The RX-V3000 is an 8-channel receiver providing the finest performance and processing available for music and video sound. The 8 channels are: L/R Main, Front Ctr, L/R Rear Effects, Rear Ctr, and L/R Front Effects. The addition of front effects speakers adds depth to the image. It features Yamaha's Digital Sound Field Processing, Cinema DSP, Tri-Field Processing, Dolby Surround Pro Logic, Dolby Digital processing, Digital ToP-ART design for signal integrity, is compatible with Panja/Crestron.
Strengths: Surround sound fields, test tones and overall sound, especially for movies, is great. Great price (for me anyway!)
Weaknesses: Like with a lot of a/v amps, the REMOTE. Too many buttons, and too small, and not enough backlit. A Pronto or some sort of LED design would have been nice, but you have to go to their flagship for that!
Bottom Line:
Last year I was wandering around an Ultimate Electronics in Tulsa, Oklahoma when I came across a table filled with floor sample equipment. I couldn't believe it when I saw a RX-V3000 receiver sitting there, and it did not take much convincing for my wife to purchase this which Ultimate Electronics sold to me with original warranty. The only drawback...no remote which I soon found out added another 150 bucks to the bottomline. Still a steal, however, at 450 bucks. The full manual is available online from Yamaha as a PDF, and on the way home we went!
My theatre room is wired for 5.1, and I have a system from Aperion Audio with subwoofer. Now these speakers are a load to run, and I swapped between the Yamaha, and what is a definite unfair comparison, an Aragon 8008BB for my front speakers. Well, obviously the Yamaha could not compete with this 90+pound 400 watt amplifier. The yamaha powered the aragons OK, but not nearly in the class of the Aragon (an amazing amp, by the way). I think if I keep this amp, I would likely buy a 5 or 7.1 amp anyway and use the preouts from the Yamaha.
The test tones were excellent, although my Sony TAE-1000ESD which came out in the late 80s allowed for delay of 0.1ms versus straight ms of the yamaha, allowing for a little better fine tuning, but I actually made final adjustments by moving my Sofa and front speakers to get to the exact foot...a little OCD on my part, but the results are impressive.
The sound settings for the various music soundfields are a lot of fun, but I do a lot of 2 channel listening as I find the reflections interfering somewhat with clarity, but I LOVE the surround sound for video. I am now tempted to buy 3 more Aperions for the complete 8.1. I bet that is spetacular.
The multifunctional capabilities of this amp are impressive, but the remote could stand some work. What is it with Sony and Yamaha, and making remotes with a jillion TINY buttons, and switches? In reduced light, you can't read half of them, and only the DVD functions light up. Also, my Pioneer DVD was not a preset device...not exactly an uncommon component. What a pain to have to program...I do like the macro function that can turn on a number of devices, and even set the Yamaha to the correct soundfield, depending on the source selected. Still, the strength of the remote could be a little better. You HAVE to have this remote to work this amp because you cannot access all functions from the unit itself, so DON'T LOSE IT
Strengths: the whole unit. Can not fault it at all
Weaknesses: I cant find any. And I doo like the remote
Bottom Line:
This a great unit I use all 8 channels in my home thearte. Enough inputs/ outputs to blow any one away. Plenty of power on all 8 channels. Good on screen display for easy set up. Great how you can change the input name on the remote and the display.
My set up is
RX-V3000
omni dv500 dvd player with progesive scan and vga output
Dgtech HD-2000A HI-DEF set top box
sony VPH1252 data projector
2 x SU4VX bridge amps for the subs
JVC fronts with 15in drivers
B&W front centre
B&W rear effects
Kenwood rear centre
Kenwood front effects
Submitted by
Bernie Reese
a Audio Enthusiast
from Washington,DC
Date Reviewed: June 8, 2003
Strengths: Power, clarity, definition, etc.
Weaknesses: Remote will not handle all of the equiptment that I have. To solve that problem I am using a Marantz 2000i
Bottom Line:
Owned a 2095, and loved it; however, the volum control stopped working remotly. So after a year of walking to control the volume I decided to try the 3000, and I like it even more that the 2095. The improvement are small, but never the less they are there.
