Yamaha RX-V1800: Did I make the right decision?

[FSUguy]

So yesterday I finally purchased my receiver from Best Buy (I'm an employee). I went there deciding between the Denon 2308CI and 2808CI. Basically I was deciding whether or not I wanted the player or the AVR to do the decoding for the new formats. Then after looking at cost, features, and talking to Magnolia Home Theater guys, I ended up coming home with the Yammy instead. 2 more HDMI inputs for just $34 more and I was sold....BUT I want to know your opinion...Yamaha, Denon, or Pioneer Elite (those are my only brand choices). What do you think, should I change brands to drive my Klipsch Reference Series Speakers?

Thanks

 

[gus6464]

I say keep the Yammy. It's the one I would have gone with between the three too.

 

[Addy]

yamahas a good choice but ether way your buying an excellent receiver and wont be disappointed..yamah and denon are my two favorite receiver brands

 

[3db]

So yesterday I finally purchased my receiver from Best Buy (I'm an employee). I went there deciding between the Denon 2308CI and 2808CI. Basically I was deciding whether or not I wanted the player or the AVR to do the decoding for the new formats. Then after looking at cost, features, and talking to Magnolia Home Theater guys, I ended up coming home with the Yammy instead. 2 more HDMI inputs for just $34 more and I was sold....BUT I want to know your opinion...Yamaha, Denon, or Pioneer Elite (those are my only brand choices). What do you think, should I change brands to drive my Klipsch Reference Series Speakers?

Thanks

Yamaha's have bullet proof reliability and great customer service. I think you did really well. If you do find your Klipsch bright, its not the Yamaha. Its the speakers.

 

[Seth=L]

I would have chosen the Yamaha over the Denon, in a heartbeat. The Yamaha is a sexier piece of equipment, and it's got a very good amplifier section.

 

[rnatalli]

Yamaha's have bullet proof reliability and great customer service. I think you did really well. If you do find your Klipsch bright, its not the Yamaha. Its the speakers.

Agreed. Also, Yamaha, Denon, and Pioneer all make fine receivers. It usually comes down to price and features.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Yes, you made the right pick. I will get a 1800 myself at some point.

 

[GlocksRock]

You did great... I love my RX-V1800 it's a fantastic piece of gear.

 

[alexsound]

So yesterday I finally purchased my receiver from Best Buy (I'm an employee). I went there deciding between the Denon 2308CI and 2808CI. Basically I was deciding whether or not I wanted the player or the AVR to do the decoding for the new formats. Then after looking at cost, features, and talking to Magnolia Home Theater guys, I ended up coming home with the Yammy instead. 2 more HDMI inputs for just $34 more and I was sold....BUT I want to know your opinion...Yamaha, Denon, or Pioneer Elite (those are my only brand choices). What do you think, should I change brands to drive my Klipsch Reference Series Speakers?

Thanks

Love Yamaha, hate their lack of power vs. the competion (Denon, Pioneer). BUT since you have Klipsch speakers, kind of a moot point since they don't require much power to drive them.

 

[Seth=L]

Love Yamaha, hate their lack of power vs. the competion (Denon, Pioneer). BUT since you have Klipsch speakers, kind of a moot point since they don't require much power to drive them.

Um, what? They are perfectly competitive in terms of power.

 

[alexsound]

Um, what? They are perfectly competitive in terms of power.

Maybe on paper, but realworld, most any test I've seen on Yamaha
from the 2300 to the 2700, they are not competive in pure output power.
In my experience. My 2500 sounds great when in lower volume, but I had to go with an outboard 7 ch amp from Outlaw to get the volume I wanted. My older 740 also lacked the cajuns when it came to brute output. And it's not just my imagination either. I had (gave it to my daughter) Pioneer 1014 that was an absolute brute, at least volume wise, and my son's Onkyo 603 seems to put out more power in every mode vs both the 2500 and the 740 before running out of steam. I actually hooked up and unhooked up all of these one weekend to make sure I wasn't going crazy. The Yamaha, in my "ears" had a better sound, BUT just didn't have the power to drive my Beta's to LOUD, especially in just stereo mode. When I cranked it up, it just plain started to get rough. the Pioneer was stronger, and next was the little Onkyo, but at normal volume, neither of those, IMO sounded as good as the Yamaha, so I decided to get an outboard amp. Once I go 1080P on my display, I'll get rid of both the Yammy and the Outlaw (maybe, might keep the amp just in case) and get me either an Onkyo 905 or a Pioneer 94.

 

[Seth=L]

Maybe on paper, but realworld, most any test I've seen on Yamaha
from the 2300 to the 2700, they are not competive in pure output power.
In my experience. My 2500 sounds great when in lower volume, but I had to go with an outboard 7 ch amp from Outlaw to get the volume I wanted. My older 740 also lacked the cajuns when it came to brute output. And it's not just my imagination either. I had (gave it to my daughter) Pioneer 1014 that was an absolute brute, at least volume wise, and my son's Onkyo 603 seems to put out more power in every mode vs both the 2500 and the 740 before running out of steam. I actually hooked up and unhooked up all of these one weekend to make sure I wasn't going crazy. The Yamaha, in my "ears" had a better sound, BUT just didn't have the power to drive my Beta's to LOUD, especially in just stereo mode. When I cranked it up, it just plain started to get rough. the Pioneer was stronger, and next was the little Onkyo, but at normal volume, neither of those, IMO sounded as good as the Yamaha, so I decided to get an outboard amp. Once I go 1080P on my display, I'll get rid of both the Yammy and the Outlaw (maybe, might keep the amp just in case) and get me either an Onkyo 905 or a Pioneer 94.

Yamaha RX-V1800 bench test results

Denon AVR-4308CI bench test results

While this is not a fair comparison (the Yamaha's MSRP is $1300 and the Denon's MSRP is $2,500) but the test results aren't hugely different. The ACD is certainly in favor of the Denon but the 1 channel ratings are remarkably close.

Remember back to the Yamaha RX-V659, it is highly regarded for it's amplification. The current Yamaha RX-V861 uses a similar amplifier.

Yamaha is very competitive in terms of power with the likes of Denon and Pioneer.

 

[alexsound]

Yamaha RX-V1800 bench test results

Denon AVR-4308CI bench test results

While this is not a fair comparison (the Yamaha's MSRP is $1300 and the Denon's MSRP is $2,500) but the test results aren't hugely different. The ACD is certainly in favor of the Denon but the 1 channel ratings are remarkably close.

Remember back to the Yamaha RX-V659, it is highly regarded for it's amplification. The current Yamaha RX-V861 uses a similar amplifier.

Yamaha is very competitive in terms of power with the likes of Denon and Pioneer.

I will say the bench results of the 1800 are better than any Yammy I've seen not including the RX-V1 or RX-Z9. I'm just going from my personal experience with the Yamaha units I have. And as insane as it sounds, I actually did what I said I did and I noticed a difference. A very noticeable difference.
Here's a bench test of the 2500. Looks great. But it just doesn't sound this powerful.

http://hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/605klipsch/index2.html

 

[PENG]

I just read the manual of the 603, I can see how it may in fact be a little more powerful than the 2500.

 

[jliedeka]

That's surprising that you perceive Yamahas to be weaker. I've always thought they were fairly conservative in the way they list their power ratings.

OP, I think the RX-V1800 is a great choice. It's on my short list for a receiver upgrade.

Jim