Yamaha Audio receivers..

[speezer]

Hi, i'm looking into buying a new audio receiver for my surround sound system. I am looking at anywhere from 500.00-800.00 to spend. Can someone give me a heads up on the latest technology from yamaha. Is the 5060 series a good choice. someone at future Shop told me that yamaha is a good quality......Can someone else help me out? thanks...

[eljay]

Yamaha makes great, reasonably-priced receivers. The HTR line is the big-box store equivalent of their "boutique" store RX-V line, but the comparable models are essentially identical.

The HTR-5760 ($650 at F.S.) is a nice receiver with plenty of features, including:
- 7.1 channel audio;
- DD EX and DTS Discrete 6.1;
- 95 watts/ch (8 ohms, 20 - 20,000 Hz);
- component video switching;
- composite to S-video up-conversion; and
- YPAO audio calibration.

Happy shopping!

[Nanuuk]

I've enjoyed my Yamaha HTR-5280 for about 3 years now and I've been loving every minute of it! It was one of the first Yammy receivers using TopArt and a heat sink. Check these sites out before you buy!

http://www.audioreview.com/amplifica...S_2718crx.aspx

http://www.ecoustics.com/Editorial/

[Battscrew]

See my sig - over a year now and quite happy.

[filper]

I'm very happy with my entry level HTR 5540.

[Mole]

I have had 4 of them over the years my latest is the RX-V 2500. All four are still working and all sound great. I think you will be happy with your choice.

[orion456]

[QUOTE=eljay The HTR line is the big-box store equivalent of their "boutique" store RX-V line, but the comparable models are essentially identical.[/QUOTE]

The RXV's meets a much stricter standard for amplifers than the HTR line.

Yamaha says: "The RX-V line has the power amplifiers rated from 20-20000 Hz. The HTR line has the power amplifiers rated at 1000 Hz."

The point is: because HTR power is only given for one frequency and not the entire range, the HTR spec probably means there is a significant power drop off at the frequency extremes when all channels are in use.

In other words, Yamaha tests the boards (or parts and assigns them accordingly) and those that meet the much stricter specifications become RXV receivers and the rest become HTRs. Just because two systems have the same parts doesn't mean that some parts don't perform better. This is the same thing Intel does with processors, all the CPUs come from the same process but some become p4 3.6 ghz and others only 2.8 ghz (which they sell for a lower price). It doesn't mean that some 2.8's can't meet the stricter standard, it just means the 3.6's definitely will.

The bottom line is when looking at power ratings, try to get a rating that covers the full audio spectrum, not just one frequency where other frequencies may lag in at high power.

Essentially you pay for the higher rated performance. Whether you can tell the difference is another question. Presumably the stricter standard is necessary to ensure high quality.

[Michel]

Originally Posted by orion456

The RXV's meets a much stricter standard for amplifers than the HTR line.

Where did you read that ??? I beg to disagree....Read what Yamaha themselves say about the difference between the two lines....Pay attention to the third paragraph that states clearly that both lines are identical and then they go on to explain why the have the two lines and that is the real reason. The main (ungiven) reason they rate both lines differently is to avoid direct comparisons by the consumers in order to protect their specialised independant retailers profit margins and to have a larger market share but dealing with various types of retail operations avoiding conflicts between them...Furthermore, when you check the specs on equivalent units in the HTR line versus their RX-V line, they are identical....We are talking basecally of a marketing strategy that is quite common in many industries...

*

What Is The Difference Between The RX-V Line And The HTR Line?


There are many similarities between these two product lines. The RX-V line and the HTR line are produced in the same Yamaha factory using high quality parts throughout. The RX-V and equivalent HTR models have the same warranty periods, the same manufacturer's suggested retail price, similar features, and similar remote control units.

There is a cosmetic difference found on the front panels of these two lines. The RX-V line maintains the traditional white colored lettering normally found on most Yamaha components, while the HTR line provides a slightly different approach. Yamaha has created a new look by using gold colored lettering in selected areas on the HTR receiver series. However, both the RX-V line and the HTR line feature high quality front panel construction.

The amplifiers in the HTR and RX-V units are identical but rated differently to comply with the accepted measurement standards of their respective channels of distribution. Both ratings are FTC approved and are designed to handle the dynamics of today's audio and video sources. The RX-V line has the power amplifiers rated from 20-20000 Hz. The HTR line has the power amplifiers rated at 1000 Hz. Both lines can reproduce the full frequency response of 20-20000 Hz.

The RX-V line is typically sold through Yamaha authorized audio/video specialty retailers, and is not available for mail order sales, phone sales, or internet sales.

The HTR line is sold through mass merchants, catalog retailers, and department stores. You may also purchase the HTR line through the mail, by phone, or at authorized internet retailers.

All transactions must be done through the authorized Yamaha dealer network. Any purchase made from an unauthorized dealer/retailer voids the Yamaha manufacturer's warranty.

[e268]

If I buy the HTR line, I will always wonder what I am missing out since the amps are rated at 1000Hz only. On the other hand, if they are built with same quality parts, would we not expect them to have same performance? Unlike cpu's, these parts operated in audio frequency range, hence should not have the exact rating issues of the cpu's. But, why would Yamaha put out units with the same guts, but different face plate and sell for less? Why would Yamaha not make a few extra dollars by lowering the standard a bit to pass at 1000Hz? If one does not care about the rating, then HTR is a good buy, but if one is a true hi-fi enthuist, then RX-V line will put their mind to rest.

[mrhooie]

call me a Yamaha snob, but I've only ever bought the RX-V line (and before that the Natural Sound line)

[Michel]

Originally Posted by e268

If I buy the HTR line, I will always wonder what I am missing out since the amps are rated at 1000Hz only. On the other hand, if they are built with same quality parts, would we not expect them to have same performance?

Where did you see a serious direct comparison test that said it did not have the same performance ???

Originally Posted by e268

But, why would Yamaha put out units with the same guts, but different face plate and sell for less? Why would Yamaha not make a few extra dollars by lowering the standard a bit to pass at 1000Hz? If one does not care about the rating, then HTR is a good buy, but if one is a true hi-fi enthuist, then RX-V line will put their mind to rest.

The answer is quite simple if you read in between the lines of what Yamaha themselves say about the differences between the two lines. The reason they do this is to avoid direct comparisons by consumers between the two lines to protect their specialized small independant retailer's network profit wise...
since their volume of sales is far less than large chains such as BestBuy or FS.... The lower price of the HTR line is due to minor cosmetic differences and mainly because of the higher volume they get from large chain retailers. I do not think that they lower the standard to pass at 1000hz...Again, they only do it to avoid direct comparisons by consumers...They do not lie in the specs, they just present it in a different way for that purpose....It is a marketing strategy used by many industries...in order to gain the largest market share as possible without creating conflicts between the various types of distribution channels, different types of retailers....I know, I worked in the photographic industry for 30 years and we did this all the time to be able to sell at the same time to people such as Henry's, Aden's, McBain, London Drugs and Costco, Sears, Walmart etc....We even had different model numbers depending on the country to avoid "grey imports"....In fact, the cameras were exactly the same gut wise with minor cosmetic differences. The funniest part was when we were seeing test reports that showed differences perpetuating the idea to people such as you that they were getting lower quality by buying at large retailers... If it gives you security of mind to pay extra to get the same receiver with a different name, then go for it.....