[Mike Up]

S&V mag just did a review on the Yamaha RX-V730. The receiver performed worse than many $400 receivers from less highend brands. VERY, very disappointing.

P.53, Dolby Digital performance.

100watts/1 channel driven, 38watts/5 channels driven, 27.5 watts/6 channels driven. Noise level, -67.7 db.

Stereo performance

88watts/2 channels driven

Noise modulation 2 db

The receiver is rated at 75watts/2 channels driven and carries a list MSRP price of $599.

Follow this link to other test results from S&V.

[Mark All]

Yamaha covers a broad range of the market with their receivers. To me, their amp sections are very clean but a little underpowered until one gets to their line that costs above about $1200. I still use a HTR-5280 in a second system. It's not very powerful but does get home theater pounding pretty well, produces a very clean (some might say bright) sound, doesn't get hot, and has been rock-solid reliable. The market is pretty crowded with choices in the lower price range. Although the RX-V730 has an MSRP of $599, I wouldn't be surprised if it can be obtained for close to $400 online. S&V seems to be getting a little more critical in their testing lately, and I wouldn't be surprised to see reviews of other similarly priced receivers producing similar output results--if the manufacturers let them test with all 5-channels driven. High-output for all channels may not be a good thing necessarily if distortion levels increase along with the output. Yamaha receivers have been known to have slightly lower distortion levels than the competition in recent years.

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Quote:

The receiver performed worse than many $400 receivers from less highend brands. VERY, very disappointing.

Which $400 receivers? S&V does their own independent power output testing, not just parrot the manufacturer’s claims. So if you’re comparing that to the manufacture’s specs for some $400 receiver, you might be comparing apples to oranges.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

[Mike Up]

Quote:

Which $400 receivers? S&V does their own independent power output testing, not just parrot the manufacturer’s claims. So if you’re comparing that to the manufacture’s specs for some $400 receiver, you might be comparing apples to oranges.

It's actual power test RESULTS if you follow the link I provided in that post.

S&V's tests

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

There are no prices posted on this link. What exactly are you comparing the Yamaha 730 to?

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

[Mike Up]

I'm sorry, I guess since I knew model numbers, I expected others to also know, sorry.

Since that site is free, it goes down when it's max data rate is exceeded and right now, it's down.

Basically what I was referring to was the standard Pioneer receivers, standard Kenwood receivers, standard sherwood receivers, and etc. Most of these lower end lines don't exceed $500 MSRP. The Pioneer 811 came to mind as well as the cheaper Panasonic receivers. If you look there aren't many receivers with this low of a rating. The Marantz SR7200 had this, but was said to have defective capacitors that had caused this lower power output. Not saying this was a good receiver(IMO it was not), just saying this problem was supposedly not caused by design but a defective part.

The Sony DB also had this problem as did the Yamaha RX-V1200. I've spoke to Yamaha about the poor power output on the RX-V1200 and they spoke candid with me, admitting they skimped on the power output. They reassured me that this was corrected in the RX-V1300 and RX-V2300. They even sighted the S&V article. This is why I really like Yamaha, it's their great support. If it weren't for quality control troubles with the last 2 'new' receivers I had from them, I would had stayed loyal. Also in my defection, I found better SQ from their competitor and now would likely not buy another of their products. Tomorrow is another day though.

I have a good suspicion that any receiver replacing the RX-V*30 line will be improved on the power side, as were the RX-V*300 models. The RX-V730 was in the same model line as the RX-V1200, which both had anemic power output. I don't think this was characteristic of their earlier lines, as the RX-V*96 and RX-V(*)*95 series. While I'm not happy with Yamaha's declined performance, I do think they will make a come back where they once were.

Take it easy.

The Panasonic SAHE100 ($400, $250 at most stores) is 78 x 6 and 70 x 5.

[Rajeev_s]

Kenwood 6070
92 watt/ Channel, 6 channel driven.

[Jay W]

Well i have a Yamaha HTR-5560 which is the same as an RXV630 and it has no trouble filling my room with sound. I will be returning it at the end of my 30 day trial because its not a true discrete 6.1 channel reciever. Anyone have an idea when the next generation of yamaha recievers come out?

[JohnSer]

The Panasonic SAHE100 ($400, $250 at most stores) is 78 x 6 and 70 x 5.

Aaron, either that was a typo, or they didn't measure it the same way 5 vs 6 channels. Add 2-3 channels more, and will make 100w channel amp of it

JohnS

[NickC]

the 55 series is the latest of yamaha receivers, the 54 was before that in the HTR line.....