Good preamp, Fast input switching, Dual Center Out, Lots of Inputs and Outputs

Bad bass management, bright amplifiers, not that great of Pro Logic in phantom or in normal mode with center on

This is a follow-up to a review I did last year. After looking around at other options to either replace or improve the sound of the receiver.
I decided I would try out a CD-Player to imporve input quality since I was using a cheap Radio Shack 100 Disc Changer with optical output. I got a Carver DTL-3100. What a difference whenever DTL is on. The sound is much more open. Also there is a wider and more 3 dimensional sound to two channel stereo. That was a major improvment.
Next step was to get external amplifiers. I went to Hawthorne Stereo which is a new and used stereo shop and listened to Adcom and Rotel amplifiers. I ended up getting two Adcom GFA-535 II amplifiers and also found a Carber M-400a amplifer and for $500. That was a great deal and cleaned up the bright sound that the Yamaha amps had.
The next step was buying some new speakers that were more complementary to the Magnepan MMGs I use for my front channels. I bought a Paradigm PDR-12 subwoofer which I must agree with everyone that had reviewed them and say this is the best subwoofer for $400. Also went out a bought ESS AMT 1b speakers for my surrounds and a Ascend Acoustics HTM-200 center channel speaker. I must say that the ESS maybe 20 years old but still produce excellent sound. As for the Ascend Acoustics speaker it is very impressive and blends well with my Magnepans. Some people may say that many of the reviews on the speakers are made up because the scores are high, but for the $180 I payed for it is better than most center channels going up to $500.
Current the Yamaha is just a preamp and sounds very good. My only complaint about the unit really lies with the bass management which really isn't that good. It has large and small for the each speaker channel. It also has three modes for where to direct the LFE channel or the bass from any of the small channels. I find that it doesn't process it the best unless it direct hooked up via speaker wire to the subwoofer. So the next step for me will be a external bass management control box. Also the Pro Logic sounds muffled whenever phantom mode is on, and sometimes the center channel sticks out a little bit whenever you listen to certain types of music.
Overall this is a good bargain and would recommend it to those on a tight budget and looking to have their last step in building a system be a preamp. This thing has good sound as a preamp and worth the low price that it sells for now days.

Stereo Setup:
Yamaha RX-596 Receiver
Carver DTL-3100 CD-Player
Toshiba SD-1600 DVD Player
Adcom GFA 535 II Amplifer
Adcom GFA 535 II Amplifer
Carver M-400a Amplifer
Magnepan MMG Front Speakers
Ascend Acoustics HTM-200 Center Speaker
ESS ATM-1b Rear Speakers
Paradigm PDR 12 Subwoofer

Similar Products Used:

Acurus ACT-3, Various Marantz and Denon Recievers

Excellent Power, Grrrreat clarity and perk when used with Good wires/speakers. LOW HEAT! Remote contols all my components' main/most features.

shape of remote.

Have planned to write a review a month after a got it, to thank all the people for their positive review of this A/V Receiver ..but it has been more then a year... and I'm addicted to staying at home! It is all good: Excellent Power, with almost no heat (my cablebox makes more heat). Remote control is very powerful if not argonomically desirable. With just clicks I can turn on TV (WEGA 36XBR400 [Progressive], Mitsu. DD-6000 [Progressive] and the amp and well as switch to proper inputs in less then 10 sec.

I am (ab)using all this unit features and loving it. I sometimes have problems deciding on the best DSP mode expecially there is the need for speech clarity(ProLogic DSP) from center channel with the bass-boom(ROCK DSP) of front speakers / 5 speakers. Theater(SCI-FI & Advanture) give the best surround mode with good juice for frontal speakers.

The radio has also impressive pick-up (I think its called FM Mono Sensitivity). I still can't route the DD signal from the CableVision's el-crappy cable box for TV movies.
BUT when listening to DVD (in DTS Digital)sounds, music and soundtracks thru MonsterOptical cable its Heaven! The signal is excellantly distibuted if Hollywood took the time to make it. The "Now Hear This!" (NHT) speakers leave nothing more to be disirered even w/o a subwoofer.

Spend the money you save with this great unit and and get FAT GAUGE(except the optical of course) cables all over. Always choose Yamaha -- they make all internal components.
I have seen Sony ELITE! $1000+ receiver heated more then a toaster (OUCH! Noise--> both audio and electrical). No such thing with YAMAHA!.. even after multi-hour exposure to MetallicA Amplification (GRIN!).

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Dolby Digital, DTS, various other EQ settings, Power, Flexible etc. etc..

Remote and that's it.

I've been using this Receiver for more than a year now and I would say that it's far what I expected it to be. It's flexible, powerful, and more than enough for any listener out there. My living room is not that big and it's old with windows clattering whenever U-571 is on. I have the Polk RM6200 satellite speakers and both product works well with each other. I've watched and listened to countless DVDs and CDs on this setup or on this receiver and never failed to churn out every bit of stereo encoded on this discs. I've watched action, to drama, to rocknroll, to r&b, even FM and everything sounds well. Sometimes the dialog or the drums doesn't really sound that loud or that clear but it's always the DVD and CD that's the problem since it doesn't happen on every disc I listen to. There is something better out there but for this price, it's more than you'll ever need.

Similar Products Used:

Various Sony & Denon receivers..

DTS, DD, High Power,

REMOTE. Still try to figure out the DTS output sound.

I have just bought this Yamaha Receiver @ Goodguys last weekend after some good review from this SITE. The problem is that I still look for DTS Sound from The Eagles (Hell Freeze Over) DVD.
Can anyone help me ???? Otherwise this is a very good receiver, with all sound that I am looking for. The price is very cheap for this kind of High-End Receiver. You can't find any quality receiver with all the options.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 940, Onkyo 474, Denon 1801

I like the sound powerfull amplifier

The Remote is tricky

I am the lucky owner of a Yamaha RX-V596RDS.
Is there anywone that can recomend a suitible dvd player?.

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First-rate design, Lots of Power.

Balance, base and treble are not remote-controlled.

After dismissing the Sony/Kenwood offerings, I bought this one on the strength of the manual - available as .pdf from
http://www2.yamaha.co.jp/manual/english/menu_f.html - I was not disappointed!

Apart from being a great-sounding, solid amp that got me through a wild new years' party effortlessly and is great for DVD nights, this is one of those rare pieces of equipment where, every which way you look, they got the design right:

- When you switch from an AV input to an audio input, it keeps the picure coming from the old input and gives you sound from the new one - great for listening to radio whilst the commercials are on!
- Luminous buttons on the remote control, and it's great that it controls my DVD and sat receiver at the same time.
- Real motorized volume control.
- Switch from a DVD in the DVD to a CD in the DVD, and it remembers to swtich from your home-theater effect to your audio effect.
- Enough inputs/outputs to keep (almost) anyone happy.

I can't belive anything touches it at the price.

Similar Products Used:

Many older Pro-Logic units.

Lots of Power...DD5.1/DTS...subout...

subout does not work in standard stereo mode
could have made the front panel and remote look nicer
could not control my Nikko TV

The reciever is a nice one. It even makes my 10 year kenwood speakers that i blasted all to hell in teens sound amazing. (yes..i still use them) DVD movies sound amazing

Dolby DTS, Great Sound in HT, Easy Set Up, HIGH POWER!

Cheap looking face

First, I am far from an audiophile.
However, I wanted to sample as many receivers as possible before making a choice. I found this receiver to have all the amenities of higher priced units. Also, the sound quality to my ears was very similar to Denon, Pioneer, and other higher priced AV receivers.

This was my first HT receiver and I am very happy with the purchase. The manual was very easy to understand and set up was a breeze. No regrets!!!

Value, sturdy building, very good sound for that price.

Too bright sound in stereo, the remote takis some time to manage, poor surround and center connections, no digital out.

I must say that I am impressed with this unit. For being a pretty cheap unit it handles itself pretty well. Its prefect for homecinema and ok for stereo.

Exept for the sharp upper tones, it play wery tight and refreshing. It has to be the perfect beginner machine!

flexibility

internal amps

This is a great entry level receiver. IT is highly flexibly with preamp outputs for all five channels and an additional decoder imput. It took a while to get used to the remote but I am fond of it now. The 100 watt x5 amps inside leave a little to be desired. Not too bad but external amps help. If you have an existing system with seperates, keep your amps and use the reciever as a preamp, processor. Great start for upgrading to DD/DTS.

My system:
Yamaha RXV 596 - preamp and processor only
Adcom GFA-555II - 200 watts x2 for mains
Rotel RB-956-AX - 100 watts x3 in bridged mode for surrounds and center
Toshiba SD-2109 - DVD player
NHT Super Two - mains and surrounds
NHT Super One - Center

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo, Technics, Denon, Yamaha, Kenwood, Harmon Kardon, Pioneer