Yamaha RX-Z9 First Look

[gene]

Alas I am done! This one killed me folks. With all of this anticipation, I hope nobody is disappointed.

Yamaha RX-Z9 Review!

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Damm, you beat me to it, Clint had challenged me to find the url and I finally got it but 15 min late. I am not telling anyone how I got it though. Could come in handy later Clint, I was on the right track, but that's not how I found it.

 

[Jaycan]

Wow

This is like no review I've ever read in any magazine. Impressive, exhaustive, informative. And thanks Gene, for not pointlessly, endlessly, pontificating about the sublimity of the listening experience with ridiculous alliterations, as ALL audio magazines seem compelled. When I read it the 2nd time maybe some questions will surface. Strong effort!

 

[W4ZOO]

Alas I am done! This one killed me folks. With all of this anticipation, I hope nobody is disappointed.

Yamaha RX-Z9 Review!

WOW Nice review..

I've skimmed it twice today and have already made some corections to my setup.

What did you have setup for the 8 and 9 speakers ?
What was the location ?
I would like to play a little before I invest. In two to match my Onix 750'S.

If I use a set of B*** 101 colecting dust will they give me a reasonable idea of what 9.1 can do ?

Thanks

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks for this review. Clearly a lot of work.

You talk about DPL IIx. There are also a number of THX modes, which are a bit of a mystery:

Assuming that you can set your cross-overs frequency to 80Hz without applying THX processing, why would you apply THX processing to a THX DVD (which presumably has had cinema brightness removed as part of the THX-approved mastering process)?


There is a further dimension to all this. THX processing seems to use ASA to derive 7.1 signals from 5.1 tracks. But the same can be achieved with DPL IIx.

For example, the manual says:

THX Ultra2 Cinema: THX processing for non EX/ES encoded 5.1 channel sources. This program outputs sound from the surround back L/R speakers using ASA (advanced speaker array) processing. This mode is only available when you have set up a 7.1 speaker system (i.e. two surround back speakers), and the input signal has surround left and surround right contents.

THX Ultra2 Cinema mode plays 5.1 movies using all 8 speakers giving you the best possible movie watching experience. In this mode, ASA processing blends the side surround speakers and back surround speakers providing
the optimal mix of ambient and directional surround sounds. This mode permits the playback of a non Surround EX/ES encoded 5.1 movie to be played back over a 7.1 system. DTS-ES (Matrix and 6.1 Discrete) and
Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded soundtracks will be automatically detected, if the appropriate flag has been encoded. Some Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtracks are missing the digital flag that allows automatic
switching. If you know that the movie that you are watching is encoded in Surround EX, you can manually select the THX Surround EX playback mode (see below), otherwise THX Ultra2 Cinema mode will apply ASA processing to
provide optimum replay.


But there is also

THX Cinema: THX processing for any multi-channel source. 2-channel sources are decoded by the PRO LOGIC, PRO LOGIC II, PRO LOGIC IIx or DTS Neo:6 decoder before THX processing.

which may be preferable if you prefer DPL or DTS Neo over ASA?

For 6.1 sources, there is:

THX Surround EX: THX processing for Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital EX sources. This program is available only when surround back L/R speakers are connected to this unit and when the input source contains surround back channel signals.

THX Surround EX - Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and the THX Ltd.

In a movie theater, film soundtracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able to reproduce an extra channel which has been added during the mixing of the program. This channel, called
Surround Back, places sounds behind the listener in addition to the currently available front left, front center, front right, surround right, surround left and subwoofer channels. This additional channel provides the opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more depth, spacious ambience and sound localization than ever before.

Movies that were created using the Dolby Digital Surround EX technology, when released into the home consumer market may exhibit wording to that effect on the packaging. A list of movies created using this technology
can be found on the Dolby web site at www.dolby.com. A list of available DVD software titles encoded with this technology can be found at www.thx.com.

Only receiver and controller products bearing the THX Surround EX logo, when in the THX Surround EX mode, faithfully reproduce this new technology in the home.

This product may also engage the THX Surround EX mode during the playback of 5.1 channel material that is not Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded. In such case the information delivered to the Surround Back channel is program dependent and may or may not be very pleasing depending on the particular soundtrack and the tastes of the individual listener.

and a similar mode for DTS ES sources.


I can just about follow this, but then there is also

THX DD+PLIIx Movie: THX and Dolby Pro Logic IIx Movie processing for Dolby Digital sources. (and similarly for DTS 5.1 and for DTS ES Matrix 6.1)

How does this differ from THX Cinema?

Can anyone make sense of all this?

 

[Unregistered]

With ordinary digital connections, it is said that you can tell the difference between a DVD player and a good CD.

One i.Link question that has puzzled me is: if transmits a bit-accurate signal, jitter-free signal, is there now any real need for a dedicated CD player?

 

[Unregistered]

The Z9 has A and B speaker terminals. Is there any advantage in connecting the tweeter and bass connections of bi-wireable speakers to the A and B channels respectively?

Worth noting that one limitation of the Zone 2 analog line level outputs (which are different from the Speaker B outputs) is that they don't work if a digital source is used.

 

[O'Shag]

Gene,

thanks for all your labour. It is a really great review!

Now you need to rest for a short while to get re-charged to write the review for the new product Denon will release to answer the challenge.

Cheers Mate

O'Shag

 

[Audioholics]

Anonymous guest(s) - it takes 2 seconds to register - at least we'll know who we're talking to. Thanks!

 

[Yamahaluver]

Worth the wait, as usual, one of the most balanced, objective reviews one can find.

Thank You AH and Yamaha, please listen, no sub out in 2Ch mode is BAD, BAD, Bad.

I am sure all the doubts about this unit's power ability has been explained by Gene quite meticulously, hope there should not be anymore doubts about this issue.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I'd say the lack of a sub output in Direct mode is more than "bad"- I'd call it a dealbreaker. But I can't remotely afford a $4k+ receiver, anyway!

 

[gene]

Folks;

Thanks for all your great feedback and appreciate for my efforts in this review. As I mentioned before I realize I may not have covered all aspects of the product. There is just too much to the Z9 I suppose. Next time I do a review on a product like this, I will start writing it the day I unbox it

I am going to take a break on Z9 stuff until after the 4th. I am kinda burned out right now.

However I will return full steam on this Tuesday for sure. I will also be doing real world power measurements in a review addendum after my 7CH test load arrives. I hope everyone has a great 4th!!!

 

[Ricky]

gene,
I just read one of those rare and impressive reviews of an audio reciever
Thank you for your valuble review and sorry for givig you so much pressure to finish it up within such a short period of time. Almost everthing was covered in the review. But I still have a few questions for you, if you have your valuble time for this. you never mentioned about the sound quality between Z9 and Z1. Does Z9 edge out Z1 in sound quality? How do you compare Z9 with RXV- 2400? Right now I am using Z1 in my system. Is it worth an upgrade? I never want to use the video section or the internal amps of this reciever since I have all the necessary power amps and a high end dvd player with a p-scan out put. [My ultimate goal is to wait for HD-DVD] YAMAHA used two 44 bit dsp chips for Z1 while using four 32 bit chips for the Z9 what YAMAHA called it high definition surround. Is there any clear surround sound improvement over Z1? Appreciate if you can answer these questions. Once again thank you for your hard work.

Ricky

 

[gene]

Ricky;

You just caught me about in the middle of logging off so I will answer real quick. If you don't plan on using the video circuity of the Z9 or its amps, there may be little reason for you to do the upgrade other than:
1) PLIIx
2) Component Video Upconversion
3) THX Processing
4) Some advances in DSP (Can't quantify since I did not directly compare the two units simultaneously)
5) Variable crossover
6) i.Link for DVD-A/SACD
7) YPAO (although somewhat a mixed blessing)

I would say #1,#6 are probably the most valuable IMO.

The Z1 is an already great receiver so I am not sure what to tell you. If it makes sense financially go for it! If not, enjoy what you have.

 

[Ricky]

Gene,
Thank you very much for your quick response. After reading your post I decided to give it a listen in order to make sure whether there is a real improvement in overall sound quality. I made an appointment with a yamaha dealer today. Nice remarks with regard to my questions. Thank you and have a great 4th!!!

Ricky

 

[AlexS]

Listening preferneces

Thanks a lot for the great review, you done a really great job!

Just for curiosity: All you Z9 owners out there, which programm
do you usually use when listening to 5.1 DVDs? Do you usually use
the straight mode, or do you actually use one of the programms?

Ciao Alex

 

[jrp]

To make this review even more useful to those looking for a new receiver, it would be helpful to have view on the comparative sound character of the Z9. Eg,

- apart from the extra features to which you refer such as enhanced YPAO, how does the Z9 sound in comparison to the 2400 (what do you get for the extra $$$), the Z9's antecedents (eg, Z1, addressed earlier in this thread), and main alternatives (Pioneer, Denon, etc);

- what would you get in sound quality if you spent more (eg, on Lexicon).

 

[Yamahaluver]

Since I have had the Z-1 and have heard the RXV-2400 and own the Z-9, I can tell you that the amplifier section on the Z-9 sounds much richer than the Z-1 and the 2400 doesnt even come close.

 

[Ricky]

Yamahaluver,
Forget about the internal amplifiers of these three units. Have you ever used on of these units with one or two power amps? that really makes a difference. I myself have used RXV-2400 and the Z1 [which is in my current set up] both units come very close to each other. In fact with GEQ enabled RXV-2400 even sounds better than the Z1. So if these three units are used as pre-amps,there shouldn't be a big diffrence in sound quality. I asked a few questions about these recievers from GENE, you can read or you might have already read that in this thread. I have never used a reciever without two or three power amps in my setup. Happy listening!!!

 

[Yamahaluver]

As a matter of fact, I do happen to own three power amps, one MX-830, MX-1000U and MX-1 and can tell you that the Z-9 really makes using these amps redundant, I am quite happy with the quality of the Z-9's internal amps for movies and around 85% of music, only when I need to hear something critical, do I resort to using the external amps, the Yamaha MX amps are exceptionaly good and the MX-1000/MX-1 deliver 260W rms with capability to deliver 1000W into 4ohms of neccesary. They are dual mono design so you can see that I have some perspective equipment to compare with.

I dont believe in EQs and in fact, never needed one with my Yamaha speakers so I abhor the GEQ which I did try albeit with really bad results.