Clean and Powerful, Decent Soundstage, bit shallow in stereo mode. Awesome Yamaha DSP, good overall presentation.

Listen with ears, not your hands...the remote works fine!

Let's get one thing straight..this is the best best reciever for under $500. If your looking for something better..go waste your money elswhere. Yes it has a cheap volume knob, the remote blows and the display is small(dim orange) but these are trivial compared to the wall of sound this thing pumps out. Not the absolute statement in HT but considering I have speaker wire(Straightwire Maestro) that costs as much as this reciever, I am impressed none the less.
My Frankenstein HT System:
Polk monitor 5's - main (still amaze me,bright & punchy)
Definitive Tech PF18 - sub (bloated low end monster)
Pinnacle PN5 - center (almost keeps up w/ the polks)
Cable - monster (crappy but cheap)
Surrounds - pioneer ps461 (carspeaker in a KLH box
that put other $200 surrounds to shame)

Don't worry about not spending $4k on a HT system...it's not worth it and it will go obsolete faster than you can say DOLBY PROLOGIC. Yes the sound will be cleaner/smoother and the speakers will look all pretty but who cares?

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR AV1070(10+yrs old), ES-777 auditioned, Kenwood.

good price for the quality and performance

nolight on remote key pad, speaker connetctors for surround speakers.

There is some hissing noise when I turned on the system without music. No light indicator on the volume knob. Otherwise this is a good receiver for the price. However, it sounds a little bright compared to my 21yrs old yamaha amp and preamp set up. While I am here, I want to ask if anyone here had tried the DTS mode of this 5250, because when I switched to DTS or auto mode I had no sound at all. I only had the sound in dolby. I hooked this rx with pioneer dvd 434 and I set the out put of the dvd in DTS. I use the optical cable for audio and SVHS cable for video. Anyone have any idea what went wrong or advise please let me know email transean@yahoo.com. I apologize for using this forum to ask question. I had my the receiver and the pioneer 434 for almost a month. Thank you everyone in this forum that my purchase easy.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha amplifiers M4 and c50 preamp, pioneer.

Digital fields, depth of sound quality and channel separation and ease of use.

Remote

Receiver: Yamaha 5250
DVD: RCA
Speakers: Definitive, Bose surround

I stood standing in front of three vertical lines of recivers. My tedious research narrowed down three lines of A/V receivers; Onkyo, HK & Yamaha. Prices of the receivers were within $150.00 of each other and the difference in sound quality (in the show-room)was minimal. Vacillating back in forth, I bolstered up (encouraged by my wife's body language) enough strength to make my final decision. In part, due to budget constraints, I selected the 5250, on sale, reduced in price by $100.00, already the least expensive of the three receivers under consideration.
Immediately after completing the hook-up process, I popped in U571. Within minutes, my wife came running from the rear of the house anticipating seeing our teenaged daughter's 4x4 truck driven through the garage door; the exploding depth charges shook the foundations of the house. All I could muster was a "YES" this is it! I was not just watching U571; I WAS THERE! The channel separation and the depth of the sound track, including the bass crossover(post tweeking), was spectacular and exceeded my expectations. I am most pleased to say that my wife, after watching Twister and listening to Hell Freezes Over, is now a true believer in quality audio/video (took only 20 years). I have already recommended the 5250 to a close friend researching Digital quality A/V. The 5250 is by far, superior in its class, you won't be dissapointed!

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon

Great sound, power, presence

1.) Remote
2.) Remote
3.) Remote
4.) Remote
5.) Remote
6.) Remote
7.) Remote
8.) Remote
9.) Remote
10.) Remote

This is a great receiver. I read the few critical reviews and for the life of me, other than the remote, was unable to appreciate the deficiencies pointed out. I owned an Onkyo Integra 7.0 and for Christmas bought this unit for my dad. It blew away my sound system so I promptly returned the Onkyo and bought this. The Onkyo had an anaemic, mealy, non-descript sound somewhat reminescent of Algore. For some reason the subwoofer was weak as well. I am extremely pleased with this unit's performance and other than the ridiculous remote control unit I would recommend it without reserve. Fortunately I already have a universal remote and so I won't have to use that deplorable excuse for a remote. I cannot imagine a receiver sounding any better.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo Integra 7.0

Plenty of power, sound quality is excellent

The remote (very minor weakness)

I bought the Yamaha 5250 at Sears, they were the only dealer in my area that would match the price that I found at etronics.com ($379.00 + shipping). I had been all around sampling different makes and models, and after all that work I decided that the 5250 (or RXV596) would be the best choice.
I got it home hooked it up and the first thing I did was pop T2 into the DVD player and select the DTS soundtrack. All I can say is HOLLY SH**!!! The floor shook, the walls shook, the cieling shook and my ears started to bleed... I was in heaven. Every sound could be heard loud and clear, gun shots could be heard from every dirrection. WOW...

The DSP modes actually add to the listening enjoyment rather than ruin it like some other receivers (Sony for one). Turn on DISCO and you can feel yourself there, turn on Rock Concert and it sounds like the band is right there in your face. Some more DSPs would be nice but not necessary. All in all a fantastic receiver, don't waste your time buying Sony, Technics, Pioneer, Kenwood, etc...., they can't hold a candle to any Yamaha products!!!

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Denon

Tri-field processing, lots of power, pretty easy to hook up, excellent value. All receivers with any kind of power get warm. If yours is getting "hot" (too hot to touch) it is not getting proper ventilation.

None that have found yet (only used a couple weeks) The remote has taken such a beating on this site that I dreaded it before I even used it. Actually it's fine. It's not that hard to use (try using the remote that comes with the Sony STR-DE945). The only thing I would like to see added to the remote it a lighted feature.

This receiver is perfect for me at the $330.00 level. Almost bought the Denon 3801 for about $800.00 and decided to cut back. Compared it to the Sony STR-DE945 and liked the Yamaha better. Heavier, richer, fuller sound, appeared more solid. I felt better about Yamaha's reputation with Amps/Receivers.

I feel this is the best all around AV receiver for the price.

If you are considering it , I would recommend getting to Sears. At present, they still match internet prices but my salesman in Indy said that that there have been corporate discussions as to how much longer they will be able to continue to match internet prices.

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First AV receiver. Current stereo receiver is Carver.

Robust power that lets bass thunder and highs chill. Simple and oh so SWEET!

Remote is innovative, but I didn't find it practical.

This is my first digital receiver so the upgrade alone gives me enough to smile about. This is also my first Yamaha purchase as well as a sub. The first thing I noticed after I had finally hooked everything up and turned the power on was.... silence. No hiss, no hum. I turned the input selector to an unused input and turned the volume knob up about 50%. Still, no hiss, no hum. My Pioneer constantly hissed in the rear channels in any surround mode. It hummed when a CD finished playing or when a television broadcast went silent. My first test drive was Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" in DTS. Wow, is still yet the only word I can think of to describe the incredible sound. The bass so clean, the highs so crisp, and nothing, absolutely nothing left out inbetween. With the receiver I bought a Cerwin Vega LW-12 sub. With all the level adjustments I feel I have the perfect balance between high power and clean sound. I wanted to hear the receiver power minus the sub so I turned it off and cranked up the Bose 3.1's to about 40%. I had always loved the way those speakers sounded, but I had fallen in love all over again. I was hearing them louder than they'd ever been, but the bass didn't roll off. They were pumping out the cleanest sound they ever have.
I've just discovered this review tonight. I hope everyone who purchases this receiver is delighted as I am. I have to agree with everyone who thinks the remote stinks. However, I already have a home theater learning remote that has all the functions for this receiver in it. You can check it out on www.smarthome.com. Thanks for the tip on Sear's price matching. Looks like I'm going back to get some money back, or maybe Yamaha's 5 disk DVD changer!?

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Pioneer VSX 455 (Prologic receiver)

power, pre-outs for all channels, clean sound, low impedence capable

remote akward to control, center and rears don't have 5-way binding posts, won't honor warranty if not purchased from an authorized dealer

I did extensive research on the web and in various stores for a month before deciding on this receiver. Basically, this receiver has everything necessary to build a great system, including 2 pairs of speaker outs (both with 5-way binding posts), pre-amp outs for all channels, 96kHz-24bit DAC (at 96kHz you can only have stereo sound), ready for DVD-audio (wide frequency response (10 Hz- 100kHz), 5.1 inputs, and 99dB signal-to-noise ratio), good selection of DSP modes, no heat problems, no hissing, and just clean, accurate sound. The remote is akward, but this can easily be replaced. Overall, I find this a great home theater setup, with good music ability as well.

NOTE: I was concerned about getting the manufacturer's warranty when buying online or through ebay, so I sent Yamaha an email. They responded in 2 days, but told me that for the 2 year warranty to be valid, it MUST BE PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM A FACTORY AUTHORIZED DEALER. I also found out from every online site and ebay seller I asked that they ARE NOT authorized dealers, though they do buy the receivers from authorized dealers. I asked Yamaha about this, and they plainly said they would not honor the warranty. So if you are concerned about getting a warranty, I recommend explicitly asking both Yamaha and the seller. I got around this by buying the product from an ebay seller who had bought it from Best Buy along with a 4 year, transferable extended warranty, which he passed along to me.

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old Technics Pro-Logic

Build quality, simplicity, clean power(lots of it), sound quality

I somewhat dislike the rotary dial on the remote.

I initially bought the DE545-I immediately noticed a hiss(even at low vol)when input was dvd or cd-was using digital coaxial so I was surprised at this-could also hear clicking of vol. control motor thru all speakers when using remote-returned it immediately and upgraded to DE845 because I was told it had better "guts"(it was heavier than the 545)-went thru same problems with two DE845's. My luck changed when I found the 5250 for $325.00 at Sears-I immediately bought it and returned the Sony-Simply put, this receiver has totally impressed me-crystal clear sound, kick-in your front door power, all the right connection options and very effective DSP modes-I called Yamaha tech support with a question(no waiting) and was told that the 100 watt rating is actually conservative-I went thru return hell but in the end it was well worth it!!

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Sony STR-DE545, Sony STR-DE845

Quality, features for the price, powerful and quiet

Remote until you study manual, amber display hard to see and to small, no component video

Very quiet with no hiss (see Sony reviews for hiss problems) Onkyo went into protection in all five channel modes and was to expensive for lack of features. Briefly connected the Yamaha to B&W Matrix 804 (not used in HT system) and was impressed just how close to my Bryston 4B the 5250 sounded and drove 804's as loud as I would ever want. Other reviews have commented on brightness of Yamaha equipment but it sounds both detailed and natural to me. Using Polk RT 25i for front RT 15i for surround and CS245i for center and a PSW 350 subwoofer. Interconnects are mostly Monster Cable's mid price stuff. Exceptional value, watch Best Buy flyers as they seem to put it on sale every other month.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo 575X, Sony STR-DB940