Sound quality, Plenty of I/O, Yamaha reputation, simple setup, great value

Remote isn't the greatest, but it is acceptable

I picked this up for $540 shipped from ecost.com, and I am very happy with it. I auditioned quite a few receivers and had narrowed my choices down between the 5280, the Denon 2801, H/K 310, and Onkyo 575. I picked the Yamaha because I got a good deal on it, and I know many people who have Yamaha equipment who love it.

This is my first Dolby Digital receiver. I am still on a budget, so I hunt for the best bang for the buck. I feel I have found it in this receiver.

My system:
Yamaha HTR-5280
Panasonic DVD-A320
Front: Infinity Reference 2000.5
Sub: JBL PSW-1200
Center: Crappy KLH (soon to be replaced by ARs)
Rear: Crappy KLH (also to be replaced by ARs)
TV: 27" Sony Trinitron (4 years old, composite video in)
CD: 6 year old Sony 5 disc changer

Got the unit unpacked and it looks great. Very simple front panel. Not too gaudy or busy like so many other receivers out there. Simple to hook up. My test DVD was "Gladiator" I was immediately amazed by the quality (even on terrible rear and center speakers) and can't believe I waited this long for the jump to Dolby Digital/DTS. The front display is great looking, and easy to read from across the room. The on screen setup menus are thorough, and easy to work with.

Then there's the remote. That's the big complaint about this receiver. No, it's not as good as others out there, but it's a matter of opinion. It takes some getting used to, but I'm starting to like it, actually. It's fairly easy to program, so it can learn codes from your other remotes. It won't accept buttons from my old CD Changer, but that's a minor point. If it were backlit, I would be completely happy with it.

Overall, this is a great receiver. Lots of clean power (MUCH better than my 4 year old JVC) It really brought my Infinity fronts to life. I am going to eventually upgrade to an all Acoustic Research system. I'll start with the center and rears, and work my way up to AR fronts. I've been auditioning speakers over the past month or so, and my musical tastes just sound better on AR speakers -- especially on my budget.

So, give the HTR-5280 a shot. Don't pay the $800 that Crutchfield or Best Buy charge. Check out http://www.ecoustics.com and do some bargain hunting. I got this for $540 shipped, and I couldn't be happier.

Similar Products Used:

JVC RX880-VBK, Denon AV1801

5 channels stereo music. DTS ES 6.1 - Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1 Decording. super clear natural DSP. too many IN/OUT. Nice design. very powerfull

the remote considered to be weakness by many user, but I think it's great, I can control everything easily with learning function. Read carefully and practice, you'll see.

I found no weakness and very well enjoyed. 39 DSP are good enough. It should be THX certified. highly recommended. It's perfect, I dont know what else to say.
Tips: dont spend too much on a receiver.
Try not to use it with poor speakers, spks wire, connection between components.
and especially, make sure to know how to use all the function.***, lots of function, you dont know how to use, it's a big ZERO. read manual 100 times to drive it in a perfect way.

Similar Products Used:

Sony special edition STR-SE591, ONKYO 787,

Has the button on the front that really adds more bass to my front speakers. Really good price. Aesthetically appealing to the eye. Tons of inputs. Movies and music sound flawless

A LCD remote would have been nice for such a high end product. Disappointed that does not have tru 6.1 sound, needs an external amp

All in all I am very happy with my purchase of the Yamaha HTR-5280 receiver. The sound from DVDs is absolutely amazing and my music sounds great too. When guests are over at my house by simply looking at the receiver and my setup they assume that it is a $1500 plus receiver.

The only thing that would have made me any happier would have been an LCD remote, because it is a high end Yamaha receiver and the remote included is virtually the same as all the remotes in the HTR line which is disappointing considering it is almost the same remote from a $400 receiver.

Other than that I am sure this will be a receiver that I will keep for a very long time, and if I ever need a home theatre set up for another living room I will surely go for a Yamaha receiver again.

My setup:

Yamaha HTR- 5280 receiver
Sony Wega 27" TV
Pioneer c-503 DVD player (love it VCDs)
JBL ND310 front tower speakers
JBL Studio Series Center Channel
JBL N28 rear speakers
Cerwin Vega LS12 Subwoofer

Similar Products Used:

Had the 5240 before, but there is no comparison, the 5280 kills it.

Has the button on the front that really adds more bass to my front speakers. Really good price. Aesthetically appealing to the eye. Tons of inputs. Movies and music sound flawless

A LCD remote would have been nice for such a high end product. Disappointed that does not have tru 6.1 sound, needs an external amp

All in all I am very happy with my purchase of the Yamaha HTR-5280 receiver. The sound from DVDs is absolutely amazing and my music sounds great too. When guests are over at my house by simply looking at the receiver and my setup they assume that it is a $1500 plus receiver.

The only thing that would have made me any happier would have been an LCD remote, because it is a high end Yamaha receiver and the remote included is virtually the same as all the remotes in the HTR line which is disappointing considering it is almost the same remote from a $400 receiver.

Other than that I am sure this will be a receiver that I will keep for a very long time, and if I ever need a home theatre set up for another living room I will surely go for a Yamaha receiver again.

Similar Products Used:

Had the 5240 before, but there is no comparison, the 5280 kills it.

DSP, DTS and DD playback, 5-channel sound from a two channel source (sounds better than Sony's SuperAudio CDs!).

Remote

Yamaha's DSP modes are the best in the industry. If you are a person that doesn't seem to use them, try this machine and you will (especially the 5 channel stereo, DD/DTS enhance, adventure mode). Good build quailty. The remote sucks, but I bought the Sony RemoteCommander and solved that problem. Get this receiver!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha-795

Huge soundstage; many excellent DSP modes; bass extension; power

I can't hear a 6th channel...but I really couldn't care less

Look no further, this is what you want at the price you want it. Frugal home cinema's dream. Just enough power and great sound. I love changing the DSP on the fly, and I am constantly experimenting with it. This thing is so tweakable. It even makes my "pet coffin" DCM kx12-2 speakers (w/klipsch rears) liveable until I fork over the dough for the Magneplanars. Roight!

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Yamaha 5250

Power, sound quality and clarity, tons of inputs/outputs, build quality

Remote (Dial Selector)

To put it bluntly, this is the finest receiver I've ever owned. The build quality is very good and the unit is quite heavy and fairly large in stature compared to others close to it's price. It has tons of digital inputs (7 in all) and outputs as well as both S-Video and Component video switching. The sound is very clean and very powerful particularly for a receiver under $800. It stacks up to the Pioneer Elite models quite nicely and even surpasses them in some areas. Watching DVDs in both DD 5.1 and DTS-ES through this unit is light years better than through lesser receivers close in price to this one. The on screen display also makes setting the unit up fairly simple. The remote takes a bit of getting used to with the selection dial at the top, but it's slim and controls most of the features nicely from across the room. Overall this receiver gives you basically everything you could want, except for 7 channel sound if that is the type of setup you're looking for. Highly, highly recommended, this is definitely a receiver you can enjoy for years to come.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Sony

All possible functions available for hopefully the next three to five years. Clean / solid audio. Plenty of power.

Remote control is versatile but not user friendly.

Was looking for a quality HTS without diving into the high end equipment. Extensive I/O that should prove to meet all future requirements for a few years. Clean sound with enough power to get my neighors attention (some 40 yards away). Drawback is the complexity of the DSP modes. Need time to get familiar with the various attributes associated with these options. Overall.....Very impressed with this unit.

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None....first system.

The feature set for the price paid

The remote and the build quality

I currently have a Sony 777 as the centerpiece in my home theater setup but wanted to experience DTS ES 6.1.
The reviews on this receiver were pretty good so I decided to take the plunge. I went to Sears with a printout from Etronics and Sears matched the price. This was kool because they have a 30 day return policy and if I didn't like it I could return it. If I did like it and kept it, I got it at a steal.

Well right out of the box the build quality was noticeably less then the Sony ES line. The casing and knobs had a cheap feel to them. ( I'm no snobby audiophile but If i'm going to pay my money I want my money's worth). Around back things were a little better with plenty of inputs and outputs and five way binding posts for all channels.

Setup was quick and easy and in 15 minutes I was up and running. (this is a big advabntage over the es line. I'm still tweeking all the little setup foopas for my 777).

The sound was much better then I expected for a Yamaha. My last Yammie was a top of the line 3090 that was god awful in 2 channel stereo. This one was a big improvement. Dolby digital was excellent and now for DTS ES.

Well theres no rear speaker ouput so thers no real DTS ES but they decode the information for a phantom rear calling this DTS ES Matrix.....It works, sort of. I mean Galdiator didn't sound that much different in DTS ES then
Dolby Digital.
Overall I wouldn't buy this receiver over a Sony ES, either the 333 or 777.
Would I buy this receiver for DTS ES "Matrix"? Only if I couldn't but a SONY ES.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 777, Sony 333, Nak Av1S, Nav Av5000, Denon, Yamaha 3090,

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EVERY LAST ASPECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks ugly though.

INs and OUTs for everything. Clear natural sound. I use to hate DSPs before I met this bad boy. Superb built quality.
Don't listen to anyone who says there is no such thing as a "Virtual Matrix," because there is. Receiver creats a center speaker if you have your satellites positioned correctly. Remote is ugly, but I sent $100 (retail value $179) on a Sony HT remote. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 5250