YAMAHA RX-V665 ... Is it a decent low end receiver??

[Alamar]

To make a long story short I'm pretty sure that my craptastic 6 yr old receiver has bit the dust. Therefore I'm looking for a replacement. Most of my equipment is quite low end [by Audioholics standards] but even though I don't want to spend much money I don't want to waste my money either. Basically I'm looking for:

-- A solid unit that will last a while
-- It needs to handle the sources I have now
-- I don't want to kick myself if/when I upgrade components

My current setup is:
-- An XBox with component & optical out
-- 2 DVD players with component & digital coax out
-- A turntable [that the wife says she'll use in the future ...]
-- An older HDTV with DVI & HDCP
-- A 5.0 speaker system

In the [near?] future:
-- I'll likely retire a DVD player and add a BluRay player
-- I'd like to add a cable box and maybe sources
-- I'd like to add a couple of speakers and a decent subwoofer [duh]


From what research I've done the Yamaha @ 400$ looks like a reasonable buy but I thought it would be good to request some expert recommendations

 

[Highbar]

The 665 should do you well. It's more of a mid-level receiver than a low end one.

 

[CraigV]

The previous generation 663 can still be had new, and would be a better choice IMO.

 

[Nomo]

The previous generation 663 can still be had new, and would be a better choice IMO.

I agree with this.
The 665 added an extra HDMI while sacrificing a good amount of power.
Not a fair trade off IMO.

 

[3db]

I just looked at the back panel of both receivers, RX-V663/665 and none of them have a dedicated phono input. This means you will have to purchase a seperate phono pre-amp to get teh turntable to work with the receiver. There are a few companies tha make phono pre-amps such as thios as an example;

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?info=boxdesign&cat=boxes&lang=en

 

[fast1]

is this a good price?

http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-RX-V663BL-7-1-Channel-Theater-Receiver/dp/B0013ZGOWY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239621681&sr=8-1

 

[Alamar]

I just looked at the back panel of both receivers, RX-V663/665 and none of them have a dedicated phono input. This means you will have to purchase a seperate phono pre-amp to get teh turntable to work with the receiver. There are a few companies tha make phono pre-amps such as thios as an example;

http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?info=boxdesign&cat=boxes&lang=en

I didn't notice any preamps on the Yamaha but I wouldn't mind adding in a preamp IF the wife decides that she actually wants to use her turntable.

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I agree with this.
The 665 added an extra HDMI while sacrificing a good amount of power.
Not a fair trade off IMO.

Is the only real tradeoff in power that you're aware of? I listen to movies [and sometimes music] with the volume pretty low so I wasn't thinking that power would play as big of an issue. IIRC I normally listen between -55 and -40 dB depending on the source.

 

[Nomo]

Is the only real tradeoff in power that you're aware of? I listen to movies [and sometimes music] with the volume pretty low so I wasn't thinking that power would play as big of an issue. IIRC I normally listen between -55 and -40 dB depending on the source.

Besides dumping the S-video connections, and no one will be missing them, that's pretty much it.
It does have pre-outs for an external amp somewhere down the road if needed.

 

[Alamar]

Does anyone have a receiver to recommend in the 300-400$ category that would work better for what I outlined [esp. the turntable]??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nomo]

To get the phono pre amp feature you would need to spend considerably more to step up to a receiver with that capabilty than simply buying a outboard unit to do the same thing.
For example the next Yamaha up is the RX-V863, (last years model) is around 2-3 hundred more than the 663.
I wouldn't let that be a limiting factor in receiver choices.

 

[Alamar]

To get the phono pre amp feature you would need to spend considerably more to step up to a receiver with that capabilty than simply buying a outboard unit to do the same thing.
For example the next Yamaha up is the RX-V863, (last years model) is around 2-3 hundred more than the 663.
I wouldn't let that be a limiting factor in receiver choices.

Thanks man.

FYI: I didn't mean for that to be a limiting factor ... I'm just looking for some input to say "hey newb you should have thought of XYZ"

As before any suggestions are quite welcome.

 

[Alamar]

UPDATE: I pulled the trigger and have had the unit for about a week or so. It's working like a champ, doing what I need to do, and everything seems fine. I'd like slightly finer control over certain things but [for 400-500$] I'm happy with things so far.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[Adam]

Alamar, I'm happy to see that you are enjoying your new gear!

Besides dumping the S-video connections, and no one will be missing them, that's pretty much it.

I'd miss the S-video connections. Seriously.

I think the removal of assignable digital audio inputs, assignable component video inputs, and fewer component video inputs might also be a detractor for some - it would be for me.