Yamaha RX-V659 vs RX-V1500

[desmo900rider]

I had my mind pretty much made up on the 659, that can be had for about $350, and I ran across a deal on a 1500 tonight at an outlet store...I picked one up for $300 out the door, it just seemed like too good of a deal to pass up...now that I get home and look up the specs, I see that the 1500 model is a bit older, released about 2.5 years ago, but has more power, 120wpc vs 100 on the 659...other than that, they seem to be about the same, feature-wise...the 1500 does not have iPod or XM features, neither of which I care about.

I'm going to be picking up a set of Maggies for this, so I could use the extra power...but I'm not sure if the 659 has any benefits as far as internal components that would be better; i.e. power supply, better/worse DAC, etc...

I do know that the 1500 had a MSRP of $799 and the 659 retailed at $549...

Anybody have input?

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver options

Great deal, I would keep the RX-V1500. On the RX-V659, Yamaha added the burr brown DACs, but the 1500 has a quality pre-amp and a better amp stage.
Maggies require lots of power so you still might need outboard amplification like an Emotiva LPA-1 or a couple of Behringer A500's.

 

[desmo900rider]

Yeah, I am leaving the option there for more amplification later, both do have pre outs...my main concern is that the 659 came out about 2 years after the 1500...I just wonder if those 2 years made a difference as for as tech...

The better amp stage that you mentioned sounds good though, I was not aware of that...do you feel that the pre amp on the 1500 is better than the 659 as well?

 

[abboudc]

I had my mind pretty much made up on the 659, that can be had for about $350, and I ran across a deal on a 1500 tonight at an outlet store...I picked one up for $300 out the door, it just seemed like too good of a deal to pass up...now that I get home and look up the specs, I see that the 1500 model is a bit older, released about 2.5 years ago, but has more power, 120wpc vs 100 on the 659...other than that, they seem to be about the same, feature-wise...the 1500 does not have iPod or XM features, neither of which I care about.

I'm going to be picking up a set of Maggies for this, so I could use the extra power...but I'm not sure if the 659 has any benefits as far as internal components that would be better; i.e. power supply, better/worse DAC, etc...

I do know that the 1500 had a MSRP of $799 and the 659 retailed at $549...

Anybody have input?

Great deal. I'd have taken the 1500 as well.

 

[jcPanny]

Yamaha receivers

Desmo,
Check out the AH reviews on the Yamaha RX-V2500 and the RX-V659 for more details on the pre-amp section. The 1500/2500 are only a year older then the RX-V659 and both should have a clean pre-amp section.