Very good clean sound, Top Art Design, A/V connections, great Yamaha quality at a low price

Trying to figure out which pre-set sound effect sounds best,
remote is difficult to master

Starting from scratch, my goal was to put together a impressive Home-Theater/Audio System on a somewhat tight budget of $3000.
Well, for the record, I went $600 over budget, but when I listen to a CD or watch a DVD I realize that I have a really good system.
The Yamaha RX-V620 was an excellent choice for the heart & soul of my Home Theater System, for the $$ this is a very good receiver, I recommend highly, especially if you can buy it for $450 or less.

My current system consists of:

Yamaha RX-V620 Receiver
Yamaha CDR-D651 CD Recorder
Yamaha DV-S5270 DVD Player
Klipsch KSF Synergy 8.5 Towers
Klipsch SC1 Synergy Center
Klipsch SS1 Synergy Surrounds
Klipsch KSW-12 Subwoofer
Sony FS-12 VVega 32" TV
Sony SLV-N81 Hi-Fi Stereo VCR
Monster Audio & Video Cables for all connects
Monster Fiber-Optic DVD & CD Connects
Monster XP Speaker Wires & Monster Tips Bananas
MonsterBass 300 Subwoofer Cable
Tech-Craft TV Stand & Audio Cabinet

Similar Products Used:

Sony 945, JVC 8010

Component video switching, good clean power, assignable inputs, binding posts for all speakers

Remote control, magnetic field around unit

This is the cheapest receiver on the market that will switch high definition video sources. The two component inputs are assignable to any input label, as are the five digital inputs.

The power is clean, the digital effects are better done than Sony or Denon's attempts, but nonetheless rarely worthwhile for serious listening of either theatre or music sources.

The DACs are fantastic, about as good as those in my Toshiba 6200 DVD player and far better than those in the Sony SDP-E800 which this Yamaha has replaced. One frustration however is that digital sources aren't converted to analog for the tape and VCR audio outputs. I had planned to connect another receiver to the tape outs but this it is not possible to feed an analog signal to the remote receiver for CD, satellite, PC(MD) and DVD digital inputs.

The receiver does have a strong magnetic field about itself. Out of the box there was no interference placed about eight inches to the left side of my sony 36xbr400 TV. After being plugged in for one week, a colour wash appeared on the monitor which would only clear if I moved the receiver a full 24" away from the TV. With all the connections involved it wasn't a pleasent surprise.

The video switching is clean, the on-screen volume controls and configuration is great. On-screen displays are easily disabled with one button press on the remote.

The remote is just horrible however. I'm a technical and patient guy but the remote is not excusable. The source selector is a wheel whose label can't stay backlit for more than two seconds. There are two DVD options on the "source" selector wheel, one to control play, the other to navigate menus. The remote seems especially bad since ergonomics are so great for the receiver itself.

The display is clean and useful. Direct input selection is available on the remote only, so selecting a video source followed by a specific audio source (NASA videofile with a CD soundtrack is a favourite of mine) can't be done from the front panel. Not too big a deal.

This box has no problem driving my big polk audio speaker set, cs400 and rt1000i's, bose 201's in the back.

The phono inputs work very well with my turntable, very impressive, clean amplification.

Note that the HTR-5460 and the RX-V620 are the same receiver.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha's RX-V800, RX-V596; Onkyo 575; Pioneer elite 36tx

Multiple component inputs; 5 channel stereo; assignable optical/coaxial inputs; optical out; DD & DTS; ultra clean sound... too many to list.

None that I can think of... maybe the remote, but at least it's glow-in-the-dark... the Input "mechanism" is back-lit too.

I shopped around for about 3 months looking for the overall best performing receiver under $800 and the 620 won hands down. You really have to be able to do a direct comparison to appreciate the Yamaha's sound quality; everybody has a different ear so I 100% reccomend listening to this receiver on the same 5.1 system as the receiver you're comparing it with, even better, the same 5.1 system you'll be using it with.

This receiver is a tad more "bright" than the Denon 2801 (which IMO sounds filtered and dead anyway); and if you have cheap speakers, it may seem even more so bright, so you might want to consider this before you buy. As for the other receiver's listed under "similar products used", the 620 kills them all with its sheer amount of features-per-dollar. If your even considering this receiver, it'd be wise to take a listen to it. If your sales associate doesn't sell you on the receiver, T2: Judgement Day Ultimate Edition DTS will.

BTW: The only thing i can think of the model I bought is missing is 5.1 pre-outs, HOWEVER, after perusing the owners manual there was a mention of another model that had them! If I knew Yamaha made the 620 with pre-outs when I bought it, I would have asked if I could order it. You might want to do the same. Good luck!

Similar Products Used:

NAD T751; Denon AVR2801; Marantz SR-5000; HK AVR-310; Onkyo TX-DS575X; Onkyo TX-DS676

MANY! Sound, connections, DD, DTS, 5 channel stereo, everything!!!

Only weakness I see is the remote takes awhile to tame, but I actually quite like it!

All I can say is that this receiver is awesome. It has almost everything you could ever want. The only thing it's missing is all channel pre-outs, but can't complain since I only paid $400 for it! :)

First of all, I have very inefficient speakers (86dB/1m). I was afraid they would be hard to push, but the RXV620 does one hell of a job! I have the speakers bi-wired and the sing gloriously. (Technics SB-T200-Great sounding!)

DTS is absolutely amazing. I watched Saving Private Ryan and Titan A.E. and was blown away! It actually made me look around just to make sure there weren't any mortars behind me!

To touch on the remote, pardon the pun, it's not bad once you sit down and work with it. It controls all of my devices perfectly. Wish it was back-lit though.

If you're pondering the notion of buying this receiver, DO IT. You WILL NOT regret it!!!

My Setup:

26" RCA TV
Panasonic DVD-RV30
Mains: Technics SB-T200
Center: Technics SB-AFC150
Surrounds: Technics SB-S150 (Dipoles)

Great sounding budget home theater.
I can't wait to get it in my dorm room!

Similar Products Used:

looked at all at Circuit City, Best Buy, BrandSmart, etc.

Great sound(stereo/HT),inputs/outputs,good quality overall for the price

None if you look at the price paid

Great A/V-receiver for the price. I´m really satisfied with this piece of equipment and I warmly recommend it to everyone who doesn´t want to spend over 1000 $ for amp.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DB840

GREAT PRICE, DIGITAL INPUT/SVIDEO INPUT ON FRONT!!

Remote needs much help

Great overall. I have my DVD player running S-vid to it, my PSX1 running S-vid to it, DishNetwork Sat running S-Vid to it and VCR running Composite to it. I run the monitor out from it as S-vid and everything is PERFECT LOOKING. The sound from my DVD player is Opitical and it is GREAT, no line noise at ALL to the speakers either. Heres my SETUP:

ALL SONY Speakers(small 5" 125Watt bookshelfs) no idea what ones, got them CHEAP at Bestbuy from there old floor model
Aiwa 50Watt 8" sub
Sony VTR(high end 1996 VCR)
Sony DVD DPS-560D
Sony Playstation
Dishnetwork Sat.
ProScan 27" TV

Buy this receiver. It has 2 Component in and 1 out. For the price and quility it BLOWS all the others I looked at away. Remote needs help, but I will get a universal to make life easier anyway.

Was looking at:
H/K AVR210 or 310
Onkyo
Sony 845

Similar Products Used:

RCA, NEC, JVC, Sony

Power, 5 channel stereo, silent cinema headphone input

Headphone jack cuts out main speakers(minor)

I had been waiting for three months for this unit to come out. I bought the HTR 5460 which is exactly the same unit as the 620. The sound is incredible. I also use only the 5 channel stereo for music and the effect is amazing as is the Dolby Digital and DTS. The silent cinema works quite well. I watched "Twister" under the headphones and was truly impressed with the effect. I believe this unit is the unit to have as far as the price is concerned. My system includes a Panasonic DVD (CV-50), an old pair of Cerwin Vega D-5's as mains and a pair of Sound Dynamic RTS 3's for surround. T-2, Men in Black and Twister were amazing. I've been partial to DTS discs as they seem to sound the best.

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo Pro Logic

Plenty of Power. Lots of options. 5 channel stereo. Binding posts at all terminals

Remote

The reason I chose this receiver over the others is the low price. The Marantz was a great receiver with great sound, but just cost too much. Same goes for the RXV-800, but option wise the RXV-620 is very similar to the 800, with lots of fun new options that the previous model(RXV-596) did not have. I already enjoy the inputs on the front, I use it for my playstation. The remote is not that bad, but it did take me an hour to get used to it. But after reading the manual I was able to program it for my DVD player and VCR. The worst part of the remote is the difficulty of using it at night. Everything sounds great, with lots of clean sound. Of course dolby digital and DTS are awesome, and I really enjoy the 5 channel stereo mode for video games and listening to the radio. The radio reception isn't great, but I've had worse. I don't really use any of the DSP modes besides the Dolby Digital modes and 5 channel stereo. I could skip on jazz and rock modes etc. I am not that into the music with echoes.

My Crap, I mean equipment:

RXV-620
Philips DVD player
JBL PSW1000 Subwoofer
JBL G300 from speakers
JBL G center
Tributaries, and Monster Cable Interconnects
I am going to get new speakers real soon, with the money I saved on the receiver.

Similar Products Used:

Old Yamaha model, Marantz SR7000, Yamaha RXV-800

Price paid, crystal clear sound, clean power, home theater effects

The remote, input selection on the front panel is terrible, no balance control on front panel, small knobs

This review is for the HTR-5460. Yes, IT IS identical to the RXV-620.

At first I was very pleased with the sound quality and home theater effects this receiver produced but was disappointed at the seeming lack of power for it's rating. You turn the volume knob and the volume barely rises. Since I don't listen to my music that loud anyway it wasn't problem. Boy was I terribly wrong about the power. The reason you really have to crank the knob to get volume up is because this thing isn't underrated like the crappy receivers I've been used to listening to (Technics, Pioneer, JVC, Sony). You keep turning the knob up on this receiver and it produces CLEAN, LOUD, DISTORTION FREE music (provided your speakers can keep up). Hell, even my wife is impressed. With the cheapo receivers mentioned above you barely turn the volume knob and the music is loud, distorted and the amp is done. Not with this Yamaha. I love it. Home theater effects are simply amazing. The opening battle sequence of Gladiator had me stunned. Buy this receiver but don't pay the full retail price of $499. Find a retailer online that sells it for less, print out the ad and bring it Sears. They will price match. I did this but didn't end up buying the receiver from them for two reasons: 1) The "salesmen" sat on their butts the whole time I was there and apparently didn't want to earn any commission on an easy sale, 2) It wasn't in stock. This is typical of Sears, I should know because I sold electronics for them while in college. I ended up waiting longer to get it online than if I had let Sears order it but I had the satisfaction that the lazy "salesmen" wouldn't earn any easy commission from the sale.

I give it 5 stars for value because of the excellent price I got it for. Only 4 stars overall because the remote and front panel could be improved.

Similar Products Used:

Technics

Performance

Remote

I originally owned a Fisher Pro Logic receiver which was quite a good unit but I wanted to get into digital so I sold it. I really did my homework before purchasing the Yamaha receiver (about 2 months). I was actually looking at the RX-V800 but the RX-V620 is the same receiver with a few less bells and whistles so I saved a ton of money by moving down to this receiver. The saving allowed my to invest in a better center speaker.

I am not an audiofile so I could only go by what I could hear when auditioning receivers. I looked at NAD, Harmon Kardon, Denon, Marantz and Yamaha. It came down to the Yamaha and one of the new Denon's. Its a tough call between the Denon and the Yamaha. Denon has earned my respect and you would do well with either. Both sound very very good and the new Denons do Pro Logic II whereas the Yamaha does not (unless you spend about twice the money!). However, I wanted this primarily for 5.1 digital home theater and in this area the Yamaha receivers really shine. The sound is awesome although I do not have good speakers for the mains and rears yet. The receiver was extremely easy to setup without reading the manual and everything worked the first time (phew!). I really like all the video and audio component switching on this unit.

I purchased a B&W 601 for center speaker since I found the B&W's were the only speaker in my opinion that produces a real theater experience. I hope to complete my system with more B&W speakers in the future. I also looked at Paradigm and Boston Acoustics.

The only weakness about this receiver would be the remote which is not lighted and quite complicated. You need to read the manual in order to figure this thing out.

My System:
Yamaha RX-V620
Toshiba HDTV Progressive Scan DVD
Akai Hi-Fi VCR
B&W 601 Center
Older RCA TV
Older low power B&W Mains
Cheap TEAC rears

Similar Products Used:

Fisher