very good amp over 7 years old now and still orks as if new yesed with 2 ms music series speakers as main 2 tannoy mercury mxR speakers as rears and a yamaha yst-sw320 subwofer could ot wish for a better setup for movies or loud bassy music allthough amp does get hot when used at loud volume (16 -db) whatever that means, is ths normal?

Cost. Good with movies. Good in stereo for a A/V amp

Slight "hiss" from the internal DAC noticeable at High levels. (Could just be mine) Just ok in stereo when placed next to a Hi-Fi amp. Remote is sometimes fiddly

As an entry level Dolby Digital and DTS decoder, this is a fine amp, however I have noticed a few things that make me unhappy. I can here "hiss" when using coax digital ins (Only at high volumes in quiet sections, mind you but hiss non the less) I have used 2 different makes of digital coax interconnect and have used both my DVD player and CD player playing a XRCD (fully digital recorded and mastered cd with no hiss) as a test. I can hear hiss on all of the channels that have a coax digital in. Absolutely no hiss is found when the DVD player and CD player are connected up with analogue stereo interconnects (phonos). I have concluded that there is a problem with the DAC on my DSP-A5. I don't know anyone else with this amp so I can't say if it's a common fault or not. It's a very quite hiss so you may not even notice it unless you play your movies/music at unbelievably high levels and they have large quiet sections. Stereo performance is ok. Good detail but a lack of soundstage makes me long for a better stereo amp. However this amp can be used as a processor and has full 5.1 outputs as well as inputs. So I will be keeping it as a processor. I use Mission 77C1 (centre) and 77DS (rears) that sound very good with movies and good with Dolby Digital/dts music disks. I was not too impressed by Pro-logic but I never have been. I prefer to have stereo rather than pro-logic. If you can pick one up second hand I recommend it highly. In the 3 years I have had this amp I have never had a problem with it other than the slight hiss. If possible check for the hiss your self and look for any crackle when turning up the volume. The loud click when changing between digital and analogue sources is normal, it's the DAC turning on and off I think. The remote is ok but very cluttered. I was able to program my other learning remote with the signals from it with no problems. Overall I am very happy with my A/V amp. Only the stereo reproduction and lack of EX and pro-logic II makes me think of upgrading.

Staggering power. far beyond specs.

Not a hugely advanced list of setup options and no on screen setup.

Amazing amp for the money. Great bass ability and its power far exceeds its paper specs. Put it this way... It drives a set made up of B&W P5's a CDM-CNT and mission 77ds rears and although it runs a little hot it drives them to full capacity and has never shut itself off once. Great features. A little basic on the setup and delay options but all that you need is there. NOt bad with music. I have heard better but not in an interated AV amp in this price bracket. The only reason im changing this amp is because i feel my B&W's deserve a little better so my next step is a rotel 5 channel power amp to strap onto the A5. Remember this is the same processor and basic pre-amp section as the mighty DSP-A1. I will up my processing later on.

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all

none for cleaver guys

bought the Denon SC-50HTB system, plug it to to A/V and ride on....fantastic sound and effect ...awsome dloby prologic "enhanced" ....

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Great sound on all levels. looks good and can do so much.

None that I can see.

Exellent Amp. Very clear listening to both DVD and CD player. Much more than just an AMP. I use top of the range speakers + an exellent Gale Sub Woofer. Can''t imagine watching a film using anything else.

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Arcam 8

Plenty of set-up options for the Home Cinema novice and at an excellent price.

Bit too chunk for smaller living rooms.

For the money, £399, an not having an acousticly freindly room, this AV Amp and a surround set up of the B&W602 (Main) B&W601 (Rears) and the B&W CC6, is a good starter set up for £1000 ($1460). Still breaking them in but they sound great overall and music works well.

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Cinema DSP (With a multitude of modes) More than enough power and great versatility no matter how big/small or mismatched your speaker setup. Kicks out AC3 and DTS better than the Sony or Technics amps I tried.

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Superb... In my opinion when it comes to home cinema amps you buy a Yamaha. The only amp that came close was the Sony DB930 - but you pay twice the price.

Made my neighbour turn off his jazz

None, absolutely none

I got a good deal from a local Yamaha dealer:

Yammy DSP A5
1 Pair Yammy NS-300s
NS C120 Centre speaker
YST-SW90 subwoofer

All for 4200 Dirhams, around 770 pounds sterling.

The NS 300s have been very averagely reviewed. I can honestly say they are superb. Not bass loaded but tremendous for upper and mid-range. Excellent for film viewing which is my main use. The NSC120 cenre is the smallest centre speaker in the Yamaha range but I reckon is superb value for money. The SW90 subwoofer is the biggest thing my wife would let me buy. It also represents excellent value for money.
I have just watched "The Replacemnet Killers" in glorious DOlby Digital. The bass heavy synth intro was breathtaking even at average volume. I turned the volume up just a tad to drown out the jazz clown downstairs and it blew me out of my chair into film-nut-heaven. I played the intro seven times in a row. The superb stereo separation had me ducking from the bullets. The sound stage seemed to be all around me even though I am 6 feet from the front speakers. All of the subtle sounds of tinkling glass and bullet cases falling on tiles were clear as a very clear thing.
I watched Gladiator in DTS mode last night. Having two kids sleeping in adjacent rooms severly limited my volume but it was still clear as a bell and had startling stereo effects. DTS does make a difference.

Cant write any more, gotta watch Armageddon before the kids get home.

Incidentally, for all those hen-pecked husbands out there, I had to compromise with my wife on the sale of these items. My compromise included having flower pots and framed photographs on the speakers and having our Pioneer midi hifi plugged into the cd channel on the amp via the midi's headphone socket.

Good clean sound. Home Cinema is really spot on and 2ch music(cd, phono) is very acceptable.

No turner(if that's a weakness)

I spent quite some time tossing up between the A5 and the Sony STR-DB940. In the end I purchased the Yamaha for its superior sound(I think so) especially playing cd,s and albums. I tested a couple of cd's on both amps and the instruments were clearly definable using the Yamaha. Home Cinema there was not a lot between them IMHO. I'm not saying the Sony is a bad product, its not, just for quality I think the Yamaha wins. It does not have all the bells and whistles of the Sony but its better where it counts. A very solid amp and a great performer. Buy it!

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Just wanted to say that this is the same machine as Yamaha RX-V596 but this machine doesn't have a built-in radio.. That's the only difference!

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