made back in the late 80's. I've been looking for years for one. Yamaha MX-10000 on thevintageknob.org

Quite nice looking too!

 

[kirk44]

Wow beautiful amp harkens back to a time when things were made not only to last but built to look nice as well.

 

[mjcmt]

Seems that the RX-9 and RX-Z11 are their best. I can use the 5.1 inputs for a high quality source and still have an AVR for movies. The inside of the RX-Z9 looks better but the RX-Z11 has newer decoding. The hunt begins.

 

[cpp]

Wow beautiful amp harkens back to a time when things were made not only to last but built to look nice as well.

It sure does...

 

[mjcmt]

Though the Yamaha MX2000/1000 is quite nice, but it dosen't meet my criteria of an AVR for the special purpose intended in my original post. If I was looking for a power amp I'd consider a 7 channel power amp, using 5 channels for HT and 2 channels for a vinyl analog system. Or just build my vinyl system up with the matching Mac power amp for my preamp. I may go that route but the rxv 9 and 11 look great.

 

[cpp]

Though the Yamaha MX2000/1000 is quite nice, but it dosen't meet my criteria of an AVR for the special purpose intended in my original post. If I was looking for a power amp I'd consider a 7 channel power amp, using 5 channels for HT and 2 channels for a vinyl analog system. Or just build my vinyl system up with the matching Mac power amp for my preamp. I may go that route but the rxv 9 and 11 look great.

True since the Yamaha is a 2 chl amp....But for multi-chl its hard to beat the new batch of Yamaha AVR's