A Brief Comparison - Yamaha V659 vs Pioneer Elite 82TSX

[Bradleyfs]

Don't mean to be naive, but who is Tom Landrt and where can I find his review? (I'm interested in reading it). Thanks.

 

[Seth=L]

I've always found Yammies a bit cold in listening comparisons... but I've never substituted them in to my system, so, perhaps theres no value with that comment.

You would be correct in your second statement. If the presentation of Yamaha receivers left you cold it is for one of the following reasons.

1.) You had heard or read that Yamaha receivers have a "cold" sound to them, and you mentally decided they should sound as they had been described, and you mind played tricks on you (this happens to most people)

2.) The speakers used had a "cold" sound

3.) The acoustics of the room may have caused the effect of "cold" sound

Please understand I am not trying to belittle you, but rather educate you about some truth in audio, because this forum is a center for learning and sharing ideas.

Typical amplifier topologies (completely analog transistor amplifiers) have been as close to perfect as they can be for some time. While each amplifier is designed different and uses different parts in different layouts they all reach the same outcome, acoustical transparency. An amplifier is supposed to take a low level signal and increase the output to usable levels without altering the sound audibly.

The biggest differences from amplifier to amplifier are headroom, wattage, and damping factor. None of these factors can alter the sonic signature of an amp to make is sound cold or warm, only additional circuitry will change the signature.

And I will stop here, because I must sleep.

 

[Tom Andry]

Don't mean to be naive, but who is Tom Landrt and where can I find his review? (I'm interested in reading it). Thanks.

I think he's talking about me. Review

 

[jcPanny]

Auto calibration

well don't i feel a little silly now.

thanks guys. i can absolutely see your points about the yamaha not being inferior if properly calibrated. but i probably wont be buying an SPL meter anytime soon, so the auto calibration feature is key. add the fact my front speakers sounded alot better to me when bi amped (I turned of the mcacc, and was in pure direct 2 ch stereo) the ipod controls are better, and it matches my new tv, and hey its hard to resist.

Stealth,
You don't need an SPL meter. Many receivers, including your Yamaha RX-V659 have a mic and auto setup feature. I have found the speaker levels and distances to be acuracte, but I usually have to manually change the Main speakers SMALL and adjust the crossover frequency. The EQ feature on lower end receivers is not that great, so I leave it off.

 

[Stealth X]

Stealth,
You don't need an SPL meter. Many receivers, including your Yamaha RX-V659 have a mic and auto setup feature. I have found the speaker levels and distances to be acuracte, but I usually have to manually change the Main speakers SMALL and adjust the crossover frequency. The EQ feature on lower end receivers is not that great, so I leave it off.

LOL!!! thanks for coming out JC. did you happen read any of my posts?

 

[Stealth X]

So you had it in your house to test it, it won but now you have to wait to get it? What's up with that?

they let me take their demo model home for the weekend, but dont have any new in stock.

Oh one more thing on the auto-cal issue. Does everything come out making sense when you do it? I just ask because when I do mine it seems to do an ok job at setting distance and eq but always gets the size wrong and the sub way off. It will set my cross-over anywhere between 160 and 200hz and changes the size of my speakers different each time. I guess that is the main reason why I lost faith in auto-cal and begin doing it manually. Plus it's fun to tinker around and figure things out on your own.

no it doesnt. in fact, both the yammy and the pioneer set all my speakers to small. the yammy however was also WAY off with my sub settings, and no matter what i do i cant get it anywhere NEAR as tightly sync'ed as when the Pioneer does the set up (i quote the pioneer ad- "the bass is actually on stage with the rest of the band" - maybe i've been brain washed-haha).

i also like to tinker with my system but until recently have been quite intimidated by all the different changes that can be made(refering to audio), and of course was somewhat ignorant to what effect most of these changes even have exactly. since joining this site a couple weeks ago and doing ALOT of reading, i am feeling much more confident. i do intent at some point to get an SPL meter and learn how to use it.

 

[nattyg]

You would be correct in your second statement. If the presentation of Yamaha receivers left you cold it is for one of the following reasons.

1.) You had heard or read that Yamaha receivers have a "cold" sound to them, and you mentally decided they should sound as they had been described, and you mind played tricks on you (this happens to most people)

2.) The speakers used had a "cold" sound

3.) The acoustics of the room may have caused the effect of "cold" sound

The biggest differences from amplifier to amplifier are headroom, wattage, and damping factor. None of these factors can alter the sonic signature of an amp to make is sound cold or warm, only additional circuitry will change the signature.

And I will stop here, because I must sleep.

Well I can't argue with much of the logic you write... but also realize sonic characteristics of the audio connectivity - connectors / cables... - also bring out the many arguments you even write above. I'm sure audio has a certain element of psychological impedence that no one accounts for but should somehow. Such is the case with myself - I just for some reason find Yamaha's a bit cold. It may even be the orange backlighting that leaves my mind feeling like I need a sweater. But, I've given them a chance before, and never did they raise above another product. I chose the Pioneer here based on a few criteria, including connectivity needs for my little home theater. A few reviews helped, but what I meant to say really, was that Tom LANDRY helped qaulm my purchasing uncertainty...

but perhaps now, someone would do good in explaining why 7.1 today - right now - is the better option. That questoin based on the limited number of material ( non-HD ) that actually would allow full 7.1 processing. I try to keep from the HD Bluray problem for a year or two more. My first surround reciever was a Sony, 110x2 + 15x2 surround. I had to connect an external amp to power a center channel! That was jumping the gun I admit.