Main Feature
The home theater receiver that expands your entertainment horizons with a wide choice of sources and also has great features like high-definition video upscaling and deinterlacing, 1080p-compatible HDMI,Yamaha’s new SCENE and iPod compatibility.
4 SCENE buttons on front panel and remote unit offering easier operation
iPod compatibility via optional Yamaha YDS-10
Improved YPAO supporting low frequency to 31.5Hz with auto setup
Superior multi-zone control compatibility
On-screen display including HDMI output
Max Power (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD) 145W x 7 /
Min.RMS Power (8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz 0.06% THD) 105W x 7
Digital ToP-ART and High Current Amplification
HDMI Ver. 1.2a with support for DSD signals
Pure Direct for high quality sound reproduction
Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DACs used in all channels
Assignable amplifiers for bi-amp connection
High-definition video upscaling (480i/576i or 480p/576p to 720p/1080i)
Deinterlacing (480i/576i to 480p/576p) through HDMI output
1080p-compatible HDMI (2 in/1 out)
Upgraded CINEMA DSP with 17 DSP programs
Compressed Music Enhancer
Night Listening Enhancer (Cinema/Music) and SILENT CINEMA
Introduction
With
technology changing so rapidly, especially in the areas of
high-definition content and flat panel displays, the rest of the
consumer electronics industry has been forced to play catch-up. While
many have stepped up, there are those who still seem painfully behind
the curve. Well, the designers and engineers over at Yamaha haven’t
fallen into that latter category with their new RX-V861 receiver.
The
RX-V861 represents the current state of the art, not only for Yamaha,
but for receivers everywhere, with its seemingly endless array of
features. The most important of these is its complete support of 1080p
video through its HDMI inputs. When you consider that most receivers
boasting the same claims as the RX-V861 cost upwards of two grand or
more, the rather modest price of $999.95 for the RX-V861 makes it a
relative steal in more ways than one, before even opening the box.
However, like all things HDMI (and perhaps, more importantly, HDCP
copy-protected), specs can be misleading and the reality is often
painfully different than the hype. On paper, the RX-V861 seems pretty
fantastic for the money, thus my excitement about doing this review.
Out of the box, the RX-V861 is pretty standard-looking for an AV
receiver: it’s black, loaded with buttons and controls, has a large
display and is about as visually appealing as most other receivers in
its class. The RX-V861 measures in at 17 inches wide by
six-and-three-quarters inches tall and another 17 inches deep. The
RX-V861 is surprisingly lightweight at a bit under 30 pounds, which
made it very easy to put in my main equipment rack, where it would be
installed next to gear from Mark Levinson, Meridian and various players
for all of the HD disc formats. This is the part of the review where
the Yamaha PR people take a big gulp, but to be compared to the world’s
reference gear, if only by proximity, and to be connected to the
world’s finest 1080p sources is meant to be nothing other than the
highest compliment to a receiver at this price point.
Turning
my attention to the rear of the RX-V861, I was greeted by a menagerie
of connection options. Moving left to right, I noticed the RX-V861’s XM
Radio input, single optical audio out, three optical and two coaxial
digital audio inputs. Next to the digital audio inputs are the
RX-V861’s two HDMI inputs and single HDMI monitor out. Across the
entire top of the RX-V861’s back panel are its analog audio inputs and
outputs. The RX-V861 has a phono input and a full complement of preamp
outputs, neither of which are usually seen in a lot of receivers in the
RX-V861’s price bracket. The RX-V861’s analog video connections are
below its analog audio section. The RX-V861 has three
high-definition-capable component video inputs mated to a single
component video out. There are also a host of composite and S-Video
inputs for you. The RX-V861 has inputs for both an FM and AM antenna,
as well as remote triggers both in and out. However, it does not have
any RS-232 support for you Crestron/AMX users out there. Located along
the bottom of the RX-V861 are nine plastic five-way binding posts. The
RX-V861 is a true 7.1-channel design, but the back channels can be
configured in a variety of ways, including the option of bi-amping. The
additional two sets of binding posts can be used for either a second
zone or for what Yamaha calls Extra SP. Extra SP allows for the
consumer to place two smaller speakers higher up on the front wall,
most likely in the right and left corners, to aid in creating a fuller,
richer surround sound experience. Lastly, the RX-V861 has a hardwired
power cord, as well as two 120-volt switched outlets.
Satisfied
with the outward features, I turned my attention inward and to the
RX-V861’s numerous internal power and decoding features. First, the
RX-V861 has a rated power output of 105 watts across all of its seven
channels via its ToP-ART High Current Amplifier section. It also boasts
full HDMI 1.2a support, which isn’t absolutely the newest 1.3 spec
(that was seen on prototype receivers from the likes of Sherwood
Newcastle at this winter’s CES show), but is impressive nevertheless,
given that it can decode multi-channel audio, such as SACD and
DVD-Audio via its HDMI inputs, which makes connecting multi-channel
sources, such as my HD DVD and Blu-ray players, rather easy. Keeping
with high definition, the RX-V861 allows for full HDMI video upscaling
from both its analog and digital video inputs through its single HDMI
monitor out. The RX-V861 will upscale any video signal, be it 480i or
480p to 720p/1080i, as well as de-interlace native 480i content to 480p
through its HDMI output. The RX-V861 will also pass a full 1080p signal
through its HDMI inputs and output, provided your player can output
true 1080p. As far as audio features go, the RX-V861 is ahead of the
competition in a lot of ways with its upgraded DSP settings, including
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Pro Logic IIx, DTS, DTS-ES and DTS
Matrix decoding. A word on DSP or Digital Sound Processing, for which
the RX-V861 has 17 different programs: I find them to be mostly
unusable, but in the case of the RX-V861, they are welcomed and often
work exceptionally well, but more on that later.
The
RX-V861 also has a compressed music enhancer setting, which goes a long
way in cleaning up and improving the sound quality of poorly ripped MP3
and WMA audio files for those of you using an iPod or AppleTV-type of
device. Speaking of iPods, the RX-V861 has an optional iPod doc
(YDS-10), which allows you to navigate and control the content stored
on your iPod via your monitor, provided it’s connected to the RX-V861.
Again, the RX-V861 is XM satellite radio-ready and has several audio
decoding features that better the quality and experience derived from
such a format, including XM HD surround sound and Yamaha’s own Neural
Surround. Lastly, the RX-V861 features an automated room EQ program
called YPAO, which works in conjunction with a small microphone to aid
in calibrating the RX-V861, giving you improved sound in seemingly any
environment.
Which
brings me to the remote. I honestly wish I could skip this part, but I
wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t warn you about just how
disappointing the RX-V861’s remote is. Ten years ago, this remote
would’ve cut the mustard, but by today’s standards, it misses the mark.
For starters, it has no backlighting, which is a problem, considering
that home theaters themselves tend to be dark by nature. The layout of
the remote didn’t exactly speak to me, requiring me to turn the lights
on to make changes to the system through the receiver.
Set-up
The RX-V861 went out of the box and into my reference rack. Getting the
RX-V861 into my rack was easier said than done, not because of the
RX-V861’s physical constraints, but because of the enormous amount of
rewiring it took to remove my reference Meridian and Mark Levinson
gear. To say that the RX-V861 had its work cut out for it was an
understatement. I first connected the RX-V861 to my Meridian in-wall
speakers. For two-channel listening, I connected my new Paradigm S8s to
the RX-V861’s zone 2 or speaker B binding posts. All speakers were
wired via Ultralink’s line of reference cables. Next, I connected my
Toshiba HD-A20 HD DVD player and Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray player to the
RX-V861 via single runs of HDMI cable, also from Ultralink. I connected
my Motorola DVR and my highly customized Apple TV to the RX-V861 via
component video and optical audio cables. Lastly, I connected the
RX-V861 to my Sony 1080p “Pearl” projector via a single HDMI cable from
the RX-V861’s HDMI monitor out.
With all of my gear locked and loaded, I began the process of
navigating the RX-V861’s numerous onscreen menus and automated EQ
software. Starting with the YPAO program, or automated EQ, the RX-V861
performed flawlessly. Yamaha’s YPAO program is simpler than my
reference Audyssey EQ and not quite as robust in terms of absolute
performance, but it worked quite well and improved the RX-V861’s sound
dramatically. Next, I moved on to the RX-V861’s set-up menus, which was
an exercise in patience. When reviewing, I rarely have to consult the
manual for anything these days, but I was glad I had it handy, because
the RX-V861’s menu architecture is anything but intuitive. Although it
was in English, I felt as if it was written in a different language.
Yamaha has a long way to go with the RX-V861 when it comes to ease of
use before they can claim to be competitive with the likes of Denon,
Sony or Marantz.
All in all, the entire process of integrating the RX-V861 into my
system took the better part of two hours before I was satisfied enough
to start my listening and viewing tests.{mospagebreak}
Movies And Music
Given
Yamaha’s press hype on the RX-V861 and the fact that they tout their
DSP software as highly as they do, I felt it fitting to give it a test
run. I decided to forego listening to traditional stereo CDs, instead
opting for ripped two-channel music through my AppleTV. My entire music
library lives on several hard drives in my office and can be streamed
wirelessly to any room in my house via my AppleTVs. I’ve ripped my
entire collection in Apple’s own lossless format and have had great
success with it, so I thought this to be a fair test of the RX-V861’s
capabilities. With my new Paradigm S8s at the ready and the RX-V861 set
to Enhanced Stereo, I began with Evanescence’s second album, The Open
Door (Wind-up). On the single, “Call Me When You’re Sober,” Amy Lee’s
vocals were exceptionally non-receiver-like, which is a very good
thing. Her voice was full, rich and warm, with terrific presence and
weight. Compared to other receivers I had on hand, all of which were at
least three times the Yamaha’s price, the RX-V861’s sound fared
exceptionally well and was even better than a few of the others, which
speaks volumes about the RX-V861’s value. At insane volume levels, the
RX-V861 lacked that last ounce of sparkle and air in the upper
frequencies. However, that said, the sound was still very listenable
and never became fatiguing. When the track picks up in both dynamics
and complexity, the RX-V861 did an admirable job of keeping up. The
guitars were bold, dynamic and free from nearly any signs of
compression. The bass, while thunderously deep, was remarkably
controlled, considering the RX-V861’s price. The bass never sounded
sluggish or bloated, just not quite as resolute as I’ve heard from my
reference rig or costlier receivers, such as my long-standing favorite,
the Denon 4806. Still, I was most impressed, not only by the RX-V861’s
sound, but by its Enhanced Stereo DSP. In fact, when I did throw on the
actual CD, I found I honestly preferred the Enhanced DSP sound to its
direct stereo counterpart. For the first time since installing my
Meridian G Series, I have found a matrix surround sound mode that is
very musically engaging. Amazingly, it’s inside a $1,000 Yamaha
receiver.
Moving onto the track “Lithium,” it was more of the
same. Again, Amy Lee’s vocals were pristine as ever and magic to my
ears. The bass, again, was deep and steered free of overpowering the
midrange, which was a tad aggressive and forward-sounding. I decided to
punish the RX-V861 and throttled the volume for the stratosphere. The
RX-V861 held its own in almost every way. However, at the extremes, the
RX-V861’s treble presentation does flatten ever so slightly, as does
the bass. Overall, there seems to be a bit of spatial condensing to the
soundstage at extreme volumes. At normal listening levels, the
soundstage is wider than it is deep and does a good job of keeping
multiple instruments separated. One area where the RX-V861 shines is in
its center image, which has a real sense of in-room presence you don’t
usually hear out of receivers in the RX-V861’s price class.
Moving
onto multi-channel music, I opted for an all-time favorite, Monster
Music’s presentation of Peter Cincotti’s Live in New York (Monster
Music). Let me start by saying the RX-V861 is a multi-channel music
lover’s dream. On the track “Sway,” with the help of my new Toshiba
XD-A20, the RX-V861 dished out a multi-channel experience that rivaled
those provided by some of the best gear, both receivers and separates,
that I’ve had in my system over the years. The sound was punchy, lively
and extremely lifelike. The treble, especially the upper octaves of
Cincotti’s piano, was sweet, robust and completely free of any digital
compression or glare. The cymbals simply shimmered with all the air and
detail I could ever hope for, especially from a sub-$1,000 receiver.
The midrange was pure, natural and rife with emotion you simply don’t
find in most of today’s receivers. The bass improved dramatically
across the board, gaining in depth and impact and, most importantly,
control compared to two-channel music. Beyond its individual
attributes, the sound overall had a greater sense of purpose and rhythm
through the RX-V861. It was as if the RX-V861 was having fun playing
back Peter Cincotti’s live performance, which was an attribute I
welcomed and frankly would pay a lot more than the RX-V861’s asking
price to have. On the track “I Love Paris,” the musicality and rhythm
of the RX-V861 was infectious. Regardless of volume, the RX-V861’s
performance was simply toe-tapping fun. To say I got a truer sense of
being there through the RX-V861 would be an understatement. The sound
was live in my room and just wonderfully balanced throughout all the
speakers in my system. Across the board, be it double bass or vocals,
the RX-V861’s multi-channel performance was simply stunning. The
surround sound presentation was bolder and more inclusive through the
RX-V861 than with any other receiver I’ve encountered in recent memory.
Where the RX-V861 failed to match my reference gear was in terms of
absolute detail, resolution and air. However, the RX-V861 more than
made up for that last one percent by being more emotionally involving
than anything that came before it. If multi-channel music is your
thing, you’ll love the RX-V861.
While
I could’ve gone on ad nauseam with multi-channel music, it was time to
test the RX-V861’s movie muscle. I kicked things off with the HD DVD
presentation of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (Paramount Home
Entertainment) starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. Before I get
into the sound and image quality, I want to start off by saying that
HDMI is the bane of my existence and I’m always skeptical of any
manufacturer’s claims to have tamed the beast. That being said, the
RX-V861 not only passed the 1080p signal coming from my HD DVD player
flawlessly, it also switched between multiple HDMI sources without
hesitation or hiccup. No other product in my experience, save the
Radiient HDMI switcher, has managed such a feat so effortlessly.
Getting back to the film, the sound emanating from the RX-V861 was
excellent. Dialogue was clear and intelligible and remained composed in
the face of sweeping action, such as in the church sequence. The bass,
especially the thundering hooves of the Horseman’s black stallion, was
epic, well-controlled and never threatened to become boomy, despite my
efforts. The highs were well-mannered and appropriately sweet, giving
just a hint of harshness at the extremes. Overall, the RX-V861’s sound
was extremely balanced and poised, never attempting to be something
that it’s not, thereby creating an overall sound that was lively,
intense and extremely enjoyable. On the image side of things, the
RX-V861 didn’t disappoint. Again, the HDMI switching worked without a
hitch and the subsequent 1080p image being passed through the RX-V861
was equally impressive. I could not detect any image degradation with
the RX-V861 in the equipment chain than with it out. Through the
RX-V861, the blacks were deep and inky smooth. The skin tones, while
intentionally whiter than normal in this particular film, were
incredibly dimensional and textured, without appearing overtly so. The
white values were superb and overall the RX-V861 maintained the HD DVD
transfer’s terrific three-dimensionality.
I
ended my time with the RX-V861 with Ridley Scott’s latest period epic,
Kingdom of Heaven (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment), on Blu-ray.
Again, the RX-V861 had no trouble with the HDMI switching nor did it
seemed bothered by the stunningly rich 1080p image. Personally, I
didn’t much care for the film, but the images contained in it were
pretty spectacular. The RX-V861 did a wonderful job of presenting the
sheer scope of the picture without adding any unnecessary artifacts or
grain. The RX-V861’s video capabilities are rather impressive, given
its price. The sound was equally impressive. Again, the RX-V861 is a
multi-channel enthusiast’s dream. I’m not entirely sure what Yamaha is
doing with their surround sound decoding. Needless to say, I really do
like it and find it completely unique to their products. Truthfully, in
direct comparison with the competition, the RX-V861’s surround sound
performance seemed fuller, richer and simply more dynamic than anything
else I had on hand. All nuances aside, the RX-V861’s way with
multi-channel music and movies is rather eye-opening, because it’s just
so involving and exciting. While some would argue that this
“excitement” comes at the expense of fine detail and accuracy, I’d
argue that it doesn’t matter, for when I sit down to listen to music or
watch a movie, I want to be wrapped up in it and entertained. The
RX-V861 may not be the most neutral-sounding nor the most resolving of
receivers out there, but it still may be one of the most enjoyable I’ve
ever heard.
{mospagebreak}
The Downside
Take
what I’m about to say with a grain of salt, for the RX-V861 is
frighteningly good. That being said, I simply despise how utterly
difficult it is to get to the good stuff. The RX-V861’s menus are
horrid and painful to navigate and decipher. There’s no excuse for
this, especially when some of the competition has menus that will
literally walk you through the process, complete with illustrations on
your screen, making the manual seem like a waste of paper.
The remote is crap. That’s it.
The appearance of the RX-V861 itself isn’t awe-inspiring, nor does it
feel like the giant killer it truly is. The back panel and its
connections are equally bad and extremely cramped, especially around
the digital audio and HDMI inputs. Speaking of HDMI inputs, I would’ve
liked to see at least one more, preferably two. While I’m happy that
the RX-V861 has HDMI inputs, two simply isn’t enough given today’s
high-definition-savvy consumer.
Conclusion
At pennies under a grand, the Yamaha RX-V861 is a bit of an enigma to
me. On one hand, you have its performance, which is exceedingly better
than just about everything at or near its price, but it’s wrapped up in
this dated-ugly package that screams, “Move on.” While the RX-V861 may
not be quite as adept with straight two-channel music, although
Yamaha’s DSP settings do help, it’s the RX-V861’s way with
multi-channel material I cherish most, for it’s just stunning. Throw in
flawless HDMI switching and up-sampling and you have one hell of a
receiver that is an absolute bargain. If Yamaha would work out its
styling cues, menu architecture and daily livability, they would have
an absolute sure thing and a strong endorsement from me for AVRev.com’s
Top 100. All of this being said, is the RX-V861’s performance worth the
hassle? Ultimately, it depends on the individual. I for one haven’t
unplugged it yet.
Reviewer: Andrew Robinson
