RX-Z9 substitute

[nickbardom]

Hi folks,

I am building a new home theater room and I was planning to buy the RX-Z9. But it doesn't have the HDMI connections. So do you think Yamaha will release the substitute for it this year? I really like Yamaha receivers...
Another question is:
Can this receiver drive the Paradigm Signature S8 and C5?

Thank you all for reading this.

 

[BobbyT]

You might want to look at the Yamaha RX-V4600 and an external amp. MAybe a B&K ref 200.5. Same budget as the Z9 but newer chips and processing, hdmi and i link, and a nice outboard amp to give better quality power those paradigms.

 

[jaxvon]

I'll have to agree. Have you seen the recent review on the RX-V4600? Then all you need is a quality external amp, such as an Outlaw, Emotiva, B&K, Sherbourn (maybe), Parasound, etc.

 

[nickbardom]

Thank you very much BobbyT and jaxvon,

The only issue I see using the RX-V4600 is the lack of the RF decoder for LDs. Do you think the new Yamaha RX-Z9 substitute will be released soon?
Do you know if the built in amplifier of the Z9 can handle the S8 and C5?

 

[jaxvon]

Yes, I the Paradigms are 8 ohm speakers and are fairly efficient. However, I still maintain that you would get the most out of your Paradigms if you gave them a dedicated amp. If you can't afford a nice big 5 or 7 channel amp, you can always opt for a 2 channel or 3 channel amp for the fronts and let your reciever power the surrounds. They can handle 500 watt amps, so you're not going to fry them. And speakers at the quality levels of the Signatures really show their true colors when they have a beefy amp driving them.

 

[anamorphic96]

I agree with Jaxvon and Bobby T. I you are going to get the Signature Series you should be buying as much amplifier as your budget will allow.

The RX-Z9 while an outstanding receiver will not do the Pardigms any justice. It will do the job but not like a seperate high quality amp will. The specs dont always tell the whole truth about a speaker. I use the Studio series from Paradigm and when I added a 200w Rotel amp the speakers came alive in a way I didn't think possible. Boy was it a night and day difference.

Cheers

 

[LEVESQUE]

I totally agree.

I'm using my Signature S8, C5 and S2 with an Anthem Statement P2 and P5, and those speakers really likes the power... The new Yammy 4600 with a good and powerful 2 ch and/or 5ch amp could do the trick.

 

[Geoh]

I totally agree.

I'm using my Signature S8, C5 and S2 with an Anthem Statement P2 and P5, and those speakers really likes the power... The new Yammy 4600 with a good and powerful 2 ch and/or 5ch amp could do the trick.

I totally Disagree....
The Z9 amps can more than handle the relatively easy to drive Paradigms.
The only thing you would be gaining with a more powerful separate amp is a little headroom that you might never need or use.
Just my opinion of course.

geoh

 

[Aliixer]

I agree as well. I have the Z9 and also thought of purchasing a seperate amps. However they are not needed. The Z9 is more than adequate for 8ohm loads with large tower speakers.

 

[nickbardom]

I'd like to thank everyone who left an opinion. I am tempted to use only a receiver, because it will need less space. But do you think the new flagship Yamaha receiver will be released this year?
I really like the RX-Z9, but I really want a HDMI conections with analog upconversion to it, so the RX-V4600 will not do the trick.

 

[nickbardom]

Hello again folks,

Any new speculation of when the new Yamaha Z9 substitute will be released?
I am just holding my new home theater because of it.

 

[Pyrrho]

Hello again folks,

Any new speculation of when the new Yamaha Z9 substitute will be released?
I am just holding my new home theater because of it.

Have you tried contacting Yamaha and asking them? They should have a better idea of such things than anyone else.

 

[dsegel]

The only issue I see using the RX-V4600 is the lack of the RF decoder for LDs.

What exactly do you mean by this? Does LD = Laserdisc? Why on earth would you hook up a Laserdisc player via RF?

 

[nickbardom]

Pyrrho,
Yes I tried to call Yamaha, but don't tell nothing about that!! It is easier do know the news about receivers here in this forum than with Yamaha!!

dsegel,
You need a RF decoder for LDs if you want to decode the Dolby Digital LDs. It is different the the normal coaxial digital used for DVDs. I use my LD with optical and RF connected.

 

[Pyrrho]

Thank you very much BobbyT and jaxvon,

The only issue I see using the RX-V4600 is the lack of the RF decoder for LDs. Do you think the new Yamaha RX-Z9 substitute will be released soon?
Do you know if the built in amplifier of the Z9 can handle the S8 and C5?

If that is all that is stopping you, you might want to purchase a separate demodulator. Here is one that should be great:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-RFD-1-LD-Dolby-Digital-AC-3-RF-Demodulator-new_W0QQitemZ5776089034QQcategoryZ3317QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(I have no connection with the seller, so I can guarantee nothing about him or her.)

It allows you to hook up both your AC-3 RF output, as well as your choice of optical or coaxial digital output from your laserdisc player, and automatically switches between them, favoring the AC-3 if present. So you use just one digital input on your receiver.

I personally use a Sony SDP-EP9ES processor for its RF demodulator. It requires me to manually select the AC-3 RF or other digital signal, though I still use only one digital input on my receiver.

There are many other processors available, usually used, on eBay.

 

[nickbardom]

Thanks for the tip Pyrrho. But I think the amplification part of a flagship receiver plus a Phono input and an analog to HDMI conversion would be better than buying the RX-V4600. I will also be using the presence speakers... I think I need a really good amplifier section to drive pair of S8 Paradigms, one C5, a pair of ADP, a pair of S4 and a pair of S2(presence).

 

[Brian JB]

Amp for Paradigm Signature S8

Speakers are first, electronics second. Switching gears, my wife makes a lot of dresses look good. Likewise, the S8s will make many amps sound good.

Pick an amp, SSP... not a receiver for the S8s.
Good luck!

 

[The Dukester]

My local Yamaha dealer says it will be sometime next year for the Z replacement. I would not look for it before spring, as a guess. He was right on with the 2600 coming out this fall. He told me about it a good 4-6 weeks before it was announced. You will usually get more info from a dealer than from the factory. They are pretty tight lipped to the public but will clue some of their dealers in on what's coming out.

 

[nickbardom]

Brian JB, I heard the S8 driven by a Z9 and I really liked it, so an receiver with this amplifier section will be enought for me.
The Dukester, Thanks for the info. So I think I will wait till Spring!!!

 

[rgriffin25]

Brian JB, I heard the S8 driven by a Z9 and I really liked it, so an receiver with this amplifier section will be enought for me.
The Dukester, Thanks for the info. So I think I will wait till Spring!!!

So buy a Z9, I think most of us would agree that connecting a video source directly to the Display is recommended. Don't get me wrong video switching is nice, however for me it wouldn't be a deal breaker especially if you like everything else about the Receiver. Next spring may turn into next fall and so on.
Another option might be the new Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVi found here It may not have as powerful amp section as the Z9 but it does have the HDMI switching you are looking for.