Gauntlet Thrown: Yamaha RX V663. HDMI 1.3, Dolby True HD, DTS Master, $549.99.

[Bluesmoke]

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/productdetail.html?CNTID=567571&CTID=5000300&ATRID=1020&DETYP=ATTRIBUTE&VNM=WORKING

This is the sucessor to the popular V661. As you can see, it is completely futureproof and hits stores in April.

1080p60hz, 1080p24hz support, Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio support. Even has a surprise output for 2 subwoofers!

RX-V663BL 7.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver
High-Performance Home Theater Receiver features full support for HD audio formats, HDMI video up-conversion and de-interlacing, iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, improved YPAO, Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control), multi-zone custom installation facility, and four SCENE buttons.
MAIN FEATURES
High Sound Quality
HD Audio format support: Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio
7-channel 665W powerful surround sound (95W x 7)
Digital ToP-ART and High Current Amplification
Pure Direct for higher fidelity sound reproduction
Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs used in all channels
Assignable amplifiers for bi-amp connection
Advanced Features
4 SCENE buttons offering greater operating ease (with 18 preset SCENE templates)
XM ready with XM HD Surround powered by Neural Surround
SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready
Improved YPAO for automatic speaker setup
iPod compatibility via Yamaha Universal Dock
Bluetooth (A2DP) compatibility with Yamaha Bluetooth® Wireless Audio Receiver (YBA-10)
Superior multi-zone control compatibility
High Picture Quality
1080p-compatible HDMI (2 in/1 out)
Supports Deep Color (up to 36 bit), x.v.Color, a double speed Refresh Rates of 120Hz and 1080p/24Hz transmission, and Auto Lip-Sync compenzation
Analog video to HDMI digital video upconversion and deinterlacing with TBC Surround Realism
• Fine-tuned CINEMA DSP and Adaptive DSP level
Improved Compressed Music Enhancer
Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control)
Other Notable Features
XM Satellite Radio ready with XM HD Surround powered by Neural Surround
SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready
40-station preset tuning / Auto preset tuning
HD Audio LPCM 7.1-channel reception (up to 192kHz)
High dynamic power and Linear Damping
Low Jitter PLL Circuitry
Assignable amplifiers for bi-amp connection
Initial Volume and Maximum Volume Setting
iPod song titles displayed in English and Western European languages ISO 8859-1 (Latin 1) on the front panel and on-screen display
SILENT CINEMA and Virtual CINEMA DSP
Dialogue Lift for dialogue to screen center
Preout terminals for front, center, surround and surround back, and dual mono subwoofer out
9 selectable subwoofer crossover frequencies
Subwoofer phase select
8-channel or 6-channel external input
Speaker A, B, A+B selection
Preset remote unit

 

[mtrycrafts]

If nothing else, it might make a nice preamp if need be.

 

[chadnliz]

What "Gauntlet"? it is a 95 watt budget reciever with HDMI and a ton of fluff.

 

[Nomo]

Not bad at all. A bit light on the digital inputs, but a nice comback to Onkyo's X05 series.

 

[Highbar]

Looks good to me. They put some time into making sure it was pretty well loaded. 95W's isn't an issue for me, at that price if you need more power you can just buy an amp and still be under the price of many AVR's out there today.

T

 

[mike c]

wow nice!

i wonder what it can do with the dual mono subwoofer pre-outs? separate distance setting for each?

i guess that confirms that the 661 (former model) does not upconvert analog sources to HDMI.

would you believe that the 661 was just released here? i guess I'll see this one next year!

 

[Thunder18]

Not bad at all. A bit light on the digital inputs, but a nice comback to Onkyo's X05 series.

I'd have to say it's a nice step up from the Onkyo 605. Dual subwoofer pre-outs is pretty much unheard of even in mid-fi receivers let alone entry level. Looks like it will handle whatever video you throw at it as well. Not bad at all. It's the RX-V series though so getting one under MSRP from an authorized dealer will take awhile. The Onkyo 605 is available at CC right now for $399 though and that's pretty darn hard to beat. Mtrycrafts mentioned pre-pro, This is probably about as future-proof and as cheap a pre-pro as you could possible get right now! Get an Emotiva LPA-1 for $500 to go along with it and you should be sitting pretty for a long, long time!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Interesting, this may make it to my house vs. the 1800, I dont need the watts so 95 doesnt bother me a bit.

 

[gus6464]

IMO this is the Onkyo 605 killer. Knowing Yamaha's track record for reliability this thing will sell like hotcakes. I can already see many people replacing their 605 with this.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Crap, I just noticed that the put the front panel aux inputs out in the open again. That's the one thing I hate about my 659. I may pay 400 more bucks for the 1800 just to have a clean front panel.

 

[darien87]

Dammit!!!!

Now I wanna replace my 661.

But can it set different crossover points for each speaker like the 705?

 

[croseiv]

Nice looking receiver, but there's no such thing as a "future proof" 600 (or 6000) dollar receiver. Look at the NR1000 (Onkyo) it was supposedly futureproof...Some new bell or whistle will be out in a year or so...(wonder what it will be?).

 

[mike c]

i'd define futureproof to last maybe 2-3 years with absolutely no missing out on anything new. even if they come out with something new right now, it'd take years to update, players, software (movies) and displays.

 

[chas_w]

Good to see Yamaha is keeping preouts in this price range (unlike Denon).

 

[Nomo]

Crap, I just noticed that the put the front panel aux inputs out in the open again. That's the one thing I hate about my 659. I may pay 400 more bucks for the 1800 just to have a clean front panel.

Yup. Hate to bring cosmetics into it but the 1800 has it beat in that regard.

 

[no. 5]

Yeah! New shiny stuff from Yamaha!

It seems like the 661 was released last weak (and was awsome)... and now the 663 is out tomorrow (and looks awsomer)... imagine what the 665 will be like.

 

[obscbyclouds]

IMO this is the Onkyo 605 killer. Knowing Yamaha's track record for reliability this thing will sell like hotcakes. I can already see many people replacing their 605 with this.

A 605 can be had for under $400. Even a 705 can be had for under $600. A little competition is never a bad thing though.

What impressed me is: Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs used in all channels. If I'm not mistaken, that's the first time those have been put in a reciever at this price point.

 

[slim340]

What pushed Yamaha to make this was the same motivation that pushed Pioneer to make the vsx-1018tx, Onkyo cleaning their collective clocks with receivers that decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MA for under $1000. We, Best Buy, just started carrying the rx-v661 and the vsx-1017tx less than 1 year ago and BB has been clamoring receivers in the price range that could stop the Onkyo inflicted wounds.

 

[Seth=L]

Oh Lord yes.

They put the good amp back into the 600 series. The RX-V659 received acolades for it's amplifier section, but the RX-V661 skimped a bit on this and put a lesser amplifier in it. Well now it's back, the 500 va power supply is back.

This will womp all over the Onkyo for sure, my pallet is not dry.

Chadnlz, what an ignorant comment.

 

[mike c]

Oh Lord yes.

They put the good amp back into the 600 series. The RX-V659 received acolades for it's amplifier section, but the RX-V661 skimped a bit on this and put a lesser amplifier in it. Well now it's back, the 500 va power supply is back.

This will womp all over the Onkyo for sure, my pallet is not dry.

Chadnlz, what an ignorant comment.

really? nice to have the power on tap when needed.