About.com Rating



Having had a chance to use the Yamaha RX-V2700, I must say that it is an excellent value, providing solid audio and video performance. In addition, practical features, such as, HDMI upscaling and switching, iPod connectivity and control, XM Satellite Radio, and built-in Networking provide great operational flexibility and control for a receiver in its $1,500 price class. For those wishing to get a home theater receiver that will meet current and future needs, consider the RX-V2700 as a possible choice.

After reading the review below, also check out a more detailed look of this receiver at my RX-V2700 Photo Gallery.

Product Overview

The RX-V2700 has an abundance of features, including:

1. 7.1 channels delivering 140 Watts into each full channel at .04% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). .1 channel Subwoofer line output provided for connection to powered subwoofer.

2. Surround sound processing options: Dolby Prologic IIx, Dolby Digital 5.1/7.1 EX, DTS 5.1/7.1 ES, 96/24, Neo:6XM Neural and XM-HD Surround.

3. Parametric Equalizer for each channel.

4. Automatic speaker setup via YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer). This system uses a provided microphone and built-in equalizer to automatically set the speaker level for each channel. The YPAO first checks to see that each speaker is wired correctly to the receiver. Then, using a built-in test tone generator room acoustics are analyzed and the receiver is set to a variety of parameters, such as the speaker size, the distance of the speakers from the listening position, the sound pressure levels, and more.

In addition to using the YPAO, a user can also manually set personal preferences for speaker level, distance, and low frequency crossover settings for each channel.

5. Audio inputs: Six Stereo Analog, Five Digital Optical, Three Digital Coaxial. Also included: one set of eight channel analog audio inputs: Front (Left, Center, Right), Rear (Surround Left & Right, Surround Back Left & Right) and Subwoofer. These inputs can be used for accessing SACD, DVD-Audio, or other type of external decoder.

6. Second zone preamp outputs. Silent Cinema headphone output.

7. Two Digital Audio outputs

 

8. Video Inputs: Three HDMI, Three Component, Six S-video, Six Composite.

9. XM-Satellite Radio Connectivity (optional antenna/tuner and subscription required). AM/FM Tuner with 40 presets. Internet Radio access via Ethernet-Network connection.

10. iPod Connectivity and control via optional iPod Docking Station.

11. Audio Delay for adjusting lip-sync (0–240 ms)

 

12. On-board crossover (9 frequency bands) and phase control for Subwoofer. The crossover control sets the point at which you want the subwoofer to produce low frequency sounds, against the ability of the satellite speakers to reproduce low frequency sounds.

13. Two Wireless remote controls are included. One remote control is provided for main room functions, a smaller remote is provided for Zone 2 or 3 operation.

14. An on-screen GUI (Graphical User Interface) display makes operating the receiver easy and intuitive. It is compatible with iPod, internet radio, PC and USB displays.

 

Hardware Used

Home Theater Receivers used for comparison included, the Yamaha HTR-5490 (6.1 Channels) , and an Onkyo TX-SR304 (5.1 Channels), and an Outlaw Audio Model 950 Preamp/Surround Processor (using 5.1 channel mode) paired with a Butler Audio 5150 5-channel power amplifier.

DVD/Blu-ray/HD-DVD players included: OPPO Digital DV-981HD DVD/SACD/DVD-Audio Player, and Helios H4000 DVD Player, Toshiba HD-XA1 HD-DVD player, Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player and a LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo player.

CD-only Player sources included: Technics SL-PD888 and Denon DCM-370 5-disc CD Changers.

 

Loudspeakers used in different setups included: Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2, Optimus LX-5IIs, Klipsch Quintet III 5-channel speaker system, a pair of JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel and two JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers as rear surrounds.

Powered Subwoofers used: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 and Yamaha YST-SW205, and an SVS SB12-PLus (on loan from SVS Sound).

Video displays used: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, Syntax LT-32HV 32-inch LCD TV, and Samsung LN-R238W 23-inch LCD TV.

All video displays were calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

 

Audio/Video connections between components were made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables.

16 Gauge Speaker Wire was used in all setups.

System speakers levels were additionally calibrated using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

 

Software Used

Blu-ray Discs included: Apocalypto, Superman Returns, Crank, Happy Feet, and Mission Impossible III.

HD-DVD Discs included: Smokin' Aces, The Matrix, King Kong, Batman Begins, and Phantom of the Opera

Pre-recorded standard DVDs used included scenes from the following: The Cave, Kill Bill - Vol1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), V For Vendetta, U571, Lord of Rings Trilogy, and Master and Commander.

For audio only, various CDs included: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, The Beatles - Love, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture.

 

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

In addition, music content on CD-R/RWs was also used.

The Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc was also used for more precise video performance measurements.

 

The YPAO Results

Although no automatic system can be perfect, or account for personal taste, the YPAO did a credible job of setting up speaker levels properly, in relation to the room characteristic. Speaker distances were calculated accurately, and automatic adjustments to the audio level and equalization were made to compensate.

After the YPAO procedure was complete, the speaker balance was very good between the Center and Main channels, but I further manually increased the surround speaker levels for my own personal taste.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take