Price Paid:  $820.00 from D-Cinema

Summary:
This is my first post in this forum ever, having been a reader and researcher for the most part since I got to learn of this website early last year.

My first venture into home theater was the RXV-630 when I purchased it together with it's satellite 6.1 speaker set (NSP-236). Sound for home theater was good. But having been a music lover for most of my life, I had to satisfy my "audio curiosity" by starting to alter my system after 3 months. After thorough reading of reviews in this site. I got a pair of AR Status S40's as fronts, a PSB Alpha as Center, and a Paradigm Phantom(bookshelf version)as rear. This 5 speaker set was all under $1,000. I added an AR Status SUB-25 for about $200 to complete my 5.1 set for the 630. I decided not to go for full 6.1 set-up at that time.
Performance of this system was good but not excellent. The drawback being the 630 cannot drive the AR floorstanders to full response. Sound was a bit thin and speaker hiss (due to distortion) can be heard at -35db on the 630 volume. When volume is below -30db the sound starts to strain and ear piercing. I figured the 630 was inadequately mismatched to my speakers and that pushing the 630's amps can only damage my speakers which were more expensive.
Late last year was when I saw the RXV2400 and 1400 and judging by the new features it has, I knew this was my ultimate receiver.
After saving up for nine months, I finally got hold of this baby 2 months ago and have re-configured my 5.1 system to a full 7.1 system. I removed the big Phantoms in the rear (it's not meant to be used as surrounds, the woofer being 8-inches) and replaced them with a pair of Alpha minis (a very musical) which I got from a used dealer (for $75). For surround backs, I got also a used AR Sequel pair for $80 and fastened them to my rear wall. I moved the 630 to my bedroom where it serves as a pre-amp surround processor to my NAD-T770 which drives a 5.1 Tannoy Mercury MX-M with my AR Status SUB-25. I'm planning on getting a definitive PROSUB-100 for my 2400 system before the year ends.
So far I'm very happy with the 2400. Movies are a joy to watch with a night mode to increase dialog volume and subdue sound effects. Of all the surround modes, my favorites are THX Cinema, Spectacle and Adventure. For average viewing, I recommend THX cinema.
For music modes, this is where I am still dtrying to find my sweet spot, Prologic IIx is good, so is NEO:6, but being more musically inclined, I have tried the Direct Stereo and straight modes also. I am planning to get a dedicated cd player and SACD player soon and try this out with the 2400 to see how farther it goes in Audio Performance.
Over-all, I feel that this RXV-2400 is a great product for the its price level, with features only available to high-end receiver models costing twice or more of the 2400.

Power wise, it is sufficient though I seldom listen at volumes below 30db. the auto-calibration feature is a really cool feature which enabled me to flatten the response of my mixed system (AR/PSB). Despite the absence of a SUB, I still get good bass output from the 2400 as my AR S40 range is from 26hz up and I have bi-wired this using the AB connection recommended in the manual.

Over-all, I believe the 2400/1400 is one of the best receivers in the market right now. Build Quality, Features, and Price are all very superior.

This highly recommended to anyone who wants to invest on a top quality receiver for music and home theater.

Strengths:
Video Up conversion to component
Srong, clean power
Macro Feature-Universal learning Remote
Improved and new surround modes
THX (never dreamed of getting one until the 2400 came along)

Weaknesses:
No pure audio mode

Similar Products Used:
NAD-T770
Yamaha RXV-630

Price Paid:  $850.00 from 1/9/2004

Summary:
Top class receiver with very good pricing
Everything is perfect sound clarity bass midrange even two channel also very impressive.Dolby digital and dts performance is outstanding dynamic power also very good.

Strengths:
Huge power supply
Sound clarity
Build quality
Perfect pricing

Weaknesses:
No EQ. adjustment for PEQ.
No. pure direct mode.

Similar Products Used:
HARMAN KARDAN AVR 3000

Price Paid:  $699.00 from Digital Direct

Summary:
This is an impressive amp straight from the box, it is well built, has extensive connectivity, video upconversion, a powerful but quiet power supply and an excellent learning remote.

In comparison to my Sony STRVA555ES the Yamaha is more detailed and far easier to use in everyday use. Don't get me wrong the Sony was a superb amp 2 years ago but now it would struggle against competition like this.

Having all 7 channels amplified from 1 box is better than the Sony's preouts for the two rear channels, in short the Yamaha sounds better out of the box than the Sony does after 2 years of continual tweaking. The sound stage on the Yamaha is wider, deeper and much more 3 dimensional. The video dacs are also a huge improvement without even considering the video upconversion from Composite to Component video.

This amplifier resolves detail to an extremly fine level in comparison to the Sony, until I heard the Yamaha the Sony sounded crisp and clear but the Yamaha shows it a clean pair of heels in all departments. I am so impressed with my purchase that I would quite happily reccomend this amplifier to any home cinema enthusiast. I should also mention the superb output in direct stereo mode but since I like to listen to CDs in Dolby Pro Logic IIx this is a feature that I won't be making much use of.

The YPAO feature should not be underestimated, sure an experienced sound engineer might scoff at the very idea of an automated set up but for your average everyday user this feature means that you can get close to the ideal set up without sweating away hours of your valuable time tweaking your system you spend it listening to the amp instead. The price quoted above is UK Pounds Sterling

Strengths:
Detailed Sound, Great Remote, YPAO, build quality, power supply, quiet operation,

Weaknesses:
None that I have come accross

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha DSP A5
Sony STRVA-555ES

Price Paid:  $680.00

Summary:
I believe it's not only the best value but the best receiver in this price range. There's no arguing that it has the most features of any receiver in this price range. One feature that works really well is the up conversion of "S" video to component video. I have a Direct TV receiver with "S" video output, that's being up converted to component video by the Yamaha and what a difference in picture quality. Also, it has inputs for DVD-A and SACD.

This is my second Yamaha A/V receiver, my first being a RX-V690 a Dolby Prologic receiver which is now being used on my second system. I wanted a Dolby Digital unit with more power since I bought new speakers. I looked at other receivers, with the Denon coming in a close second (less features and more money), making the Yamaha the winner. The Yamaha has the best sound of any of the receivers I looked at. The one drawback is in analog stereo mode the lack of bass management. Direct stereo gives you unprocessed sound at the expense of losing your sub. Not a major problem since the sound is better using the digital processor anyways. The Yamaha does an excellent job for HT but it also shines is in two channel stereo mode. I believe that HT is less demanding for sound than stereo. In HT you have video along with multi channel sound so the sound doesn't have to be as accurate as in stereo. In stereo you can focus on audio only and this is where the you'll find the difference between the receivers. I listen to music as much as I watch HT, so if stereo is important to you like it is with me, then the Yamaha is the perfect choice.

Strengths:
Features, build quality, excellent sound, one of the coolest running receivers, a great value.

Weaknesses:
Bass management for unprocessed signal

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Pioneer, Yamaha RX-V690

Price Paid:  $850.00 from 2/2/2004

Summary:
I was surprised with the quality of sound this unit produces.This unit is awesome in sound,power,and price.Excellent in both HT and music dynamic power is outstanging.

Strengths:
Very powerful amp.
Crystel clear sound.
Dynamic power
Yamaha build quality

Weaknesses:
Nothing

Similar Products Used:
yamaha rxv520
HK avr 5000