Price Paid:  $499.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
The Yamaha RX-V595 is a great, no, make that a fantastic home theatre receiver, but at the same time, extremely limited with music. The receiver has plenty of power and 5.1 surround decoding to make any DVD, tape, or digital cable/satellite program come alive. It has great features, for example, program settings that automatically equalize the receiver depending on what you're listening to. These settings include 70mm movie theatre sound, with DTS and Dolby, it has Pro Logic, as well as enhanced Pro Logic, with also both include DTS and Dolby, it has rock n' roll, classical (concert hall), and I believe a few more as well. The receiver even has good looks and is built very well--it's jet black with gold-plated connectors on the front, and is quite heavy for it's sleek appearance. So, if you're looking for a decent, mid-range receiver to power your surround sound, whether that is a $25 surround package you found on the Internet or a higher end JBL, Athena, etc. surround set-up, this receiver would be more than fine. But, I wouldn't recommend this receiver for those looking to power a 2-speaker stereo system. This receiver makes music sound muffled and muddy. It provides no clarity, transparence or soundstage, and has bass that is not natural--tight and deep, but more artificial--big, boomy, with no balance or response. The mids and highs are average, but it’s really that lower end that could make good speakers sound much worse than they are capable of. I own different speakers, including Wharfedale Emerald 97’s, Klipsch bookshelf, and Bose 201's, and I also own a different stereo set up in another room with a Harman Kardon AVR 110 receiver (about the same price, if not less, than the Yamaha, but much better), so I did a little test. Although this test didn't include the Wharfedale, which is by far my best speakers, I did extensively test the other two speakers with both receivers. With the Bose speakers hooked up to the Yamaha, it sounded like there was a blanket over the speakers, or a pillow covering the grill--very muddy and muffled, and basically the same thing occurred with the Klipsch, but those are much better speakers, so the difference was smaller. With the Harman Kardon the speakers just opened up, and sounded entirely different. The Harman Kardon has less than half the power of the Yamaha (40 watts), but has so much attention to detail within that

Strengths:
Good power, good looks, good-quality connectors, good size, and great surround sound--a very solid home theatre receiver.

Weaknesses:
When it comes to music and audio purity, this is a mass-produced piece of junk. Speakers sound muffled and muddy, with the mids and highs both drowning in an artifical, boomy, lower end. Also, this receiver has enough connections for surround sound, but not plenty of connections--only 1 or 2 s-video jacks, as opposed to my Harman Kardon receiver, which has 7 s-video jacks, and plenty of other options to make things more expandable.

Similar Products Used:
Harman Kardon AVR 110, Technics receiver.

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Good Guys

Summary:
I bought this in Nov. 1998 as a replacement for a Technics stereo receiver (a hand-me-down from my brother when he upgraded). I bought it at the same time I bought a DVD player for the 5.1 Dolby Digital decoding. Great all around -- though I wouldn''t classify myself as an audiophile I do know what I like when I hear it. The sound is rich and the highs are clear and not tinny. But I do wish the bass response was a bit stronger sometimes -- but I''m using old JBL 2500 bookshelf speakers (rated at 80 Watts max) along with freebie surround speakers Good Guys threw in with the receiver when I purchased it. I''m considering getting a powered center channel speaker sometime -- but not a big rush for me. The FM/AM tunning capablities are VERY nice. I love how the tuner can just tune in automatically to the next strongest station. And you get more presets than there are probably stations you realistically listen to. Lastly, the Pink Noise speaker adjustment feature is really nice -- helps you get the right volume level for your room setup for the 5.1 audio.

Strengths:
Good power for the price -- it suits my DVD viewing and music listening needs just fine. The DSP settings are also nice -- the "movie theater" setting is particular can give a great sound and make you feel like you''re in a 70MM auditorium in your living room. "Disco" and "Concert Hall" are my next two favorites for music listening. You can also adjust the delay to suit your listening. The DSPs in general will help give your listening space a "fuller" sound by utilizing your surround speakers. Clear layout on the controls. I personally like the remote design (mine''s the silver one with the rotary dial, though I worry about the rotary contacts wearing out -- and the silver covering is wearing out on the bottom from years of pushing it around on my coffee table -- I''m more careful with it now. The numbers/lettering on front have not come off however and look as good as the day I bought the receiver. I also like the glow-in-the-dark buttons for night viewing. Also, automatic selection of the digital sound bit-stream (if you''re using DVD or Laser Disc) is very nice.

Weaknesses:
No DTS out on my model -- they added it with subsequent releases. No big deal as my DVD player doesn''t have DTS decoding.

Similar Products Used:
I bought this unit on the strenght of Yamaha''s rep for reliablity -- I grew up with a Yamaha receiver that STILL works today (my dad had to replace a fuse once and that was it!).

Price Paid:  $313.00 from Visions

Summary:
I bought this receiver at a Boxing Day sale in 1999 and was thrilled to get so much receiver for the money.

Sound quality is excellent. The DSP functions are actually useful and enrich the quality of ordinary stereo music.

The big disappointment has been the remote. The imprinting on the buttons has worn nearly completely away, making use of the remote difficult. The rotary dial method of selecting devices is a bit of a nuisance.

Other than this, I'm very happy. It sounds like a Cinema 7 universal remote will solve my remote control problem. The receiver itself is a definite keeper.

Strengths:
Lots of features; crisp, clear sound

Weaknesses:
Disappointing remote control

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Brandsmart

Summary:
I will soon be upgrading the the Yamaha rx-v3000, but I have been very happy with the rx-v595.

Likes: It has a lot of power, a lot more than you would expect for 70 watts per channel. I like the tape loop, I am one of the few people left who likes to use an equalizer. It put out great sound and volume to the rears for both music and movies, especially when in 5.1. Personally, I like the remote. I use my cd remote because I have a 300 player, and it isn't reasonable in my opinion for the receiver remote to handle all of the same options. I like that I only have to push one button to change from one source to any other source, and when my equalizer is on, it is a seamless change between sources - no delay whatsoever. I like the subwoofer volume control on the remote, as well as three different volume levels for the loud effects on dvd's (gunshot's, explosions, etc.) Also, the unit never got very hot, even when played loudly for long periods of time.

Dislikes:

No bass boost, no 5 channel stereo, no DTS, no volume control for mains (without using master volume).

All in all, this was a solid receiver for an entry level 5.1 receiver. Obviously I am happy with Yamaha since I am buying another one.

Strengths:
Listed below.

Weaknesses:
Listed below.

Price Paid:  $150.00 from from a friend

Summary:
Here is my story. I purchased this unit from my friend for $200 cdn. with the intent of using this amp to run my rear speakers. I was using a Sony STR-DE925 unit for home theater. After hooking up the Yamaha and doing an A-B comparison between these two units I noticed how much warmer the sound is from the Yamaha.

In stereo mode the Sony is BRIGHT and becomes hard to listen to after about a hour or so. The Yamaha on the other hand has a warm soothing sound that is not harsh nor bright but subtle and "natural".

I have bi-ampable speakers and the idea was to have the sony run the mids and lows and the Yamaha take care of the highs. After many hours of sound tests and deliberation I now have the Sony running the rears and subs while the Yamaha delivers the sound for the front and centre channels.

I am quite happy with this setup. This is my first Yamaha receiver, and my last Sony receiver. I plan on moving on up the audio scale during the Boxing Day sales this Christmas. Because if an entry level A/V receiver sounds this much better than the Sony did, than what will a midrange unit sound like..??

I'll let you know =)

Strengths:
Sound quality

Weaknesses:
you guessed it, the remote

Similar Products Used:
Will take over the front channels from my Sony 925 receiver