The Official Yamaha RX V663 Owners Thread

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

It also has PCM1796 DAC's with 123dB of dynamic range and will convert DSD straight to analog with no PCM conversion.

Me thinks with Blu-ray audio you'll be pretty happy.

Wow. That's another bonus. This is an amazing receiver.

The PS/3 can't be a DSD transport, right?

Suggestions? Is anything on the BD player horizon that does DTHD, DTS-HD MA and SACD out HDMI 1.3?

Gary

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Wow. That's another bonus. This is an amazing receiver.

The PS/3 can't be a DSD transport, right?

Suggestions? Is anything on the BD player horizon that does DTHD, DTS-HD MA and SACD out HDMI 1.3?

Gary

From what I hear from DenonJeff at AVS, the 2nd Generation Denon Blu-ray player will include SACD support.

No word on whether or not it supports DSD out though. Maybe the Oppo will?

For $169 though the Oppo 980H is not a bad choice for a dedicated SACD/DVD-Audio player as it features both DVD-Audio through HDMI and your choice of DSD or PCM through HDMI for SACD.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

For $169 though the Oppo 980H is not a bad choice for a dedicated SACD/DVD-Audio player as it features both DVD-Audio through HDMI and your choice of DSD or PCM through HDMI for SACD.

Thanks. It would be another component in an insane setup:

PS/3
JVC DTheater deck
SA8300HD cable box
LD-S9 laserdisc (coming soon, replacing CLD-704)
Pioneer DVD recorder

C'mon Sony, get of your arse and put out a great Blu-ray player w/SACD support!

Gary

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by BStecke

I was looking at this one as well . . . if I remember right it got some fairly poor reviews for its video processing, no decoding of TrueHD/DTS HDMA, and no analog to HDMI conversion.

That's a bit incorrect. Yamaha just released their new models this week, and they include Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master, as well as 1080p/24 Hz and 120 Hz refresh rates. This is Yamaha's next generation line and the 663 offers several key features not found on last year's 661. Also, I'd be curious to read these reviews on poor Yamaha video performance, because that's contrary to everything I've read.

For further clarification, there is no material between Yamaha's HTR line and RX-V line for comparable models. The only difference is that the RX-V and RX-Z lines are the only ones to get the highest models which are basically the RX-V1800 or higher and the RX-Z flagship receiver, currently the RX-Z11. For example, the RX-V661 and the HTR-6060 are the same receiver, slightly re-badged. The RX-V version has the Yamaha label and face lettering in white, while it's gold on the HT-R version. Also, the HT-R version carries both the full range wattage rating (90W X 7 from 20Hz to 20kHz), as well as the wattage rating at 1 kHz (105W X 7). Every single bit of the receivers, including internal componentry, is identical except for the model number and font color.

Yamaha carries both the RX-V and HTR lines to justify managing two different distribution channels - specialty boutiques and megastore/online sales. Those lines are getting blurred though as time passes. To avoid confusion, Yamaha should really run it as the RX-V/RX-Z line, while adding the more prestigious gold lettering from the HTR line.

The HTR series tends to be cheaper online though, so I'll stop now. Anyway, I've been waiting for Yamaha's new models, and they've arrived a bit earlier than in the past. They look awesome.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

In all benchmark tests the Onkyo's have bested the Pioneer Elite receivers for power supply.

The 805, 875 and 905 also have better DAC's than any of the Denon, Sony, Yamaha and Pioneer Elite receivers with the exception of the $5000 Denon 5308CI and $5000 Yamaha RX-Z11.

The 875 is rated at 140w/ch and pushed 128w/ch with all channels driven.
The Pioneer 94 is rated at 140w/ch but only pushes 100w/ch with all channels driven.

I'm sorry, but the Onkyo 805, 875, and 905 DACs are the same 192kHz / 24 bit Burr Brown DACs found on all channels of the Yamaha receivers, including the lower end 663. These were first introduced in Yamaha's line on the RX-Z1 flagship receiver, and they've been used throughout Yamaha's line for years. Onkyo's 605 doesn't have them. Yamaha amps also have cleaner power ratings than Onkyo's.

Onkyo makes good receivers and components, but my preference is with Yamaha. They originated as a musical instrument company in the 1800s, carried their love and expertise of music and instruments into their electronics. Tonal accuracy has always been their primary objective, and that is why their logo is made up of tuning forks.

[ryoohki]

I owned a lot of Yamaha Receiver... never had a problems with them. I upgraded to a Denon 3808ci because it had more feature and i like Audyssey Multi Qx equalisation more than the Yamaha Solution... but that's the only reason. If they where a Yamaha Receiver with the same feature (Audyssey, Overlay Gui on HDMI, Net Radio, Firmware Updatable) i would have gone with Yamaha again..

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I'm sorry, but the Onkyo 805, 875, and 905 DACs are the same 192kHz / 24 bit Burr Brown DACs found on all channels of the Yamaha receivers, including the lower end 663. These were first introduced in Yamaha's line on the RX-Z1 flagship receiver, and they've been used throughout Yamaha's line for years.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you're talking about. The sampling rate of a DAC has nothing to do with which DAC is being used. There are lots of 24/192 DAC's made from various companies, including several models from Burr Brown. Their specifications are all different.

The Yamaha RX-V3800 uses PCM1791A DAC's, which have 113 dB of dynamic range and are capable of DSD conversion and PCM at 24/192. The Denon 4308CI and Yammy RX-V1800 also use this DAC.
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folder.../pcm1791a.html

(The links are mostly to Texas Instruments, because that's who owns Burr Brown now)

The Yamaha RX-Z9 uses a far better DAC than the 3800, the DSD1792, which is capable of 132 dB of dynamic range and DSD to analog conversion and PCM at 24/192. It doesn't support TrueHD or dts-ma though.
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folder...t/dsd1792.html

This is the ONLY Yamaha receiver with this DAC.

The Yamaha RX-Z11, Onkyo 805, 875 and 905 use the PCM1796 DAC, which has dynamic range of 123 dB and of course DSD to analog and 24/192 PCM. The Denon 5308CI also employs this DAC.
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folder...t/pcm1796.html

To summarize:

Burr-Brown PCM1791A  113dB SNR  $ 3.00/ea    Yamaha RX-V3800, Yamaha RX-V1800, Denon 3808, 4308 and DVD-2930CI
Burr-Brown PCM1796   123dB SNR  $ 6.50/ea    Yamaha RX-Z11, Onkyo 805/875/905, Denon 5308 and DVD-3930CI
Burr-Brown PCM1792A  127dB SNR  $13.00/ea    ? 
Burr-Brown PCM1792   132dB SNR  $13.65/ea    Yamaha RX-Z9, Denon 5805ci and DVD-5910

Sure if the components surrounding the PCM1792 chip are crap then you're going to get crap out, but usually this is not the case. It's important to know that the majority of DAC's support 24/192 right now and also Burr Brown is not the best name in DAC's either. The new $7,000 flagship Pioneer Elite receiver for example, the SC-09TXH, uses Wolfson DAC's.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/POC...ivers/SC-09TXH

I hope this helps a little for you and others to understand DAC's a little better. When someone is considering Blu-ray or Super Audio CD, where dynamic range can play an important part in your overall listening enjoyment, getting deeper into DAC's and how they work is important. Super Audio CD has a dynamic range of 120 dB, so why would you want to get a DAC with only 113 dB dynamic range if SACD is important?

[kf800owner]

Great Thread,

As a new PS3 60GB owner, I'm looking to upgrade my avr and rx-v663 is really tempting...

[redlikefire02]

even though i do not own an onkyo or yam i have heard them both and my first choice would be the yamaha ... theyre so crisp and most are right ... never skip a beat .. this one is nice

[TT Tony]

OMG, that receiver looks awesome! Looking for a new one myself. I was trying to stay at around the 400 dollar mark. Looks like I just upgraded myself.

Never had a Yamaha I couldn't ride

Anyone out there have one of these?

Is it "full HDMI input"?

[TT Tony]

Found a review link..

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/r...yamaha-rx-v663

[Doughoef]

Looks like a good choice. I've had great luck with the 3 Yamaha's I've owned over the years. I could see myself upgrading to this one.

[imprezu]

I am interested in replacing my older onkyo with this. My question is that my subwoofer is non powered and i don't see a area where i can plug in my speaker wires coming from my sub to the head unit. Does that mean I need to get a new sub?

[kurtlingle]

Ok,

I went ahead and pre-ordered this from J&R.
The price is $399 if you mention AVS and the J&R manager named Larone.

For the price, I think it's a good deal. But I can't wait to get it... looks like they will ship in Mid March (or perhaps at the end of March). They sold out their first batch of the 663 and have a 2nd batch and third batch allready preordered.

If anyone gets one first, please post a review.

Oh, and it comes with a 3 year warranty for both parts and labor - not bad!

[kurtlingle]

Originally Posted by imprezu

I am interested in replacing my older onkyo with this. My question is that my subwoofer is non powered and i don't see a area where i can plug in my speaker wires coming from my sub to the head unit. Does that mean I need to get a new sub?

Yes, you'll need an active subwoofer.

[Moefiz]

Just got back from my local Tweeter store, I was asking about the new V663 and the sale guy told me it should be out by mid March that most places need to get rid of the V661 first and that they would also be lowering the price of the V661, he didn't tell me how much thou.He also gave me a print out of the entire RX line....

RX-Z11BL---4,999.95
RX-V3800BL---1,599.95
RX-V1800BL----1,199.95

RX-V863BL ---899.95(Replace the RX-V861BL)
RX-V663BL---499.95(Replace the RX-V661BL)
RX-V563BL----399.95(Replace the RX-V661BL)
RX-V463BL----299.95(Replace RX-V461BL)
RX-V363BL----199.95(Replace the RX-V361BL)

RX-V663BL 2 HDMI in 1 out-HDMI Switching-Audio Rendering-Dolby Digital True HD-DTS HD Master Audio-Analog to HDMI Upconversion-Analog to HDMI Upscalling to 1080p--Deep Color-x.v.Color-Auto lip Sync...

RX-V563BL---2 HDMI in 1 out--HDMI Switching---Audio Rendering

I have a complete brakedown of the features between the V663 and V661...
ask away and I'll answer as much as I can.

[JamesN]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

RX-V663BL 2 HDMI in 1 out-HDMI Switching-Audio Rendering-Dolby Digital True HD-DTS HD Master Audio-Analog to HDMI Upconversion-Analog to HDMI Upscalling to 1080p--Deep Color-x.v.Color-Auto lip Sync...

According to the specs on Yamaha's website, the 663 does not feature 1080p upscaling. You need to jump up to the 863 to get upscaling. The 863 is another $450.

[bigpapy]

any body here owns this receiver yet? I'm planing to return my ONKYO 605 and get this YAMAHA any comments welcome

[Alaskankaijudude]

Originally Posted by bigpapy

any body here owns this receiver yet? I'm planing to return my ONKYO 605 and get this YAMAHA any comments welcome

The 863 is in the cards soon. BD, DVD and Cable to receiver and out to TV all via HDMI...Sweet!

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

.I have a complete brakedown of the features between the V663 and V661...
ask away and I'll answer as much as I can.

If you want to make a thread, I'll stick it !!