Hey Mark, do you ever speed on the highway and then call the police and tell them to give you a ticket? It's the same principle here. If you think about if you where in the Audio business and a customer walked in and said he could get a product at a 25%-50% discount mail order what would you say? The reason Yamaha is so regulated is because of consumers such as yourself that call them up and say "Joe blow on the internet has the DSP-A1 for ten dollars!!!" and then Yamaha comes in and takes the licence away from the vendor. That's how it works, it's not because of where the unit was made, came from, or distributed from. I would suggest you try not to spoil a great receiver at a great price by calling the company. If they wanted to sell Yamaha products at mail order pricing they would. Why is a $1299 HK available for $499? Is it a clone?....no. Does it have a two year warranty?....yes. Does HK have the same mail order policy as Yamaha....technically yes. Can they police it? Not without the help of consumers that call them up. Moral of the story is....if warranty issues concern you more than mail order pricing and you don't have a Visa, mastercard, or Amex that has automatic warranty protection on purchases, Don't buy mailorder!! But please....please...don't go calling up the company and destroying good deals for those of us who buy mail order.........Oh by the way my CLONE 2095 sounds as good as the real one....Even with my clone 36' sony wega tv, and my clone Infinity speakers, and my clone Panasonic A310 dvd player...etc. All mail order people!! Quick call Sony!! someone call Panasonic!!!! Oh and by the way, The Yamaha 995 is at an excellent price point mail order and has more features and power for the money that any receiver out there right now. This receiver is expandable and has a proven quality track record. Enjoy!

I'm ASTOUNDED by the sound quality/power of this receiver! It has S-Video switching inputs, multiple optical audio inputs, it's DTS capable, and has future 6 channel expansion (via rear inputs... the 'killer app' that sold me on the RX-V995). I was finally able to truly experience a DVD movie in Dolby Digital in my living room for the first time. I heard effects in movies that I didn't know existed, even though I've watched/heard the these DVD's many times! And don't get me started about how sweet DTS sounds on the new audio discs. I hope this becomes the standard on DVD's...
For about 3 years, I've had a Harmon Kardon Pro Logic receiver hooked up to a set of (now) 9-year old Ohm loudspeakers (FRS 11's). Very few receivers can adequately drive these old monsters. The RX-V995 reminded me that, when the proper speakers are in place and a receiver is able to drive them, no sub-woofer is required! Hearing my old Ohm's roar back to life like this in Dolby Digital 5.1... it brought a tear to my eye (also driving a Pinnacle Gold center and rears... very warm)! While watching the Eraser DVD (my HK Pro Logic receiver has been Erased!) for the first time in DD 5.1, I was afraid that the the next-door neighbors might call the cops. I'm glad that I upgraded my receiver PRIOR to upgrading my mains. Thanks to my RX-V995, I don't plan on replacing the Ohm's anytime soon...

Concerning the remote: I hate to sound like a resounding gong (per the previous posts)... It feels definitively fragile. I wish Yamaha would have done something different with the remote. If you have a wife that tends to fall asleep on the remote while on the couch, I would keep it away from her. The flip-top remote panel seems secure enough, with the steel pivot-rod holding the top panel in place, though I still think they might have done better with a standard remote. Don't let the remote scare you away, though. This receiver is well worth the money. I just saved myself a $1000 or more by not upgrading my mains.

Kudos to Yamaha for an excellent piece of hardware for an very reasonable price!

I finally got the 995.......and I dont have enough praise to justify this receivers existence.... GREAT JOB Yamaha... I have so far hooked it up and am using my DVD's all over again...this unit has made them sound soooooo much better. I got it from Uncles in NY and it cost me 799.....plus tax cause I am local but well worth it. Jimmy and Carlos helped me a lot and let me say these guys stand behind what they sell....so I am not worried. I must say however the remote feels a tad bit cheap......like its gonna break if not handled carefully....it could have used back lighting but the glow in the dark works for me.
I did get a bad unit out of the box...slightly damaged (minor problem....) but Uncles is gonna replace it by Monday....or Tuesday when they get a new shipment in....I think one of their distributors was playing games...

I must give this receiver a 5 all around for value, performance, and overall design.

GO YAMAHA!!!!

I've had the Yamaha RX-V995 for several weeks. I love it. This receiver is really impressive; or maybe I just now got something decent to drive my Magnaplaner speakers. I've got it set up with the Maggies as mains, a JBL center speaker, and 2 Infinity speakers in the rear. I also have a Sony DVD/CD (600 model) 5 disk changer, so I can take advantage of the optical interfaces.
The remote is a disappointment. I would have rather had a universal remote that uses vendor/model codes instead of a learning remote. I'll give the receiver a 5 star rating but would rather have a better remote.

I bought the RXV995 at USD680 two weeks ago plus free gift Apollo 13 dts LD.Sound is great in both CD and movie.
My only complaint is the less memory of remote. It running out of memory after recorded around 20 buttons, can't believe it.

4 stars for receiver. 1 star for remote.

Finally got the 995 after 3 week backorder from the GoodGuys. Evidently there is a large backlog on this product in the Bay Area right now which says something about the great reputation of this model.
Great system! Totally expandable with more than enough inputs for the future...unlike the 795. Awesome sound with my Energy Take 5 system. My buddy had his 995 pretty cranked up at party he had this weekend and it was crystal clear. Reliable unit unlike the HK AVR-65 I though about buying...who wants a fire in their stereo cabinet?! Remote does suck but the Marantz RC2000 "Remote of Gods" will make this a moot point. Thanks for all of the tips on this board. 5 stars.

Like JT below, got my backordered 995 after 4 weeks from the Good Guys. This receiver replaces the HK AVR65 I had (I wasn't as lucky as the others who had a chance to read about the Hiss/Hum problems before buying it). Anyway, this unit is much better in music than the HK (surprisingly). Did not notice much difference in DD decoding, though I think the Yamaha is slightly better. No hiss till you crank the volume up halfway thru, which will probably blow the roof off. Crystal clear sound otherwise. Lots of audio/video/digital inputs, love them.
Plan on spending $200 more for a good remote, though. Even if the new remote come out in June (w/ extra memory), it still sucks. I am getting the RC2000 MkII.

Rest of my setup includes -
Toshiba SD3108 DVD player
Atlantic Technology 250.1 spkrs

I would probably give a 4.5 if I could, cos of the remote.

Recently purchased the RX-V995 and would like to know what ohm setting is best for the speakers. My speakers are rated from 4to 8 ohms and the receiver can be set at 4-6 or at 8 ohms. Which is the best setting? Thanks

Anybody know where I can get the 995 for $799 or less in Southern Calif? Please Email.

I just received my Rxv-995 last Friday. I hooked up my PSB Bronze, C-5 Center and Mini rears and started to listen. Much more bright in 2 channel than my Denon AVR 2500 it replaced. About one hour after listening I noticed an audible buzzing coming from the unit. The unit was also very hot. turned it off and let it sit overnight. Same thing on Saturday. I shipped the unit back on Monday. I won the unit in a contest so I am committed to getting another unit. Not sure if I would go this route again if I had paid for it.