Build, Excellent processing & separation

Power, Remote

I am very happy with RX V1. I am using Paradigm studio series speakers with IXOS interconnects & servo 15 subwoofer by Paradigm. Sound is unbelievable. I am very happy with my choice & investment.

Similar Products Used:

Sony & Denon

Sound clarity, Channel separation (decoding), Inputs.

Power, Remote, User Guide.

Yamaha’s top of the range, going for twice as much as their RX-V2095. With 8.2 channels (2 front effects for DSP only, 2 sub for stereo low effects (hence the .2), one center rear channel for DD 6.1 or DTS-ES, and the usual other five), DTS, Dolby Digital. I found this amp/receiver to be better than all the products listed in "Similar Products Used:" although the Denon 5800 came very close, but not worth an extra $600.

This is an excellent amp/receiver (depending on whether you come from the UK or the US). It has an outstanding quality. Its channel clarity and separation is exceptional and second to none. It is versatile, has an input for an external processor and an output for a pre-amp (which I think is a waste of time as I wouldn’t spend $3’200 on a device to later add a processor or a pre-amp, but some would disagree with me). Lots of inputs (of which 7 are optical). 52 DSP programs, which I think it’s too much as I only use about 6, but it caters for a wide range of consumers so you’ll probably find one or two that will suit you. There is a function that bypasses any unnecessary signal processing, which delivers sound ‘as-is’, this works pretty well but you’ll have to listen very hard to notice an increase in quality (as quality is so good anyway). Silent cinema, which simulates surround on headphones, it works, but only to a decent quality with a very good pair of headphones.

Now for the bad points. Its remote could have had a better design. It’s very functional (I can control every thing in my HT with it) but it does take getting use to. It could have been more powerful. As it is, I have to turn up the volume to 2/3 full to enjoy the movie, on the RX-V2092 it was only up to 1/3. Last but not least the user manual, it seems to me to be directed at the more experienced HT user (unlike the guide to the RX-V2092). It gave me the idea that with its current setup it was optimal for any home environment (yes I realize this is a contradictory statement but it was my impression after reading the user guide). The truth is I had to read and understand all of it before I could optimize the receiver for my HT, but once that is done it’s all tremendously satisfying when you sit down to watch your first movie.

Overall very good, I gave it five stars because I don’t think they (Yamaha) could have done a better job (except for possibly the remote; as for the power, they do allow the use of a pre-amp). Cost/benefit is another matter, this receiver is better than the RX-V2095, but the only real advantage over the RX-V2095 is the extra rear-center channel, which allows DD6.1 or DTS-ES, and I don’t think this justifies for double the price! So I gave it a 3 star rating on value. If money is no objective, then by all means, get the RX-V1 but if on the other hand you have a budget to adhere too, you’d be better off with the RX-V2095.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V2092, Yamaha RX-V2095, AVR 7000 (H&K), Denon AVR-5800, Onkyo TX-DS989

AMPS, DACs

I have great speakers and it still sounds terrible! Tried this receiver with speakers such as Paradigm, Definitive Tech., Boston Acoustics, B&W, Monitor Audio, Pinnacle, JM Lab, Mission and it never sounded right to me or to 3 other critical listeners. Granted a better speaker resulted in a more tolerable sound but not what I would want! Look elsewhere for music and home theater too!

Similar Products Used:

DSP-A1, Denon

Wide Band Amps are a marketing ploy used by Yamaha to increase sales. The amps are unchanged since the DSP A1. They are simply measured under different criteria.
I am not trying to be offensive, but it annoys me when people are swayed by marketing. I am glad you enjoy your DSP AX1. I used to be a DSP A1 owner until I upgraded to separates. I audition the RXV1 and found it to be little improvement over the DSP A1 other than more features.

I know engineering staff at Yamaha and they also confirmed with me via schematics that the amp sections are the same for both units.

You didn't buy more amp power or better amps when you upgraded. You bought more features. Enjoy!

High quality build, very sophisticated electronics, very flexibile, great sound

Instruction manual pretty good but could use more detailed information on a number of the features

Purchased this unit to replace a Harmon Kardon AVR-65. I liked the HK AVR-65 very much for its sound, power, features and cost, but have had reliability problems. In looking for a replacement, I put a great deal of emphasis on how clear the unit was playing music, and how dyanmic playing movies. While I have listened to many brands, based on the reviews of others and product availability, I narrowed my choice to Denon's AVR-4800 and AVR-3300 and Yamaha's RX V2095, RX V995, and RX-V1. I thought the Denon AVR-4800 was better than the V2095 and V995 in playing movies, having more punch and brightness. I thought the Yamah's RX V2095 was clearer and somewhat smoother than the both Denon's in playing music. After spending a lot of time comparing, I decided to listen to the Yamaha RX-V1 just to see how it compared, to the other four. What surpise me was that I thought the RX-V1 sounded noticably better playing music and videos then the other units. So did my two kids (18 and 21) who have a lot different tastes in music then me. Each time we compared different music types the RX-V1 sounded better. The same for several videos.

I still might have settled on one of the other units, based on much lower price, but when I compared the build quality and internal components the RX-V1 was clearly built with quality in mind, no matter what the price. I particular liked the massive heat sinks and lack of a potentially nosy fan. After playing the demo unit all over the place for over an hour, the unit seemed almost cool. I was also impressed with the numerous features of the Yamaha and its upgradability. Long story short, I purchase the RX-V1.

Set up was very easy, and the remote is now what I use for everything else in the system. On thing that impressed me in setting up the unit was the first time I tried the unit and test tone, a message came up to check speaker wires and the unit then shut down. After being puzzled for a while, and redoing my connections on the back, I discovered on strand of copper touching both terminals on one of my speakers. It was pretty neat to have a unit diagnosis the problem and then shut itself down. So far, I'm very pleased with the RX-V1's performance on everything I have played on it, from DVDs, both (DTS and dobly digital) as well as CDs, and TV. All and all I'm very pleased with the unit and expect to be for many years to come.

Similar Products Used:

Harmon Kardon AV-65, Harmon Kardon AV-25

This is a follow up review to the one I posted below . As mentioned in my previous review there are hidden functions on the RXV-1 remote such as being able to turn the A or B speakers on or off from the remote . Using these " hidden " functions you can have up to six different set menus or six different preset volume settings , You can direct access alot of the dsp functions as well some of the other sub functions . You can directly access a specific page and number of a preset radio station without having to cursor thru all the tuner presets . You can directly access a preset sleep mode ie 30 minutes for instance . Those of us with sophisticated learning remotes such as Prontos will see that the posibilities are absolutely endless ,with these codes a tuner page can be made that could have station logos or call letters on it that when pressed would go straight to Rock 93.5 for instance . Using the macro functions elaborate macros could be made that would totally change the the set up menu that could for instance turn off the dreaded subwoofer for music listening or turn off the subwoofer and reduce the dynamic range for a midnight movie mode . There is also the posibility of having different subwoofer or speakers level settings for a particular DSP program . As you can see I am very excited about the posibilities of the extra built in functions of the RXV-1 and it's very capable set of remote codes ,those that are obvious and those that are not so obvious . Please feel free to e mail me to find out how to use these functions . Happy listening , Bruce

Yamaha engineers keep the others playing catch up.

Remote. I use a touch pad anyway, so it doesn't matter to me.

This is the finest HT product bar none. I use the front outs to my high end amp/pre combo (pre set at 12:00 a.m.) so I never even need to fire up listening to music. The bells and whistle are a nice added touch although I never feel the need to use. The bottom line is, If you are looking for an all in one home theater component and can't afford to shell out for high end separates, this puppies the finest available, period. The burr brown dacs coupled with the Yammies amplifiers are the next best thing to separates obtainable. Any fool giving this thing a bad review, either
1- Does not own, or
2- Trying to justify their mistake not purchasing....

Similar Products Used:

Denon

front-effects channels,looks and adjustable DSP modes also good detail in 5 and 6.1 not 2 channel

no future expansion,setup menu,can't adjusted subwoofer level???? poor quality and poor to ok 2 channel sound

let me say i know what good sound is the rx-v1 is ok but you can do alot beter #1 NO future expansion that means NO dts-es discrete 6.1 NO dts neo:6 NO THX EX NO PL 2 and NO THX ulta certified??? do not buy this amp for $2200.00 or so you can get the denon 5800 or for $500.00 less you can get the denon 4802 both are beter than rx-v1 i had rx-v1 for over a year i liked it alot then the trouble began channels cut out 3 or 4 times, almas cannot fix a thing so yamaha sent me a new one with the old warranty so when it go's out the next time i will have to pay for it to be fixed but it can be fixed so i got rid of it.i paid 2800.00 and sold it for 1200.00 thanks almas thanks yamaha. the rx-v1 is alredy outdated. yamaha droped the price $1000.00 why did they do that? because they like you, no they don't like you yamaha knows it's outdated like i said you can do better and so can yamaha, denon has.....P.S don't buy from almas john

Similar Products Used:

kinergetics class A amp jvc sony yamaha denon 5800

Quality build.

None

Could use more power for two channel stereo. For HT there is nothing better in this price range.If you own this unit you can afford to buy a better remote,if you do not like this one.

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DSP-A3090

SOUND ,POWER ,BUILD ,VALUE FOR MONEY

NEIGBOURS

MOST AWESOME SOUNDING AMP

Similar Products Used:

RXV 2095