Yamaha RX-V6A review: The future sound of entertainment

The waters all-around AV receivers drift somewhat than rage. As opposed to TVs and soundbars, adjust will come gradually to these significant black containers. The Yamaha RX-V6A ($850 at Amazon) is a refreshing splash in a pool that has stagnated in modern decades. With rounded fantastic seems reminiscent of higher-end brands like Classe, paired with a laundry listing of futuristic characteristics, this is the most forward-on the lookout receiver I have noticed in a very long time.

Looks aren’t something without the need of the efficiency to back it up and the RX-6A served up terrific seem high-quality in my listening exam. This midpriced receiver RX-V6A delivers Dolby Atmos playback and lots of audio replay options much too, making it as snug with an episode of The Mandalorian as it is with impromptu dance get-togethers.

It’s bought some quirks — the speaker outputs are arranged in an uncommon purchase and that Lcd screen is more challenging to examine than an LED — but general this Yamaha is merely additional entertaining than its competitors. I’m hopeful that the RX-V6A is the spark that ignites a rethink on AV receivers and allows deliver the group back into the mainstream.

Connect all your stuff

The RX-V6A is a 7.one.two-channel receiver with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback, and one hundred watts for every channel. But the specification sheet just isn’t the initial issue that catches the eye.

The Yamaha RX-V6A’s rounded, glass-like fascia is a genuine departure from the black shoe containers of Sony, Denon and Onkyo. The edges are curved in a way I’ve never ever noticed prior to, but it does not glimpse ostentatious. The entrance properties a centered volume regulate and higher-res Lcd screen that seems wise but just isn’t all that bright. It’s off-centered so if you happen to be sitting down off to the left it can be even additional complicated to examine even at utmost brightness. I favor the LED readouts identified on competitors.

This receiver could not be “the upcoming” without the need of a extensively up to day spec sheet and the RX-V6A does not skimp. It features 7 HDMI inputs, three of which are 8K-appropriate HDMI two.one ports ports intended to help the complete output abilities of resources like the Xbox Series X, PlayStation five and Computer graphics cards this sort of as the Nvidia RTX 3090. Yamaha promises this is additional two.one ports than any other brand name, and they offer you this sort of goodies as auto reduced latency manner and rapid media switching. The receivers also help lengthier HDMI cable runs with a bolstered electric power provide. 

Yamaha also produced adjustments all-around back. Most receivers, like earlier Yamahas, place the L/R speaker output at the left of the panel, which is followed by the heart and then the rears. For whichever purpose the RX-V6A places the entrance pair in the center in its place of the left, which could be complicated — primarily if you happen to be bent around it in a darkened theater environment. It would not choose very long to remember which output is which, and once you get your speakers connected it can be not a significant offer.

The RX-V6A could not be as fully loaded when it will come to Wi-Fi streaming help when in comparison to our current Editors’ Decision winner, the Onkyo TX-NR696, but it nonetheless delivers anything for most men and women. Yamaha’s MusicCast multiroom procedure is a person of the best integrated techniques, and it also enables the use of Yamaha wise speakers as rears. The receiver delivers AirPlay two, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth too, whilst it lacks Chromecast crafted-in. IT can be managed by means of Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri-enabled gadgets, but the instructions are mainly essential — generally volume, input and following/earlier keep track of controls.

The receiver will come with a remote regulate that delivers a selection of functions, like a committed Bluetooth button. It’s bright and cheery furthermore delivers a zone two regulate change for additional adaptability.

However the aesthetics have been soundly improved, the on-display screen screen is a small action back. The interface characteristics blocky white and blue icons, whereas competitors this sort of as Sony offer you additional consumer-helpful interfaces with more substantial icons and superior hand-holding for newcomers.

This is the upcoming of seem

I in comparison the Yamaha RX-V6A versus another new receiver, the Denon AVR-S960, and identified myself returning to listen to the Yamaha additional usually. Although the Denon is relaxed-sounding, the Yamaha delivers additional residence theater thrills and pep when listening to your beloved tunes. Basically set, the Yamaha sounds additional entertaining.

I started off my screening with an underrated vintage — the Iron and Wine/Calexico collaboration EP, In The Reins. When streaming by means of Roon to the Oppo UDP-203 ($3,999 at Amazon) and then permitting the receivers decode, the Yamaha had a good, three dimensional seem. By way of it Sam Beam’s voice was additional firmly rooted in house, and the backing vocals a minimal much easier to discern than on the Denon. 

Receivers that are tuned for flicks are almost never fantastic with audio — they can seem overly harsh and tiring — but the tambourine-forward seem of Spoon’s You Bought Yr. Cherry Bomb sounded fuller on the Yamaha than the Denon. The song’s chugging bass underpinned the percussion in the palms of the V6A and the total creation sounded considerably less thrashy and additional composed. The Denon was a shade subtler but didn’t make me sit up in my seat in the identical way.

Turning to residence theater with Avatar, the Yamaha driving a pair of Bowers and Wilkins 603 S2 speakers sounded more substantial and additional effortless than any soundbar I’ve read. The opening dialog of the Thanator chase scene was additional intelligible much too, and unquestionably superior than the JBL Bar two.one Deep Bass ($three hundred at Amazon) soundbar, for illustration. It could not have had the identical booming result on the creatures’ footfalls, but this was very easily tweaked by means of the Yamaha menu. 

After that tweak the Yamaha had bass consequences I could truly really feel with my feet and, in comparison to the Denon, I identified it sounded additional atmospheric, but the bass nonetheless wasn’t as impactful.

Must you purchase it?

If you happen to be striving to make a decision between the Yamaha and the Denon, equally seem high-quality and characteristics arrive into perform. The Yamaha delivers an additional HDMI port than the Denon and additional 8K-compliant two.one ports much too. The RX-V6A also seems superior and sounds additional entertaining. 

The receiver didn’t get almost everything right — that Lcd screen is a misstep — and I nonetheless favor the Onkyo by a nose for the reason that of its excellent streaming options and superior screen. Although there are additional receivers coming in mid-2021, if you want anything that delivers a diploma of upcoming proofing and higher-high-quality seem right now, the Yamaha is an outstanding choice.