Yamaha introduces four-strong Aventage home cinema receiver range
Today Yamaha unveils its new (and newly-named) Aventage range of home cinema receivers, joining the rest of its 2011 line-up.
They replace the existing higher-end models from 2010 and as they use all-new designs and components, rather than just being a range refresh, they are being rebranded under the Aventage name.
There are four models: the RXA3010 (above, £1999), RXA2010 (£1499), RXA1010 (below, £999) and RXA810 (£849). They'll go on sale in the UK this September.
The two most expensive models are nine-channel designs, the others have seven channels. Every model has eight HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs, and their remotes have 'one-touch' control for operation of Samsung, Panasonic and Toshiba TVs.
All four are 3D and network capable and have a new circuit design, new power transformer, new heat sink and use better quality components.
However, they do not include Spotify or AirPlay like some 2011 models from rivals such as Onkyo, Pioneer and Denon. Yamaha says it will continue to offer its own YIDW10 AirWired transmitter for iPhone/iPad/iPod at £100-£120.
The '2010, '1010 and '810 have Yamaha's proprietary YPAO and CinemaDSP 3D technology – designed to give 'a wide, high and dense soundfield' – while the flagship RXA3010 gets the new, improved and more powerful CinemaDSP HD3.
Video processing is handled by Yamaha chips in the lower two models and HQV in the top two.
A fifth foot in the middle of the base helps reduce unwanted vibration from the power transistor and heat sink, claims Yamaha. The RXA3010 also gets new heavy duty legs and a 'double bottom' cover like the Yamaha DSP-Z11.
As for the decision not to include AirPlay, Yamaha says it's limited to iPhone/iPad users and it didn't want to increase the cost of these models by adding functionality that not everyone will need or use.
As an Apple TV can be bought for £100, it argues that's the simplest way of adding AirPlay functionality to your system if you want to.
All its 2011 AV receivers from the RX-V471 and above have a preset on their remotes for Apple TV control.
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Comments
But why would you want to be stuck with Apple - I feel sorry for all those lumbered with i-tunes.
I have an Yamaha RX-V 3067, and i can't see the necessary to have Airplay in the receivers. Yamaha offers their own Airwired system, and that quality is much better as Airplay. Airplay works with compression of the audio signals, and the Airwired system of Yamaha works with Non Compressed PCM signals. And also no time necessary to connect. It directly works, and with Airplay you have some connection time. Also when you want to stream from iTunes, you can use the Network function of the Yamaha, to stream.
At 2k and no airplay they can stick it. Talk about cost is pure nonsense as pioneer sells a receiver at a quarter of the price with airplay. The only reason yamaha will not add airplay is so they can sell you their useless ipod accessories. Luckily denon/marantz/pioneer/onkyo all offer airplay so thats where I'll be looking to upgrade my loved yamaha receiver.
First telling people iphone/ipad users are in the minority while the receiver is littered with useless features 99% of users will never use, then telling them you care for them so didn't add airplay to keep the receiver cost low, then suggesting them to buy your lovely ipod accessories or even an atv2? People are not stupid you know.
Maybe some are thrown off by the quality inducing 5th foot but I'm not. I see the new model uses the video chip from last year model, why introduce things like onkyo's 4k upscaling when you have 5 feet? ypao was always trailing behind xt32 but now with 1 extra foot I'm not so sure anymore. Can't wait for the 7 foot model.
If yamaha really cared about its customers they would add the improved osd (=volume display off) and airplay via firmware to the old models and keep the "new" line of receivers and extra foot to themselves.
Cool looking kit .
I would still buy an Apple TV box to go with my receiver, as you get "FULL" Airplay functions, wifi + video and multi channel audio streaming.
Currently these features are not available on any brand of receiver, only with the Apple TV box.
Rock on Yammy
Yes, AirPlay would allow you to stream music from iTunes to the receiver. Must admit it does seem a slightly curious decision not to include AirPlay when rivals do.
I've got Itunes on my PC so if AirPlay was included as a firmware upgrage for my RX-V1067 then couldn't i stream from my PC to my Amp via AirPlay? (my house is cabled up so connecting the amp and the pc isn't an issue)
Is there a particular reason why they couldn't add AirPlay functonality via a firmware upgrade or is it a case of "we can't be bothered". i noticed recently that Napster (which i'm never ever going to use!) appeared on my RX-V1067 as a network option so why not AirPlay? Yamaha may not consider £100 for AppleTV expensive (I do) but after investing a fair few hundred quid on their Amps i'd expect better.
Shame about the pricing - a higher number of £ than $ by the look of it!
There may be an RXA710 coming later for £650 if the US range is going to be fully replicated over here. They've already had the Aventage range in the US for a year, this is the second generation already.
Airplay shmareplay, get Sonos. Love the build quality of Yamaha.
that price with no airplay...
awesome...!!!