New Yamahas

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>hello,

I was wondering what others thought about the new Yamaha RX-V2400/1400 receivers.

My biggest suprise is the THX Select Certification.

I don't think the 1400 much more impressive than my 1300, the only new things are YSS-930 istead of 938, DTS 96/24 (which i would like to have, but i don't have media for it), and 110w x 7 instead 100w x 6.

Not that I wouldn't want one, but I am very happy with my 1300

:0~

Bob</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Hi Bob;

We are very interested in their new YPAO feature with active room correction and calibration. &nbsp; I personally feel this could be the next biggest thing in high performance receivers/processors.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Hey Bob, &nbsp;where is the press release?</font>

 

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Hey Gene,

Denons 5803 doesn't have that does it?.  I can't wait to see what 3400 and new flagship are like.  Probably gonna be Ultra2 and new YPAO, as well as beefier amps, possibly 150w RMS x 7 or higher?

~

Bob</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Audiouser, the press release is on our front page. &nbsp;However, here is a direct link.

Yamaha Press Release for New Receivers 2003

Bob;

You are correct, the Denon AVR-5803 does not have the room correction feature and we are very excited that Yamaha has choosen us as one of the first to review their new products which incorporate it.</font>

 

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Gene,

Which receiver is Yamaha gonna send you, or don't you know yet. &nbsp;I feel it will be RX-V2400 or higher in the chain.

~

Bob</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Gene,

Not only what, but when? &nbsp;Any chance you get to &quot;sneak a peek&quot; before the official release?</font>

 

[Yamahaluver]

<font color='#0000FF'>Not only does the newer Yamahas feature THX certification, but most importantly they feature variable bass management which was much needed as well as real audiophille grade high current amp sections much on the lines of their seperate amplifiers from the MX series. The damping rate as well as the transformers have been significantly upgraded with 400VA units. Real attention has been paid to making the units more suited to 2 channel music listening rather than an all out HT affair.

The 170Wx9 DSP-AZ9 is happening and has been reviewd by a Greek site already as a sneek preview.</font>

 

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>Yamahaluve,

Can you post that site, if you know it.

~

Bob</font>

 

[Audioholics]

<font color='#000080'>It will be very interesting to see how well the 7-band parametric EQ works. I know we have one Reference system that, once all acoustical treatments are removed, will be a great test bed for this technology.

In general, I am excited. I've always been a fan of Yamaha, but sometimes fans are the biggest critics (think Apple/Mac computers)!

I'm also curious if the microphone for the parametric auto-EQ is included with every receiver, or (more likely) this is an option that needs to be purchased or rented.</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Guys;

Hopefully I can make an annoucement as to what I will be reviewing after the sneak peek I will bet getting next month when I meet the President of Yamaha's Electronics division in Ft. Lauderdale in early August. &nbsp;I will tell you this much, it may not be one of the units in the latest press release I posted yesterday &nbsp;

</font>

 

[Yamahaluver]

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>

Khellandros66 : <font color='#000000'>Yamahaluve,

Can you post that site, if you know it.

~

Bob</font>

<font color='#0000FF'>http://www.hxos.gr/index.asp?section=communication&amp;subsection=whatshot

If you can translate this please post a copy.</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>http://www.worldlingo.com.au/products_services/worldlingo_translator.html

Greek Translator</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Gene,

Well, &nbsp;if you get the chance to look at the Flagship here a few things I'd like to know.

1) Will this puppy be able to upconvert to 1080P? (wishful thinking)

2) Has Cinema DSP been reworked for the standard THX Ultra2 speaker config with 2 rear surrounds? &nbsp;Or is it the same as it used to be. &nbsp;Basically if your a Cinema DSP fan is there any point in upgrading your Z1?

3) Will you be able to manually adjust the EQ in the OSD?

4) What remote comes with it?

5) How much is it?

6) When will it be on the shelf?

THX Ultra2, and &nbsp;Cinema DSP processing and 7 channels of amplification. &nbsp;Looks like everything I want, &nbsp;just the price tag is a big question mark. &nbsp;I'm not to interested in shelling out $5000 for a processor. &nbsp;A $1000 to $700 premium over the current Flagship would almost be do-able (at 700 a no-brainer).

My own opinion here is Yamaha will shoot itself in the foot if goes &quot;for the gold&quot; in pricing this unit. &nbsp;Denon and Pioneer Elite have already a large installed base and reputation. &nbsp;People, for some reason, do not like mixing and matching electronics. &nbsp;Yamaha has to do it better and cheaper to get some market share and public opinion back. &nbsp;The mid fi shops and consumers are where they are competing. &nbsp;They already have their buying habits entrenced and need an incentive to switch (plus I'd like a good deal

&nbsp.

You might say &quot;It's so good it beats separates&quot; after reviewing it, but the sales troll in a Hi-Fi shop is not, which is really where the majority of separates' marketing gets done. &nbsp;In most Hi-Fi shops that I have seen that do carry Yamaha do so as the &quot;value line&quot;. &nbsp;To a sales troll you can get 40 points on Yamaha, or 50 to 100 points on some &quot;esoteric&quot; unit and the amps to go with it (and still sleep at night some how).</font>

 

[Guest]

<font color='#000000'>Congratulation Audioholics for becoming the reviewer of the new Yamaha receivers. &nbsp;I really hope you guys can keep up your high reputations and your reviews are honest.

&nbsp;From the price ranges Yamaha offers, I am just wondering if we will have the same debate as the 5ES vs 4ES.
&nbsp;With the same price or less but much more features added to the newer model. Does Yamaha really cut costs somewhere? Does it really matter? would you please look inside the chassis?
Thank you.</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Audiouser;

You make some excellent points and voice very good questions. &nbsp;Perhaps Yamaha will come on here when they have the time and answer some of your questions.

As for profit margins between receivers and very esoteric high end separates, and sometimes over zealous promotions of the latter by retailers, you seem to have a good understanding on how things work in this industry &nbsp;

</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>Ctrans;

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Congratulation Audioholics for becoming the reviewer of the new Yamaha receivers. &nbsp;I really hope you guys can keep up your high reputations and your reviews are honest.
</td></tr></table>

Although we have been known to rock the boat a few times with manufacturers that we felt offered below average product for the asking price, we have no plans on changing our straight forwardness and personal thoughts on the products just as we have always been doing. &nbsp;

In the future, however, we will extend those manufacturers a chance to peer review our articles and offer response commentary, if they desire, just like we do with manufacturers whose products we write more favorable reviews on.</font>

 

[Khellandros66]

<font color='#000000'>I have been a subscriber to Home Theater Magazine for about 4 years now, this may be the last. &nbsp;I find a review on what could be a great product, but find only a two to three page review. &nbsp;I feel that there is a 5 to 2 ratio, for every 2 pages of reviews, there a 5 pages of advertisment. &nbsp;And I agree totally with Gene's statement that Butterworth loves and wants to sell you everything he reviews. &nbsp;Unfortunately they are taking the path of Sound &amp; Vision magazine, where its seems more like a 150+ page advertisment.

I love the conservative thinking and reviews Audioholics, your straighforwardness and uncanny ability to write bad reviews without shame is what makes you so dynamic and enjoyable.

PLease remain steadfast in your ways.

~

Bob</font>

 

[mushroomcourt]

<font color='#000000'>RX-Z1 vs. DSP-AZ1

Looking to upgrade from my RX-V995, I have focused on the RX-Z1 as the most suitable candidate considering the budget constraints.
From the specs I can see no differences between the Z1 and the AZ1 (except for the tuner of course).
Am I right to assume these two models are identical in their perocessing, amplifications and features other then the tuner ?

Can a better upgrade path be to spend the same as the Z1 costs on a pa separate (keep the 995 as a pre/pro) and later upgrade again to a separate pre/pro ? What do think ?</font>

 

[gene]

<font color='#000000'>I believe you are right regarding the differences between the Z1 and AZ1 as they are sold in different markets and for some reason Yamaha chooses to sell their flagships minus the tuner in the international marketplace. &nbsp;

As for keeping your 995 as a pre/pro and buying an external amp compared to upgrading to the Z1, I would suspect you would be better off going the Z1 route. &nbsp;I used to own the 995 many moons ago and it was a very nice budget receiver for the time. &nbsp;However, &nbsp;I was blown away by how much better the DAC's, and processor was in the DSP A1 when I upgraded. &nbsp;The RX-Z1 is even better.

The question is, how much power do you think you need? &nbsp;This should be determined by the sensitivity of your speakers. room size, and listening preferences. &nbsp;I suspect in most domestic applications, the power of the RX-Z1 will serve well enough.

However, I will note the one limitation of the RX-Z1 along with all other Yamaha receivers of the past, is their fixed 90Hz crossover. &nbsp;This could present a problem when coupling large bass capable main speakers with a sub. &nbsp;Many of Yamaha's new line of receivers due out this fall, will have variable bass management. &nbsp;If you set all of your speakers to small, than ignore what I just said, else you may wish to wait until fall to decide on the appropriate upgrade path.</font>