Yamaha's new entry level RX-V receivers: XM-ready

[paul_pci]

Yamaha issued a press release announcing their new entry level RX-V series receivers. They tabbed the new models as the RX-V457, 557, 657, and 757. On the whole, this does not look like much of a change over their previous versions, as evidenced by Yamaha not going with a RX-Vx60 numbering scheme. The only new feature that I saw of any note on these receivers was the addition of component video upconversion on the 657 and 557.

The biggest change in the new RX-V series receivers is the addition of XM satellite radio tuners. The AM and FM dials have turned into wastelands of mediocrity, at home I tune into the Music Choice channels on Directv a lot more than the FM stations. XM would be a logical extension of that.

Otherwise, this update on the Yamaha receivers follows the trend with the 1500 and 2500 in that they did not add much to the existing receiver design. I get the feeling that receivers in general will stand pat at least until HD-DVD and Blu-ray make their debuts. Once that occurs, then I think that in quick succession, you'll see receivers begin to incorporate HDMI inputs, and start to add the DD+ and DTS-HD decoding to the mix. Been waiting for the proprietary SACD and DVD-A digital links to make their way down to the entry level receivers, but that has not happened and I'm not sure if it will.

Yeah, I saw this announcement over on audioholics and the reception was less than stellar. Posters were complaining that with all the potential features or upgrades, who cares about XM radio capability. I'd have to concur.

[Woochifer]

Yeah, I saw this announcement over on audioholics and the reception was less than stellar. Posters were complaining that with all the potential features or upgrades, who cares about XM radio capability. I'd have to concur.

I kinda wonder though what else they could've added that would make a big difference. DD+ and DTS-HD haven't even made their way into the flagship models, and I can't see Yamaha adding HDMI switching when they didn't even add that feature to the 1500 and 2500. Like I said, I think the big changes will probably follow whatever happens with the HD-DVD and Blu-ray introductions. Rumor is that those formats will only pass HD signals through a digital connection, and if that's the case, then HDMI switching will be more of a necessity.

Seems that with all the huge changes that they made with their receivers last year, it's taken until now for the competitors to catch up. Of course with Yamaha standing pat like they are, the competition might pass them up when their next round of updates comes around.

[paul_pci]

I kinda wonder though what else they could've added that would make a big difference. DD+ and DTS-HD haven't even made their way into the flagship models, and I can't see Yamaha adding HDMI switching when they didn't even add that feature to the 1500 and 2500. Like I said, I think the big changes will probably follow whatever happens with the HD-DVD and Blu-ray introductions. Rumor is that those formats will only pass HD signals through a digital connection, and if that's the case, then HDMI switching will be more of a necessity.

Seems that with all the huge changes that they made with their receivers last year, it's taken until now for the competitors to catch up. Of course with Yamaha standing pat like they are, the competition might pass them up when their next round of updates comes around.

Well I certainly hope Yamaha doesn't let the competition pass them by in this regard, in principle at least, as I plan on hanging on to my receiver for a while and will probably be a longer while till I need HDMI switching. Generally it would be a shame for all these mainstream companies to pump out new receivers every few months a la market logic at the price of real innovation that we all know takes time and pays off in the end.