The Yamaha RX-V1500 is outstanding for many reasons but here are the few big ones, has THX certifacation and sound quality, Yamaha build quality. Will still do HD video although a little outdated by today standards it will still do HD video through the Component Video inputs/outputs. Has all the other video and audio connections you will ever need. And lastly has the power rating to move some serious clean sounding air in your theatre room.

And still can be used with the latest Blu-Ray audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD audio, you just have to have a built in decoder on your Blu-Ray player and use the analog discrete inputs on the back of this receiver for better than DolbyDIgital ES sound quallity. Although it is pretty hard to tell the difference between DolbyDIgital ES and the new Dolby TrueHD unless you have a million dollar speaker system and ears !!!

THX certifacation is really where this receiveri is all about, and you can adjust various EQ settings for the surround sound modes, allot of THX adjustmnets are here unlike the many other non THX receivers.

And unless you desperately need to run the new HDMI format video through this receiver then why bother ? Why do you need to keep upgrading to a newer receiver ?!? Component video is fine for those that have older HD TV's and you still can run your Blu-Ray HDMI directly to your new HDTV if needed, for the best possible picture quality. And just use the other video connections on this receiver for adjusting the Yamaha amp settings alone.

For the specs and features and now the low price for a used one is the best deal going around these days.

it good really good, i turn all the volume and it fells like a theather,i defanally think it was worth my money!

Price Paid: $100

My 2-yr-old son just recently decided to clean my Yamaha receiver (HTR-5740) and spray it with water... a lot of water. And as we all know, water and electronics don't go well together. Anyway, because of this, I was on the hunt for a good used receiver.

For 100 bucks I stumbled upon a classic, a Denon AVR-2803. It was good but my speakers seemed to need more. Sound was warm but I felt like I needed more crispness. My speakers (Klipsch) sounded like they needed more juice. Fortunately, I was able to sell it for more and was able to get the RX-V1500 for the same price I sold the Denon. So in a sense, it was like I bought it for 100 bucks as well! :)

The sound I heard on the first test just gave me goosebumps. Even my wife who isn't really a techno-enthusiast was quite impressed and said that she definitely heard a a difference. I began to hear little details that I had never noticed before. My speakers seemed to be pushed to their maximum potential. Although the the Denon was a good buy, the RX-V1500's performance is definitely superior.

Pros:
Lots of clean power!

Cons:
If you're patient with setups - None!

This review is an assessment of the RX-V1500 as a stereo preamplifier, as I have little experience with multi-channel setups and, while this unit appears to do fine with surround, whether with its internal amps or with externals, it is in a stereo configuration that I have used it most. And, I must say, it's a pretty darn good stereo preamplifier.

With the Classe CA-100, Adcom GFA-545, or Adcom GFA-555 ii, it acquits itself very well indeed. Excellent definition of the source material (e.g., Bill Evans Live at the Village Vanguard, CSN [remastering in HDCD], Richard Goode's Beethoven Sonatas, et alia).

Studio recordings are rendered with their separate soundspaces intact (e.g., Karla Bonoff) while orchestral recordings (Reiner & Chicago on LP) are rendered with wide and deep soundstages. It even manages to tame the TAS Hearts of Space CD. (Speakers, BTW, are the old Sound Dynamics 300tis, connected to the amp by about 15' or #12 cord with pin connectors well-cinched. Not exactly a megabuck setup, but brother does it sound like music on a wide range of sources).

So the unit is a winner, I would say, and a value champ. I think it's an example of how far we have come since the 70s that so much excellence can be packed into a relatively inexpensive yet extremely capable package. If this unit had been available in the 70s, it would have been a wonder and a revolution, and would be part of audio lore. As it is, today it is one of many excellent units on the market.

THX- YAPO- LOT OF SOUND PROGRAMS

ITS A BIG HEAVY UNIT

GREAT RECEVER SOUNDS GREAT LOOKS GREAT ONLY PROUBLEM DIALOG LIFT DOSENT WORK NO BIGGIE!! THIS IS THE 2ND YAMAHA RECEVER IVE HAD IM RUNNING 2 NS777 FROUNT SPEAKERS, 1 120watt YAMMIE SUB,YAMMIE CENTER $REARS I WOULD TELL ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BUY ONE, ITS MULTAPULAGREAT RECEVER!!!

Customer Service

I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH COUSTEMER SERVICE SO FAR

Similar Products Used:

YAMAHA RX-V1400 A/V RECEVER

THX, Video UP and Down Conversion, many optical and coax input, complete auto-calibration, simple but good remote control, flat and clear sound

flat sound (normally for now on this type of audio-video ampli), no hdmi

I buy another yamaha because i find clear voices and linear sound and, in this case, it's ok for music like for movies
This sinto-ampli has a good tuner, much power and a very good sound: i tried many other brand (Denon 3805, Onkyo 803,...) but i retuned here were i have more clear sound, good power and.. i spent less money!
Remember also that this is ready for THX movies, Video UP and Down Conversion to video,s-video and Component, many optical and coax input (+output), you have auto-calibration of Level, EQ,.. and a simple but good remote control.
I'm really happy of my choise, also after to check it with friend's other brands! : )

Similar Products Used:

Denon 3805, Onkyo 803, other

I am sure that the rxv-1600 is cut from the same cloth... as was the rxv-1400... Check out AUDIOHOLICS for their reviews of the rxv-2400,2500 and 2600... They are pretty good at pushing these receivers to their limits!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good honest reviews!!!!! AND TESTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NONE!!!!!!!!!! YET...........

My previous review failed to mention a few things about this great receiver! When it first came out , I think it was retailed @ about $1000.00 or so. The Yamaha (SILENT CINEMA 5.1/7.1) or (surround sound headphone) system creates a 5.1/7.1 experience that I think is as good or better than (Dolby Headphone 5.1). I compared the Terminator 2 Extreme DVD (Dolby Headphone Track) to Yamaha's (Silent Cinema 5.1/7.1), playing the Terminator 2 DTS-ES Track. I found the Silent Cinema, with all of the Yamaha Cinema DSP functions much more thrilling,enveloping, open and dynamic than Dolby Headphone. With Silent Cinema, The soundscapes open up!
I noticed that the amps in this receiver sounded warmer and punchier. When I hear rain, horse hooves or thunder, I swear that I think I'm at the race track or in a storm!!! And the Pure Direct mode really shows off the musical abilities of these THX Select certified amps!!! Clear and dynamic!! Witha large and open soundstage!!!!

Similar Products Used:

DENON,OTHER YAMAHA MODELS, ONKYO,PARASOUND, VECTOR RESEARCH,BIC AMERICA,POLK,ATHENA,PHASE TECH,PSB

I don't use the THX mode. I prefer to hook my subs speaker level. It sounds more organic, fluid and dynamic. I don't have to turn it up as loud. It sounds really good at lower volumes as well as higher volumes.Something is lost with either preout L/R or sub out even with a crxvr bypass. I know this hookup draws more juice, but..The sound of this reciever through my Athena AS-B1//AS-C1/S.5/SUB 8 --- 7.1 system is warmer, softer and cleaner than before when I had an onkyo and the Yamaha htr-5730. All of the functions work fine. However, I accidentally pressed the thx mode and the reciever locked up. I guess I was pushing buttons too fast.
Since I don't use the thx mode, I don't really care. For those who do, The thx mode defaluts to an 80 hz cxrvr and sends the lef and low bass signals to the sub out and since i use a different sub hookup, thx is useless. Plus iI love the Pure Direct Mode and my sub/speaker level hookup allows the sub to be heard. Whereas if the sub out was used, I couldn't use it. But, thinking, I guess the Preouts L/R could be used. Well Maybe I'll try and see...

Well, I can't really see any.. ButI have only had this model for 3 months...
We'll see..

I bought the last floor model of this reciver. I had to order the remote from partstore.com for only $50. I sold my old htr-5730, which was a very good reciever at the lowest line of yamaha's line. Jumping to what was the 3rd best reciever in their line , just below the rxv2500 and the rz9000 ,(I think) , was quite a sound difference. I didn't get the ypao mic either. But I prefer to tweek the systems myself!! Experiment! as it were... To many functions are being done for us nowadays. Get off your butts and have some fun. You might even do it better than the dogon machine. Well, maybe. It is fun to try. I am very satisfied with this reciever. Ultimate Elect. is an authorized Yamaha dealer, so I got my full 2 year parts & Labor warranty. And I like Black.

Customer Service

INone needed yet> The Manual I gto online eas very useful and easy to read...

Similar Products Used:

Parasound,Onkyo,Denon, Other yamaha models,Polk,Epi ,Athena,PSB,DCM

Sound is good if works.

Manual is not written with clear understanding for hook ups and controls.

I bought in Jan.10,2005 left in box for 6 mths.till we moved to Tucson. Took out of box and hooked up, first thing was output for VCR doesn't work. Played for 1 mth casual then one day played for 4-5 hours shutoff, next day turned on now it won't stay on. Tried it with no wires hooked up left alone for acouple of days tried again still shuts off. Spoke to Yamaha told them, they said it needs to be serviced. Problem is they won't honor warranty because i didn't buy from authorized dealer. Told them i bought Yamaha not etronics reciever( 2nd one).Reason is they want control of price, i told them i bought it i didn't steal it, and that company bought it from you or your Authorized dealer. I just want my reciever fixed. They won't pay to get it fixed. No one within 100 miles can fix it, so i have to ship it to e tronics and wait mths to get back. Will not buy products from someone who won't back there products. Denon next time...

Similar Products Used:

Denon,Yamaha x 2,Onkyo.

Build quality Numerous Options, including THX

YPAO has a problem. No total system "reset" capability.

The RX-V1500 was purchased to upgrade the Yamaha HTR5550 now that I have PSB speakers at all points in my HT setup. Connected the unit and turned it on. The music was terrific....the movies were excellent. But, I just had to "toy" with all the options that this unit offers, so I used the YPAO auto speaker equalizer to start. This is where the problems began. After the completion of the YPAO setup, the RX-V1500's audio output was greatly reduced....I was shocked and reread the manual...I then proceeded to use the MANUAL SETUP procedures to see if I could correct the lowering of the audio output. In short, I couldn't fix the audio output problem after many continued resets and even running the YPAO setup again. Right out of the box, the RX-V1500 would fill the room with music and dynamic movie sound while the volume was at 35db on the dial...after the episode with the YPAO, I had to turn the audio volume to 16db to get the same audio volume I had before running the YPAO...thus stressing the Amp section. My frustration mounted as I redid the setup manually over and over trying to overcome the lowered audio output. I kept playing CD's during this repeated manual setup....so I popped in a DVD movie and now found that the unit would not recognize the PCM input. Hard as I tried (different cabling, different DVD players, etc.)the RX-V1500 just wouldn't play a movie. Contact with Yamaha provided little help...they recommended that I just unplug the unit for over a week to let all the setup in memory diappear and possibly start over. Not exactly what I wanted to hear and I think most people would feel the same way....these A/V Receivers are now just Software driven computers and apparently Yamaha has a possible glitch in their YPAO software that, hopefully, they have addressed in newer units. I felt that I had a "bum" unit UNTIL I read the review section on AudioReview. Shame on me for not checking here first. The dealer is being supportive, till then, the HTR5550 is back in line and doing nicely. I bought this particular unit because it was recommended in AUDIOHOLICS "Our picks to buy" section which further emphasizes the importance of reading the reviews offered by real live users.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha HTR5550