Design, quality,

Manual could be better

Obviousely, the guy below has a problem with hearing or he is from the plant dork where all their thought process is expressed in opposite of their intention.

Just like any of you that are thinking of making an investment over 2,000 usd, I also did my homework and saw many many reviews from here and other sources, .. and I bought this wonderful product. I hooked up DSP Ax1 with Dynaudio Audience 70 & 40, and a center, .. and just could not afford to buy the sub just yet. I bought this unit for the music first and then for HT. I just got this machine about a week ago, and have been up til 1 am trying to figure out all the features, but I must say that the music I heard from the amp and the speakers is nothing short of technical miracle. This is the first time I felt moved listening to a reproduced music. Listening from Shostokovich symphonies to Beethoven violin concerto, to Michael Card, to the musical phantom of opera, it was a moving experience. Listening to Phantom of Opera on one of the dsp mode, it came so close to the experience I had in Chicago's live performance while back that I just closed my eyes and relived the magical scenes from the musical. From all the reviews I've seen, this is an awsome HT machine, and as soon as I get a sub, and figure out how to work all features, I'll probably write another review. Also, the Dynaudios tend to have a long break in period, so I think it'll just get better. So don't be discouraged by a comment like this gentleman below, and do like what most intelligent investors do. Go see it for yourself, .. take your favorite CDs or DVDs, and check it out yourself, and you'll agree that the guy below either has a serious hearing problem or he is from the planet dork.

Low THD; build quality

dolby pro logic; dsp modes ; lack of 4 or 5 channel stereo mode; output to rears in party mode; volume control; remote

I have used this receiver for about two months and am very disappointed. The unit performs poorly in DPL mode. The output to the rears in party mode is so low that it is necessary to increase their settings to +6 to hear them. Then they need to be reset to zero for DD and DTS modes. I find the indexing of the main volume control to be annoying.
It has been confirmed by Yamaha that dsp is not utilized in
24/96 playback. Since the sub can only be accessed via dsp
processing, there is not signal sent to the sub in 24/96 playback. This is a very disappointing product.

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR5700

3 Input HDTV switching, Music sound

Remote control is really poor and not fully illuminated, needs too many speakers!

I needed a receiver or pre-amp able to swich betwwen 3 different HDTV (Y Pb Pr) input and this worked great for my purpuse. (THat was a must therefore I did not have much choice). I really like the sound as well (I am no audiofile anyway) but I can hear that the sound is much better then my old Denon 5600.
Weakness: poor remote, too many speakers, too many amps.
Overall anyway I am very happy with the unit.

Similar Products Used:

Denon

Ex decoding,and features!

None!

If your in the market for a top of the line reciever with thee latest digital decoding run out and buy this reciever!! Forget what you hear about non thx ex eqiupment not being any good,I have every movie thats been released in dolby ex and dts es and I can tell you the rx-v1 decodes them flawlessly, the phantom menace laserdisc sounds better than the theater!!! The haunting will blow you away as well as the bone collector,I mean any of the movies in this format will knock your socks off!! And you won't find anything with this many features and 54 dsp modes WOW!!!! So if you want state of thee art home theater then the Yamaha rx-v1 should be your goal!!!!

Overall Sound, features

Quality

I thought it was great until the left channel just crapped out!! 3 G's I expect a solid system

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo

great build quality, clean sound, DD/DTS EX/ES

needs more volume, sounds bright!!

First I just want to say, that this beast is great.. Sure it has some weaknesses, but has lots of good poits as well.. I have owned it for 6 months now and am very happy.. I sounds great, clean and detailed... What I like most about it is that is sound very open and spacious just using the normal DD or DTS mode...

To let you know, I AM NOT using it's amps... I have an exteranl 2 power amps... Rotel.... My option is that the Rotels kick yamaha's ass for detail, smoothness and dynamics.. When i first used the yamaha on it's own, it sounded very bright, thin... Very clear, but once you listed to music for a while, it really gave me a headache.. I tried using a Rotel music pre amp (no digital to analogue conversion, straight analogue) going into the yamaha's main amp inputs, it still sound bright....

Only when I used out board amps, it smoothed out...
The volume level also was a factor... I really had to crank it up to get some volume,,, when using the interanl amps...

So, to me the yamaha is great as a pre/pro, and is very smooth sounding....

As of this time, I must sell this beast for I am really broke... But my next system will be Rotel... I heard the Rsp-985 pre/pro, and I sounded even smoother and more dynamic than the yamaha.... But that is what you get for using seperates as apposed to all in one...

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha Dsp-A1

Stunning surround preformance , enough features to keep even the freakiest of gadget freaks happy , a functional remote that should keep everyone happy . whole house audio / Phast system compatability

I haven't found any annoying features yet

It seems that Yamaha has really done it's homework on this unit , all the gripes about previous units have been addrssed and satisfied on the RXV-1 . Gone is the cumbersome remote, lack of a tuner , no IR in out ports , and no zone 2 capabilities of it's predesessor the DSP-A1. One really cool feature that not everyone is aware of is the capability of directly acessing any part of the set up menu via a special code from the remote . What's the big deal with this you ask? Well it will allow you for instance to preset a particular volume setting for when you turn the unit on,it allows you to preset a code within a macro to directly go to the subwoofer part of the set up menu and turn it off for cd listening only again thru use of the macro turn it back on at a preset level when you press DVD as an input . Another usefulness of the special code feature is that you could actually have two completely different set up menu settings which can be stored in memory to say , have a midnight movie setting which would reduce bass response to allow late night movie viewing without disturbing others in the house. The new remote comes pre programmed with codes for thousands of other components plus it can learn over five hundred commands from components not in it's memory . The zone 2 feature is great for sending audio and video to another room in the house independent of what's being utilized in the main room . The remote also allows you to rename all of the inputs to what suits you best . The RXV-1 has assingnable component video switching for three devices , all the back panel connections are gold plated ( a nice upgrade from previous Yamaha products } . To give you a taste of it's digital processing power get this : 44 bit custom Yamaha dsp chips , that's a 1000 percent increase in prcessing power over 20 and 24 bit processors. On board are 10 Burr/Brown DAC's , 8 channels of amplification , separate tone controls for headphone use only , Cinema dsp for surround effects with headphones , a parametric EQ to better timbre match your speakers , front and rear center channel EQ , plus all the 54 surround modes are user adjustable to tailor them to your particular tastes > It's evident here that Yamaha has put alot of effort into the RXV-1 a true do all be all one box unit worthy of it's flagship model lable . Naysayers take a listen and you will believe . This units price tag may semm high but with it's comparable to/ or better performance than alot of separates out there the RXV-1 deserves a critical listen by all . Thie unit deserves more stars than allowed by finally putting true high end performance in a single easy to use ,incredibly adjustable , infinitely compatable one box unit . Thanks Yamaha !

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSPA-1 , Lexicon MC-1 , Meridian , Proceed , I'm a custom home theater installer

Extraordinary musical depth, very low noise floor, awesome dynamics and smooth transitions in 6.1 mode.

Remote makes it hard to change control device focus without changing amp input unless you use scrolling. Poor explanation of advanced DSP parameter options. Suggestion to Yamaha: Provide online resource or FAQ for DSP tweaking.

In a word: Wow!

I have never heard sound so beautiful and alive in a single unit, and only rarely in very high-end separates. If you are looking for close to the best that solid state can offer at around 1/10th the price of high end equipment then this may be a great choice for you. I rate this a solid five on value because it sounds even better than one would expect at Yamaha's MSRP of ~ 3,200USD. Bonus points because street prices seem to be considerably lower.

I have been so busy pulling out my old CD's and DVD's for a re-listen that I am just now getting around to a decent review. This amp reveals new sounds and moving harmonies in my old music that I never heard on my previous setup. I would dare to say that much of my time listening has been close to an emotional, spiritual experience. Simply: the amp in this unit is the most detailed and accurate that I have ever owned. The Yamaha RX-V1 has one of the best two-channel sounds I have heard on a multi-channel receiver. I get chills when listening to choral music (for a real treat try Nimbus Records "Brahms - Choral Works" NI 5524) on this system in bypassed direct mode stereo. I also feel like I have the best seat in the house with DTS-CD music. Check out the Eagles DTS-CD Hell Freezes Over album, "Seven Bridges Road" track. The band members sound like they are standing in a circle around you in your listening room -- singing at you live. I swear I could hear Don scratching his stubble between verses.

Another major difference: My old amp was also Dolby Digital, so the 5.1 channel surround is nothing new to me. This amp provides a more seamless transition when a sound pans between channels. There is a scene in Dragonheart where Draco is speaking while flying around the room. On my older AC-3 decoder he sounded like he would jump from speaker to speaker. On the new Yamaha RX-V1 he sounds like he is actually moving steadily around the room. The speakers are no longer obvious, and in fact it feels almost surreal. Note that I did not upgrade or move my speakers, and that the calibration levels from the old to the new are as similar as I could make them.

The build quality is top notch. Everything is very solid, very heavy, and looks like it will last forever. Buttons on the amp are very tactile and feel like they are bullet proof. Even the large volume knob is heavy, no looseness or free play in it at all. The only complaint was trying to manhandle this thing into my rack. It is huge and heavy and was hard to work with in my limited space. But then, once it is in . . ..

Control is fairly intuitive. Once I had programmed my preferences and calibrated the sound levels I closed up the panel and locked down the advanced menu on the remote. No worries about spouse accidents or visitor inquisitiveness ruining my calibrations. I do wish better attention was devoted in the manual about the many, many DSP options. But then, I have to say those options are, for the most part, safe to ignore and never in your face for normal usage.

Finally, the most important test: I have a deal with my spouse. If I purchase new HT equipment, and she does not hear a definite improvement to her uneducated ears, then I have to return the toys. Suffice it to say she was enthusiastic after hearing "Tarzan" on this system, and that the unit is safely staying with us for many years to come. She was also very excited about the DTS-CD Collin Raye album I got her, I think she feels right there with him.

Did I say "Wow?" Excellent amp, the best DSP theater modes I have heard. You will want to invest in the extra front effects speakers and take full advantage of what this unit can deliver to your home theater. Five stars on sound quality.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-2092

Music reproduction, in DTS, Dolby, and good old Stereo. Remote control usability.

Manual - Yamaha didn't cover more than half of what this equipment is capable of doing.

I love the sound of this unit - given all the other factors in a piece of Audio/Video equipment SOUND outranks everything else on my personal criteria scale, and it's not even a close thing! I bought this unit to replace a Yamaha RX-V795 that was very good for movies but hurt the ears when reproducing music - let's not pull any punches here, the RX-V795 is harsh and painful at high volume. The reason I included that bit of opinion in this review is so the casual reader will realize that I am not a "Yamaha" fanatic, I do own quite a few of their products - but have seen(heard) my share of clunkers from them. This unit they got right. The sound is warm, open, and in my opinion, very accurate. It allows the listener to comfortably enjoy music or movies at whatever volume he/she finds enjoyable without the slightest hint of strain, and reproduces the full dynamic range of the source without coloration. I did try the competitors to this product (Marantz' SR-18,, and Denon's AVR-5700. I found the Marantz to be a little soft in the low end, a little too "transparent" you might say, and the Denon to be a little less inspiring, although it was a close thing, the comparison between the RX-V1 and the Denon.) If you are not going to go balls out expensive (a la @10,000 or more) for seperates, I think this unit is your best bet for the full package of movie and sound reproduction. Many units at this price (and below) can give a servicable performance of movies (they're easy) but the proof is in the Music!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSP-A1000, Yamaha RX-V795, Marantz R-18, Denon AVR-5700

Great DAC, clear sound, flexibility, EX and ES

A little too cold

Hi friends.
I'm writing from Italy. I owned the DSP-AX1 (this is the name of the Beast here in Italy)two months ago and now that I have listened to his power, playng everything (audio CD, DTS DVD and CD, old laserdiscs, demo discs, VHS...) I can say that probably doesn't exist a similar amplifier for the same price all over the world.
I had a DSP-A1 before, and initially I tought that AX1 was a "restyling" of the old model.
But read the technical data: 10 (ten) mono DAC from Burr Brown (the best ever), wide band final amplifiers (I'm waiting for DVD Audio!!!!!!!!), the sixth channel!!!! Everything you wanted, you got it!!!!
I know, I know, sometimes the cold datas won't make an amplifier sound automatically good. But in this case...
The truth is that the sound is a million miles away from the old A1: warmer, a lot of details, improvement on the low frequency, accuracy od D/A conversion...
Let's talk about EX and ES: I tought that an additional speaker, expecially in my room, where the listening position is off the back wall, won't bring any improvement in Dolby Digital or DTS. Reading the reviews, visiting the THX site, I decided to buy a couple of Jamo Concert Surround speakers that are bipolar. I have connected both the speakers to the AX1's rear center out and... that is a great surprise: the rear scene is completely different: you can finally hear a true left to right panning and a true fly over!!!!!!! Try it with "The bone collector" and you'll see...
Finally: the stereo mode. This is the weakness of the 90% of the home theater integrated amplifiers. I can't say if the Yam is better than a two channel amplifier of the same cost, but I can say that it sound marveillous if compared to Denon amps (even AVC-A1 and AVR-3300) and to the DSP-A1 that i had. You can clearly hear the great work of the Burr Brown DAC with a 96/24 DVD.
Next month I will go to my friend's home to listen to an AM-AUDIO stereo amp with REGA CD player and Spendor speakers and I will have a serious comparation.
For now... DSP-AX1 is the BEST and the BEAST.
My System is:
AMP: Yamaha DSP-AX1
DVD: Pioneer DV-717
LASERDISC: Pioneer CLD-D925
MAIN SPEAKERS: Sonus Faber Concerto
CENTER FRONT: Sonus Faber Solo
REAR SPEAKERS: Sonus Faber Concerto
REAR CENTER: Jamo Concert Surround
FRONT EFFECT: Jamo Surround 150
SUBWOOFER: Yamaha YST-SW300
CABLES: Straight Wires, Monster Cable, Time Cable
TV: Retroprojection 55' Philips 16/9

Vittorio Mortara

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha DSP-A1, denon AVR-3300