Differences between Yamaha RX-A3000 vs. new 3010, 3020 & 3030 models

[Ponzio]

I’m thinking of purchasing a used RX-A3000 and was wondering what the differences are between the 3000 and the newer Aventage 3010, 3020 & 3030 models, besides power (140wpc vs. 165wpc) and should I wait to purchase one of those models instead? 4K isn’t an issue at this time and 3D to me is a joke. Is the video processing that much better on the newer units? Are the newer models handling newer HDMI protocols to be implemented in the near future? Better YPAO equalization? The only reason I want to upgrade from my current RX-V4600 is for the video/audio processing, via HDMI, for my FiOS DVR STB and HDMI pass-thru in power standby-mode, since the missus prefers watching TV without the AVR. ... and people say there are no more mysteries to solve in this world.

The Oppo BDP-105 will handle DVD, Bluray, CD, CD-R discs, USB & Network streaming chores thru the multi-channel inputs connections. I’m assuming that the Oppo Sabre 32 DAC is better than the Yamaha Burr-Brown DAC. My current 5.1 is more than adequate for my tastes and I have no plans to go to 7.1 or 11.1 and I won’t be using the Zone 2 or 3 speaker connections. At most I might another sub, even though the current single SVS PB-12NSD is just fine for both music and video.

So what am I missing?

 

[Ponzio]

Nothing, huh?

 

[Pyrrho]

Here is a chart with some of the differences between the RX-A3010 and RX-A3020:

Yamaha Aventage RX-A2020, RX-A3020 A/V Receiver Preview | Audioholics

Here is a comparison between the RX-A3030, RX-A3020, RX-A3010, and RX-A3000:

Comparison Chart:RX-A3030,RX-A3020,RX-A3010,RX-A3000 - AVENTAGE - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

As for the Sabre vs. Burr-Brown DACs, I doubt that you would hear any difference in a level matched, double blind test.


Here is a review of the RX-A3000:

Yamaha RX-A3000 Aventage 11.2 Networking A/V Receiver Review | Audioholics

It looks like they got the video processing right with that, so likely the RX-A3010 & RX-A3020 are quite similar in that regard, though the new RX-A3030 gives up the HQV Vida processor and uses a Yamaha chip instead, so there is no telling how it compares.

The RX-A3000 is only 9.2 channels, whereas the others are all 11.2 (with added stereo power amp).

The two newest ones have a higher level of HDMI, as they will pass and upscale 4k. And they both seem to have independent HDMI outputs, whereas the oldest two have only simultaneous HDMI outputs (all have 2 HDMI outputs).

Really, they all look great, but if they were all the same price (which they are not), I think I would want the RX-A3020 the most, as I am unsure of the video processing on the latest, and am not convinced that humans will hear the difference in the DACs in level matched, double blind listening tests.

However, there is a very good chance that most people would never actually use or need the video processing, as most sources these days seem to have a video output setting such that everything is converted to that output, rather than outputting the native format, which means one is using the video unconversion in the source rather than in the receiver (or TV). In your case, with the Oppo, it has great video upconversion, so there is no reason to not use it for all of the discs played on it and any unprocessed video that is input into it. So for you, the video upconversion is very likely to be irrelevant in the receiver.

 

[agarwalro]

With the Oppo, I would not even use the AVR video processing. On the audio side, you probably already know that any mode other than Pure Direct will engage the AVR DAC circuits (for YAPO processing and bass management). So, any mode other than Pure Direct defeats having the superior Saber DAC in the Oppo and sending analog signal to the AVR, since you have another DAC in the chain and its quality is the weak link.

Based on your use, even the A1030 will give you HDMI passthrough switching in standby mode (I could not find this feature explicitly mentioned on the Amazon page for the A3000 and may have been introduced with the Aventage series). The 3030 does have a newer version of YAPO,

R.S.C. w/angle measurement.

All this is based on comparing them on Amazon, I don't have any hands on experience with any of them.​

 

[Ponzio]

Thanks guys. The comparison chart from Yamaha is really helpful. When I went to the site I could only get it to compare the 3020 - 2020 - 1020.

All that's left is negotiating with the seller & the missus ... this should be fun.

The icing on the cake is I'm demoing a Sunfire HRS-10 this Saturday ... all of this, the weekend before Mothers Day.

Gotta work on that timing.

thanks again.

 

[Ponzio]

On the audio side, you probably already know that any mode other than Pure Direct will engage the AVR DAC circuits (for YAPO processing and bass management).

Even if I use the multi-channel inputs on the AVR from the Oppo?

 

[Ponzio]

Well it's all academic now. I just pulled the trigger and luckily missed my head by inches.

This is going to be a great Mothers Day. Guess who's going to be the topic of conversation at the dinner table this Sunday?

 

[agarwalro]

Even if I use the multi-channel inputs on the AVR from the Oppo?

Actually, exactly when you use analog from Oppo to AVR.

When you use the multi-channel outs from the Oppo the D-A has been done. In Pure Direct, the receiver takes the analog signal as-is and amplifies it to speaker level and sends it out.

If you engage the any processing in the AVR, bass management, EQ, surround modes, they have to be done in digital domain. So the receiver will do a A-D conversion, apply filters and processing, then perform D-A conversion before sending signal to the amp section. In this situation, the first D-A conversion is redundant. One might as well feed digital signal directly to the AVR and be assured that it is processing pristine digital signal.