Yamaha AVENTAGE 2021 AV Receivers Bulk Up on Power and 8K Features

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I agree, and you should look at Trinnov's tweaking abilities, they are next level IMHO. Their products are cinema grade, including optimizing active crossovers up to a total of 64 channels.

Trinnov | Ultimate Immersive Sound Home Cinema Processor

Combined with the Altitude32 AV Processor, the Altitude 48ext delivers Dolby Atmos at home with a scale only found in real cinemas

www.trinnov.com

Sure, as soon as I can see some proofs of REW FR graphs that are +/-0.5dB.

If they are +/-3.5dB like some I've seen, why would I care what kind of tweaking it can do?

If someone said to you, “You gotta go audition these speakers because they are absolutely amazing”, and then you see that the FR of the speakers was +/-6dB, would you care to go see it?

 

[dlaloum]

My 5.2.4 setup bass (20Hz to 150Hz) after tuning with Dirac Live Room Control (standard EQ, same as Audyssey, YPAO or ARC)

Same setup after tuning / calibrating with ART:

I don't believe this kind of result is even close to possible with traditional EQ systems (regardless of brand!) - Dirac ART is bringing something new and quite different to the table.

For those unfamiliar with waterfall charts - this is showing frequency/amplitude as well as time (in ms) - so it shows the frequency response, but also the decay generated by reverb in the room - it quickly highlights modes/nodes as well as less persistant decay issues.

P.S: measured using REW with a UMIK1 calibrated measurement microphone - at home on my setup.

 

[PENG]

Speaking of REW, are there any REW graphs of Trinnov to show that it's actually any better than anything else?

No idea, we would have to a search. Trinnov's stuff are too expensive imo, I can afford the price but I just won't bother, see not enough reasons to own any of their AVP that have many features/functions that I don't need and won't use. The only reason I see, if to own something that costs so much and is unique in the sense that there are really no competition, yet still don't seem to have the best hardware I would want, examples: what kind of DAC, volume control, opamp ICs are used in their top 2 models?

 

[PENG]

Without going into comparisons with other systems, ARC is a useful tool for achieving certain goals. I do wish it supported more increments in it's internal adjustments (for better flattening of up and down adjacent ranges) or allowed for a least a couple user input PEQ adjustments on top of the rest. Like most room EQ, it does far better with peak reductions than dealing with dips, so sometimes you need to keep that in mind when planning your approach. Still, I have been able to reasonably tune things to my desired state using it and I have taken and posted multiple ARC and REW measurement screens going over the various steps of the process and their results.

Good to know, and love to see measurements. Please kindly provide a link, did you post on ASR? That's just about the only place I can see some ARC G measurements, not the >1000 pages of posts on AVSF where one can tell where the real fans are lol....

Link to some ARC G REW measurements, including mine:

ARC Genesis results | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

By the way, here is just an example of how poorly it did for me, even peaks, when compared to Audy and Dirac:

Below is one post where I showed screenshots of ARC G's good looking interface, but it also show how restricted it is in terms of adjustability for users to make/tweak:

Anthem AVM70 Review (AV Processor) | Page 49 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

You can see why it is so difficult, even ridiculous imo to say, try lowering a 6 dB peak at say 80 Hz, that YPAO would let you flatten it quickly with just one PEQ filter if you know how to set the "Q". With ARC G, tough luck trying that!!

 

[dolynick]

Please kindly provide a link

Posted in the systems section here for several months now.

I doubt you'll be satisfied anyways though. You've been singing the same tune for some time here and in other places. My post was more about encouraging NMG that it could be helpful.

 

[PENG]

Posted in the systems section here for several months now.

I doubt you'll be satisfied anyways though. You've been singing the same tune for some time here and in other places. My post was more about encouraging NMG that it could be helpful.

I would still want to see yours, and hope it is easy to find, thanks. Of course it could be helpful, and if that’s your tune, I guess I could sing the same too.

In fact I have said something similar many times. My point is that if more people have been more objective and not blindly sing their same tune all the time that ARC is the best, nothing. beats it etc without supporting data, then I bet Anthem might have been further ahead already.

As an example of how not so positive feedback works, on ASR, people used to complain about Marantz AVR/AVP, failed to measure as good as Denon’s. One generation later, now they do measure very well. Marantz listened, worked on it, and delivered results. That does not mean their last generation was bad, it is about improvements. I like my AVM70 a lot, but that’s why I really want, and hope Anthem would on ARC’s effectiveness, then I don’t have to choose my next upgrade/update based on the hardware side only.

 

[dolynick]

I would still want to see yours, and hope it is easy to find, thanks.

Living Room System

My living room system pulls duty for "fill the house with music" and more casual/lazy HT viewing, or if I just want to watch something on the QD-OLED instead. It's just gone through a round of up upgrades in the last few weeks as well. Current Equipment: Television: 65" Samsung S95C QD-OLED...

forums.audioholics.com

The last few posts with the set up and tuning of the new Founder 100Fs is what you'll want to look at. I documented the process I used for A) integrating my REL setup via high-level connection to the mains for a 2.0 music setup and B) how I then also integrated that with a pair of SVS subs for a 2.1/4.1 option for movies. You get base REW measurements, the ARC measurements, the chosen correction targets and curves (along with the reasoning on why I chose them) as well as a post correction REW measurement for the final integrations.

 

[PENG]

Living Room System

My living room system pulls duty for "fill the house with music" and more casual/lazy HT viewing, or if I just want to watch something on the QD-OLED instead. It's just gone through a round of up upgrades in the last few weeks as well. Current Equipment: Television: 65" Samsung S95C QD-OLED...

forums.audioholics.com

The last few posts with the set up and tuning of the new Founder 100Fs is what you'll want to look at. I documented the process I used for A) integrating my REL setup via high-level connection to the mains for a 2.0 music setup and B) how I then also integrated that with a pair of SVS subs for a 2.1/4.1 option for movies. You get base REW measurements, the ARC measurements, the chosen correction targets and curves (along with the reasoning on why I chose them) as well as a post correction REW measurement for the final integrations.

Found your posts, thank you very much.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My 5.2.4 setup bass (20Hz to 150Hz) after tuning with Dirac Live Room Control (standard EQ, same as Audyssey, YPAO or ARC)

P.S: measured using REW with a UMIK1 calibrated measurement microphone - at home on my setup.

So you only correct the bass region below 200Hz?

No EQ or correction above 200Hz?

 

[dlaloum]

So you only correct the bass region below 200Hz?

No EQ or correction above 200Hz?

Dirac ART only works in the 20-150Hz region. It works on tackling the Room... Decay time, nulls/nodes etc... also gets all speakers working cooperatively (supporting each other) - this is a paradigm shift product, and requires thinking about the system very differently.

Dirac Live (layered on top of ART) provides EQ - and does the same thing that most any of its competitors do, plus it has impulse and phase correction/adjustment. It can be configured full range or whatever range you want...

I have previously used Dirac Live with a target curve based on the speakers natural in room measured F/R.... so as to minimise EQ (above circa 200Hz) - DL still provided definitely improved clarity in this configuration.

Currently I am using their "easy"/automated option - which has two "handles / shelves" one for bass and one for treble - you simply set the +/- db limit, and Dirac then gently adjusts the speaker EQ to approximate the desired result, while keeping the overall speaker character... (the manual target curves can get far more draconian, and very fine adjustments can be made)
I have it set for bass +0db (no Harman curve here!) and treble -3db

Due to audible improvements in the midrange clarity with DL running full range, I have not gone further with trying limited range EQ (ie: below schroeder frequency only).

 

[EBN]

Taken from another forum. If this is true @gene should make a clip with Phil Shea as soon as possible about the new models like in 2021. Deep dive under the hood what has changed, is the same poor YPAO still present without subwoofer EQ when running the auto setup, does it have ability to limit the correction where required, phone app control finally? Please it`s 2026 not 1996! Hopefully we have some news tomorrow. Been long wait and Yamaha has had the time to make the changes to bring them on par with competition. The AI cancer is not good sign..

Yamaha will unveil new AV receivers and soundbars at CES 2026, which takes place in Las Vegas from January 6th to 9th, 2026. The new models will feature AI-powered automatic sound optimization functions and the next level of voice control, possibly even integrated into the speakers themselves. The software will also be updated, though it remains unclear whether existing Musicast models will benefit from this.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Taken from another forum. If this is true @gene should make a clip with Phil Shea as soon as possible about the new models like in 2021. Deep dive under the hood what has changed, is the same poor YPAO still present without subwoofer EQ when running the auto setup, does it have ability to limit the correction where required, phone app control finally? Please it`s 2026 not 1996! Hopefully we have some news tomorrow. Been long wait and Yamaha has had the time to make the changes to bring them on par with competition. The AI cancer is not good sign..

Yamaha will unveil new AV receivers and soundbars at CES 2026, which takes place in Las Vegas from January 6th to 9th, 2026. The new models will feature AI-powered automatic sound optimization functions and the next level of voice control, possibly even integrated into the speakers themselves. The software will also be updated, though it remains unclear whether existing Musicast models will benefit from this.

I don’t think anything significant has changed for Yamaha in the last 30 years. Just a few minor things here and there.

As a Yamaha user, my main interest is the cost. Did prices go up?

 

[EBN]

I don’t think anything significant has changed for Yamaha in the last 30 years. Just a few minor things here and there.

As a Yamaha user, my main interest is the cost. Did prices go up?

Me and @gene are praying that Yamaha brings back the orange display! Gene is still shedding tears before sleep every night since 2010... Poor guy.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Me and @gene are praying that Yamaha brings back the orange display! Gene is still shedding tears before sleep every night since 2010... Poor guy.

View attachment 77289

Haha, well I would like Yamaha to go back to the previous aesthetics as well - and if they don’t make a new AVP, at least bring back the CX-A5100 that Gene used to own.

If no new AVP - continue the CX-A5200/MX-A5200 at their same prices, but just improve it a little- make sure THD+N is like 0.001% or something like that.

 

[EBN]

Haha, well I would like Yamaha to go back to the previous aesthetics as well - and if they don’t make a new AVP, at least bring back the CX-A5100 that Gene used to own.

If no new AVP - continue the CX-A5200/MX-A5200 at their same prices, but just improve it a little- make sure THD+N is like 0.001% or something like that.

Phil Shea did say new processor would follow later in 2021, but we never saw that. Considering Marantz has 3 models (AV10/20/30) it would be nice to see at least 15.4 model in the line up, but as i explained earlier if it comes with YPAO only then who is going to want that at high cost? Folks that buys those expensive products has dedicated cinema rooms and want the best/most effective room correction to go with it. Which at the moment is DL & DLBC & ART combo. Maybe Yamaha should just bring AVRs with the ability to turn the amps off like in D&M models. Pre-amp mode i think it was called.

I do not see anything new at CES from Yamaha. We may have to wait little longer.

This guy knows some person working at Yamaha and he said;

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Phil Shea did say new processor would follow later in 2021, but we never saw that. Considering Marantz has 3 models (AV10/20/30) it would be nice to see at least 15.4 model in the line up, but as i explained earlier if it comes with YPAO only then who is going to want that at high cost? Folks that buys those expensive products has dedicated cinema rooms and want the best/most effective room correction to go with it. Which at the moment is DL & DLBC & ART combo. Maybe Yamaha should just bring AVRs with the ability to turn the amps off like in D&M models. Pre-amp mode i think it was called.

I do not see anything new at CES from Yamaha. We may have to wait little longer.

This guy knows some person working at Yamaha and he said;

View attachment 77299

When it comes to home theater, I think Yamaha has always been about keeping cost down. When Denon released their $7500 AVP and $7500 Amp, Yamaha released their $2500 AVP and $2500 Amp.

We were lucky we got a Yamaha AVP for a few years while it lasted because they usually only have AVRs. They are definitely not trying to compete with Marantz and Anthem.

So, if I were betting, I would bet Yamaha will still be keeping 11Ch as the max, which was already "PUSHING IT" for Yamaha. Their previous flagship AVR (RX-A3080) only had 9Ch.

And to keep costs down, there is no way they are getting rid of their beloved proud YPAO for anything else, especially with declining sales of AVRs.

The only 5 things I can hope for from Yamaha include 1) better aesthetics, 2) not increasing prices like everyone else, 3) continue 5YR warranty, 4) continue the 7-band manual PEQ, and 5) continue great service and support, including MusicCast. This sounds boring as heck, but that's always been like Yamaha.

Sales may be down, but the Yamaha name brand has always had a following. There will be plenty of people wanting to buy new Yamaha, especially if they have a new great-looking all-metal aesthetic.

 

[EBN]

When it comes to home theater, I think Yamaha has always been about keeping cost down. When Denon released their $7500 AVP and $7500 Amp, Yamaha released their $2500 AVP and $2500 Amp.

We were lucky we got a Yamaha AVP for a few years while it lasted because they usually only have AVRs. They are definitely not trying to compete with Marantz and Anthem.

So, if I were betting, I would bet Yamaha will still be keeping 11Ch as the max, which was already "PUSHING IT" for Yamaha. Their previous flagship AVR (RX-A3080) only had 9Ch.

And to keep costs down, there is no way they are getting rid of their beloved proud YPAO for anything else, especially with declining sales of AVRs.

The only 5 things I can hope for from Yamaha include 1) better aesthetics, 2) not increasing prices like everyone else, 3) continue 5YR warranty, 4) continue the 7-band manual PEQ, and 5) continue great service and support, including MusicCast. This sounds boring as heck, but that's always been like Yamaha.

Sales may be down, but the Yamaha name brand has always had a following. There will be plenty of people wanting to buy new Yamaha, especially if they have a new great-looking all-metal aesthetic.

There needs to be some new features/connections/processing if not extra channels for A4A and A8A. Not just facelift! To remain competitive we really need to see flagship with 13.2/13.4 processing similar to Denon X6800H / Cinema 30! There is people who wants to add those front wides. I would make a bet that their engineers would love to design some large 15.4 beast like Denon A1H. Do you remember the RX-Z11? I know @PENG would be jumping for joy if they brought the 2026 king kong version of this bad boy. Or was there even some more powerful model before/after this?

Yamaha RX-Z11 11.2 Channel A/V Receiver Review

Review: The Yamaha RX-Z11 has the ability to transform your listening space into an 11.2CH concert venue or cineplex is unrivaled. At its new $2499 price, it’s an absolute bargain while it lasts.

www.audioholics.com

I would accept small price hike if Yamaha would be in bed with Dirac so you could it get it as an optional upgrade. Onkyo/Pioneer has Dirac on board and the pricing is quite competitive so if those two could make it happen then why not Yamaha? They have had the time to implement it and Phil Shea talked how powerful the new DSP chip is and their plan to keep it long going forward so i would expect it to have enough calculation power for DL. You could then choose to use YPAO or Dirac just like Onkyo has AccuEQ & Dirac so rather than ditching it out they could still keep it and let customer decide which one to use. Easy or more advanced. I know it has the PEQ option, but that is way too limited which Gene complained as well and if we start to compare impulse response, front mains to sub integration etc. Dirac with DLBC is miles ahead of YPAO.

Yamaha bosses who makes the calls must know by now YPAO is hated at about every audio forum, youtube feedback shits on it and subjective reviews does not praise it either. People do research at these places which means Yamaha is off the list quite fast. There will be lot of disappointment if YPAO has not been updated at least to be more comparable to MultEQ XT32 which is very old. With the right people/engineering team you could make lot of changes in over 4 years to this kind of software. Give us tons of filters around 10-500Hz and high enough filter resolution for speakers and subs!! They should have hired @PENG so now we would have phone app/pc-software on the new YPAO Ultimate Bass Control 128-bit.

I have strong feeling Yamaha is going to nail the looks this time! Gun metal front face with big OLED display. Bring it on! Phil Shea teased about Yamaha moving into class- d amps in future. Could this be it? They have been so silent since 2021. They would finally have something to offer at this level most companies don`t, minus JBL. For me it feels like Yamaha is always step or two behind competition. They need to start thinking outside the box and bring something useful others have not yet implemented.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There needs to be some new features/connections/processing if not extra channels for A4A and A8A. Not just facelift! To remain competitive we really need to see flagship with 13.2/13.4 processing similar to Denon X6800H / Cinema 30! There is people who wants to add those front wides. I would make a bet that their engineers would love to design some large 15.4 beast like Denon A1H. Do you remember the RX-Z11? I know @PENG would be jumping for joy if they brought the 2026 king kong version of this bad boy. Or was there even some more powerful model before/after this?

Yamaha RX-Z11 11.2 Channel A/V Receiver Review

Review: The Yamaha RX-Z11 has the ability to transform your listening space into an 11.2CH concert venue or cineplex is unrivaled. At its new $2499 price, it’s an absolute bargain while it lasts.

www.audioholics.com

I would accept small price hike if Yamaha would be in bed with Dirac so you could it get it as an optional upgrade. Onkyo/Pioneer has Dirac on board and the pricing is quite competitive so if those two could make it happen then why not Yamaha? They have had the time to implement it and Phil Shea talked how powerful the new DSP chip is and their plan to keep it long going forward so i would expect it to have enough calculation power for DL. You could then choose to use YPAO or Dirac just like Onkyo has AccuEQ & Dirac so rather than ditching it out they could still keep it and let customer decide which one to use. Easy or more advanced. I know it has the PEQ option, but that is way too limited which Gene complained as well and if we start to compare impulse response, front mains to sub integration etc. Dirac with DLBC is miles ahead of YPAO.

Yamaha bosses who makes the calls must know by now YPAO is hated at about every audio forum, youtube feedback shits on it and subjective reviews does not praise it either. People do research at these places which means Yamaha is off the list quite fast. There will be lot of disappointment if YPAO has not been updated at least to be more comparable to MultEQ XT32 which is very old. With the right people/engineering team you could make lot of changes in over 4 years to this kind of software. Give us tons of filters around 10-500Hz and high enough filter resolution for speakers and subs!! They should have hired @PENG so now we would have phone app/pc-software on the new YPAO Ultimate Bass Control 128-bit.

I have strong feeling Yamaha is going to nail the looks this time! Gun metal front face with big OLED display. Bring it on! Phil Shea teased about Yamaha moving into class- d amps in future. Could this be it? They have been so silent since 2021. They would finally have something to offer at this level most companies don`t, minus JBL. For me it feels like Yamaha is always step or two behind competition. They need to start thinking outside the box and bring something useful others have not yet implemented.

We'll see who's correct.

I think many people tend to be optimistic and want significant changes, but I'll go with the side of history because historically, has Yamaha made any major changes?.

 

[dlaloum]

Phil Shea did say new processor would follow later in 2021, but we never saw that. Considering Marantz has 3 models (AV10/20/30) it would be nice to see at least 15.4 model in the line up, but as i explained earlier if it comes with YPAO only then who is going to want that at high cost? Folks that buys those expensive products has dedicated cinema rooms and want the best/most effective room correction to go with it. Which at the moment is DL & DLBC & ART combo. Maybe Yamaha should just bring AVRs with the ability to turn the amps off like in D&M models. Pre-amp mode i think it was called.

I do not see anything new at CES from Yamaha. We may have to wait little longer.

This guy knows some person working at Yamaha and he said;

View attachment 77299

From experience with the last 3 generations of AVR's.... a feature that AVR vendors should have, is the reverse of what they do have...

Rather than having a preamp mode (turn off or bypass the amps) - have a power amp mode - with bypass of all the preamp circuits!

The bit that gets dated quickly is the AVP, the decoders get updated, the DSP changes, new technology is released... we end up tossing our AVR's even though they have perfectly good (sometimes excellent!) amps in there that we could use!

Give me an AVR with a "power amp" mode - that would extend its useful life for me by at least a processor generation, and possibly much much more. (I still have my 1980's Quad 606 power amps, and they totally keep up with current technology....my old Onkyo SR876 had great amps, and could have done sterling service if it only had a power amp mode.... but the processor side of it was severely dated)