paynesgrey

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.88 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
This is a great receiver. I've had mine for several years and it has given real value for the money. Low distortion, high damping factor, plenty of power and a well formed sound with deep bass and clean highs. I listened to other receivers and to separates, including other Yamahas, Adcoms, Sonys and B&Ks, when I bought it and, in pure direct mode, I felt it held its own in much more expensive company.The tuner is very good, though not up to "separates" standards. It also runs very quiet, unlike some Yamaha products. Nice looking with a clear layout, too.

Strengths:
Well focused sound, high damping factor and good bass extension, unbelievably reliable unit.

Weaknesses:
Tuner is more than adequate, but not as good as some separates I've heard.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
What a surprise!! I found mine in a thrift store with a pair of ADS M12 towers for 150 dollars.No remote though. I planned to sell the ADS and didn't even think the Yamaha worked because the pure direct function was on and I didnt think the balance knob worked among other things. But this thing surprises me every day since I hooked it up at home (see below).

Strengths:
This is by far the best tuner I have heard for long range reception. There is no local FM where I live and the tuner section in this makes long distance reception not even an issue anymore. The pre and power amp sections also sound great. I am using it with a pair of British IMF TLS50 speakers that reveal the flaws in almost every component I have used with them except this. The bass is very accurate and the overall sound of this receiver is smooth,accurate and powerful. It puts all other receivers and integrated amps I have heard to with the IMF's to shame. Previously I had used Denon and Harman Kardon integrated amps with the IMF's but it would always sound boomy and shrill. It's one of the smoothest solid state set ups I have heard ,similar to an NAD integrated amp I have set up downstairs.

Weaknesses:
I prefer knobs for tuning in stations but the presets make that not a problem.

Similar Products Used:
Advent 300 receiver ,Nad 3150 integrated Amp

Price Paid:  $300.00 from audio shop in Honolulu

Summary:
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that this Yamaha stands a bit above similar products I have heard over the years. In Pure Direct mode it has a relaxed, smooth, very listenable sound that tends just slightly to the brighter side. Nothing harsh and certainly much more musical than corresponding Sony, HK, JVC, Denon or Marantz gear.

The RX 770 easily powers dynamic speakers to house rocking levels with nominal harshness. The amp mates well with less efficient, warmer sounding speakers but really does fine with just about anything. I recently hooked it up to some PSB Alpha Minis, and the sound was amazing, very musical. The Yamaha gets a little winded driving my Magnepans at high levels, but sounds great at reasonable volume. Normal hookup is to some KEF Coda 8, which also works well.

The tuner is decent, though not quite up to the standards of (much more expensive) NAD receivers. Auto tuning is not sensitive enough, though it's easy to tune manually.

This thing is rugged. It still delivers great sound despite two overseas moves, sometimes negligent handling and a pretty constant sonic flogging over the past four years.

The RX 770 would be an excellent used buy for a killer two channel system. It makes inexpensive speakers sound very full and alive, and it will do justice to expensive gear. Though it's not my taste, it would do a great job blasting bass heavy floor standers.

With Bill McNew's addition of a tube pre-amp you are closing in on audiophile territory. If you see a used one for sale, check it out.

Strengths:
clean power, solidly built, decent looks

Weaknesses:
as a pretty powerful mid fi receiver - nothing

Similar Products Used:
NAD, Marantz, Dynaco, Hafler, Harmon Kardon

Price Paid:  $449.00 from Uncle Stereo

Summary:
This is a high end, well designed two channel (stereo) unit, not simply a higher power version of Yamaha's other models, and it dispelled any notions I ever had about solid state being inherently inferior to tubes. I had been biamping a pair of Altec 604b's with a pair of completely renewed DYNA ST 70's and using the Yam just for tuner and preamp and remote, but the power amp section of the Yam turned out to be noticeably better in every way - cleaner, deeper and tighter bass, much better definition and transparency - than the DYNA powering the low frequency drivers, and the DYNAS are highly regarded amplifiers. I didn't compare it with the DYNA on the hf drivers as I see some virtue in using tubes for the horns. I plan to keep it for the duration. Almost tempted to buy one as a spare.

Strengths:
Enormous power, very high damping factor, extremely low distortion, pre-amp out/power amp in, ability to record from one input while listening to another

Weaknesses:
AM reception, can't use tone circuit bypass when using preamp out

Similar Products Used:
None that comes close. I had a SONY DE 135 as an interim receiver, and thought that my speakers distorted in the bass at high volume levels. Turned out it was the SONY.

Price Paid:  $120.00 from online auction

Summary:
this is the best reciever that ive seen in a long time. i got a great deal on this. i paid $62.00 for this it is in great shape the only thing that was wrong with it was the display light was out. i paid $50.00 to fix that.($45.00 of that was labor). and now it's just like new. i see these still selling online for $200.00 to $300.00 used. and they are worth every penny. if you get a chance to grab one of these dont waste any time or think twice.pounce on it....
this is what i run...
yamaha rx-770
yamaha cdc-575
yamaha dsp-e390
infinity rs5's
infinity rs3's
infinity cc-1

Strengths:
very clear sound, loudness control, lots of power for only 85watts

Weaknesses:
none at all

Similar Products Used:
onkyo a-sv620& denon