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

[Davidt1]

It's up at J&R now for $500. Over at slickdeals, someone posted a $400 price if you call. I'd jump on it if anyone needs a great receiver. I have two great receivers, so no go on this one for me.

Pat

I just called and ordered. I have never owned a Yamaha receiver before. I see you own the 661. Mind if I ask a few questions? Can you set different cross overs for front/center/surround speakers? Can you turn off the display light, or just dim it? Can it handle 4 ohm speakers? Thanks.

 

[Zaxdad]

Right for me?

Hi All.
Brand new here.I've been trying to do modest upgrades to our AV system. I have Athena LCR and 4 Mirage omnisats for surrounds. A svs sub and an Onkyo 702 reciever. My family surprised me with a PS3 for the holidays. I have direct tv hd going into a 56" jvc 720p lcos tv. I've thought about the Onkyo 605,HK 247,
Yamaha 1700,Marantz 4002. This new Yamaha seems to be getting a lotta love here. I do like to listen at pretty loud levels in a 11x22' room.
Any input/guidence would be really really appreciated.

Zaxdad

 

[Bluesmoke]

I just called and ordered. I have never owned a Yamaha receiver before. I see you own the 661. Mind if I ask a few questions? Can you set different cross overs for front/center/surround speakers? Can you turn off the display light, or just dim it? Can it handle 4 ohm speakers? Thanks.

I'm not Patnshan, but I can answer your questions since I own the 6060 (661).

1. Nope. Universal crossover.
2. Yes. Of course. This is pretty much a standard on any new receiver.
3. I wouldn't try it. If you have only 2 speakers, then yea. But if you're running 5, then no. If you have a spare amp, then you can let it handle the 4 ohm fronts, and let the Yamaha handle the rest.

Hi All.
Brand new here.I've been trying to do modest upgrades to our AV system. I have Athena LCR and 4 Mirage omnisats for surrounds. A svs sub and an Onkyo 702 reciever. My family surprised me with a PS3 for the holidays. I have direct tv hd going into a 56" jvc 720p lcos tv. I've thought about the Onkyo 605,HK 247,
Yamaha 1700,Marantz 4002. This new Yamaha seems to be getting a lotta love here. I do like to listen at pretty loud levels in a 11x22' room.
Any input/guidence would be really really appreciated.

Zaxdad

The Yamaha 1700 is the most powerful one listed, and will suit your room better. The new 663 won't be as powerful as the 1700. But it has more features that might or might not be useful to you.

 

[Zaxdad]

Well I've been reading posts all day and have learned alot. I think I've narrowed it down to either the HK247, Marantz 4002 or Yamaha 662. I have a feeling from prior experience(years ago) that the HK and Marantz probably have better sounding amps,but the Yamaha is more future proof. Can anyone weigh in with some opinions?
Thanks again,
Zaxdad

 

[Davidt1]

I'm not Patnshan, but I can answer your questions since I own the 6060 (661).

1. Nope. Universal crossover.
2. Yes. Of course. This is pretty much a standard on any new receiver.
3. I wouldn't try it. If you have only 2 speakers, then yea. But if you're running 5, then no. If you have a spare amp, then you can let it handle the 4 ohm fronts, and let the Yamaha handle the rest.

The lowly $220 HK 146 I got two days ago lets you set different cross overs for speakers. Does this mean that if you have towers in the front in tiny satellites for surrounds you have to use the same cross overs for them? That's a little disappointing. I most interested in SQ though. Will I get a huge improvement in power and sound quality with the 663? Thanks.

 

[mouettus]

To people who wants to use this as a pre-pro: 2 HDMI inputs only. EEK!

This receiver is loaded with features that's insane. Putting all those options onto a low/mid-fi receiver is awesome! Sheep had it right though. Plain ugly. His pooch looks better! (I'd love to see more pics by the way haha). Got the 1800 for the looks, more power and 4 HDMI imputs. I love simplistic, black gear. Only Marantz SR-6001 and up tops it imo (looks only).

 

[Nomo]

To people who wants to use this as a pre-pro: 2 HDMI inputs only. EEK!

This receiver is loaded with features that's insane. Putting all those options onto a low/mid-fi receiver is awesome! Sheep had it right though. Plain ugly. His pooch looks better! (I'd love to see more pics by the way haha). Got the 1800 for the looks, more power and 4 HDMI imputs. I love simplistic, black gear. Only Marantz SR-6001 and up tops it imo (looks only).

Agreed. It is butt ugly. But, it's front panel is more functional than the 1800.
That's what it comes done to; form (the 1800/3800) or function (the 663/863).

By the way I've seen Sheep's Pug. I've got 2 myself. Neither Sheep nor myself have anything tho brag about.

 

[mouettus]

Agreed. It is butt ugly. But, it's front panel is more functional than the 1800.
That's what it comes done to; form (the 1800/3800) or function (the 663/863).

By the way I've seen Sheep's Pug. I've got 2 myself. Neither Sheep nor myself have anything tho brag about.

Functionality? The only buttons I use on the front panel is the tone control (wish I could have that on the remote).

Oh you have the same kind of dog? Send me some pictures in a PM please!

 

[Bluesmoke]

Another thing about this receiver is the WAF. The scene buttons are a godsend. No more "how do I turn this on?"

 

[simplesimon]

Here are some questions I have.

(1) LFE hole: Does the 663 crossover apply to the LFE channel as well as to the non-LFE channels?

(2) LFE boost: Does the 663 boost the LFE channel on PCM sent over HDMI?

(3) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

(4) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(5) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(6) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

 

[Bluesmoke]

Here are some questions I have.

(1) LFE hole: Does the 663 crossover apply to the LFE channel as well as to the non-LFE channels?

(2) LFE boost: Does the 663 boost the LFE channel on PCM sent over HDMI?

(3) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

(4) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(5) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(6) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

I'm going by what the 661 can do. So the 663 should meet what the 661 can at least.

1. I don't know what that means. Eg. If you set the crossover to 80hz, all signals below 80hz goes to the sub, everything else goes to the speakers.

2. Yes.

3. It did this to PCM, so we can expect it to otherwise it wouldn't be much of a 7.1 receiver.

4. Absolutely. But we don't know if it has the bug the 661 has that it forgets to remember that you have a 7 channel setup, everytime you turn off, and defaults to 5.1, until you hit "extended surround" through the menu.

5. Yes.

6. It has to, per HDMI 1.3 specs.

 

[simplesimon]

Here are some questions I have.

(1) LFE hole: Does the 663 crossover apply to the LFE channel as well as to the non-LFE channels?

(2) LFE boost: Does the 663 boost the LFE channel on PCM sent over HDMI?

(3) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

(4) PLIIx: Can the 663 apply PLIIx to 5.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(5) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 PCM sent over HDMI?

(6) Discrete 7.1: Does the 663 handle all 8 channels of 7.1 True-HD/DTS-MA decoded in the receiver?

I'm going by what the 661 can do. So the 663 should meet what the 661 can at least.

1. I don't know what that means. Eg. If you set the crossover to 80hz, all signals below 80hz goes to the sub, everything else goes to the speakers.

2. Yes.

3. It did this to PCM, so we can expect it to otherwise it wouldn't be much of a 7.1 receiver.

4. Absolutely. But we don't know if it has the bug the 661 has that it forgets to remember that you have a 7 channel setup, everytime you turn off, and defaults to 5.1, until you hit "extended surround" through the menu.

5. Yes.

6. It has to, per HDMI 1.3 specs.

Thanks for the quick response!!

(1) To read up on the LFE hole issue, look at

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=991439

In some avr's/pre-pro's, FULL RANGE copies of all channels set to "Small" are combined together with the LFE channel, AND THEREAFTER the sum is low-passed (using the crossover number) to the subwoofer. Thus, your subwoofer would get rolled-off LFE channel info above the crossover point. Have you run an LFE sweep on the 661 set with a low crossover to check about this?

(2) Are you sure about the LFE boost and the 661? The HTR-5990 does not boost according to Yamaha support. For more on the issue, look at

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748147

 

[Zaxdad]

bit the bullet

Well I just won an Ebay bid for a HK247. Here's hoping. If anyone has any tips for this unit, please let me know.
Thanks for all your input.
Zaxdad

 

[Bluesmoke]

(2) Are you sure about the LFE boost and the 661? The HTR-5990 does not boost according to Yamaha support. For more on the issue, look at

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=748147

Someone at AVS actually tested the LFE from PCM sources with an SPL meter and claimed it was the same as letting the receiver decode Dolby Digital.

 

[simplesimon]

Someone at AVS actually tested the LFE from PCM sources with an SPL meter and claimed it was the same as letting the receiver decode Dolby Digital.

I saw that, but there are other people on the 661 thread who seem to be reporting (albeit subjectively) problems.

Also, does anyone know how the 661 handles the LFE hole issue?

 

[Davidt1]

Well I just won an Ebay bid for a HK247. Here's hoping. If anyone has any tips for this unit, please let me know.
Thanks for all your input.
Zaxdad

Congrats! I think you will be happy if you get one that works for a while. I have the cheapest model, the 146. It looks and sounds good but doesn't have any feature.

 

[rnatalli]

Does anyone know if this thing will pass the OSD over HDMI? I seem to recall this coming up with the 661.

 

[mudrummer99]

Does anyone know if this thing will pass the OSD over HDMI? I seem to recall this coming up with the 661.

I've read on forums that it will, but take that for what it is.

Mike

 

[mouettus]

Does anyone know if this thing will pass the OSD over HDMI? I seem to recall this coming up with the 661.

My RX-V1800 does it only when it comes from SD sources :S When I hit amp menu, the screen goes black and then the menu appears (on a black background). Sad but not much of a hassle.

 

[Nomo]

My RX-V1800 does it only when it comes from SD sources :S When I hit amp menu, the screen goes black and then the menu appears (on a black background). Sad but not much of a hassle.

Not much of a hassle?
It really pisses me off.
To be honest I'd be completely loving my 1800 were it not for that little quirk.