Very clean, natural sound

Complicated remote

I bought this unit after Christmas, through a friend who works in audio retail, so I got it at a good price...
375 $ Canadian .
My old amp was a 100 watt Pioneer with a built in equalizer.
I have Paradigm 7se's , and a Sony cd player. After hearing
the reciever , I really want my cd player to break, so I can buy a DVD player .
This reciever sounds very nice, warm and rich. No background
hiss, even at higher volumes and PLENTY of power. I can't turn it up past 33 % !! The built in special effects seemed a bit cheezy to me, until I turned the lights down, and tried them all out, on the same studio cd. The effects really do work..I especially enjoy the "concert hall" setting. Most effects are very convincing and realistic.
The reciever puts out great sound with ALL types of music..
( Note - disco and opera were not tested...as they are not music...hee hee )
Playing video tapes was also very nice ,making me wish I had suround sound.
Soundwise , it's a flawless reciever. I don't like the dull
display though, it says "no effects" all the time, unless I have an effect turned on. That annoys me a bit. The remote is a bit complicated , but I did program it successfully with a tv, tape deck, cd-player and vcr...all in one !
I strongly recommend this unit !

Correction to the immediately preceding review

The review preceding this one stated the RX-V495 has no optical inputs. It actually has 2 optical inputs (you have to remove the covers to use them) as well as a coax digital input (in addition to the regular rca inputs you'd expect to find on a receiver). I have my dvd player going into one of the opticals and my laswerdisc player going into the other.

Power Output, Dolby Digital, Tuner, Price

No bass boost... guess I could just get a EQ. No LED on volume knob. Other than that this receiver kicks.

Ok, lets get this straight. I have purchased Sony and Pioneer receivers and I thought I was getting good quality. Well, dont get me wrong... I liked them both. But this Yamaha that I purchased just the other day Rocks! It most certainly kicks the others away and has Dolby Digital. I must have been at the right place and the right time but I bought this receiver for $189.99!!!!

I cannot believe the prices people here have payed for there receiver. I also purchased mine in New York none the less. Anyway, whoever purchased this receiver or who is looking to buy one and reades about this receiver will be more than happy with this one. It has everything an audiophile would want for the price you will pay. I am serious, this receiver rocks. Big Time.

Wish I could write more but I am at work....

ENJOY!

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Pioneer, Sony, Philips/Magnavox...

dsp modes

no s-video

i have owned this unit for about four months and i am very pleased with it. i am one of those people who likes the dsp modes and yamaha has the best dsp modes i have heard. i picked the unit up at best buy for 259.00 open box. i was willing to pay the 399.00 price but got lucky. im not interested in the pricey "audiophile" equipment but i do want decent home theater sound and this receiver sounds better than the kenwood, pioneer and optimus i tried. all in all it is a fine receiver.

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none

Terriffic sound at an unbelievable price

None

Just to add a few tips to the high ratings below:
The remote IS very easy to use once you understand it.
On audio CD's of ANY kind (classical, Jazz whatever) try using the EFFECT OFF mode rather than Dolby or any other DSP mode, although they can be interesting too.
The Enhanced Prologic is stunning on Movie DVD's I'm using a Raite 715 also new and this reciever makes it shine.Try the Shuttle Launch sequence from Appollo 13. Crisp clear center channel dialog too.
Best part: I got mine from UBid at $187. Some mild hassle with them-sent me an outbid notice at $187 even though I'd won it. I bid again on another one at $247 won it. They shipped me two units but accepted return on the at $247. I'm now a happy guy. Buy this!!!! Speakers are Cambridge Soundworks Model 6 front, Center channel plus center. Bass Cube 8 powered sub, Ensemble IV. All can be had from EBay from HiFi.com refurbs really cheap.

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Sony STR-D780 ProLogic, 70's era Pioneer Stereo reciever

Versatility, Power, Clarity

Can't fit it into my pocket.

I've had the receiver for a couple of months and am extremely happy with this Product. Hard to fault it!
Not having had another A/V Receiver before does make it hard to compare, but for the price, it does everything that I would have asked from a unit with these specs. When it came to playing Audio CD's I did wonder if it was a little bright and perhaps not as 'Warm' as some Amplifiers can be but it depends a little on the production of the CD itself and you certainly need to 'Crank it up' to get the best out of it.
The 5.1 Channel sound is fantastic and if you haven't experienced it before and are wondering wether its worth the extra $$ and effort, the answer is YEP!

Thanx for listening.

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First A/V Receiver

nice clear sound and nice power design is good

well only one coaxial digital out no pre- outs

well when i went to the shop for a better reciever i intended to buy a pioneer for $250 dolby surround pro logic
when i got home the sound sucks and i was back in store in 2 hours after buying dolby digital was brand new so i saw yamaha's receiver i listen to it and it really was nice so i bought it never had any regret only minors are no pre- outs in case you have large mainspeakers and digital outs not many the power is great and the dsp processors of yamaha are very good dolby digital is nice especially with dvd for such a price as this you have something good

other products used:

Samsung dvd909
audiocastle main
audiocastle center en rear
van den hul speakercable
sizo speakerstands
yamaha receiver
thx amlipfier subwoofer

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Sony str de325

I just had my home theater put in, and with this receiver as my lead piece it was best $187.00, I've ever spent. Purchased this unit of u-bid brand new and have been happy ever since. The specs. has it rated at 60 watts per channel. Let me tell you this piece Kicks!!!!!!

balanced sound, handsome unit

When I can distinguish banjo, mandolin, guitar and string bass background while Alison Krauss is singing, I know I have a winning unit. It makes my paradigm 3se (1986) sound better than ever. Have yet to try on theater sources, but family room is being re-done - so no chance for now.

Beautiful audio. Get one.

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first A/V receiver, have had stereo models - including old NAD 7120

crisp clear sound

could have made it a bit more slim, S video input and especially CD optical input.

excelent component system, I saw this on sale at The Wiz and imediately bought it home since it was going under 250$ because the new RX-V496 is out at a very competitive price which includes DTS. I'd be happy to have just 5.1 and build.

The Yamaha's built with very solid high end components comparing this to my previous Pioneer RX-400 which was alo a big hit for sometime. currently no one can compete with the price / quality of this Yamaha model.

The remote is also very precise and well built, which is a Bang & Aloufson look alike, it controls my other components well, including the technics multiplayer (I returned) and the new Sony DVP-S560D, programable to control almost anything and pleasing to the eye than most remotes.

I love this receiver and will not hesitate to recomend to anyone at this price.

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I compared the sony and Yamaha side by side, and found the Yamaha 495 to produce excelent unmatched crisp clear sound.