Outstanding 5.1 sound. Decent features and good build quailty. Solid receiver for the price.

Needed a few more video inputs with S-video for items such as video games. Of course this would have increased the price so it's not really a weakness.

Wow! I am one giddy individual. I've had a DVD player for two years now and I have been getting by on Pro-Logic alone. I certainly wanted a AC-3 receiver but it seemed that every time I got enough dough together, I ended spending it on other things. (i.e., rent) Having an Onkyo pro-logic receiver, I didn't want to sacrifice any quality just to get 5.1 sound.

Well I'm happy to say that I made a good choice in the Yamaha 5150. I was THIS CLOSE to getting the Onkyo 575 but the lack of any S-video inputs and the rumored hiss coming from the center channel pointed me into the direction of the Yamaha. Even though the 575's remote is incredible I don't mind 5150's remote. It's light years ahead of the remote I was using with my Pro-Logic receiver. I would change some of the functions and design but it certainly isn't as bad as some have said it is. At least it can perform some very important functions for my TV (Toshiba), VCR (Zenith), DVD player (Toshiba), and CD player (Onkyo).

The difference between Pro-Logic and Dolby Digital is night and day. How did I last this long without DD? I own over 100 DVD's and it's like experiencing them for the first time in DD. Being one of the early adopters of DVD, my player (Tosh. 3006) doesn't output dts so I haven't had the chance to test this feature yet. My next DVD player will have it but I'm very happy with what I have for now. I seriously doubt that the difference between DD and dts is as dramatic as DD and Pro-Logic.

My old Onkyo had nearly the same wattage for the main channels but due to the Yamaha's high current design, it ouputs much more clean volume. This baby can get LOUD! I use my receiver more for music than for watching movies and I'm really impressed with it. I'm using the Cambridge Soundworks Tower's which are bi-polar and the sound really fills my living room.

I had some people over to watch Saving Private Ryan and they thought that I had invested tons of money for the sound quality I now get. I told them that the receiver made the difference and that I got it for $400. The damn thing was cheaper than my Pro-Logic receiver was three years ago!

The Pro-Logic sounds very nice too while watching regular broadcasts. Even better than my old receiver.

I know that I will not own this unit forever but for the time being, it's a breath of fresh air. Considering my expectations and modest budget, it's almost as it they designed this receiver with me in mind. What else can I say? I love it.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 575 Denon 1700 JVC 888 Pioneer 608

Quality for price

Remote is a little cumbersome to navigate with

I too ordered from one call. Although I paid more than I could have, the order has received promptly, double-boxed and with no complaints.
The difference between this receiver and my 9 year old one is night and day! (even though I paid less for this one!)
I haven't tried a DTS source yet, but Dolby Digital is decoded well, with the usual Yamaha DSP add-ons. The only negative for me is the round input selector on the remote. It is a waste of time to spin it around looking for the proper source, when to me seperate push buttons would be quicker.
A good buy!

Similar Products Used:

9 year old Pioneer Pro-logic receiver

Very Clean sound

Remote control is difficult to use.

I got this receiver last month. So far, I'm very satisfied with it. $399 with DD and DTS decoder, you can't beat this one.

DD and DTS. $400. S-video, 70 watts, Yamaha quality. Can't be beat!

I must agree, the cumbersome, wierd remote!

Best bang for the buck. All the features you would actually need for the best price.

Similar Products Used:

Sony

DD, DTS. Discrete amp section

Remote will take some getting use of

I first was going to buy the Outlaw 1050 with is $499 direct. Then I stumbled upon this beauty.. I got it at sears for $279 on a price match from www.moreaudiovideo.com.

What can I say about the reciever that hasn't already been said. There more then enough power for me, Its clean, manages the powered sub greatly.

I give it 5 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood VR305, Pioneer VRX-555

I am very pleased with overall performance.

Phono stage (?)

Not a review as much as a question. I have a Music Hall MMF-5 turntable and am wondering what other posters might think of the phono stage on the HTR-5150. Would an outboard phono stage for a Goldring MM cartridge be in order or is the standard phono stage adequate? Otherwise I have been more than satisfied with this unit. Any opinions are appreciated.

All the above EXCEPT...

The protection circuit is incredibly annoying. I have had this thing shut off on me at volumes that should not have even come close to the the abilities of this unit.

What good is the high quality sound and excellent features if it's going to shut down on you so often that it becomes incredibly annoying? I am a casual Listener and do not crank the volume even close to the ability of this unit, 1/2 volume is about max for me. Yet when it hits certain notes at 1/3 volume and sometimes less, it will shut down. If it wasn't for this one deficiency, I would rate this unit a five star all the way across the board. As it stands with the protection circuit, I can only give it a one star. Funny how one deficiency can ruin a good thing.
If anyone knows a way to overcome, correct, or bypass this circuit... Please let me know.

I haven't receiced my unit yet, but wanted to let you guys know where you can find the unit for a steal. I purchased the 5150 on-line at onecall.com I believe it is called, or bizrate.com for $391.76+$27.33Shipping for a grand total of $419.09. Will repost and let you know my opinion when I install it.

This is a very good product if you would like to get a receiver that has a lot of the bells and whistles, without a lot of "gimmicky crap" (cough...Sony...), and incorporates some VERY decent sound/amp features. Yamaha, like Onkyo, H/K, and other better-built stuff (although it's not QUITE that caliber), uses discrete amplification channels, which means that you basically have 5 seperate amp channels. This fights signal distortion. Also, this model features >3< s-video inputs on the rear, and 1 more on the front! Try getting that with the $499 Onkyo 575. Good luck finding these features anywhere else at this price. We're talking 5.1 DTS, Dolby Digital, DSP (pretty good), optical inputs, digital input, a/b main speakers, sub-output, lots of clean, natural power... But this will NEVER match a $1000 system. Keep in mind that ANY other top-end brand receiver in this price range is either half the wattage or lacks s-video or is that brand's lowest end stuff. For Yamaha, you're getting a very natural sounding receiver (that's why they call it Natural Sound!) at an amazing price. I was almost ready to buy that middle-of-the-road Onkyo until I saw the features they "withheld" because it wasn't their upper-end model. I also thought about the H/K until I saw it was 40 watts. (Ok, so a nice, high amp 40 watts, but still)... This is PLENTY of power and if you get a powered sub you're golden. I run all JBL speakers (again, nice top of the "common speakers" brand) with a powered sub. If you are looking at $400-500 dollar Sony's, do yourself a favor and go quality/sound over a name brand. Yamaha has been making this sort of stuff when Sony was still a baby. And you still get Digital/DTS and all that nonsense. PS-No matter what anyone says, that remote is fine with me. It can do all major brands when you program it with the right code. It controls my entire system, TV too.

Excellent sound quality,solid construction, S-VHS switching

Yep, that remote control...

For the last several years, my Yamaha V480 has been serving nicely in my decidedly modest (read: low budget) system (Paradigm Atom mains, CC-100 center, Atlantic Technology 162PBM woofer, Atlantic Technology 154SR surrounds). I added a Sony DVP-S500D DVD player last year, but financial reality dictated I wait a while before adding a Dolby Digital receiver.

Recently, the search began in earnest to replace the V480. I had a $500 ceiling and had been looking at the RX-V595a (the 5150's specialty store clone) and of course - the Onkyo 575. The Onkyo had it's appeal. Quality design, construction, sound and what looks to be an excellent remote control. Aside from the remote, the Yamaha offered similar attractions.

One of the biggest reasons for leaning towards the 5150 vs the 575 is the Onkyo's lack of S-VHS switching. Owning both a DVD player, S-VHS VCR feeding into a Trinitron with a single S-VHS input, this certainly was an issue. Also, from what I've read, the Onkyo's sonic character leans towards "mellow". I felt the somewhat more "analytical" sound of the Yamaha might make a better match with my (first generation) Atoms which are a bit recessed in the highs.

It was only going to take a nudge before I would take the plunge. The planets and stars must have come into alignment when I received an email from OneCall Electronics stating that they were offering 1 year "same-as-cash" financing that weekend. That plus their sub-$400 price was the clincher. FedEx had the 5150 here in couple days and it took it's rightful place in my equipment cabinet. All-in-all, it integrated nicely into my system, sounds great and everything works as it should. The big eye-opener came when the "Saving Private Ryan" DVD arrived in the mail a couple days later. I immediately popped it into the S500, watched the opening battle scene, and was blown away! That really made all worthwhile.

Alas as others have pointed out, the remote's operation is less than intuitive - the dial selector being the weak point. If they had only made the entire dial face visible, it might be a bit easier to deal with. Other than that, the rest of the package is wonderful. More than enough clean power in my space-limited environment. The separate subwoofer out (something the old V480 lacked) really woke up the little Atlantic 162. Since the Sony S500 doesn't pass DTS, and with the scarcity of software, the built-in decoder is of no importance to me right now - but who knows, if DTS' fortunes change, it's there.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V480