- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 4 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
2.5 stars
"Audiophile no more!"
Pros: CD, XM Neural(R) and Dolby(R) surround Audio
Cons: Video and remotes
Summary: First off I am not impressed with needing to upgrade the firmware on the unit as soon as I got it home. The upgrade was done as per Yamaha?s RX V1700 website. I?m just not crazy about spending thousands and needing to upgrade the firmware right off the bat. I think the price should reflect this requirement. I was lucky in that the DVD player I used didn?t filter out the digital linear PCM I had to burn onto an audio CD.
Secondly I see this unit is lacking in the video upscaling department and in the ability to choose a specific output resolution. I thought I was getting an A/V receiver that had somewhat of a video rich featured product so I won?t have to upgrade, not so with the 1700. I don?t like the fact that this unit STRUGGLED to pass basic initial resolution tests performed by Cnet?s AV pros. I hate being told that had I spent just a bit more I could have scored one of Sony?s or Pioneer?s products. I don?t even have my HD set yet and I am already suffering in video performance.
Another letdown is the unit?s two very confusing remotes. I still can?t tune in an FM station using either of the remote controls and I?m a ham radio operator. I?m sure I can figure it out because I?m no idiot but I shouldn?t have to read the instructions for tuning in a local FM station. Yeah sure I can tune in an XM station with the remote. The remote is pretty self-explanatory for XM why not FM? The specs for the receiver were pretty good so I don?t know why they?d want to mask that portion?
OK on the audio side the unit rocks, it?s a Yamaha. I have never been a bass person. I built my own Sub enclosure for my boat and tuned it to the perfect Q, just enough ?pop? and no chuffing port. So I like my bass to be realistic especially when entertaining a movie. So I spent a little extra and bought an Outlaw LFM-1 Plus. My crossover frequency is completely controlled by the receiver. I threw in the movie ?Flags of Our Fathers? and was literally blown away in a scene where there was Naval gunfire from a few Navy ships onto Iwo Jima. It was almost as if I were standing beneath the guns as they fired. I could feel the shockwave of the cannons and I?m sure my neighbors did. I may have loosened some glass from the windowpanes. XM?s Neural Surround sounds great. I put every speaker I own to work with this unit and the sound is fantastic! So just for audio it?s a no brainer, a Yamaha. So is my boat?s engine so I thought they would lead the pack with video. Not so fast shop around. Remember what AV stands for and shop for the best. Had I not let the audiophile in me take over the purchase and with all the video problems and poor remote design I would pay no more than $500 for this RX V1700. The price on it should reflect its shortcomings.Updated
Oh yeah real quick! This unit puts out A LOT of heat and should not be cooped up in a closet or enclosed stereo cabinet without an adequate exhaust fan. I have mine on the top of two shelves with nothing but the ceiling fan on top of it. Really I know many of you will think to yourselves well he is just saying that as do the manuals for all audio equipment. And you?re partially right most audio manuals do state not to stack anything on top of their unit for liability reasons. However I mean when I say the unit gets hot I can see the hot foiled air rising up out of it, it gets hot. Those huge heat sinks inside are working overtime on my unit. This too must be taken into account when factoring up its value. If you?re going to close it up in a cabinet or closet please provide it with adequate ventilation or I can almost guarantee you?ll see fire in the future.
