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Review 5 of 335
Price Paid:
$630.00
from Crutchfield in-store Summary:
Most of my comments are of the “minor-gripe” variety, but I’ll start with the positives. Overall I like this receiver (or else I would have sold it by now). The power-for-the-price ratio is great – especially for the bargain clearance price that I got it for. It cleanly delivers its (100W x 5) channels. Excellent control over the loudness, delays, etc. of the center and the surrounds - it actually has more features than I would ever use in that regard. I have played with the DSP settings a bit, but the only ones I really use are the Pro Logic and the Pro Logic Enhanced to make normal stereo sources sound better - although not all sources sound better going through Pro Logic. That is a function of how the recording itself was engineered and the nuances of Dolby Pro Logic and not a fault of Yamaha (in my opinion). The remote control – in a word – is ridiculous. It is too complicated to use. The door seems too flimsy to resist breakage, the glow-in-the-dark buttons cannot be read five minutes after the lights are out – you can only see that there are buttons there, but can’t read them too well. I have read the manual on how to program the macros, but the limitations of the macros don’t allow me to do what I want it to do anyway, so I don’t use them. Strengths:
Build Quality. Handsome, professional looks. Good sound using my Wharfedales. Weaknesses:
SNAFUs and hoops-to-jump-through to play DTS CDs (My biggest gripe). DAC only goes up to 48kHz (cannot decode DVD-Audio Discs). No option to monitor radio station info on the display continuously (minor gripe). No dedicated ports for EQ hookup. Ridiculously over-ambitious remote control. Similar Products Used:
No other surround-sound equipment.
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