review 2.21.07 Introduction
I know what youre thinkinganother new receiver from Yamaha and just less than one year (more like 8 months) after the release of the RX-V2600? Yep. Welcome to the wonderful world of progress where next years model design is completed right around the same time frame the current model starts hitting the store shelves no kidding, folks, this is bleeding edge. Right now it seems Yamaha, Denon and Pioneer are locked into a rat race to see just how much of the proverbial market cheese they can steal. The result? More features, more power, at more competitive prices to the end user with the slight side effect of buyers remorse for those who love to change out A/V gear more frequently than they change their sheets (well I hope not). Rest assured, however, that even last years model is likely far ahead of the curve for what most people will and can use in a typical home theater system. The RX-V2700 builds upon the solid foundation of the RX-V2600 and shares many of its virtues, along with a few distinct differences tabulated on the chart page 2.
Yamaha RX-V2700 Receiver Review
7.1 Network A/V Receiver with iPod Connectivity, XM HD Surround, 140wpc x 7, & YPAO
Review by Gene DellaSala of Audioholics.com
At first glance, it appears the RX-V2700 is armed to the teeth with networkingtype features allowing it stream music from virtually any type of source including iPod, USB, wireless, etc. Oddly this 5th generation YPAO receiver doesnt sport the THX Select 2 certification found on

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the last 4 predecessors, but it does come equipped with very similar guts of the THX Select 2 RX-V2600 model. I can understand why Yamaha didnt go the THX route and instead elected to place the saved licensing costs towards a much better video scalar from Anchor Bay Technologies, though I do miss the THX Games mode especially when using my Xbox 360. Normally Id scold Yamaha for not having THX certification at this price point, but considering the design virtues of this receiver are so similar to its predecessor, Id take the leap of faith at saying the RX-V2700 will likely meet THX standards. Overall the RX-V2700 has a very impressive feature set and, rather than rehashing the basics covered in our exhaustive RX-V2600 review, we will instead focus on the cool new features of this latest does everything receiver.

Build Quality

One thing we have come to admire over the years is the good build quality of Yamaha receivers. They typically give consumers a good meaty power supply and amplifier section which they seem to be improving on with each new generation of receivers. The RX-V2700 is no exception to this rule as evident by the large E-Core transformer and large capacitor bank (71V 18,000uF x 2). The heat sink is tapered to minimize resonance and also provide for optimal heat System Setup & Configuration dissipation. There are a plethora of connections on the back of this receiver, some of which are unfamiliar to most home theater folk, Editorial Note including the iPod connector, and Ethernet In order to hit the rated 140wpc connector. Of course on this receiver HDMI is endowed with 3 inputs and 1 output Yamaha is claiming, they would require capable of 1080p resolution with upscaling a rail voltage of sqrt(2)*[(140*8)^1/2 ] up to 1080i powered by Anchor Bay. Three = 47V + 5V(margin) = 52V. As you can component video inputs and one output are see their capacitor bank has plenty of also included for those who havent jumped overhead to meet this requirement. on the HDMI bandwagon yet. Oddly, Yamaha moved the speaker This receiver means business and, despite connectors around a bit placing the SP1/ the lack of THX rating, its pound for pound Presence speakers at the top of the stack every bit of the RX-V2600 and perhaps a bit instead of the front channels. It took me awhile to figure out why I wasnt hearing more (see tests reports).

Review Summary

Yamaha RX-V2700 Receiver Manufacturer: Yamaha Elec. Corp. Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars Value Rating: 4/5 Stars MSRP: $1,699 www.yamaha.com/yec
Packed with more features than any receiver in its class Excellent amplifier performance and fidelity HDMI ver. 1.2a for DVD-A/SACD PCM audio decoding from re-encoded DD+, TrueHD, dts-HD soundtracks via HDMI Scaling up to 1080i with 1080p pass thru Average HDMI Scalar performance Erroneous HDMI operation (see notes in review) Some minor bass management anomalies (see notes in review) YPAO still not at level of some competitor systems A bit overwhelming to setup

Features

Yamaha RX-V2700 Receiver
140wpc x 7 Digital ToP-ART construction Pure Direct for higher fidelity sound reproduction 3 in/1 out 1080p compatible HDMI (ver. 1.2a) for handling digital signals including Super Audio CD Video up-conversion to HDMI Component video up-conversion Up-scaling (480i to 1080i/720p) De-interlacing (480i to 480p) Wide-range component video bandwidth (100MHz -3 dB, 1080p compatible) Assignable amplifiers for bi-amp connection and multi zone Compressed Music Enhancer XMHD & iPod Compatible Network functionality for streaming music Product Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/8 x 6-3/4 x 17-1/4 Product Weight: 37.9 lbs

RX-V2600 XM HD Surround Compressed Music Enhancer Network Capability USB Audio Interface Simplay HD iPod Connectivity Neural Surround THX Select 2
RX-V2700 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No 1.2a (3/1) 1080p ABT1010 (DVDO) scalar engine Yes Yes, biamp or Zone2/3 $1699
No No No No No No No Yes 1.1 (2/1) 1080i Generic No Yes but limited $1399
HDMI Ver. HDMI I/O Max Supported Resolution Video Scaler YPAO for Subwoofer Assignable Amplifiers MSRP
music from my mains. There is a reason for this madness, and its called power amp assignability (more on this later). All of the speaker connectors except SP2 sport binding posts. SP2 still uses fairly good quality locking connectors that can accommodate 12AWG wire with little fuss.
Choosing the Speaker Impedance (IMPORTANT PLEASE READ)
Yamaha still ships their receivers with the dreaded impedance selector switch. Its a bit more involving to switch the default setting 8 ohms or more and I wont tell you how since this is the optimal setting regardless of speaker impedance.
Back Panel View of the Yamaha RX-V2700

Power Test Results

Continuous Continuous Power; Power; 8 ohm Load 4 ohm load 8 ohm or more setting 6 ohm or more setting 144 wpc 272 wpc

Auto Setup Via YPAO

Just like in past Yamaha receivers, the RX-V2700 incorporates their YPAO auto setup system. YPAO automatically checks and/or configures: Wiring Distance Size Equalization Level
Editorial Note About Subwoofer Distance
Its understandable that auto setup systems such as YPAO often struggle with the correct subwoofer distance as it is usually a combination of group delay inherent in subwoofers sporting digital amps and DSP processing such as my Axiom Audio EP500 and the complex structure of small room acoustics below 300Hz. I always recommend using common sense and verify audibly and empirically (if possible) if the distance the auto setup system selected is correct.

78 wpc

144 wpc
In this latest iteration of YPAO, Yamaha has incorporated a new feature subwoofer correction.This is aYamaha first, and although its limited to only 32Hz, at least they are attempting to address the speaker in a I let Yamaha do its magic with auto setup theater system that could directly benefit which seems to run much quicker than the most from active room correction. past generation receivers like the RX-Z9. As with prior receivers with this feature, Editorial Note about the Impedance Selector Switch YPAO got my channel trims and speaker distances (except the sub) pretty much spot I recommend the 8 ohms or more setting even for 4-ohm speakers of moderate on. It was almost a crap shoot how YPAO efficiency (>87dB SPL).Yamaha includes a 6-ohm setting to satisfy UL heat dissipation determined subwoofer distance, crossover requirements when driving 4-ohm loads, as well as easing consumer concerns about point and speaker sizes. It incorrectly set driving low impedance loads. These switches step down voltage feed to the power my mains and center to large (which is sections which can limit dynamics and overall fidelity. My advice is to keep the switch understandable since they are placed close set to 8 ohms or more regardless of the impedance of your speakers and ensure to the back wall causing excessive boundary proper ventilation of the Receiver. As you can see in the test results, using the 6 ohm gain). or more setting reduced the power as much as 45% and caused clipping at lower After YPAO was completed, I manually power levels, which if driven too hard for a sustained period of time can damage your adjusted speaker size, subwoofer distance, speakers. PEQ, and crossover frequency for greater accuracy.

Its nearly impossible to make a direct comparison of PEQ vs no PEQ since its such a hassle to defeat and re-engage it. In order to defeat the PEQ, its a four step process (manual > sound / PEQ > channel) then manually selecting reset for each channel. If you wish to re-engage PEQ, you must go into Auto setup and reload the data. The only workaround I could see is assigning two receiver settings (Yamaha provides up to 4 accessible in the GUI) via the memory feature (one with PEQ and one without), then toggling between memory settings to do a comparison with the Memory 1 and 2 hot keys on the remote. I pulled a few measurements (see figures 1-3) at the primary listening position where I also placed the Yamaha mic for YPAO audio setup and calibration. As can be seen in the graph, YPAO actually caused a 5dB suckout from 60 to 80Hz and did nothing to address the bump below 30Hz. I defeated YPAO and engaged into manual EQ edit mode where I attempted to tweak in the 30 to 40Hz range by choosing the lowest possible center frequency Yamaha would allow for (fc = 31Hz) and adjusting Q to 3.13 with a slight gain of +2dB. YPAO didnt drastically alter the frequency response of my reference speakers which isnt surprising considering how linear they are. I did my best to a/b the before and after results and subjectively felt my system sounded better with the PEQ disengaged, especially in the lower frequency range.
Editorial Note On Adding Gain
In almost no circumstance do you want to add gain to fix a problem area as the frequency dip is usually result of a room node and will only eat amplifier power while reducing system dynamic range. If you find bumping the gain up a dB or two actually helped even out the problematic area, then its ok to use gain sparingly. If it didnt make a measurable difference, dont add gain to fix the problem.

Video Set-Up

Yamaha made some significant upgrades on the video side of the equation with this receiver. For one, the HDMI inputs now accommodate up to 1080p resolution. The RX-V2700 also does scaling and upconverting of analog signals (up to 1080i) powered by the Anchor Bay Technologies ABT1010 scalar engine. I ran into a couple of operational hiccups with HDMI on the RX-V2700. The first sample Yamaha sent me had an issue with image drop out after 20-30 minutes of operation which Yamaha attributed to a faulty part on the HDMI circuit board. The second unit didnt suffer this fate, but did have issues keeping a stable image on my RSQ NEO-E500 DVD Karaoke player anytime text lyrics displayed on the screen. Yamaha claims it could be in issue with the frame rate of the text. My initial workaround was to route s-video directly to my display on an unused input, bypassing the RX-V2700 altogether. I also had some operational anomalies when upscaling VHS to HDMI. The picture would either be stable for hours, or toggle on/off persistently during a viewing session. My workaround here was to run component video cables from the RX-V2700 to another input on my display. I later decided to route all analog video into the RX-V2700 and out via component video to my display. I strongly suggest users do the same as a backup in case they run into these issues with HDMI. I experienced a puzzling HDMI setup issue on both RX-V2700 samples that magically resolved itself after a few minutes of operation. Initially when I connected the receiver to my Samsung HL-S5688W 1080p display and Scientific Atlanta 8300HD box, I experienced a loud popping sound from my TV any time I toggled inputs on the RX-V2700. After a few trials of randomly powering down all three devices and reconnecting all of the HDMI cables, the problem went away never to show its ugly self again. I cant fully explain this, but can only guesstimate a sync issue between this HDMI ver 1.2a receiver and the rest of my gear that is only HDMI 1.0.

Figure 1. Subwoofer Frequency Response (1/12th oct) with and without YPAO PEQ
Figure 2. Subwoofer Frequency Response (1/12th oct) with and without Manual PEQ
Figure 3. Full Range Frequency Response (1/6th oct) with and without YPAO

Max Points 130

RX-V10 68
Pass/Fail Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Fail Fail Fail Fail Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Fail Pass
The RX-V2700 was able to belt out LOUD dynamics with no trouble at all.driving my 4 ohm reference speakers with ease. Gene DellaSala Audioholics/HQV Bench Testing Summary of Test Results
Perfect Score is 130. Yamaha RX-V2700 Benchmark Score: 68 (average compared to many displays and source components. In comparison, my Realta REON VX-50 HQV-enabled Denon DVD-2930CI scored a 120.) Yamaha scored average on these tests, but misses some key ones that we pay close attention too. The fact that Yamahas receiver doesnt appear to pass the Film Detail and 3:2 Cadence tests tells me that something is still amiss in this 2nd generation HDMI upconverting receiver when trying to handle unflagged content. A good $150 DVD player can pass these tests. Users may want to continue to pair this unit with a good progressive source component. Overall I found the scaling features of the RX-V2700 to be a cut above whats found in most A/V receivers these days, with the exception being its inability to handle unflagged film content. Unless you have a really good DVD player, you may still opt to use the internal Yamaha scalar for better results.
Color Bar Jaggies #1 Jaggies #2 Flag Detail Noise Motion adaptive Noise Reduction Film Detail Cadence 2:2 Video Cadence 2:2:2:4 DV Cam Cadence 2:3:3:2 DV Cam Cadence 3:2:3:2:2 Vari-speed Cadence 5:5 Animation Cadence 6:4 Animation Cadence 8:7 animation Cadence 3:2 24fps film Scrolling Horizontal Scrolling Rolling Total Points
Source component was the Denon DVD-2930CI DVD Player (480i - component video) upscaled to 1080i via the RX-V2700 and fed to the Samsung HL-S5688W Display.

Receiver Editor

A custom installers delight, Yamaha has been offering this feature since the introduction of their flagship the RXV2400 over four years ago. Using Yamahas proprietary software and an RS-232 connection between your computer and the interface on the back of the RXV2700, you can plug away at configuring the entire receiver without having to use the GUI or your display. Best of all, if you or your customer happens to mess up some of the settings on the receiver after its calibrated; you can recall the settings in an instant and restore the receiver to its proper calibration. Of course, I highly recommend engaging the Memory Guard feature of this receiver after you complete the setup and calibration to avoid such an occurrence.

Network Set-Up & Functionality
We are entering an era where bleeding edge receivers such as the RX-V2700 are starting to take on a more active roll of the typical HTPC and Media Center. This makes perfect sense since the receiver serves as the central hub for the home theater system and Media Center PCs have

MusicCAST MCX-2000

Networking the RX-V2700 to my MusicCAST MCX-2000 was easy as pie. All I had to do was go into the setup of my MCX-2000 and hit Auto Configure. It found the RX-V2700 and treated it as a remote client. I then selected the PC/MusicCAST option on the OSD (use display button on the remote when engaged in Net mode). Having the network feature for MusicCAST is very useful in this receiver. It provides the ability to stream independent musical sources for all 3 zones (Main, Zone 2, Zone 3) by just having only one additional remote client for the MusicCAST system. In my setup, I used the MCX-2000 base unit for the main zone and streamed different music to Zone 2 from RX-V2700 remote client while watching TV in Zone 3 all off one receiver!
been traditionally hampered by spurious HD cable support. Why not have it control all sources, including music streaming and distribution. The RX-V2700 is unlike any other receiver previously launched by Yamaha or any other manufacturer in this regard. Within a matter of minutes after I connected my Ethernet cable from my network to the RX-V2700 and the MusicCAST MCX-2000, I was able to accomplish all of the following: stream (Inter)Net radio stream music from a MusicCAST MCX-2000 server as a remote client stream music from a connected USB flash drive stream music from a networked PC receive XM radio (not tested, not subscribed to services)
sound quality on most stations made this service unpalatable even when engaging Yamahas Music Enhancer feature. The Music Enhancer feature did manage to extend the high and low frequency response, but it was unable to combat the excessive amount of compression and phase issues that made most of the channels sound about as good as AM radio without the static. Am I being too picky? Perhaps, but I am not the type to fall for the Dumbing Down of Audio that seems to be the status quo in an era of streaming music and compressed portable audio services. Oddly when I selected the Holiday Music genre, I got Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots on the North Pole station. I guess Santa must be in a Rockin mood once the holiday season is over. One saving grace to Net Radio is I did manage to find a selection of Jazz stations that didnt sound half bad, especially when I engaged Yamahas Music Enhancer 2CH and 7CH modes. The bottom line is that when you find a higher quality station, make sure you program it in memory for future access.

Editorial Note

You can also have the main MusicCAST server in Standby mode while accessing it from a remote client. Very cool.

Streaming Music off PC and USB Flash Drive
Once again, The RX-V2700 showed off its Network muscles by allowing users to stream music directly off a PC connected in the network. Files such as WAV (PCM format only), MP3 and WMA are supported. I was right at home with this feature as I have a ton of older progressive rock music on my PC hard drive that Id love to hear on my stereo system. As an added bonus, you could even store some music files on a USB flash drive or portable hard drive and connect it right to the front panel USB connector for instant access to your music.
Editorial Note on Streaming Music from MusicCAST
When streaming music from MusicCAST MCX-2000 to the RXV2700, its important to note that MusicCAST defaults PCM to MP3 conversion of remote clients. MusicCAST does provision for sending one remote client PCM data. If you are already sending PCM data to another remote client,, I would suggest using this feature for zone2/3 audio and using the primary MusicCAST system for the main zone to allow true PCM data to be faithfully produced for the greatest fidelity.

(Inter)Net Radio

By selecting the input labeled Net/USB, setting the remote control to Net then sliding the side function mode selector switch to source you enter the Network world of the Yamaha RX-V2700. I found literally hundreds of Net radio stations categorized by Genre, Location, Popular Stations, and Podcasts. While this was a super cool feature, especially since its free and opens the doors to an almost limitless avenue of new music, the poor

XM Radio

Just like the RX-V659 receiver weve previously reviewed, the RX-V2700 leaves no stone unturned by providing XM radio. Connecting the XM antenna is plug and play much like an iPod docking station. Simply plug it in and it works. Of course with XM Radio, you must subscribe to their service which incurs a monthly service fee of about $13 and opens you up to commercial free programming of 100s of channels, pretty much all music genres, sports talk programs and more. The nice thing about having XM integrated into a receiver is that the OSD gives you a full readout of channel, artist and song info. This is something you just dont get with conventional radio and is certainly a great convenience for those who find a song they love playing on the radio, but never until now know who its from. Yamaha is one of the first manufacturers to incorporate XM HD Surround technology into a receiver. This feature allows the end user to hear participating XM radio stations in true discrete 5.1 surround sound much like you hear a DD or DTS DVD. Unfortunately we didnt have an active XM subscription to test this feature.

iPod Connectivity

The iPod port on the back of the RXV2700 just like it was on the RX-V659. I didnt have a chance to test iPod on the RX-V2700 but did do a full report on this in my RX-V659 review.
Multi-Zone / Multi-Source Audio
I was quite taken by the full multi zone / source audio features bestowed upon this receiver. Not only did it have the ability to serve three independent zones of audio, but it also had power amp assignability of four of the internal amps (SP1 and SP2) for either Zone 2 or 3 or two for both. Best of all, you dont even have to power up the main zone to get music going to Zone 2 or Zone 3. I loved the fact that you could power up Zone 2 or 3 independently and adjust level control and input selection all accessible on the front panel of the receiver
Its important to note, I found a rather unusual issue Ive never encountered before when connecting my Emotiva MPS-1 7CH power amp to the RX-V2700. When I used the Music Mode trigger of my Emotiva to auto turn on/off the amplifier upon detection of a music signal, I heard a bizarre momentary sound (a whining alien buzz) emanate from my speakers powered by the Emotiva shortly after I turned off the RXV2700. It was likely a result of power supply discharge from the Yamaha that seeped through the RX-V2700s preamp outputs as a result of poor isolation from the muting relays. My work around was to use the 12V trigger which cut power to my amplifier instantaneously after I turned off the RXV2700. 12V triggers are preferred to music mode types to avoid audio dropouts when your amplifier turn off during quite passages of the movie and tries to instantaneously engage back on. I suggest using the 12V trigger to avoid these issues altogether.

Listening Tests

Ok, so the RX-V2700 is obviously one of the most feature-intensive receivers weve ever tested, but how does it sound? In one word awesome! Its clear to me that Yamaha is making progressive strides at improving the fidelity of their receivers, and not losing the focus of audio fidelity despite all the new features being brought on board. This is also perhaps one of the reasons their receivers are also getting progressively more expensive within each successive model. This is the first time since my RX-V4600 review that I was able to connect high resolution DVD-Audio disc via a digital connection on a Yamaha receiver. This time of course it was done via HDMI and let me say it worked flawlessly. Youll get a message saying multi-channel PCM on the display which essentially means the universal DVD player (in this case the Denon DVD-2930CI) is handling the multi-channel decoding, but the RX-V2700 is taking care of bass management, level control and digital delay compensation. I couldnt test SACD via HDMI since my Denon DVD-2930CI is only HDMI ver 1.1, so I used analog cables for that function.

extension and a very lush top end. It never sounded metallic or analytical despite the fact I was torturing it with my 4-ohm reference speakers in a nearly 6,000ft^3 room. The decay in wood and bass instruments werent quite up to the level of the Marantz, but without doing an A/B real time comparison, youd likely never notice. Not bad for a does everything multi-channel A/V receiver costing well under $2,000.

HD DVD: Polar Express

This was a first for me getting to experience HD and DD+ in all of its glory via one HDMI connection (Note: Toshiba player decoding, Yamaha handling bass management). The audio was simply awesome! Gone were the compressed artifacts during loud dynamic scenes Ive so commonly experienced via standard Dolby Digital. This HD DVD sounded as good as some of the best DTS multi-channel recordings Ive heard. The tactile response of the opening scene where the train comes to the boys house was so real it startled our soon to be born baby in my wifes belly. The surround envelopment was right on par with some of the best multi-channel recordings Ive heard. The scene where the conductor played by Tom Hanks was singing the Hot Chocolate song was bold, dynamic and musical more so that I ever recalled when I saw this movie at my local Cineplex. The RX-V2700 engaged in PLIIx Movie Mode filled my room with realism that only the best recordings on a primed playback system can do. There was true magic in this experience and I am pretty sure it wasnt coming from the North Pole. If DD+ was this good, I could only imagine how a disc authored with TrueHD sounds. I experimented with Yamahas DSP post processing modes and found most of the time they werent needed unless I engaged in an older not so pristine recording. The Jazz and Rock modes were useful for such events as old concerts on VHS or mixed in 2.0 on DVD. In fact, I popped in the Fleetwood Mac The Dance DVD and enjoyed hearing the more expansive effects

DVD-Audio: Beatles Love

The Beatles Love DVD-A disc has become one of my primary multi-channel reference recordings for good reasons it sounds great and its great content. Because sounded very open when engaged in PLIIx Music Mode, much like I heard at the Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas. Switching between 5.1 and 7.1 really showed off the benefit of PLIIx post processing on a 5.1 audio signal. Tomorrow Never Dies sounded as dynamic and enveloping as Ive heard in my primary theater room but the bass wasnt as well extended since my family room system only employs a single sub in a large open room. Regardless, the Yammie was able to belt out LOUD dynamics with no trouble at all. Next to the RX-Z9, Id say this is the most powerful amp section currently employed in a Yamaha A/V receiver.

Idle Power

513 watts 774 watts
Note: All power output figures above were conducted at 1kHz and 0.1% THD + N

Amplifier Efficiency

Amplifier Efficiency Measurements for linear a/b amps such as the ones employed in this receiver typically range from 40-50% depending on the load the power supply of the amplifier sees. The closer you get to full load, the higher the efficiency usually becomes (assuming you arent overtaxing the power supply and power devices of the amp causing excessive thermal losses). The RX-V2700 achieved above 50% efficiency when driven at near full power into low impedance loads which was quite impressive for a receiver employing a conventional linear amp design. This receiver runs warm as it dissipates 72 watts in idle so be sure to give it plenty of ventilation.
Keep in mind most review publications dont do continuous power measurements and they usually publish power measurements into clipping at 1% THD + N. Our measurements are very conservative and it is clear that this receiver is among the most powerful in its price class. For more info on amplifier measurements, see: The All Channels Driven (ACD) Test.
At 1 watt into 8 ohms, the RX-V2700 displayed exemplary results (+8.963 + 90.975)dBv = 99.94dBv or 100*alog^-1 (-99.94/20) =.001% THD + N. At full rated power (140wpc, 8 ohms) the RX-V2700 again exhibited Power Bandwidth excellent distortion measurements The Yamaha RX-V2700 possesses a wide (30.336 + 58.368)dBv =88.7dBv or bandwidth amplifier topology with a -3dB 100*alog^-1(-88.7/20) =.0037 THD + N. point in excess of 100 kHz at 1 watt. At See Figures 5 and 6. full power, we start seeing some loss of bandwidth but the -3dB point is still above Amplifier Output Impedance 70 kHz (well beyond the range of human & Damping Factor hearing). See Figure 4. The amplifier output impedance fell right At full continuous unclipped power and within our desired 100 mohm or less mark bandwidth (> 0.1% THD + N) the RX- for the entire audible bandwidth up to V2700 delivered the goods, 144wpc x 1 and 20kHz. It was nice to see that even when 90wpc x 4 (bi-amp mode) into 8 ohm loads, the RX-V2700 was pumping out 200wpc while still maintained excellent bandwidth into a 4 ohm load, the amp maintained good linearity with a -3dB point of 70kHz. linearity. This is a marked improvement Into 4 ohms, the RX-V2700 was able over Yamaha predecessor units in this price to deliver continuous power levels at a class and is among the best compared to whopping 272wpc x 1 and 230wpc x 2 with its peers. less than 0.1% THD + N.

FFT Distortion Analysis

Its audio sound quality and amplifier performance are among the best Yamaha has built to date in a sub $2k receiver.

Gene DellaSala

Figure 4. Yamaha RX-V2700 Frequency Response at 1 watt & Full Power
The amplifier damping factor is about what I expected based on the measured output impedance. It is uniformly good across the entire audio frequency range and falls slightly under the 100 mark (50 is a minimum we like to see in all amplifiers) when driving an 8 ohm load above 1kHz we like to see on uncompromising designs. The amplifier doesnt fall apart when driving 4 ohm loads like some of Yamahas earlier models. See Figures 7 and 8.

Preamplifier Performance

The RX-V2700 preamp output drive was a bit disappointing and a step backwards from its predecessor The Inputs can handle 2.7Vrms unclipped! Outputs Deliver nearly 3Vrms output before the receiver shut down, but FFT distortion becomes very high once output exceeds 1.25Vrms.
Figure 5. FFT Analysis @ 1 watt
Editorial Note on Preamp Clipping
We would prefer to see Yamaha employ a preamp capable of delivering 2Vrms unclipped to ensure a wider variety of power amplifiers can be mate well. If for example you choose a power amp with the typical 29dB gain structure (THX standard), you would only be able to deliver about 155wpc (1.25 * alog(29/20)) continuously unclipped into an 8 ohm load. A preamp capable of delivering 2Vrms unclipped would allow the amp to deliver over 400wpc into an 8 ohm load!
Figure 6. FFT Analysis @ 140 watts
Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)
Preamp 200mV Input Signal, I adjusted master volume for 1Vrms out. Av = 5 or 14dB SNR: 80.6dB <10 Hz - 22k Hz bandwidth , no option filter. This is very good performance and will ensure the RX-V2700 wont serve as a significant noise path to a mating power amplifier. Power Amp 200mVin; SNR @ 1 watt = 79.6dB <10 Hz - 22k Hz bandwidth , no option filter. SNR @ full power = 102.68dBrA at 30.7dBv at.98% THD + N (146 watts) Again this is commendable performance which explains why noise was never a distracting issue when listening to music or movies on this receiver.
Figure 7. Amplifier Output Impedance under various loading conditions
Figure 8. Amplifier Damping Factor under various loading conditions
Conclusions and Overall Perceptions

The RX-V2700 adds a host of noteworthy features over its predecessor but also The scoring below is based on each speaker doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers eliminates a very popular one in this price are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating equal to: class THX certification. Whether or not Performance x Price Factor/Value = Rating its a big deal to you depends on how often Audioholics.com Note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective you use THX modes and/or if you find the testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better PLIIx equivalent modes equally useful. performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate speakers solely based on performance, From its powerful network features, to its and each reviewer has their own system for ratings. ability to playback all known current source types thanks to HDMI ver.1.2a, this receiver Audioholics Ratings Scale: is likely to serve as the centerpiece of a Outstanding (reserved for features or areas that exceed market norms) sophisticated home theater for a long time. Above Average Its audio sound quality and amplifier Average performance are among the best Yamaha has built to date in a sub $2k receiver. The Below average assignable power amps should serve a multi Very poor zone system quite well and allow the end Rating user to upgrade to a more powerful amp in Performance Evaluation Metric Rating the main zone (if needed) while not laying Frequency Response Linearity (20-20k +/- 0.25dB) 1 Build Quality /2 to waste its excellent internal amps. SNR 1 Ergonomics/User Interface /2 If you have a MusicCAST MCX-2000 Output Impedance (<100mohms 20-20k) 1 Features /2 system, then it and the RX-V2700 will go Measured Power Performance Into 8-ohms 1 like peas and carrots together. Think of it Television /2 as getting a remote server thrown into the Measured Power Into 4-ohms 1 Video Performance /2 receiver for free. If youve gotta have the Subjective Overall Evaluation Rating 1/2 ability to stream music off your PC, media Multi-channel Audio 1 Value /2 server, USB drive or iPod, while still hosting 2 CH Audio top notch AV duties, I can think of no better solution than the RX-V2700. Practical Considerations Rating Despite some of the minor operational Video Processing difficulties I had, this was still a very Build Quality enjoyable receiver for me to review and Fit and Finish one I highly recommend to the audiophile and technogeek alike. Keep in mind that Ergonomics & Usability most review publications dont go into this Features level of detail with products and I have Remote Control provided work around solutions for all of 1 Overall /2 the issues I have found. If you follow my guidelines set forth in Value this review, you can rest assured the Yamaha RX-V2700 will arm you with a sophisticated home theater arsenal at your command to Associated Test Gear propel you into the 21st century of home Hardware Description theater enjoyment. Emotiva MPS-1 200wpc x 7 Power Amplifier By Gene DellaSala Email - info@audioholics.com RBH Sound Signature SE/R 61-SE/R, 661-SE/R, 44-SE Speaker System

Non-exclusive reprint rights have been provided to Yamaha Electronics Corporation to reprint and freely distribute this review. Any other uses or instances of this review by other parties or by Yamaha Electronics Corporation are prohibited without prior approvals from Audioholics. The original review can be viewed online at www.audioholics.com

Score Card

Axiom Audio EP500 Denon DVD-2930CI Toshiba HD-A2 JVC HR-VP644U Yamaha MCX-2000 Samsung HL-S5688W APC H15 x 2
12 500watt Subwoofer Upscaling Universal DVD Player HD DVD Player HiFi VCR Music Server 56 1080p RPTV DLP Power Conditioner HD PVR Cable Box Sonicwave Component Video & HDMI Cables Sonicwave Toslink Cables 10 AWG speaker cables
Yamaha Electronics Corporation 6660 Orangethorpe Avenue Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 522-9105 www.yamaha.com/yec
Scientific Atlantic HD8300 Impact Acoustics Impact Acoustics Bluejeans Cable

Contact: Doan Hoff / Yamaha Electronics Corporation, USA (714) 522-9105 (dhoff@yamaha.com) Doug Wright / Giles Communications (914) 798-4115 (dwright@giles.com) Release Date: September 14, 2006 YAMAHA INTRODUCES NEW FULL-FEATURED MID-CLASS RECEIVERS, INCLUDING ONE WITH EXTENSIVE NETWORKING CAPABILITIES -New Models Feature HDMI 1080p Switching and Upconversion, iPod Compatibility via YDS-10, XM Satellite Radio Compatibility and Multiple Configuration OptionsDENVER, Colo.Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduced two mid-class 7.1 channel A/V digital home theater receivers, the RX-V2700 and RX-V1700, which provide consumers with an unprecedented number of entertainment options. The RX-V2700 features an Ethernet connection, enabling consumers to access Internet radio stations, music files stored on a PC, and the companys premier MusicCAST audio system server (MCX-2000). Both models are compatible with the Apple iPod, via an optional docking station (YDS-10), and allow playback of XM Satellite Radios standard and XM HD Surround content. Members of the press can see both models at Yamahas CEDIA 2006 booth (#342). With its network connection, the RX-V2700 enables users to enjoy the extensive number of Internet radio stations available, as well as music files stored on a PC, via a superior sounding home entertainment system. The RX-V2700 can also act as a client to Yamahas premier MusicCAST system, making it possible to access as many as 40,000 songs (in MP3 format) stored on that systems MCX-2000 server. Streamed content information from PCs and the MusicCAST system can be displayed on an entertainment systems monitor, and system operation navigated with a consumer-friendly graphical user interface (GUI).

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YAMAHA INTRODUCES NEW FULL-FEATURED MID-CLASS RECEIVERS, INCLUDING ONE WITH EXTENSIVE NETWORKING CAPABILITIES RX-V2700 employs the Digital ToP-ART concept and High Current Amplification to maximize sound quality. Custom-made 18000uF block capacitors, low-jitter PLL circuitry, Burr-Brown 192kHz/24bit DACs and Schottky barrier diodes are examples of the top quality parts used in RX-V2700. Pure Direct mode on both models can be activated to prevent
unnecessary noise interference from internal components, including display circuitry, when pure sound listening is required. The RX-2700 and RX-V1700 are capable of HDMI 1080p signal pass through and up-converting analog composite, S-video and component signals to HDMI output, with a time base corrector (TBC) that stabilizes the video signal. Both models employ the latest Oplus de-interlacer to convert 480i to 480p. The RX-V2700 can also upscale to HD resolution of 720p/1080i by utilizing Anchor Bay Technologys ABT1010 video scaling chip. The RX-V2700 and RX-V1700 offer flexible system configuration options, as the 7.1 channels can be used to create an immersive surround sound environment in a single room, or the seven internal power amplifiers can be allocated for main room, zone2 and zone3 in various applications. Thanks to this Intelligent AMP feature, users are able to enjoy the full 7.1 channel system in the main room when zone 2 and 3 are powered off. When zone 2 and 3 are on, the main system automatically adjusts to a 5.1 or 3.1 channel system. Front panel Zone control buttons, Zone2/3 tone control, a dedicated Zone remote and RS-232C interface allow both receivers to be easily integrated into custom installations. The RX-V2700 also offers Zone2/3 balance adjustment. Both models connect easily to most Apple iPods via an optional iPod docking station (Yamaha YDS-10; SRP $99.95). Once docked, the iPod can be operated (song selection, play, etc.) via the receivers remote controls. A one cable connection allows users to view the iPods video, pictures and operating status (song title, artist, etc.) on a television monitor. In addition, docked iPods are automatically charged so they are ready to be taken on the go at all times. The RX-V2700 also provides a front panel USB port to for quick and easy connections of other -MORE-

YAMAHA INTRODUCES NEW FULL-FEATURED MID-CLASS RECEIVERS, INCLUDING ONE WITH EXTENSIVE NETWORKING CAPABILITIES portable audio devices. Yamahas proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology compensates for the lost detail of compressed audio, such as MP3 audio files, providing these files with a more natural recreation of the original music performance when experienced through home speakers. Playback of XM HD Surround from XM Satellite Radio, which delivers audio programming in full 5.1 channel surround sound (XM Ch. 76 and 113), as well as content from the companys 160-plus standard service channels, is achieved via an optional service subscription and XM Passport antenna. Neural Surround technology enhances the experience of XM HD Surround, delivering a detailed sound stage with superior 5.1 channel separation. The Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO) has been improved to
perform down to 31.5Hz from the previous 63Hz, allowing it to work with a systems subwoofer to create a sharper bass image. This proprietary technology simplifies the home theater setup process by automatically analyzing room acoustics and setting parameters for optimum sound quality at the touch of a button. Yamaha has upgraded the Cinema DSP programs for both the RX-V2700 and RX-V1700. New Action and Roleplaying game programs deliver dynamic sound when used with the latest video game consoles. The RX-V2700 (140Wx7; SRP $1,699.95) and RX-V1700 (130Wx7; SRP $1,299.95) will be available in September and can be experienced during the CEDIA 2006 show at Yamahas booth (#342). For more information, write Yamaha Electronics Corporation, P.O. Box 6660, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9105; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/home. END About Yamaha Yamaha Electronics Corporation (YEC), USA, based in Buena Park, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yamaha. YEC offers Home Theater components and systems, featuring A/V Receivers, Amplifiers, DVD/CD, Speakers, Mini-Systems, Video Projection, as well as A/V & IT Convergence Products.