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Entered CNET Catalog: 09/04/2001
SKU: RX-V620
Manufacturer: Yamaha Corp. of America
Manufacturer description
The Yamaha's RX-V620 is a 5-channel receiver providing finest performance and processing available for music and video sound. The receiver delivers Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel formats. Yamaha's Digital Sound Field Processing, Cinema DSP, and Tri-Field Processing are all included as is Dolby Surround Pro Logic Processing. In addition, the RX-V620 provides Silent Cinema and all-channel stereo. Yamaha has designed and employed single function IC chips (ASICS). ASICs are more efficient than multi-function chips and provide the most accurate decoding possible. The RX-V620 incorporates high-density Cinema DSP circuitry. Yamaha's exclusive Digital Sound Field Processing for music recreates the acoustic personalities of actual concert halls and other venues, such as the Roxy Theater in L.A., Village Gate in N.Y., Anaheim Stadium and concert halls and churches in Europe. Other soundfields include N.Y.'s Bottom Line and Entertainment modes. 35mm and 70mm Cinema DSP multiplies the effects of Dolby Pro Logic and Yamaha DSP to provide the best possible Pro Logic movie theater recreation in your home. Discrete surround is the most advanced and realistic encoded surround sound for movies. The new Dolby Digital system is a fully discrete system providing 5.1 channels of sound. There are five full-frequency channels, and the sixth is a low-frequency effects channel. Yamaha's exclusive Tri-Field Processing applies Digital Sound Field Processing technology to Dolby Digital and DTS to create a true movie theater experience in the home. It develops independent enhanced sound fields for the front signals as well as for left and right surround. Building on technology incorporated into its world famous "silent" musical instruments, Yamaha has added HRTF and "Virtual" technology to create a realistic surround movie effect using standard, two-channel headphones.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 09/05/2001
The numbers game
The $499 RX-V620's frill-free appearance won't garner many oohs and aahs, but the extra set of front-panel-mounted inputs (S-Video, composite video, audio, and digital audio) might come in handy if you use a game console or video camera. If you're really serious about video quality, the RX-V620 has you covered, with two sets of component video connectors and five sets of audio and S-Video/composite video inputs. We counted four stereo inputs, including a phono jack. The digital tally reached five assignable inputs (four optical and one coaxial) and one optical output. The 5.1-channel input for a DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD (SACD) player rounds out the audio connections.
Using the onscreen menus to set up your speakers for the first time is far from intuitive. However, it's not so much worse than other brands' setup that you should steer clear of the Yamaha for that reason alone. Speaking of speakers, the speaker Impedance Selector switch on the back definitely affects the sound. We started off with it in the 8-ohm position on our 6-ohm Dynaudio Contour speakers, but the sound was too lean. Flipping the switch to the 4-ohm position filled out the bass somewhat. You should experiment to determine which position yields the best sound from your speakers.
Our listening session
The sound quality is good, but it's hardly stellar. Bottom-end punch and drive are lacking. As a result we weren't fully wowed by the frenetic mix on the Requiem for a Dream DVD; the bass was a tad flabby, and the surround effects weren't as expansive as we like. But then we sampled the V620's digital-signal-processing (DSP) prowess. Beyond the de rigueur Concert Hall and Jazz Club settings, the RX-V620 allows the user to individually adjust some parameters--for example, room size, delay, and so on--for each DSP setting. Yes, you'll have to work your way through more than a few menus to access these settings, but technically inclined owners will have hours of fun. If you don't want to go through the motions, though, no problem; the 26 factory-supplied settings are pretty good on their own. Those DSP modes proved especially useful for older, spatially restricted films, such as Dune and Carrie. You can tweak the effects to suit your taste.
We have a few gripes with the RX-V620: it inhibited some of the more explosive DVDs' dynamic impacts; the sound muted for a fraction of a second when skipping chapters on DVDs; and the slender universal remote is a little too skinny and awkward to use. But on the plus side, Yamaha's Silent Cinema processing delivers something beyond the usual inside-your-head effect for headphone listeners; the sound is much more open and spacious--more like surround sound from speakers.
Yamaha packs a ton of good stuff into the RX-V620, including a one-year warranty. Oh, and don't forget: the 5.1-surround flexibility works equally well on movies and music. But if you just want a great-sounding, easy-to-use receiver for a little less money, check out the .
User opinions
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9/10
This receiver Rocks!
Pros: Excellent Sound
Cons: Remote is bad news
User Rating: 9/10
Gret Receiver
Pros: Robust, great sound.
Cons: Lousy Remote
User Rating: 
8/10
Absolutely love it
Pros: Great from the price. . .
Cons: Didn't come with the remote, and had to order one, but other than that i have been pleased.
User Rating: 
3/10
Died 2 days after warranty expired
Pros:
Cons: Died 2 days after warranty expired (main circuit board). Repai cost was greater than original cost.
User Rating: 
7/10
Sounded better than my $1,200 Denon
Pros: Maybe it's just that this receiver needs to be mated with the right receiver and (most importantly) needs really good wiring. With the good wiring and setup I had, it easily outperformed my somewhat older, but still high-end Denon unit with more power an
Cons: Probably the worst interface I've ever seen on a receiver of any kind. I still don't know how to get it to do half of the things I want it to. At least it had good binding posts (not that "save-a-penny" clip-in bull that most lower-end amps offer). I n
User Rating: 8/10
Great All-around 5.1-Stereo Reciever
Pros: Better spec's than the "Chain Store Yamahas",Good power,Plenty of features.Very Reliable.Way better than many others out there.
Cons: None really.
User Rating: 9/10
Still with it and love it......
Pros: I have this unit since 2002 and after buy in it and connecting the unit, my AR speakers sound so good that my 32" tv went up to a 43" widescreen.......... Good receiver for the $ paid for it,still have it and still impress my friends in october for a nice
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User Rating: 8/10
Right up there w/ the Best
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10/10
Great functionality
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User Rating: 
5/10
Yes, but...
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User Rating: 10/10
The best DSP you can found.
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User Rating: 8/10
Yamaha makes THE RECEIVERS for Home Theater
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User Rating: 10/10
Totally Awesome!!!!!
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User Rating: 9/10
THE BEST DTS receiver for price
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User Rating: 10/10
A must for the average Joe!
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User Rating: 10/10
Yamaha for 5.1 - The only choice
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User Rating: 8/10
Lots of Features, Sounds Great
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User Rating: 10/10
Great product for a lot less
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User Rating: 8/10
Great all around performance
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User Rating: 10/10
A lot of bang for little buck
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