I pickup that receiver on garage sale ...I listened a lot of receivers in the basic price range and what I can say-That receiver has great value!, surprizingly natural sound, probably too neutral, but sounds exactly much better than new receivers Yamaha 300-400-450 $, I like that product from 1998 ! Doesn't have Dolby Digital, DTS, HDMI, component commutation (if you don't need these new features,-you just don't care about it)-QUALITY OF SOUND IS GREAT FOR BASIC MODEL.

Low THD% on the front channels deliver crisp clear sounds. Good Video reproduction. Very reliable with plenty of power to the front.Good rise time. Unsurpassed in sterio mode!!

Very little power to the rear channels. Not enough video inputs. Could have better ventilation!

For 3 Channel Dolby Surround purposes this reciever has been great. The Seperation is good and the clarity is very good.

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Fisher pro-logic reciever Pioneer sterio reciever Norelco sterio reciever

don't touch this receiver

problems with the primary and secondary relays. sounds cheap like it is. will throw it away

piece of crap. bought secondhand 1 year ago. have had nothing but trouble. had it looked at before i bought it. guy said it looked like new (proffessional hi fi specialist). sounds ok when i can get it going, but highs are pretty fuzzy.

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yamaha rx v490-much better receiver

This is a nice entry level Pro Logic unit. The rear channels are a bit underpowered. 60x3 up front is sufficent for most. Simple and straightforward operation -- front panel rear and center channel level controls are especially convenient. Good piece for the money.

I originally started off with a Yamaha RX-385 stereo receiver. The sound was nice for the time being but a little under powered. Almost a year later I went back to the same store where I bought the RX-385 looking to upgrade. I liked Yamaha's "Natural Sound" receivers so I decided to go with another Yamaha. Since Century Electronics sells used equipment I had in mind to trade in my old Yamaha for a new one. At that time the store was displaying the RX-V390 using a surround sound setup with its Dolby Pro-Logic capabilities. I was pretty impressed with how ID4 sounded over the RX-V390. I also listened to its stereo capabilities and was also impressed with how much more power it seemed to have over my previous Yamaha. They were asking $299 but I talked them down to $279 to match the ad price I found in Circuit Citys catalog. The store was willing to give me $115 for my old Yamaha since it was in like new condition. Not bad considering I originally paid $150. Since I was a returning customer I got the RX-V390 without paying much more for a better model. I sometimes watch DVDs on my computer using Dolby Pro-Logic with the RX-V390. I dont have any rear speakers but then again I dont care because of the weak output to the rear anyway. From what I hear up front though the sound is quite nice. The majority of the time im listening to just 2-channel music and the RX-V390 produces a clean, “Natural” sound. Its not an excellent receiver but at the time it was much better than the claimed high output Sony and Pioneer junk. I will eventually upgrade to either a NAK Dolby Digital receiver or go strictly 2-channel with an amplifier from Perreaux. For the time being though the RX-V390 is fine.

I have been very pleased with the RX-V390 that I purchased. I get great performance for such a cost efficiant reciever. I highly recomend this modelfor those on a tight budget

I purchased the Yamaha RX-V393 after doing a stink-load of research on entry level pro-logic recievers. Initially I was just planning on going with a decent mid-level product like Sony, JVC, or Pioneer, all of which offered more rated power output for the same price (100+ watts per channel)as any of the entry level line ups offered by the higher-end companies like Harman/Kardon, Onkyo, Denon, and Yamaha (50 or65 watts per channel). I had heard rumors that "rated" power outputs didn't necessarily mean anything, and after researching this theory I found it to be entirely true! Using the same room and same pair of speakers I found that the lower powered "high-end" products were actually louder, probably due to the fact that they only reproduce clean "music" as opposed to loud (100+wpc.) "noise". My next test was to decide between the Onkyo, H/K, Denon, and Yamaha. Let me just say that this was the easiest decision to make after sitting in a home-theater/listening room, switching back and forth between the different models of pro-logic recievers, while watching "Jurasic Park" on a big screen. The salesman would switch them back and forth without telling me which one was currently being utilized. I was impressed with all of them, but UNQUESTIONABLY one of them stood out above the other three . . . it did a much better job at separating the different sounds (backgrounds/dialog/music) and then sending them to the right speakers. After repeating the test numerous times, the salesman finally informed me that I had chosen the Yamaha every time! My next step to finalizing my choice was to contact a knowlegeable person who would not be biased. I called a guy who only installed (didn't sale)home theater systems. I mentioned the four brands that I was interested in, and he unhesitatingly advised me to go with Yamaha. He said that he knew that they not only sounded the best out of all the systems that he had ever sold, but he also was impressed with Yamaha's confidence in the quality of their own work since they offered a two year warranty, whereas most companies only offer a one year. He also reaffirmed this by stating that in all of his years of buisness he has never had to service any of his installations which used Yamaha equipment. The last point that he shared with me was how impressed he was with Yamaha's dedication to creating the best and most realistic sound possible. He told me how all of the other companies laughed at Yamaha a few years ago when Yamaha actually traveled all over the world recording exact sound measurements, in places like Anaheim Stadium and Concert Hall, so that their different surround sound modes would reproduce completely life-like. Now those other companies who once laughed at Yamaha are now trying to follow in their footsteps, as they realize how the public has embraced Yamaha's inginuitive thinking, as well as the noticeable difference in their sound reproductions of different surround modes.
After hearing the difference myself, talking to the installation guy, and spending MANY hours reading different articles and reviews in Stereo Review magazine and on the internet, the choice to go with Yamaha was my only choice. I was only planning on buying Yamaha's base model pro-logic reciever, the RX-V393,(funds are tight as a newly-wed to a wonderful woman who unfortunately doesn't appreciate the need for great sound the way I do) but when the shop that I buy my products from offered to throw in the compatible Yamaha DDP-1
AC-3 decoder for an additional $90 bucks, I couldn't possibly refuse. I feel pretty impressed that I got a great sounding, high-end system, with AC-3 decoder for only $399! Anyways, to make a long story short, all of the high-end products sounded much better than the mid-level products with higher power ratings, but only the Yamaha scored a perfect "five-speaker" rating, but don't just take my word for it, go hear it for yourself and prove it for yourself!

I like my RX-V390. I bought it before I really knew what I was getting into. And I think I was pretty lucky, because now that I understand sound a little bit, I'm really enjoying how good this receiver sounds for the money ($179). Owning this receiver makes upgrading in a timely matter difficult, since I can be satisfied with it 80% of the time.

This unit is pretty good. With the advent of Dolby Digital this pro logic only receivers has its days numbered. Otherwise a very good product.

I do not like the way Yamaha has to send less power to the surrounds that the front speakers. I have the same front and rear speakers and i do not a weaker signal out of the back. Other brands don't do this and Yamaha's higher models have all 5 channels the same. There are other better choices.