In this short video, Crutchfield home theater experts share their impressions of Yamaha RX-V1800 and RX-V3800 home theater receiver. www.crutchfield.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE-zdkALrPY&hl=en
วันเสาร์ที่ 28 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2553
วันพุธที่ 25 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review
I recently replaced my old surround set up with a Polk 5.1 configuration, using RTI-A7 fronts, RTI-A3 rears, a CSI-A6 center and a PSW505 sub. I had been running these through a Yamaha RX-V659, which is a very nice receiver, but I wanted something with a bit more high-current ability to drive the new speakers. I also wanted a receiver with HDMI inputs that handle both audio and video for the best possible sound and picture for HD A/V sources. I did a lot of research on a number of different products from Denon, Onkyo, HK, Pioneer and the like, but I ended up settling on this one. I had been planning to replace the old unit a few months down the road, but when I stumbled into one of these brand-new-in-box at a large electronics superstore for an almost surreal 9, I took the plunge.
Pulling it out of the box, the build quality is exceptional; the RX-V1800 weighs a good 40 lbs. It's a pretty big piece of equipment, measuring 17" W x 17" D x 7" H. Make sure you have space for this. Everything feels very solid, and Yamaha claims its ToP-ART design technique creates virtually no additional signal distortion to incoming/outgoing signals.
Looking at the back of this thing may cause headaches for some. For an amateur audiophile like me, it's fantastic. The RX-V1800 has every connection type you can think of, highlighted by 4 HDMI inputs/1 output and 4 optical inputs/2 outputs. It has multichannel analog inputs for SACD/DVD-A. There's an iPod jack for the optional Yamaha YDS-11SL iPod Dock, which I also purchased. In addition, there's a port for XM connection (I do not have XM so I can't comment on it). There are still plenty of component inputs and analog inputs for those with older devices that do not support digital connections. The speaker terminals are made of metal; they are well-built and feel solid. The vertical layout of the terminals can make it difficult to use traditional wiring, and for many banana cables will be an easier way to go. You can wire a total of 9 speakers + sub using this receiver, which is basically standard 7.1 with 2 additional "presence" speakers added to the left and right fronts (only 7 can play simultaneously, however.)
Just to clarify - this receiver is NOT network ready. There is no ethernet port, and there isn't a USB port for connecting external hard drives, etc. For me, this isn't an issue - I have that functionality with the PS3 - but for some, it may be a requirement and hopefully this will eliminate some of the confusion due to the misleading product description on this page.
The different settings are too numerous to list, and I haven't had the item long enough to finish reading the entire manual (which is just as monstrous as this receiver). But of the most importance to potential buyers is the RX-V1800's ability to decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, along with any older encoding method you can think of. It can handle incoming decoded high-resolution PCM. It also supports HDMI 1.3a and can pass full 1080p. This is perfect for next-gen AV, as it can decode/handle any advanced multichannel format there is, including Blu-ray, HD-DVD, SACD, DVD-A, etc. This is perfect for me: I can run my PS3 through a single HDMI cable to the receiver out to the TV in full 1080p video, with Linear PCM/TrueHD multichannel audio humming through my Polks when I play Blu-rays.
There are a host of sound field settings available on the RX-V1800, some of which emulate concert halls, arenas, and clubs, others which are specifically tailored to TV/Movies/Video Games. These are marginally useful. I typically only use these programs with jazz and classical CDs - the Concert Hall and Jazz Club sound field programs are numerous and quite nice, adding surround ambience to stereo discs, which I like. My favorite settings however are Straight for AV and especially Pure Direct for Audio only signals. This shuts down all other processes (including the display) except the amplifier and sends the signal direct to the speakers with no additional processing. This setting really makes SACDs and DVD-As shine.
In terms of power, the RX-V1800 is a beast. It can pump out 130W x 7 RMS, which is as much power as most normal people will ever need. It seems (at least to me) to have a fuller sound than the RX-V659 did, which I attribute to the additional reserve power this unit has under most conditions. As such it's perfectly equipped to run multizone, configured with either one (7.1), two (5.1 in zone 1, stereo in zone 2) or three different zones (3.1 in zone 1, stereo in zones 2 & 3). I really like the fact that the different zones are powered by separate amps.
The remote control is standard Yamaha - in other words a mess. And this is coming from a someone who has owned (and liked) Yamaha components in the past. Setup itself is not very difficult (setting levels, speaker distance, etc.) but I still haven't figured out how to control the finer points via remote. I haven't used the second "zone" remote, so I won't comment on that.
I also haven't thoroughly tested out this receiver's video upconversion, but it seems OK not great. DVDs played through the PS3 connected via HDMI to the RX-V1800 to my Samsung LN46A550 46" 1080p LCD HDTV appear to be of similar quality as compared to connecting the PS3 via HDMI straight into my TV (the TV also has a decent upconverter). EDIT: 1/9/09 - after carefully examining the manual, the upscaling only works if you hook the incoming device up with component, S-video or analog connections. HDMI passes signal as-is. After hooking up my Yamaha DVD-S1800 upscaling universal DVD/DVD-A/SACD player with component video in to the RX-V1800, I can safely tell you the upscaling to 1080p is very, very good.
Look and feel is actually quite nice (this is sometimes a problem for Yamaha as their products tend to be built for function above form), with a black brushed aluminum front and ample ventilation grilling on top. A metal faceplate hides many of the on-deck controls when closed, giving the item a smooth and uncluttered profile.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this receiver thus far, especially playing SACDs and Blu-rays in lossless 5.1 multichannel sound. It's really let my Polks show off their large dynamic range in a new way.
Overall this receiver is excellent. It offers just about any features you could possibly want, and it was an unbelievable value for me considering the deal I stumbled into. I know I'm not taking full advantage of all of this receiver's capabilities, but I consider that a good thing. As with the speakers, I plan on keeping this receiver for the foreseeable future, as it's somewhat future-proofed and can be scaled to any size room (or rooms) I would ever need. I don't have space for 7.1 right now, but when I do I feel pretty good about bringing this receiver along with me. Recommended, especially if you can get it for below list. If not, you can get much of the same functionality with slightly less output from a Yamaha RX-V863 for a lot less.
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Feature
- 7.1-channel home theater receiver with 910 Watts of total power (130 Watts-per-channel)
- Latest HDMI 1.3a (4 in/1 out) specification supports deep color (30/36 bit) transmission, 120Hz and 24Hz refresh rates and auto lip-sync
- Analog video (480i or 480p) upscaling to full HD 1080p
- Supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio and DTS-HD Master Audio
- iPod compatibility via optional Yamaha YDS-10
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Overview
The Yamaha RX-V1800 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver offers excellent levels of sound and video quality for total home theater enjoyment. It provides 910 Watts of total power, pushing 130 Watts to each of its 7 channels. With features including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders, the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, video upscaling to 1080p, iPod compatibility, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start and multi-zone custom installation support, it will become the cornerstone of your home theater experience.
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วันอังคารที่ 27 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Yamaha RX-V1800BL 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black)
Product Description
From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer The Yamaha RX-V1800 is truly a high-end home theater receiver, introducing new technologies and features such as the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, upscaling to 1080p, full support for high definition audio formats signals, Adaptive DRC and Adaptive DSP Level, and Network Receiver functions.
On-Screen Display with GUI
An on-screen GUI (Graphical User Interface) display makes operating the receiver easy and intuitive. It is compatible with iPod, internet radio, PC and USB displays. Access and control everything you need from a simple and easy-to-navigate interface.
Improved Compressed Music Enhancer
Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer is a popular feature that restores the sound of the original music from digitally compressed formats such as MP3. This receiver offers an upgraded version that processes multi-channel signals with a DSP algorithm, so all channels are enhanced, providing more accurate reproduction and more expansive sound. There are two modes: Straight Enhancer that enhances and outputs each input channel as-is, and 7ch Enhancer that downmixes the input channels to 2-channel and then outputs them as X-channel stereo (X being the number of input channels).
Adaptive Dynamic Range Control
Adaptive DRC is a new volume control technology that is effective for low-volume listening, such as at night or with headphones. It applies DRC processing to eliminate the volume differences between loud commercials and ordinary programming and to take into account our ears' loss of sensitivity as volume decreases. The compensation is performed automatically, so all dialogue is heard clearly even at low levels, and there are no sudden loud bursts of sound.
HD Audio Format Signals Capability
This receiver lets users enjoy the best possible and newest surround sound from Blu-ray Disc players and HD-DVD players. It supports the two lossy formats--Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD High Resolution--as well as lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
YPAO Sound Optimization and Pure Direct for Highest Sound Quality
Yamaha's YPAO Sound Optimization system analyzes the acoustics of the room and adjusts various speaker parameters to provide optimum sound quality at the listening position--in less than three minutes! A new Quick Start function displays the YPAO Auto Setup menu when the microphone jack is inserted, so Start can be immediately selected. Six YPAO settings can be memorized.
Pure Direct is a special receiver mode that causes the signal to bypass all but the most basic audio circuitry, and even turns off the display to prevent any chance of noise interference. It provides the purest possible high-fidelity sound from all sources including USB and HDMI inputs.
Full HD 1080p Video Upscaling and Deep Color (30/36-bit) Transmission
The HDMI 1.3a interface upgrades the transmission of standard, enhanced, and high-definition video signals via HDMI for higher-than-ever quality through a single cable. With four HDMI input terminals, users and connect a variety of high-definition sources such as Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD players and switch easily among them.
The receiver supports the latest HDMI 30- and 36-bit color depths, improved from the 24-bit depth of previous versions. This "Deep Color" allows the rendering of billions of colors for far greater accuracy. Colors are so vivid they seem to jump off the screen, with perfectly smooth tonal transitions and ultra-fine gradations between colors. It also enables many times more shades of gray, for higher contrast ratio.
Auto Lip-Sync Compensation
When video and audio signals are transferred via HDMI and the video shown on a display and the audio output by an AV receiver, the video delay time (time from signal input until it is seen) and the audio delay time (time from signal input until it is heard) are different, so the video and audio slip out of sync. The Auto Lip-Sync compensation function monitors the video delay time, and automatically adjusts the amount of audio delay to eliminate the difference, so you hear the dialogue just as the person is speaking.
Analog Video to HDMI Digital Video Upconversion
This is a function that converts analog signals from composite, S-Video or component terminals to output from higher quality HDMI digital video. This ensures the highest possible picture quality from the AV receiver to a monitor or TV via a single cable. It also performs down-conversion among component, S-Video and composite signals.
Network Capability Makes Your Yamaha a Portal to All Your Digital Music
Using network connection and Windows Media Player 11, the RX-V1800 lets you play MP3, WMA, and WAV music from a remote PC. You can also listen to any of the thousands of stations available on Internet radio via LAN. And the RX-V1800 provides even more listening options: it can function as a Client in Yamaha's MusicCAST home audio network, seamlessly integrating with the MCX-2000. A USB terminal on the front panel makes it convenient to play music from USB flash drives and portable USB audio players.
Superior Custom Zone Control
Users can enjoy audio in three rooms as well as video in the second room with an extensive array of Custom zone Control features. These include Main/Zone 2/Zone 3 power control, front panel selection of XM/FM/AM tuning, volume and input source, Zone 2 video output and on-screen menu display, and Zone 2/3 tone and L/R balance control for ceiling or wall-mounted speakers. A separate Zone Remote Unit is provided and there is also an RS-232C interface for a touch-panel controller.
On-Screen Display with GUI
An on-screen GUI (Graphical User Interface) display makes operating the receiver easy and intuitive. It is compatible with iPod, internet radio, PC and USB displays. Access and control everything you need from a simple and easy-to-navigate interface.
 Use the RX-V1800 as your portal to all your digital music |
Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer is a popular feature that restores the sound of the original music from digitally compressed formats such as MP3. This receiver offers an upgraded version that processes multi-channel signals with a DSP algorithm, so all channels are enhanced, providing more accurate reproduction and more expansive sound. There are two modes: Straight Enhancer that enhances and outputs each input channel as-is, and 7ch Enhancer that downmixes the input channels to 2-channel and then outputs them as X-channel stereo (X being the number of input channels).
Adaptive Dynamic Range Control
Adaptive DRC is a new volume control technology that is effective for low-volume listening, such as at night or with headphones. It applies DRC processing to eliminate the volume differences between loud commercials and ordinary programming and to take into account our ears' loss of sensitivity as volume decreases. The compensation is performed automatically, so all dialogue is heard clearly even at low levels, and there are no sudden loud bursts of sound.
HD Audio Format Signals Capability
This receiver lets users enjoy the best possible and newest surround sound from Blu-ray Disc players and HD-DVD players. It supports the two lossy formats--Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD High Resolution--as well as lossless formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.
YPAO Sound Optimization and Pure Direct for Highest Sound Quality
Yamaha's YPAO Sound Optimization system analyzes the acoustics of the room and adjusts various speaker parameters to provide optimum sound quality at the listening position--in less than three minutes! A new Quick Start function displays the YPAO Auto Setup menu when the microphone jack is inserted, so Start can be immediately selected. Six YPAO settings can be memorized.
Pure Direct is a special receiver mode that causes the signal to bypass all but the most basic audio circuitry, and even turns off the display to prevent any chance of noise interference. It provides the purest possible high-fidelity sound from all sources including USB and HDMI inputs.
 The RX-V1800 does full HD 1080p upconversion from a variety of sources |
The HDMI 1.3a interface upgrades the transmission of standard, enhanced, and high-definition video signals via HDMI for higher-than-ever quality through a single cable. With four HDMI input terminals, users and connect a variety of high-definition sources such as Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD players and switch easily among them.
The receiver supports the latest HDMI 30- and 36-bit color depths, improved from the 24-bit depth of previous versions. This "Deep Color" allows the rendering of billions of colors for far greater accuracy. Colors are so vivid they seem to jump off the screen, with perfectly smooth tonal transitions and ultra-fine gradations between colors. It also enables many times more shades of gray, for higher contrast ratio.
Auto Lip-Sync Compensation
When video and audio signals are transferred via HDMI and the video shown on a display and the audio output by an AV receiver, the video delay time (time from signal input until it is seen) and the audio delay time (time from signal input until it is heard) are different, so the video and audio slip out of sync. The Auto Lip-Sync compensation function monitors the video delay time, and automatically adjusts the amount of audio delay to eliminate the difference, so you hear the dialogue just as the person is speaking.
Analog Video to HDMI Digital Video Upconversion
This is a function that converts analog signals from composite, S-Video or component terminals to output from higher quality HDMI digital video. This ensures the highest possible picture quality from the AV receiver to a monitor or TV via a single cable. It also performs down-conversion among component, S-Video and composite signals.
 Control up to three zones throughout your home with ease |
Using network connection and Windows Media Player 11, the RX-V1800 lets you play MP3, WMA, and WAV music from a remote PC. You can also listen to any of the thousands of stations available on Internet radio via LAN. And the RX-V1800 provides even more listening options: it can function as a Client in Yamaha's MusicCAST home audio network, seamlessly integrating with the MCX-2000. A USB terminal on the front panel makes it convenient to play music from USB flash drives and portable USB audio players.
Superior Custom Zone Control
Users can enjoy audio in three rooms as well as video in the second room with an extensive array of Custom zone Control features. These include Main/Zone 2/Zone 3 power control, front panel selection of XM/FM/AM tuning, volume and input source, Zone 2 video output and on-screen menu display, and Zone 2/3 tone and L/R balance control for ceiling or wall-mounted speakers. A separate Zone Remote Unit is provided and there is also an RS-232C interface for a touch-panel controller.
Product Description
The Yamaha RX-V1800 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver offers excellent levels of sound and video quality for total home theater enjoyment. It provides 910 Watts of total power, pushing 130 Watts to each of its 7 channels. With features including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoders, the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, video upscaling to 1080p, iPod compatibility, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start and multi-zone custom installation support, it will become the cornerstone of your home theater experience.
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