I'm going to pick up this Yammy for $40 next week. Will use it to run M&K S-90's and V-125 sub. Using it for 2.1 channel stereo only. I was referred to this amp by an audio repair expert who knew my interest was to have a clean sounding pre-amp for later use with a Hafler p-230 power amp.

After reading the nice reviews here I can't wait hear it without the Hafler.

I love being on the trailing edge of audio electronics !!!

Another CL deal for $30 this Yamaha has been in constant use in our bedroom for a few years now. Great sound and clarity. Is on all night playing "burbling brook, croaking frogs, chirping crickets, and light wind sounds" on a cd mixed in my studio for sleeping (my wife was skeptical at first but now won't sleep without it!). The cd is set for repeat so this unit is on all night every night. Sometimes play other cd's for showering and romance and the Yamaha has never failed to deliver. Only set-up in stereo with speakers for A-B so can't comment on surround sound. If you find one on the cheap grab it, an excellent receiver. I have so many receivers throughout our house there are almost no rooms without music. All found on Craig'sList, and the most expensive one was a Yamaha RX-V1 like new with remote for $100!

I bought this reciever in 1994, and just replaced it last year in my main system. I didn't want to do it. Audio-wise, I still loved it. However, video-wise, I had outgrown it, needing HDMI switching. I replaced it with a Yamaha RX-A1000. I have my Polk Speakers bi-amped, and the 1000 sounds really good, however, without the bi-amping, the old 870 still sounds better, even at 25 wpc less. I will never get rid of this receiver. It is now my garage receiver. If you find one of these at a reasonable price and need a great second system receiver, you can't do much better than this.

awesome receiver needing to sell is $200 to much to ask for this receiver at this age?no remote

After nearly 20 years of very loyal service I upgraded from this very solid and reliable piece of equipment. I tried quite a few times over the years to find something to better the quality of sound in an A/B class amp without going over board financially. To better it I did have to go over board financially!!!

I grew out of the whole surround sound idea fairly quickly, not that this unit didn't do a good job with surround in it's day but I ended up preferring two channel music. This unit in two channel mode shamed quite a few well respected two channel integrateds over the years I compared units.

Dealers would automatically assume that their gear would blow me away compared to a "run of the mill" Yammy receiver. This made in Japan model has a different sound to any of the "modern" Yamahas, I best describe it as rich yet detailed and appears more powerful than it's 80w would suggest. Yes there are and were more powerful units around but for the money this unit puts out a quality musical sound at good levels with virtually every genre of music style.

In the end I wanted to upgrade to some speakers that I felt needed a bit more grunt than the 870 could offer but with the right speakers I could probably live with this unit until it or I died quite happily. The only downside would be maybe (and it mightn't be an issue for some or me really as a two channel use only) would be the connectivity ie some may wish for onboard DAC, XLR and obviously as a surround unit it's outdated. You can still connect enough sources to keep you happy for two channel use through several RCA's.

I purchased a Luxman 507u and it is an upgrade no doubt. It should be for the near $7000 retail tag, but the Yamaha is by no means shamed especially when hooked up to the Luxman D-06. It really did an excellent job of portraying the, what I consider, excellent qualities of the D-06. The 507u has better soundstaging, a bit more headroom as far as dynamics and maybe a few other intricacies and with better speakers it will show but I'm comparing it to something which is way, way cheaper (probably under priced in it's day).

I grew up listening to made in Japan Sansui gear so I've obviously got a penchant for made in japan electronics (Not their speakers so much) I didn't plan it that way it just happened. My experience with the 870 has only reinforced this. I'm going to be greedy and not let my 870 go, I'll just have to create a second system (two channel of course).

If anyone can get one in good condition at a decent price or a hand me down I say grab it, especially for the two channel sound quality......

Not going to comment too much on my fellow audiophiles - but they are a strange bunch, that's for sure.

In short - I found this product by accident, didnt want to buy anything, but it was a spurse of the moment (looked too nice and too well build to be left witouth a home I guess) :)

Just for fun, paired it with B&W-s, Polk's, Kef's and Logans - and did a 'sort of a blind test' with haffler, denon and dussan.

Ha :) Very NICE Yamaha! Very, very NICE!

VEEERYYYY musical, precise bass, transparent & natural mid-s, and aery highs (beat this dussan & haffler :) ). Sound stage open and deep.
It drives the volume from piano to fortissimo in a linear, easy fashion, fills the heavy and demanding speakers with ease, and the room with wonderful music.

I'm listening to different styles of music and only in 2 channel stereo - and it didnt dissapoint me at anything.

It was like a cinderella... working hard to please. And singing :)

I've briefly checked the MSRP at the time it was marketed and I'm not surprised to see the $1K price tag. Maybe a bit underpriced for that time I would say.

I got it cheap, and I'm not going to let it go. If for nothing else - then just for the fun of 'pranking' couple of my friends who think that true audiophile quality cannot be found anywhere else aside from under a pile of $ and in US/UK/EU.

Not going to compare it to the 'holly cows' of audiphile world here (not interested in holly wars) - but only similar experience I had with old Technics SA-E power and pre-amp.

:) ton o' fun

I've had many receivers but this one really impressed me! The sound is so clear and plenty of bass. Not every receiver has that. Very good looking and works great with my tower speakers. The receiver is very heavy but what can you expect from an old yamaha receiver. The only one problem I had was the front display. The bulb burn and I had to replace which costed me exactly $1.79 to change it. After all great receiver and you won't feel sorry if you buy one!

Strengths:
Power and deep bass

Weaknesses:
not that I know

durability, sound quality, power

after 16 years how can I complain. I can't even think of anything that I was disappointed with.

I have owned the 870 since 1993. I have mine hooked up like a couple of others that posted with a Rotel amp driving my front BP 20's Def Tech towers, a Def Tech 15" sub that takes all the low end then a pair of Rock Solid monitors for the rear. It sounds incredible. I had it for the first year without the Rotel amp and it was good but when let the Rotel drive the front towers, what a difference. It is a monster. I can blow the doors off of the neighbors house. I have loved every minute I have owned this system..
I bought the Stero gear and a 35" mitusbishi tv all at the same time and they all, 16 years late are still just amazing to hear and watch. The tv is great, can't get anything to go wrong with it.
I have the itch to do the upgrade but it's hard to justify.I need something to break.
I remember my brother giving me a ration about paying that much for a reciever. I paid close to $900, it must have been fairly new at that time. I can tell you my brother has had 3 cheapo stereo's in the time I have had this. It was well worth the investment. I am looking at the RX-v1800 or the v3800. They are close to the same thing I paid 16 years ago...that may be enough justification in itself.

Similar Products Used:

1 big Kenwood

Power
Tonal Quality
Value for Price paid.
Appearance and Functionality
Did I mention Power +++++++++++++++++

NONE AT $ 180.00

Still learning about the product, I know I paid too much given it's age and the fact that I bought it in a retails store , But......
Had a much smaller Yamaha Dsp receiver. Very nice but not near the power.
For what I paid, I am blown away by the quality and features in the receiver.
I know that the unit is several years old. and probably lacks features that are available today, but for $ 180.00 Tax in???
Try replacing it for something new at 3x the price, Bet you can't.
I will use this with no thought of changing until it gives out on me.
Or I all of a sudden decide money is no object and decide to blow big bucks on a current model. (not likely) Some old pieces of audio equipment are like vintage guitars, they just sound too good to pass up!Q

Similar Products Used:

YAMAHA RXV 395, BOUGHT NEW

POWER, POWER , POWER! S vid switching, great sound, easy to use, looks awsome.

LCD driven display kinda sucks if you are off-axis. other than that, nothing.

My boss actuall y gave me this unit for free as DOA, it would poer on and then quickly power off. I popped the hood and noticed the outputs fot the center channel were toast, removed them and ordered new ones. It operates flawlessly and sounds incredible! lots of power and very clean sounding. I owned a RX-V690 beofore this one and have been really impressed with yamaha's equpiment after owning probably 20 receivers. This thing is a powerhouse, if you find one for even 400 bucks BUY IT! Quality of components is key here. Inside is every attention to detail and a massive transformer. S-vid switching and bananna jacks for ALL spkrs is a plus too. HIGHLY RECOMMEND YAMAHA.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha RX-V690, Onkyo TX-8511, AKAI AA-V435, Kenwood KR-V7040, 5030, 4040, 5010.