New Yamaha AVR in the house!

mdaudioguy
mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
edited July 2011 in Electronics
I'm on my second week with my latest AVR - a Yamaha AVENTAGE-series RX-A1000. I've always had a thing for Yamahas, but after going through two others (RX-V661 and RX-V863), as well as an Onkyo, I gave up on them because I wanted something warmer for music listening. So I went with an HK, which I must admit, served me very well. It wasn't until Yamaha came out with this new line that I started to get the itch again... All the advertising hype claimed that the AVENTAGE series was a complete redesign, which got me thinking - what if?

I first found a deal on a RX-A800, got it home, hooked it up, and returned it the next day. It just didn't seem like anything special. Besides, it was the A1000 that I really wanted, and then I found a too-good-to-be-true open box deal at Best Buy, which almost turned out to be too-good-to-be-true. It was 30% off and I hesitated. A week later I came back and it was still there, but this time it was only 10% off! I asked the salesman what the deal was, and he said that there was no way it was supposed to be discounted that much. There was a sticker on it that read $899... it was like I had been seeing things. Then, on a whim, I spun the box around and the other side had a sticker that read $699. He said, "Well, I guess I have to honor that." Sold!

Anyhow, what turned me off before was the brightness of my prior Yamahas with my RTis. I'm not hearing that with this one. Also, after switching back and forth about a dozen times, I think the DAC in this model sounds better than what's in my Squeezebox touch, so I ditched the analog connection in favor of a digital cable.

Anyhow, so far, so good... I like this thing! How it sounds, how it functions, and it's darn good-looking, too! I think I'll keep it... for now. :smile:
Post edited by mdaudioguy on
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Comments

  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited June 2011
    I haven't heard them, but Yamaha has been playing up the audio in their advertisements. For example, they have an ad about a center foot on the AVR to help reduce virbrations.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2011
    Good to hear. Mike, I think that the AVRs were more of the problem than the two channel receivers and integrateds because I have an AX-497 integrated in a secondary system with its matching tuner and a Yammie DVD/SACD/CD Universal changer with some RC-10 Energy bookshelves and there is 'nothing' bright about this combo!

    So I am happy to hear that Yamaha has cleaned up their lower to mid-end AVRs. From what I gather the 1800 AVRs and up were always better sounding than anything under them in the past!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited June 2011
    I know what you mean. Every time I see mhardy's vintage Yamahas it's hard to stop the drooling. That was a great period for them!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    I do also own a vintage Yamaha - a little A-460 integrated that my son is currently using for his college room with a little pair of Energy CB-5 bookies. Quality sound for a small space!
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    Recently scored this puppy for the bedroom. The more I listen to it, the more I appreciate it. Just sexy to look at and perfect for my little TL2 Blackstones.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=121040

    Sounds like you found a great deal on your new AVR. Enjoy!

    Thanks Mike - oh, enjoy it I will! Hey, that receiver you got is a real looker... wow!
    You're probably right about the "brightness" trait being confined to the (previous generation) AVRs (I hope)... Come to think of it, I can't recall hearing such complaints from users of 2-channel gear. I love that Yamaha "natural sound."
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  • snow
    snow Posts: 4,343
    edited June 2011
    Good to hear that the brightness is gone. That has always been my chief complaint with various Yamaha products I have listened to. I suppose though that things may sound different with different product lines also so it shouldndt be a blanket statement. Congrats and enjoy your new purchase :smile:



    REGARDS SNOW
    Well, I just pulled off the impossible by doing a double-blind comparison all by myself, purely by virtue of the fact that I completely and stupidly forgot what I did last. I guess that getting old does have its advantages after all :D
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  • pstrev
    pstrev Posts: 60
    edited June 2011
    I'm loving my RX-A700. What a step up from my old Kenwood KR-V7050! Wish I had the bucks for a higher end model- but I must live within my limits...

    Pat
    Yamaha RX-A700
    Polk Audio RTi A5
    Polk Audio CSi A6
    Polk Audio RTi A3
    Polk Audio DSW Pro 500wi
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited June 2011
    Post a pic MD. Yamaha is making better units on the upper end, like this one but they're basic lineup is still very poor. I remember when Yamaha, Kenwood, B&O, Sony and others were really quite nice and defined American hi-fi.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited June 2011
    American hi-fi?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    George Grand wrote: »
    American hi-fi?

    Oh, the irony!
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited June 2011
    Just what I used to see in stores....I'm aware of the actual origin. I didn't know about Mararntz, McIntosh, NAD and others until much later, so those were all I knew existed.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited June 2011
    Marantx 44xx series Quad receiver, 4 Large Advent speakers, Dual TT with Shure Quad Cart, and Deep Purple Machine Head in glorious quadraphonic sound. Now that was American Hi-Fi :biggrin:

    I have a Yamaha 5790 AVR that actually sounds pretty good. It has much different sound than an earlier Yamaha AVR I had. I used to run it with my RTi70/40/28 HT and it did a nice job.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    Post a pic MD.
    Here ya go! Kinda dark, though... :smile:

    2011-06-29%25252022.46.58.jpg

    2011-06-29%25252022.46.31.jpg

    2011-06-29%25252022.47.50.jpg

    2011-06-29%25252022.48.14.jpg
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  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited June 2011
    The symmetrical power design is rare and expensive making the 1000 series and up more expensive. If you look through the top plate you'll notice the power supply is in the middle with rows of heat sink on either side, most AVRs use one row of heat sink with the PS on one side (usually on the left).
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    Optimized Power Amplifier Layout

    The symmetrical power amplifier layout improves signal to noise ratio with uniform balanced vibration control and improved sound experience

    SCENE_003.jpg
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited June 2011
    LuSh wrote: »
    The symmetrical power design is rare and expensive making the 1000 series and up more expensive. If you look through the top plate you'll notice the power supply is in the middle with rows of heat sink on either side, most AVRs use one row of heat sink with the PS on one side (usually on the left).

    Probably explains why I didn't think the 800 was anything special.
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  • mitch357mm
    mitch357mm Posts: 23
    edited July 2011
    FYI

    Found some Yamaha Aventage RA1000 for $649 shipped.
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