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    Yamaha RX-V6A review: The future sound of entertainment

    The waters round AV receivers drift somewhat than rage. Compared to TVs and soundbars, change comes slowly to those huge black packing containers. The Yamaha RX-V6A ($600 at Amazon) is a refreshing splash in a pool that has stagnated lately. With rounded beauty harking back to high-end manufacturers like Classe, paired with a laundry checklist of futuristic options, that is probably the most forward-looking receiver I’ve seen in a very long time.

    LikeOutstanding appears (for a receiver)Sounds partaking with music and moviesUp-to-date characteristic set and connections

    Don’t LikeLCD show might be arduous to readNo built-in Chromecast

    Looks aren’t something with out the efficiency to again it up and the RX-6A served up nice sound high quality in my listening take a look at. This midpriced receiver RX-V6A affords Dolby Atmos playback and loads of music replay choices too, making it as snug with an episode of The Mandalorian as it’s with impromptu dance events. It’s obtained some quirks — the speaker outputs are organized in an uncommon order and that LCD show is tougher to learn than an LED — however total this Yamaha is solely extra enjoyable than its opponents. I’m hopeful that the RX-V6A is the spark that ignites a rethink on AV receivers and helps carry the class again into the mainstream.

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    Connect all of your stuff The RX-V6A is a 7.1.2-channel receiver with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback, and 100 watts per channel. But the specification sheet is not the very first thing that catches the attention.
    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    The Yamaha RX-V6A’s rounded, glass-like fascia is an actual departure from the black shoe packing containers of Sony, Denon and Onkyo. The edges are curved in a approach I’ve by no means seen earlier than, but it surely would not look ostentatious. The entrance homes a centered quantity management and high-res LCD show that appears good however is not all that brilliant. It’s off-centered so for those who’re sitting off to the left it is much more tough to learn even at most brightness. I choose the LED readouts discovered on opponents. This receiver could not be “the future” and not using a totally updated spec sheet and the RX-V6A would not skimp. It contains seven HDMI inputs, three of that are 8K-compatible HDMI 2.1 ports ports designed to assist the complete output capabilities of sources just like the Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 and PC graphics playing cards such because the Nvidia RTX 3090. Yamaha claims that is extra 2.1 ports than another model, and so they supply such goodies as auto low latency mode and fast media switching. The receivers additionally assist longer HDMI cable runs with a bolstered energy provide. 

    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    Yamaha additionally made modifications round again. Most receivers, together with previous Yamahas, place the L/R speaker output on the left of the panel, which is adopted by the middle after which the rears. For no matter cause the RX-V6A locations the entrance pair within the center as an alternative of the left, which might be complicated — particularly for those who’re bent over it in a darkened theater setting. It will not take lengthy to recollect which output is which, and when you get your audio system related it isn’t a giant deal. The RX-V6A might not be as absolutely loaded in terms of Wi-Fi streaming assist when in comparison with our present Editors’ Choice winner, the Onkyo TX-NR696, but it surely nonetheless affords one thing for most individuals. Yamaha’s MusicCast multiroom system is without doubt one of the greatest built-in programs, and it additionally allows the usage of Yamaha good audio system as rears. The receiver affords AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth too, though it lacks Chromecast built-in. IT might be managed by way of Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri-enabled gadgets, however the instructions are principally primary — primarily quantity, enter and subsequent/earlier observe controls.
    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    The receiver comes with a distant management that gives quite a lot of features, together with a devoted Bluetooth button. It’s brilliant and cheery plus affords a zone 2 management change for extra flexibility. Though the aesthetics have been soundly improved, the on-screen show is a small step again. The interface options blocky white and blue icons, whereas opponents similar to Sony supply extra user-friendly interfaces with greater icons and higher hand-holding for newcomers.
    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    This is the way forward for sound I in contrast the Yamaha RX-V6A in opposition to one other new receiver, the Denon AVR-S960, and located myself returning to take heed to the Yamaha extra usually. While the Denon is relaxed-sounding, the Yamaha affords extra house theater thrills and pep when listening to your favourite tunes. Simply put, the Yamaha sounds extra enjoyable. I began my testing with an underrated basic — the Iron and Wine/Calexico collaboration EP, In The Reins. When streaming by way of Roon to the Oppo UDP-203 ($3,999 at Amazon) after which letting the receivers decode, the Yamaha had a strong, three dimensional sound. Through it Sam Beam’s voice was extra firmly rooted in area, and the backing vocals a little bit simpler to discern than on the Denon. 
    Ty Pendlebury/CNET
    Receivers which are tuned for films are hardly ever good with music — they will sound overly harsh and tiring — however the tambourine-forward sound of Spoon’s You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb sounded fuller on the Yamaha than the Denon. The music’s chugging bass underpinned the percussion within the palms of the V6A and all the manufacturing sounded much less thrashy and extra composed. The Denon was a shade subtler however did not make me sit up in my seat in the identical approach. Turning to house theater with Avatar, the Yamaha driving a pair of Bowers and Wilkins 603 S2 audio system sounded greater and extra easy than any soundbar I’ve heard. The opening dialog of the Thanator chase scene was extra intelligible too, and positively higher than the JBL Bar 2.1 Deep Bass ($300 at Amazon) soundbar, for instance. It might not have had the identical booming impact on the creatures’ footfalls, however this was simply tweaked by way of the Yamaha menu.  After that tweak the Yamaha had bass results I may truly really feel with my ft and, in comparison with the Denon, I discovered it sounded extra atmospheric, however the bass nonetheless wasn’t as impactful. Should you purchase it? If you are attempting to determine between the Yamaha and the Denon, each sound high quality and options come into play. The Yamaha affords an additional HDMI port than the Denon and extra 8K-compliant 2.1 ports too. The RX-V6A additionally appears higher and sounds extra entertaining.  The receiver did not get every little thing proper — that LCD show is a misstep — and I nonetheless choose the Onkyo by a nostril due to its superior streaming choices and higher show. While there are extra receivers coming in mid-2021, in order for you one thing that gives a level of future proofing and high-quality sound correct now, the Yamaha is a wonderful selection.

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