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

[B3Nut]

Denon's been removing pre-outs further up the line. The 2307 had them, the 2308 that replaced it does not. You don't get them until you pring for the 2808. You don't get pre-outs on Pioneer until the 1017. The Yamaha 661/663 is their least-expensive unit with pre-outs. Onkyo gives you pre-outs on the 705 and up.

Pre-outs are generally trivial to add, most likely worst-case scenario is you would have to add a unity-gain buffer amplifier stage (an op-amp will do) to prevent accidental injection of signal into the receiver's power amp stage, but you can get a perfectly good pre-out signal from the point where the signal enters the onboard amp's input. A hardware hacker or electronics technician with a schematic could easily add them.

 

[Seth=L]

Pioneer did a lot of revamping on the VSX-800 series and up. The VSX-816 had preouts, but the newer VSX-817 and upcoming VSX-818 don't have them. The VSX-917 and VSX-918 don't have them.

Harman Kardon offers preouts on the AVR-247 and Marantz offers preouts on the SR-4002, which are both pretty good receivers.

 

[tomd51]

I didn't realize that Denon started yanking pre-outs on several of their lower end recivers for the latest line. That's very surprising (and unfortunate), considering they used to include them for all but the first one or two entry level models.... -TD

 

[yettitheman]

This little honey is going to make it hard to decide between this and an Emotiva LMC-2......

 

[Bluesmoke]

This little honey is going to make it hard to decide between this and an Emotiva LMC-2......

If I'm not mistaken, the LMC-2 has the Genessis processor, which is comparable to the Reon, so if your display doesn't upscale/downscale well, then that's something to consider. Plus, the LMC-2 will certainly sound better than this Yamaha.

 

[mudrummer99]

Wow, I mean wow, this will be my upgrade. I currently have the Yamaha HTR-5840 and have always been happy with it's performance. With it's price point and my BB employee discount I can't foresee this NOT sitting on my audio rack right around birthday time.

 

[croseiv]

The dual sub outs are VERY impressive. Is this the start of a new trend in mid-fi?

 

[jostenmeat]

This is very interesting indeed. It would fill a couple of requirements of mine already, pre-outs, matrixing of PCM via HDMI.

However, would anyone know if it can have separate x-over points for different speakers? (my center is significantly more limited in extension than the surrounds). I know I can't expect everything.. just looking to be even further convinced. Thank you for any information!

 

[yettitheman]

If I'm not mistaken, the LMC-2 has the Genessis processor, which is comparable to the Reon, so if your display doesn't upscale/downscale well, then that's something to consider. Plus, the LMC-2 will certainly sound better than this Yamaha.

I'm definitely interested in the video processing abilities... sound wise, the LMC and the 663 will be about the same because I have a Yamaha P2201 power amp I am using for my front mains regardless.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm definitely interested in the video processing abilities... sound wise, the LMC and the 663 will be about the same because I have a Yamaha P2201 power amp I am using for my front mains regardless.

*nods*

That scaler will have an upper hand obviously, and more than likely superior to the HD-A2. If you decide to get a PS3 it may become a superior scaling player with firmware updates. The off the shelf PS3 was not a great scaling player, but with firmware it became very competitive in terms of scaling power. Toshiba has a new line of TVs that are slated for release either late this year or next year that uses the same cell processor the PS3 uses for it's scaling and was supposed to be jaw droppin (I realize this level of performance won't likely ever be achieved from the PS3 itself because of many limitations).

 

[jcPanny]

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.

Greg,
Save yourself $500 and put a piece of black electrical tape over the front Aux inputs. Alternately, get the Emotiva LMC-2 which is also due out in April for a nice clean front pannel.

 

[Seth=L]

.....get the Emotiva LMC-2 which is also due out in April for a nice clean front pannel.

Plus more connectivity, a DVI input, and Genesis DCDi scaler.

 

[newb]

So now what?

Man....
And I just bought the Marantz SR 4002 from here...Which of these would be better?
I'm thinking the Yamaha for the True HD, etc, etc....
Thoughts?

 

[Seth=L]

Man....
And I just bought the Marantz SR 4002 from here...Which of these would be better?
I'm thinking the Yamaha for the True HD, etc, etc....
Thoughts?

Either is a good choice, for the future the Yamaha will have more useability. Some Blu-ray players, for example, don't support internal decoding of HD audio. This requires an HDMI 1.3 repeating receiver to support (the SR-4002 doesn't have HDMI 1.3 repeating, only HDMI 1.3 pass-thru with HDMI 1.1 repeating).

 

[pzaur]

Guess I know what I'm starting to save for!

Subwoofer crossover per speaker - undetermined on the site.
# Preout terminals for front, center, surround and surround back, and dual mono subwoofer out
# 9 selectable subwoofer crossover frequencies
# Subwoofer phase select

You can bi-amp if you choose through the receiver.

There's no manual available, yet.

-pat

 

[mike c]

Subwoofer crossover per speaker - undetermined on the site.
-pat

I am doubting this feature on this yamaha, though I wish they'd really add this feature, even the low HK model 3 series has this feature.

 

[tom67]

Pre Outs

Every one mentions them as a key feature...I would bet not one in a hundred owners ever use them....I have had them on the last 5 or so units and never did....kind of like the burn in panic on TVs......rarely happens but seemed to shape a generation of people in their tv buying decisions....all that being said, the new Yamaha unit looks like a winner...

 

[Nomo]

Every one mentions them as a key feature...I would bet not one in a hundred owners ever use them....I have had them on the last 5 or so units and never did....kind of like the burn in panic on TVs......rarely happens but seemed to shape a generation of people in their tv buying decisions....all that being said, the new Yamaha unit looks like a winner...

One in a hundred? I seriously doubt that.
IMO, pre-outs are one of the key features in a receiver. They give the option of adding an amplifier rather than replacing the receiver itself.

 

[Seth=L]

Every one mentions them as a key feature...I would bet not one in a hundred owners ever use them....I have had them on the last 5 or so units and never did....kind of like the burn in panic on TVs......rarely happens but seemed to shape a generation of people in their tv buying decisions....all that being said, the new Yamaha unit looks like a winner...

Every receiver I have owned I have used the preouts for an amp at some point. That one in a hundred can't necessarily be founded on anything, unless you do a survey of a large group of people from many places, you won't get accurate results. It's likely more people use those preouts than you think. It's becoming more and more common on mid-level receivers, surely there is a reason why they keep putting them on there.

Edit: Nomo beat me, I was slow on the button.

 

[808htfan]

...However, would anyone know if it can have separate x-over points for different speakers? (my center is significantly more limited in extension than the surrounds). I know I can't expect everything.. just looking to be even further convinced. Thank you for any information!

The manual for the RX-V863 says this about crossover setting:

Bass cross over CROSS OVER
Use this feature to select the crossover frequency of all the
speakers set to “SML” (or “SMALL”) in “SPEAKER
SET” (see page 87). All frequencies below the selected
frequency will be sent to the subwoofer(s) or front
speakers depending on the setting of “LFE/BASS OUT”
in “SPEAKER SET” (see page 87).
Choices: 40Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 100Hz, 110Hz,
120Hz, 160Hz, 200Hz


So I guess not.