Yamaha RX-Z9 Firmware Upgrade???

[Markus]

I am wondering if the Yamaha RX-Z9 has come out with a firmware upgrade yet? or if they will be anytime in the near future?

It's kind of pointless to market a product as "upgradeable" when they never come out with new firmware, I mean the product has been consumer available for over a year now...
Hurry it up already.

Markus,

 

[Aliixer]

Rxz9 Upgrade?

What exactly do you want them to upgrade? I know hdmi switching would be nice, but thats hardware. I wouldn't be suprised if they never offered firmware upgrades. If I am wrong please enlighten me.

 

[Markus]

I would like them to upgrade the fact that speaker settings "db's" are only a "Global" option, I would like to set things up different for my music then I would my movies...
Even my old much cheaper Harmon Kardon AVR7200 had that option.

2ch with Subs active, Yes HDMI switching would be nice but like you said it is Hardware. The other 2 are software glitches that they should not have looked past.

There are also other things I was thinking about but these are my 2 main concerns. If you you are right that they will never release a firmware upgrade, then why market a product as being "upgradeable"? that would be the wrong thing for them to do if you ask me...

Markus,

 

[Aliixer]

I too would like to see the upgrade!

The ability to have subwoofer capability in 2ch would be nice. Can that be done with a firmware upgrade?
Also what do you mean by the global position of the db?

When I ask Yamaha over the phone about any changes, they say there is none at this time. Also they seem to have no clue what they are talking about. The guys over at Denon seem to know more about yamaha than yamaha themselves. alex

 

[troytn]

Does anyone know how to read the serial numbers on the rx-z9 and other recivers and determine the month and year of the item?
I know Denon does this. Does Yamaha?

Troy

 

[gene]

The ability to have subwoofer capability in 2ch would be nice. Can that be done with a firmware upgrade?

I don't think this is possible, but you can enter "Stereo" mode and have subwoofer output in 2CH. If you are running digital signals into the Z9 there should be no audible penalty since there is no additional A/D conversion stage.

Also what do you mean by the global position of the db?

What I meant was that the Z9 only has one storable channel trim settings for all modes of operation. IN other words you can't save different settings for the External inputs for DVD-A / SACD vs normal DD/DTS.

 

[Aliixer]

Z9

That makes more sense. That is unfortunate that the settings for the sacd/dvd audio and dts/dolby digital cannot be independent of eachother.Oh well I already bought it.

I do have another question, why is it that the sub only works when I have both selected in the menu. Selecting only the sub does not turn it on, also I only have one sub set up, the machine insists I have two by allowing me to make changes to two for db, regardless of what setting it is in. I selected all of the above.mono, stereo, front & back, all have the same effect.

One last thing I also cannot turn off the optimizer and zone2 readings on the front panel. ALEX

 

[gene]

The reason why the sub only works when you have "Both" set is likely b/c you selected "large for your main speakers. If you set them to "small" your sub should work for all modes other than "pure direct" when you have sub out set to "SW".

Not sure about dual sub settings. IF you select mono sub and specify only one sub is used, you should only have one level setting for the sub.

Optimizer should turn off once you disable YPAO or any of the automatically set features.

 

[Aliixer]

RXZ9 (slowly but surely getting there)

The reason why the sub only works when you have "Both" set is likely b/c you selected "large for your main speakers. If you set them to "small" your sub should work for all modes other than "pure direct" when you have sub out set to "SW".

Not sure about dual sub settings. IF you select mono sub and specify only one sub is used, you should only have one level setting for the sub.

Optimizer should turn off once you disable YPAO or any of the automatically set features.

Thank you once again. The zone 2 was turning on when I turned the amp on because there is three options in the remote menu:
1. turns on amp only
2. turns on zone 2 only
3. turns on amp and zone 2

I just had to select amp only to avoid switching zone 2 on every time in the other room.

The other problem was the speakers set to large affecting the option to choose both or sub only. this is strange to me. Because my prior receiver was the rxv3000, I had the ability to choose large or small completly independent of what option I chose for my lfe signal, (being sub only, mains only or both). Also the ability to lower the sub output by 20db is also only available in dolby digital. So listening to 2ch. stereo this option is not available. Only about 8db is offered to adjust.

As far as selecting mono sub setting the ability to adjust left and right sub levels is available regardless of having one or two subs.
I just wish there was a professional manual for this machine that included all the expert setup features including the computer link in the back. actual name slipped my mind...thanks for all your input..alex

 

[Krazykaj]

I just wish there was a professional manual for this machine that included all the expert setup features including the computer link in the back. actual name slipped my mind...thanks for all your input..alex

You may be interested with the Receiver Editor for the Z9 if you havn't already got it, or had a look at it.
There is also a manual to go with it.

YAMAHA RECEIVER EDITOR

The only other thing is that you can get a copy of the Z9 service manual, but i think you need to purchase that one, it is not avaliable electronically, and i don't think it is made easily avaliable to the general public either.

You may find the Receiver Editor handy, it makes setting up the Z9 a breeze, and you can store a number of configurations and switch between them easily.

Anyways,

cheers

(i know that since the Z9 has been bought out, there have been at least two large firmware updates for the whole system (Aussie models, could be different for US, though probably not), Video , DSP's and the whole Z9 in general. I have no idea how to check your Z9's firmware version, and Yamaha do not make the firmware updates avaliable to the public. You also need a small peice of software called "YAV Boot V511.exe" to upload and install the firmware on the Z9, so even if you did get a hold of the firmware, you still can't do it yourself unless you get this program off Yamaha, well as far as i know from what i've found out anyway .)

 

[Aliixer]

RXZ9 Receiver editor

You may be interested with the Receiver Editor for the Z9 if you havn't already got it, or had a look at it.
There is also a manual to go with it.

YAMAHA RECEIVER EDITOR

The only other thing is that you can get a copy of the Z9 service manual, but i think you need to purchase that one, it is not avaliable electronically, and i don't think it is made easily avaliable to the general public either.

You may find the Receiver Editor handy, it makes setting up the Z9 a breeze, and you can store a number of configurations and switch between them easily.

Anyways,

cheers

(i know that since the Z9 has been bought out, there have been at least two large firmware updates for the whole system (Aussie models, could be different for US, though probably not), Video , DSP's and the whole Z9 in general. I have no idea how to check your Z9's firmware version, and Yamaha do not make the firmware updates avaliable to the public. You also need a small peice of software called "YAV Boot V511.exe" to upload and install the firmware on the Z9, so even if you did get a hold of the firmware, you still can't do it yourself unless you get this program off Yamaha, well as far as i know from what i've found out anyway .)

Thank you....I have the editor now, just hooked it up to the rs232, I believe and I was able to save all my presets, preferences and the optimized settings. So if I ever needed to I can upload them, trick feature. As for the service manual, its for reparing, My is working fine so I opted against that after calling yamaha.

 

[Krazykaj]

As for the service manual, its for reparing, My is working fine so I opted against that after calling yamaha.

True, but usually alot of info about the unit is contained in these service manuals, as well as back doors into the system, and 'hidden' features used for testing and configuring etc.

cheers

 

[ricvieira]

RXZ9 Receiver editor

I'm also trying to get the editor for the RX-Z9. Unfortunately, the link provided by Krazykaj does not work anymore. Does anyone know where to get this editor? Also, any success in upgrading the firmware? Thanks in advance!

 

[smileyone]

RXZ9 Receiver editor

I have a copy I downloaded a few years ago, PM me so I can send it to you.

 

[ricvieira]

Thanks smileyone. I ended up getting the software from Krazykaj.

 

[erikjohn]

Smiley,
I would like a copy of that if you would be so nice as to email it to me. I will send you a PM with my email.

Thanks in advance.
-EJ

 

[erikjohn]

Darn, I can't PM without 5 posts.

 

[erikjohn]

Shameless lame post to hit 5 post minimum for PM's.


-EJ

 

[erikjohn]

BTW for anyone interested. My Z9 is in the shop as I bought it as a factory 2nd and it had a damaged board. Anyway it was warrantied and I am hoping to get it back from the shop next week as it has been waiting on backorder parts. Anyway one of the issues I had with it was that it would not pass 1080i. They ended up replacing some transistors and IC's and a processor chip.

I wonder if this issue had anything to do with the firmware upgrade that came out for it. When I first took it to the service guy I asked him to see if he could do the upgrade and he said after he talked to Yamaha they would not give it to him unless there was a certain problem reported however this was prior to him troubleshooting my complaint of the video problem.

-EJ

 

[smileyone]

Hi ericjohn,

I've sent the file. Could not even reply to your PM since I had not posted 5 things yet. This makes 2.

Smileyone