Back in April, Yamaha announced a few budget receivers and a few additions to the RX-V series. Now, the company is pulling out the big guns -- or the big receivers, announcing five new additions to the Aventage line.
All five models will feature AirPlay, 4K video pass-through with upscaling, and an energy-saving ECO mode. The company is also adding a little something to its app collection, with upgrades to its iOS, Android and Kindle Fire control apps.
The new models will include the 9.2-channel RX-A3020 (MSRP: $2199.95) and the RX-A2020 (MSRP: $1699.95). Those two models boast 150 and 140 watts per channel, respectively. The rest of the new line is a trio of 7.2-channel models. That includes 110 watts per channel for the RX-A1020 (MSRP: $1199.95), 100 watts for the RX-A820 (MSRP: $899.95), and 90 watts for each channel on the RX-A720 (MSRP: $699.95).
All five models include Yamaha's Anti-Resonance Technology (ART), as well as a "fifth foot" to reduce vibration. The RX-A3020, RX-A2020 and RX-A1020 models take the study concept a step further, with a double-bottom frame construction.
Each model has decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, and CINEMA DSP 3D surround features. Other common features across the line include 3D support with Audio Channel Return, front-panel USB inputs, improved Dialog Lift for centering dialog, and Yamaha's Virtual Presence Speaker. There's also YPAO Reflected Sound Control (RSC) sound optimization and a Video Direct Mode for gamers, which promises to bypass the receiver's processing to speed up video by two frames per second.
Now, let's take a peek at what sets each unit apart. The flagship model, the RX-A3020, has Zone 2 HDMI to simultaneously deliver content from two independent HDMI sources to two separate zones. That same model includes CINEMA DSP HD3 (HD Cubic), as well as HQV VHD1900 VIDA video processing (the RX-A2020 has it, too).
The RX-A2020, RX-A1020 and RX-A820 also have dual HDMI (Zone B output capability) for simultaneous HDTV viewing in the main room and in a secondary room.
Models RX-A820 and up have a Party Mode, as well as something called multi-point measurement (in up to eight locations). The latter is an extension of the YPAO RSC. This promises to open up the listening zone's sweet spot. The RX-A2020 and RX-A3020 also add in DSP Normalization to collect data on a room's "liveness" and make the necessary adjustments. Both of those top models also come packing a newly designed YPAO microphone.
All of the new models have plenty of networking features, too, including DLNA support, web radio, and compatibility with third-party home automation control systems, such as Control4 and even PC web browsers.
"To raise the bar on the dramatic, enveloping sound customers expect from AVENTAGE, Yamaha engineers once again focused on the most minute details in componentry and construction. We evaluate every design element until we are satisfied that we are integrating only those that deliver the highest possible sound experience," said Tom Sumner, senior vice president of Yamaha Corporation of America. "We take exactly the same approach from the system setup and operation standpoints, bringing customers the seamless delivery of music, TV and movie content from virtually any source to any room in the home."
Yamaha says that all of the new Aventage models will be available via authorized Yamaha AV dealers starting this month.
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