Price Paid:  $250.00

Summary:
the rx-v430 is a powerful and versalite 5-channel receiver,delivering 75watts to each channel,, i use tenon spearker and m&k sub and bandrigh spearker wire the sound is too natural and true

Strengths:
power and clear yamaha rx-v430

Weaknesses:
complain neighbor every time i see movie use my rx-v430

Similar Products Used:
yamaha dsp-a1

Price Paid:  $237.00 from Ultimate Electronics

Summary:
This is one awesome receiver. Sound is very rich and powerful, especially with action movies. You feel like you're atually at the movie theater. It's rated at 75 watts x 5, which is more than enough for me, and should be enough for small to midsize rooms. The prices keep going down, as they are being discontinued, so now is a great time to pick one up if you're looking for an affordable start to home theater. Or, if you want to move into 6.1 territory, there's the RXV-440, which sells for only $300, and it's a great sounding receiver, especially considering the cost. I hope to be getting one in a few months, and the move the 430 to my bedroom. Either way, you can't go wrong.

Strengths:
Awesome sound, no distortion, nice remote

Weaknesses:
No binding posts, no 6.1, no s video or component inputs, limited digital inputs

Similar Products Used:
Denon 1403

Price Paid:  $260.00 from Allegro.pl

Summary:
I was a little uncertain about this receiver. My friends have an rx-v496 at home and it sounded really cold with withdrawn mids and lack of deep bass from their DALI speakers (they didn't have a sub). But I finally thought maybe it's just that those DALIs suck and the 430 is worth a try.

PEOPLE, THIS THING ROCKS! The sound is rich and powerful, makes you feel you are really in a movie theater, and a good one. Dolby ProLogic II recreates the musical and theatrical scenes better than my 1500$ Marantz stereo system! Yes, it doesn't sound as warm, but you soon forget it as the Yamaha easily makes you feel you are in the middle of the action or in front of the scene.

I have it attached to an Onkyo dvc500 DVD changer, with Alpines for main channels and Magnats for rears, with a remarkable Hi-End Grundig center channel (1970 model - still going strong!)and a 150W Audio Pro subwoofer, which finally stopped thumping and started producing earthquakes after I connected it to the Yamaha.

About the power - previously I had a Sennheiser surround decoder connected directly to three power stages - together 660 watts at 8 ohm - and despite the declared 65/85 W per channel, the Yamaha doesn't sound weaker.

Strengths:
Rich, powerful, realistic sound, great stereo decoding, 6.1 rocks

Weaknesses:
only one optical input. What is it with these people?!

Similar Products Used:
Onkyo, Yamaha, Marantz, Sennheiser,

Price Paid:  $270.00 from 2002

Summary:
Bought this great piece of equipment from Germany for € 270 and saved € 150... It's connected to Audio Pro speakers and an Dansai 852 DVD player. I have enjoyed every minute playing time with this one, the sound is rich and powerful. Sure beats both Pioneer 511 and Sony 585 recievers.
Since I don't have a subwoofer and the other speakers are quite small, the bass isn't what it should be. But that's not the Yamahas fault.
The display is Dot-matrix and is big and nicely orange lit. The whole thing has a finish far beyond what the pricetag suggests. On the back there is large connectors for all speakers and enough connectors for most needs. A few more digital connectors would be nice though (only one coax and one optical, no out).
The DSP modes are great, they don't just add more bass and treble like most but extend the sound field thrughout the room. The "Spectacle" works great with all action movies. And the Dolby Pro Logic II Music setting really makes the music wrap around you. The DPL II Movie works great on TV broadcasts.
Nice bitrate meter for DTS and DD streams is also available.

Strengths:
Easy to use. Good DTS and DD decoding, nice DSPs (may to choose from). Enough power to disturb the neighbors. Nice display and remote. 5.1 analog input for future use.

Weaknesses:
No distance setup for rear speakers, only test tone (req. good ears or sound pressure meter). No digital out connectors.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer VSX-D511, Sony STR-DE585, Sony STR-515, Kenwood KRF-V7030, Kenwood KRF-V8030.

Price Paid:  $300.00 from Jusco Departmental

Summary:
Bought it in a package deal where it got me the receiver, surround speakers, center speakers, main speakers, sub woofers to go(all Yammie). It didn't burn a hole to my pocket but put a smile on my face. The system sound treffic with the rest of the Yammie speakers. Do not have any complaint at all.

Strengths:
Smooth & refine sound reproduction great for movies too.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
Sherwood