Yamaha Corporation of America is cranking out a new crop of AV receivers with some very interesting, special goodies inside, depending on the model. Four of the five new RX-V Series AV receivers have all sorts of networking perks, as well as an option to get full HD video and audio from smartphones and other portable devices via Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL).
Those four receivers are the 7.2-channel RX-V775WA and the RX-V675, as well as the 7.1-channel RX-V575 and the 5.1-channel RX-V475. The company will also offer one new non-networked model, the 5.1-channel RX-V375.
Other networking services on the top four models include Apple's AirPlay, as well as Pandora and vTuner Internet radio features. Each one can also do WiFi and Bluetooth, via the $99 YWA-10 Wi-Fi adapter and the $69 YBA-11 Bluetooth wireless dongle. The RX-V775WA includes the WiFi one right inside the box. In other words, you should be able to pair one of these receivers with almost any type of portable device. The RX-V775WA and RX-V675 will also add in the option to stream content from Rhapsody, with a subscription.
All five models will include 4K (UltraHD) video pass-through, 3D video pass-through with Audio Channel Return (ARC), and HD Audio format decoding for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. The RX-V775WA and RX-V675 go a little further, adding 4K/HD video upscaling from any analog or HDMI sources. As far as HDMI is concerned, these receivers offer plenty of connection options. The RX-V775WA and RX-V675 each have six HDMI inputs, the RX-V575 and RX-V475 have five, and the RX-V375 has four.
Being that the RX-V775WA and RX-V675 are at the top of this heap, they also have a few other interesting extras, including Burr-Brown DACs, Yamaha CINEMA DSP 3D processing, and Dialog Lift technology. Also, each one has intelligent assignable amplifiers, so that the unit can direct output power from the surround back speaker terminals to power either Front Presence or Zone 2 speakers, when needed -- all without changing the speaker connections and setup menus.
If you aren't opting for a 7-channel setup and still want a 7-channel receiver, these models have a bi-amp function to double the power of the main speakers. The 7.2-channel RX-V775WA also has the Party Mode and Zone B dual HDMI outputs.
Other features across the new line include front-panel USB inputs, a subwoofer level adjustment, four SCENE mode buttons, CINEMA DSP 3D with 17 DSP programs, and Yamaha's proprietary YPAO automatic room calibration and optimization system. The RX-V775WA even has 8-point multi-calibration features. Last, but certainly not least, the RX-V775WA and RX-V675 also have YPAO's R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) to take out those muffled sounds that can be created by having the speakers too close to walls or furniture.
All of the new networked receivers will come packing support for the free Yamaha AV Controller App for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire devices. When using one of the apps with the the RX-V775WA and RX-V675, users can also tap into independently powered Zone 2 for whole-home audio enjoyment.
"Serious music and movie fans are moving towards the convenience of enjoying entertainment content delivered through mobile devices, the Internet and electronic files, yet they don't want to compromise on audio and video quality -- and they don't have to," said Tom Sumner, senior vice president, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Our latest market-leading RX-V Series receivers provide superior listening and viewing experiences from music, movies, videos, sporting events and gaming, from virtually any source."
All of Yamaha's new models are currently available on Amazon. The 5.1-channel RX-V375 and the RX-V475 are priced at $299.95 and $449.95, with the 7.1-channel RX-V575 and the 7.2-channel RX-V675 coming in at $549.95 and $649.95, respectively. Finally, the RX-V775WA top-of-the-line model has an MSRP of $849.95.
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