Yamaha any good ?

[daslolo]

Hi all,

I've browsed throughg a lot of posts before sumitting this question as I couldn't find anything on topic.

I am about to purchase a receiver and since I've had good luck with Yamaha in the past I'm planning on getting an HTR. Since most posts recommend HK I'm wondering if that means Yamaha aren't so good?

My budget is sub $500, I was planning on getting a 5760. I am looking for a unit that's EZ to setup, sounds melodic, not too harsh and has good surround support.

Any recommendation is welcome.

My speaker setup is pws505, pti-6 front, pti-4 back, csi-8 center.

Thanks.

[dkg999]

I think you'll find that discussing which receiver is best is about as successful as discussing which brand of truck is best or which brand of shotgun is best! We all have our favorites and much of that is based on how our ears hear the sound produced. Like you, I have had good luck with Yamaha audio equipment for the last 20 years, and like the sound of it. HK is very close to the warm sound of Yamaha equipment, and is also a good choice if you like the Yamaha sound. Go listen and then balance that against the features you desire. There's probably not a whole lot wrong with any of the major brands of HT receivers available in your price range.

[dorokusai]

Originally posted by dkg999
I think you'll find that discussing which receiver is best is about as successful as discussing which brand of truck is best or which brand of shotgun is best! We all have our favorites and much of that is based on how our ears hear the sound produced. Like you, I have had good luck with Yamaha audio equipment for the last 20 years, and like the sound of it. HK is very close to the warm sound of Yamaha equipment, and is also a good choice if you like the Yamaha sound. Go listen and then balance that against the features you desire. There's probably not a whole lot wrong with any of the major brands of HT receivers available in your price range.

I agree, and I'll add that an HK does not sound like a Yamaha to me :) HK is a better product IMO. The newer line Yamaha Z series is changing my mind however, they are robust and powerful.

[hamzahsh]

I own Yamaha RX-V1400 and the sound quality is outstanding. Very, clean, refined and detailed but not harsh or sibilant. Movies and music both sound very sweet and warm. I love it. If you visit www.audioreview.com you can check out the reviews for it. One of the users wrote that it sounds better than his Pioneer Elite 49TX which costs $3000. I also asked one of the salesmen and he said the sound from this receiver is equal to $3000 receivers. It also outperforms some of the processors according to Audioholics review.




;)

[hamzahsh]

There are many other receivers to choose. Make sure you demo first and let your ears decide.

Yamaha, Denon, Onkyo, HK, Marantz, Pioneer Elite all make quality receivers.

:)

[trubluluc]

...as the new models will be coming soon and last years or older will be discounted big time.

I love Yamaha!!!

Currently I have:
RX-V1 receiver
DSP-A1 processor/amp
RX-Z1 receiver

All have outstanding build quality, clean sound, with very low distortion.

I bought all of these for about a 1/3 of msrp. so even with a $500. budget shop around, for an open box deal.

-Luc

[dkg999]

dorokusai - it does point out how differently we all hear things! I must say that my comment on HK sounding like Yamaha is based on the PA2000/2200 and the Citation amplifiers, not on their current HT receivers. I also have to agree that the latest RX-V1400/HTR-5790 Yamaha receivers have a much bolder, wider, deeper sound than the previous receivers. There is much difference between my HTR-5660 and my HTR-5790. The 5790 is pretty incredible for HT! As was said in one of the posts, go listen and check out all the brands listed, and try to be unbiased going in.

[dorokusai]

DKG - I agree, I don't mean to say Yamaha isn't good, just not my choice in gear, vintage or new. I have to say that the Z1, like Trubluluc owns, is a bad ass looking AVR, and so heavy....damn I like it when they weigh alot :)

[sowen010599]

I have the RX-V2400 and I friggin love it! It's basically the same unit as the 1400 but with bigger caps, an rs232 port, and 10 more watts per channel.

I was on a two month long crusade before I got that thing. I listened to, demoed, purchased/returned most every other receiver on the market in that price range (750-1500) before deciding on it. It wasn't that hard of a choice to be honest. I think it's closest competitor was the Denon. But, even so, the Yammerhammer was still my favorite.

[daslolo]

Thanks to all your feedback.

Now I like warm sound, and I see the htr 5760 at a great price, is there anything you all know in the sub $500 price range that beats in in term of sound quality and spacial quality ?

Cheers

[fireshoes]

The RXV1500 will be out next month, so I'd hold out for a discounted RXV1400. I'd bet that you can find one within your budget as dealers start to unload them.

[hamzahsh]

Originally posted by fireshoes
The RXV1500 will be out next month, so I'd hold out for a discounted RXV1400. I'd bet that you can find one within your budget as dealers start to unload them.

Agree with fireshoes. Look for a deal on 1400. I know you're looking for a warm sound. 1400 is a sweet sounding warm receiver. You'll be amazed how beautiful it sounds. No kidding!

[Toxis]

Here's my opinion on the matter.

Yamaha - Good quality product, great build quality, decent sound for the money, even more options than needed. DSP's are the devil. They sound like total dog ass. No one uses them (except maybe 3% of their owners actually do, everyone else hates them or doesn't want to deal with switching to see which one sounds better). Who honestly wants to listen to their music as if it's a NYC Jazz club, California smoke-free dance club, German Bathroom, etc. If you've ever HONESTLY played around with their DSP's, you'd realize they make the music sound like total dog****. Now answer me this. How can the receiver ACCURATELY make the music sound exactly like they have measured for without knowing what speakers you're using? Speakers make a bigger difference in sound than the receiver.

Harman/Kardon - Great product, good build (starting to decline IMO), very warm and inviting sound. They seem to be a couple years behind the times in what's a good selling feature. Great looking stuff, gotta give it that. One of the highest current receivers on the market (25 amps on a $350 receiver? NICE!). Low wattage which IMO keeps the dynamics down, BAD! The receiver just isn't dynamic enough for me and I personally point that towards the low wattage output. High current definitely helps in the low end but not in the highs.

We had an HK training a month or so ago, which the trainer was a total smacktard but don't hold that against HK. The only good amount of info he had was the A/B comparison between the Yamaha HTR series receiver and the HK AVR 230. I can't remember the number on the Yamaha but it was their best one that BB carries. When side by side comparing them (each on a set of JBL E80 Towers, same source), the Yamaha fell flat on it's face. No bass, and what little was there was muddy. The highs were accented and harsh. The midrange could not have sounded more processed............. and all this was in 2ch. stereo mode. Whether you use the DSP processor or not, the sound still goes through it and it's now "processing" a stereo sound. Horrible. Now when he switched to the HK receiver, it sounded very warm. The bass was tight and powerful. The midrange had depth to it and imaged a little better than the Yamaha. The highs were clean but sounded a bit muted IMO. Overall, the sound was very soothing, great for background mellow kind of music playing IMO.

I definitely would say between the two, GO HK! Well, unless you want to listen to your music in 61 different flavors that all sound like German Bathroom to me...

[stereo55]

As a current owner of an HTR-5660 , I hate to say it ... but try and stay away from the lower end Yammies , as the amp section in these units are not up to par for full HT use (IMO) , not even in a small 12X12 bedroom setup as I have . My 5660 just did not have enough "UMPH" when doing heavy 5.1 HT , as I could hear the highs being strained ; which got to be unexceptable . I did however know this fact when I made my 5660 purchase , as I was planning to use the 5660 as a pre/pro and add separate amps a little later on for my mains and center (also allowing me to put a little more $$$ into my speakers (with-in my very limited budget) .
The newer series Yammies (HTR-57XX/ RXV-1400/2400 were not out yet when I made my 5660 purchase and seem to perform MUCH MUCH better then previous models (and the YPO/THX is a nice added plus) .
I purchased a Yamaha over HK only due to the fact I thought the Yamaha was more dynamic sounding for HT usage ; and the HK was better suited for music ; along with my usage for the Yamaha being 100% for HT.

If I had to make a purchase today , I would go with no less than a 5790/1400 , or possibly a 2400 (as my brother just grabbed a RXV-2400 @ Goodguys for $600/new this past holiday weekend)
Dont get me wrong about HK's either , I really like their amp section , and sound ; but I think HK is more for music and Yamaha is more about HT (again , just my opinion). But for $500 and prices falling on both the Yamahas and HK's it would be a hard call either way .

As things stand now Iam happy with my setup since the amps were added .

Do a side by side and let your ears do the deciding ;) :D

[Toxis]

Honestly, coming from a mediocre HK fan and retailer, the EzSet is a joke. It's a mic on your remote to set the volume levels. It doesn't do THAT good of a job. Even if you set it, I always go back and tweek it to my ears, not my remote pointed at the TV. Denon's RoomEQ is pretty cool but still requires tweeking when you're done. I've heard that Yamaha's version also needs help. TRUST YOUR EARS! That's what you're doing is setting the system to your ears, so use them... not some machine.

$.02 tendered.

[fireshoes]

Toxis, do you have Yamaha there to listen to yourself? Anytime a rep does a 'versus' demo, take it with about 10 grains of salt. Try playing it yourself and with your own music, if you haven't. Not saying the H/K isn't good, but reps are paid to make their products look superior. Like at the Bose store. :)

[dkg999]

Stereo55 - I have to somewhat disagree on the HTR-5660. I have had one for a couple of years and although it was mainly used as a pre/pro with external amps for the mains and center, I was pretty impressed with it. It's in my bedroom now running a HT setup with RTi6's and RTi28's now, and seems to do very well! I'm going to take it up to my cabin to use with the B&O S75/S45's that I have up there. I learned recently that if you have it plugged into a power conditioner, it really puts a negative impact on the sound.

[Toxis]

Originally posted by fireshoes
Toxis, do you have Yamaha there to listen to yourself? Anytime a rep does a 'versus' demo, take it with about 10 grains of salt. Try playing it yourself and with your own music, if you haven't. Not saying the H/K isn't good, but reps are paid to make their products look superior. Like at the Bose store. :)

I don't sell Yamaha at my current place no, but I did work for a shop for 2.5 years that did sell it. There I had Yamaha and Marantz and there was no comparison. Marantz sounded FAR superior.

I know what you're saying about reps and what-not. I do take it with a grain of salt but on the flip side, I helped hook it up and set it up. He didn't know how to get it all working so he called me in to get it working. I can honestly say, they were setup properly.

[hamzahsh]

Toxis, I work for BB Canada and we also carry Yamaha HTR series. Personally I never liked the sound of HTR series. I don't know if you heard the RX series. They are the best. I have RX-V1400 and it sounds better than lot of receivers, including HK and Marantz.

[trubluluc]

.

[daslolo]

All these replies seem to confirm what I thought: Yamaha sound a bit light.
Now I understand that speakers have a specific sound and that you're better off with a receiver that matches these speakers.

What is the ideal combination with Polk?

Cheers

[abenedicto]

If I would've read all these post before I purchased my Yamaha, I would have never listened to one. I was a Denon/Onkyo man for 15 years, and I decided to give Yamaha a try, and thank goodness I did. I never looked back. Granted I have lower end Yamaha but were else can you get the features and power at this price point: (PLIIx, audio sync,6.1, center eq, 85w/ch at 0.06% distortion !!,Dynamin Range settings, plus all the other bells and whistles). As for music I love it, and movies forget about it...It rocks.

[dorokusai]

If it sounds good to you, then it is good. Glad you are happy :)

[Toxis]

Originally posted by dorokusai
If it sounds good to you, then it is good. Glad you are happy :)

I agree...

now if we can just get them to start rating their amps at full bandwidth power again.

[abenedicto]

now if we can just get them to start rating their amps at full bandwidth power again

This could be easily obtainable by looking at the equivilant model in the rxv series....HTR series are rated differently.

[audiobliss]

Just to throw my 2 cents worth in here...

I have the Yamaha RX-V1400, and I really like it. It's powering Klipsch RF-35 tower speakers and does a very good job (in a bedroom). I would recommend it any day. Wait until the RX-V1500 comes out; I'm sure you can find a good deal on a 1400 when they hit the shelves.

I would also put a vote in for Marantz. I really like the look, feature set, sound, etc. Sometimes, I wish I had gotten one. But, I never really listened to one much. I guess you always think that with audio gear.

Anyhoo, go with what you ear likes (and your wallet can afford).

Good luck!!