Sound quality, ease of use, price, plenty of in & outputs.

Remote control.

It's a great system, That works well with my Klipsch Quintet speakers and sub. The effects all sound great, just not sure what the church effect is good for but its different. The only downside is the remote. It doesn't learn and the buttons are too small. But the sound more then makes up for that. The JVC and Kenwood that I listen to made alot of promises but didn't deliver. There rated power of 100W is a joke. The Yamaha is rated at 85W continuous and literally blows the others away.

Similar Products Used:

JVC, Denon, Sony

Sound

Looks

This baby blew away my quality Panasonic. I loved the bass out of that baby! It was time for a new stereo because the turntable went out on my Panasonic. The 8 track was still in good condititon though.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Junk

Excellent dynamics, clearity, detail, smoothness and imaging in the sound. Preamps on all channels. "Adjustable" DSP

No DBS/TV S-Video(very major weakness!)Remote could be better.

I auditioned this piece against it's competitors on numerous speakers. The sound was always natural, open and smooth. Many models of the Yamaha line pay more attention to the detail by allowing passages, masked by others, to become free and life like in the music. A sign of good transistors and dynamics. The Denons and even some Onkyos had this revealing sound characteristic, which is desirable especially for music. Other's lacked this. The high impact detail reproduced on other competitors, were just not heard. This making for unrealistic sound reproduction compared to the Yamaha.

The dynamics were the strong point of this receiver. While on others, a crash of a stick on the cymbals had a 'somewhat' reastic sound, but with a compressed characteristic also. This was definately not as life like as the Yamaha. The Yamaha would more realisticly reveal the harmonics of the initial crash of the stick. It would also reproduce the wide dynamic range of loudness between the initial strike of the drum stick, onto the follow through, producing the extended peaks of the notes. Most others in the same price range could not even come close to the realism!

The reviewer below must have had a hookup problem. This receiver never gave a sign of any over extended treble volume level. It gave some of the most accurate and realistic music reproduction for it price.

While the other receivers I listened to masked or deleted some of the vital detail and/or peaks on the musical passages, this receiver excelled in revealing the music as it was meant to be heard, IN WHOLE!

I auditioned several different receivers in different shops and listening environments. Many had incorrectly setup demos leading to harshness and noise into the final output. Many had numerous feet of wire runs but only using 16 guage cable. That long of a run, with that small of a wire, will color the sound in a bad and unrealistic sound. Beware of your dealer's hookups. Inspect yourself to make sure that even the cheaper models are wired the same as the more expensive. This is a way for them to lure you to a more expensive model over the other, or even a model of their bias. Alway conduct A/B comparisons and make you own decision, don't let the salesman sell you on HIS/HER bias!

All in all, if more manufacturers would offer this type of reproduction in more affordable receivers, the performance gap would surely close between the upper end models.

Excellent product!!

Similar Products Used:

Denons, Onkyos, Marantz, HK, and Pioneer Elite

Configurability of surround, power

Weak reception on radio tuner (compared to previous tuner)

This is the first amplifier I've purchased since getting "home theater" oriented AVX-100U. After getting a DVD player, and wanting to be able to hear the Dolby Digital encoded in DVDs I decided to get a new amp.

Perhaps the hardest thing about setting up a home theater is configuring the speakers, both for frequency and volume. What blew me away about this product is the ability to test and control every aspect of the surround. Its got a wonderful test mode where you can check the volume of each of the speakers, so the balance is right.

The other really cool feature is the ability to specify what range of frequencies each set of speakers can handle. You can set whether you've got either small or larger speakers for the center, mains, and surround. If you choose small, the base from that channel is sent to the subwoofer.

Next, you can balance the level of each of the speakers individually while using it, which greatly helps to make minor adjustments while listening.

Once it was set up, I can't believe the sound. Everyone recommended the Matrix as a test, so I rented it, and once the system was tuned, it was incredible. Crisp dialog, and a nice smooth frequency response from the highs down to the subwoofer. I'm using full range surrounds and center, which I think helps get a more realistic sound. I tried sending either the center or surround base to the subwoofer, and it left a hole in the mid-base region. I would prefer not to have large surround and center speakers, but the difference in sound quality is worth it.

At 85 watts, I was worried the amp might be underpowered, but I was pleasantly surprised. It handled the famous machine gun fight scene near the end of the movie at a *very* high volume without distorting. Since a lot of movies like this have a lot of low frequencies, adjusting the volume of the subwoofer and balancing it against the base coming from the mains made a big difference.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha AVX-100U

This receiver is great for someone who is just getting started out with Home Theater. I bought this receiver due to my out of date Marantz SR-92 Mk-II. That receiver have some balls I tell you and was so smooth. I Love Yamaha's all around equal power and limited options. Who wants all the options available anyways for a middle class amp. If Unlimited options is what a audiophile wants then buy the Top Yamaha...basic marketing structures-you pay for what you get. I love the remote it's the only remote that I've owned that is compatible in every way to my other audio/video devices. Good sound and love the on-screen display

The button on remote are small but this amp is temporary. It's missing a mid bass control-always necessary.

The Yamaha RX-V95a is a great valued receiver. It's not a Marantz but it does the trick. I drove the living hell out of this amp for two weeks and I tell ya it's I keeper for someone with a budget. I paid $750cdn and I think it's worth every penny. It has all the option for a straight up Home Theater System. Not too fancy and not too complicated. Just an overall good receiver. Trust me when you go from a $3000 Marantz receiver down to a $800 Yamaha receiver and it sounds as good as the Marantz you know someone at Yamaha is using his/her head while making this amp. Don't even think twice about this amp. It Rocks and no Middle class Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony, JVC, Technics...can touch this amp.
A TIP FOR ANYONE STRATING OUT •BUY GOOD CABLES...YOU'RE SYSTEM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR WEAKEST POINT!!!!•
JRLABS

Similar Products Used:

none that I can see

Lots of features.

That darn remote!

Went to Sound Advice last week to purchase budget Home Theater unit, Yamaha RX-V 395. I have been researching Yamaha products and reviews for a while in hopes of putting together my own theater system, so I am familiar with each unit's features and prices. It was advertised for $150 down from $300 and thought it was a great deal. However, when speaking with the sales person, he mentioned that the RX-V 795a was onsale (this past Memorial Day weekend) from $700 down to $400. I quickly made the product comparrison in my head and walked out (very happily I might add) with the RX-V 795a. I'm sure he was happy too, because I also purchsed a Boston Acoustics VR-10 center channel for $200 and two CR5's for surrounds for $100/pair. I put all this with my Boston HD8's and, I feel, have quite a Home Theater system. The Yamaha has pleanty of power for larger speakers once I choose to upgrade to a complete Boston Acoustics VR series plus their PV-800 subwoofer. I have watched The Matrix a number of times since then (on VHS) and feel like I'm right in the middle of the gun fire sceen near the end! I cannot wait to get DVD now that they can be made affordable AND realiable (Sony DVP-S360). If you can find this unit on sale for $400 or even $500 during the next holiday, do yourself a favor and get one. You will not be sorry!
As a side note, I seriously thought about returning this unit when I first looked at the remote. However, I kept reminding myself of the deal I got it for and decided to give it a try. It was a little funky at first but after a few days it does grow on you. Besides, it's better than the folding remote with the RX-V995 and a LOT cheaper!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX495 and RX-V490

Incredible 3D sound, Dolby Digital, DSP and .70mm Movie Decoding.

Only one subwoofer output, remote could have been laid out better (remote didn't have a "flashback" option for your TV) and having to manually select a different button to go through the different sound fields instead of a cycle button.

The "Concert Hall" setting has to be heard to be believed! Pure clean efficient clean power, has a crisp and clear sound to it. It drives my Eosone 600 towers beautifully!

Similar Products Used:

Technics, Onkyo.

Built great, great price, nice sound

maybe the remote

I've been looking at buying a new receiver for about a year. I picked up some older Wharfedale speakers that were in perfect condition and wanted some high quality wattage to drive them. I also have been slowing getting into home theatre. I needed something that would give me great 2-speaker sound and also provide exceptional home theatre when I was ready. It came down to the Dennon 2800 or the Yamaha 795a. Well, while in Florida last week on vacation, I went into Sound Advice and they offered me a brand new 795a for $400.00!! How could I say "no"? It makes the Wharfedales sound like new speakers. I am very pleased with the Yamaha thus far and can't wait to get a DVD player and set up my home theatre (Matrix will be the first DVD purchased). For the value and price, I give the Yamaha 5 stars.

Lastly, does anyone know how to set up the 795a to give me the same type of 5 channel stereo that Dennon offers? Email me.

Similar Products Used:

Old Pioneer amp, lower end receivers

25 sound fields, DSP, Clean, crisp sound.

Remote is complex but once learned, it is at best, functional.

Overall, I am extremely impressed with this unit. It has everything I ever wanted. I highly recommend this receiver to anyone.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer, Kenwood

Great value, Clean sound, Simple operation, Quality speaker connects (unlike 795)

Remote, no coaxial input for CD

I recently upgraded my 12-year-old college system because my old JVC receiver was on the fritz. I started looking at the local electronics stores (Circuit City) and found a Denon that I liked and I also was considering an Onkyo. But at Sound Advice, I was singly impressed with the Yamaha. Much richer sound compared to the similarly-priced Onkyo which had a slight hiss. I also appreciated the paucity of buttons and knobs on this unit and the DSP modes sounded incredible in the store.

When I got it home, I immediately noticed a difference in my little Advent speakers. They sounded twice their size! I was even happier when I paired the 795a with my newly-purchased Paradigm speakers. I am now in the market for a new CD player and I am moderately dissapointed that there is not a coaxial input on the 795a as some high-end players only offer RCA and coaxial outputs (like the AH! Tjoeb). I'll probably settle for the Yamaha CDC 775 because it has optical output and my financee wants a changer.

The remote is a bit clumbsy, but it does the job. The wheel takes some getting used to but I planned on adding a third party remote later on anyway.

All in all, this is a great receiver. I am unable to comment on its multitude of features but I suspect that I will not be dissapointed when I complete my system with a center, sub, surrounds and a DVD player. I would reccomend this receiver for anyone starting a home theater system on a moderate budget.

I took off one star for the lack of coaxial input for CD and the average remote. Overall, however, an excellent value.

Yamaha 795a receiver
JVC XL-701 CD player
Paradigm Reference Studio 40 mains
Esoteric interconnects
Monster XP cables

Similar Products Used:

JVC 888 receiver, Denon, Onkyo