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Yamaha RX-V363BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver
See it at Amazon.com for $159.88Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
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Yamaha RX-V363
(4 out of 5) by Methodical on Jun 16, 2008 (Maryland)I purchased this Yamaha (RXV363) unit because a lightning storm burned out the Sony, which I was happy with. This unit resides in my bedroom - which consists of an HDTV, FIOS, DVD and Sony 5.1 satellite speaker system - and is not my main HT system, which reside in the basement and consist of the higher end components. I looked at the Yamaha RXC463, Onkyo TX-SR506, 606, Sony STR-DG720 but did not want to spend the extra cash for the satellite ready capability. Nor was I interested in the video switching capabilities since I connect all video source directly to the TV and all audio sources to the receiver. For switching, I use my Harmony 880 - one button operation.
Connectivity:
For my situation, the Yamaha has all the connections I need (DVD and FIOS). Setup is simple and straight forward. Remember, you get HD quality from both HDMI and Component connections.
As far as connecting video components thru the receiver, I can't give an opinion on that because I do not go thru the receiver for video connections, up conversion and all that stuff. I always connect my video source directly to the TV- always. I just believe that you lose picture quality going thru a receiver. Remember, the most direct path between 2 points is a straight line. I only use the receiver for the audio connections because to me that's its main purpose - audio and TV is video. Besides connecting thru the receiver, in my opinion, is mainly for convenience and possibly (emphasis) saving a few bucks on cables.
As stated by other reviewers, the HDMI ports (video pass-thru) do not output sound (manual specifically states this fact as well as other sources on the internet) so you must connect separate audio cables. Having HDMI output audio is good if you are using the speakers in the TV (but why would you do that if you want a HT quality sound) but if you have surround speakers then you should use either the digital or optical audio connections.
Now with that said, I know that there are some that have many components to connect in their system or want the convenience of having the least amount of cables connected to the TV, receiver etc. For those you either have to dig a little deeper in the pockets or get a separate switching device for all of the components. This unit, at $200, is an entry level HT receiver so don't expect it to do what the high end units can.
Remote Control
The remote control is a little tricky. What I found is that it's a little confusing on how to switch between sound stages at first but like anything new you get used to it.
As an alternative to those who want simplicity in switching between video sources do yourself a favor and get the Harmony 880 remote control - one remote, one button control bliss baby. Amazon seems to have the best prices on the remotes. Check it out.
Overall:
Overall this is a good unit. This is a nice entry level unit and it does well for the limited setup I have in the bedroom. This unit actually makes the Sony satellite speaker sound much better than the Sony receiver did. This unit has better sound fields than my older Sony unit - I like the Straight and Enhance and 5 channel speaker modes. My Sony did not have these.
TIP: Before purchasing any HT equipment you must do your research. You can go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual and determine if it contains all the connections etc you need for your system. What I've found in some of the previous reviews is that the unit was purchased without truly knowing its capabilities and then that person bashes it - which is unfair. The only problem is the individual did not do his/her research and/or know the true capabilities of the unit. The World Wide Web has all sorts of reviews on this unit - both professional and end user - so it baffles me that these people did not know the limits of the unit. Uhhh oh yeah they didn't do their research. So when you read these reviews, read between the lines of the comments, which many times will reveal that the person did not do the necessary homework prior to the purchase and/or did or do not understand the functions of a specific AV receiver. So please make sure the equipment has all you need before putting out negative reviews.
Also, remember if you have surround speakers you do not need to send the audio thru the HDMI just use the digital coax or optical audio connections. And don't believe much of the hype about the cables (i.e. the better ones are the most expensive ones). Just don't use the cables that come in the box and don't spend tons of money on cables either.
Connectivity:
For my situation, the Yamaha has all the connections I need (DVD and FIOS). Setup is simple and straight forward. Remember, you get HD quality from both HDMI and Component connections.
As far as connecting video components thru the receiver, I can't give an opinion on that because I do not go thru the receiver for video connections, up conversion and all that stuff. I always connect my video source directly to the TV- always. I just believe that you lose picture quality going thru a receiver. Remember, the most direct path between 2 points is a straight line. I only use the receiver for the audio connections because to me that's its main purpose - audio and TV is video. Besides connecting thru the receiver, in my opinion, is mainly for convenience and possibly (emphasis) saving a few bucks on cables.
As stated by other reviewers, the HDMI ports (video pass-thru) do not output sound (manual specifically states this fact as well as other sources on the internet) so you must connect separate audio cables. Having HDMI output audio is good if you are using the speakers in the TV (but why would you do that if you want a HT quality sound) but if you have surround speakers then you should use either the digital or optical audio connections.
Now with that said, I know that there are some that have many components to connect in their system or want the convenience of having the least amount of cables connected to the TV, receiver etc. For those you either have to dig a little deeper in the pockets or get a separate switching device for all of the components. This unit, at $200, is an entry level HT receiver so don't expect it to do what the high end units can.
Remote Control
The remote control is a little tricky. What I found is that it's a little confusing on how to switch between sound stages at first but like anything new you get used to it.
As an alternative to those who want simplicity in switching between video sources do yourself a favor and get the Harmony 880 remote control - one remote, one button control bliss baby. Amazon seems to have the best prices on the remotes. Check it out.
Overall:
Overall this is a good unit. This is a nice entry level unit and it does well for the limited setup I have in the bedroom. This unit actually makes the Sony satellite speaker sound much better than the Sony receiver did. This unit has better sound fields than my older Sony unit - I like the Straight and Enhance and 5 channel speaker modes. My Sony did not have these.
TIP: Before purchasing any HT equipment you must do your research. You can go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual and determine if it contains all the connections etc you need for your system. What I've found in some of the previous reviews is that the unit was purchased without truly knowing its capabilities and then that person bashes it - which is unfair. The only problem is the individual did not do his/her research and/or know the true capabilities of the unit. The World Wide Web has all sorts of reviews on this unit - both professional and end user - so it baffles me that these people did not know the limits of the unit. Uhhh oh yeah they didn't do their research. So when you read these reviews, read between the lines of the comments, which many times will reveal that the person did not do the necessary homework prior to the purchase and/or did or do not understand the functions of a specific AV receiver. So please make sure the equipment has all you need before putting out negative reviews.
Also, remember if you have surround speakers you do not need to send the audio thru the HDMI just use the digital coax or optical audio connections. And don't believe much of the hype about the cables (i.e. the better ones are the most expensive ones). Just don't use the cables that come in the box and don't spend tons of money on cables either.
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent value for the money
(5 out of 5) by Mr C. A. Higgins on Apr 21, 2008 (Portland, OR USA)I have owned Yamaha Natural Sound equipment for over a decade, and continue to love it. This receiver is an impressive value for the money -- and in some respects is actually superior to its more expensive counterparts. For example, this unit has the Night Listening mode, which makes watching movies at night much easier (easier on your spouse and neighbors, anyway) -- while the more expensive V463 does not! Because I don't care about XM/Sirius radio or 7.1 surround (the main features of the more expensive units), this one fits right where I want it.
The only downside I see to this unit is its relatively limited number of video inputs, and the inability to route all the video inputs together. For example, you only get two HDMI inputs and one output. In my case this is enough, but others may find it limiting. Also, the component inputs are not upconverted into HDMI -- you have to run component outs AND HDMI out into your TV if you're using both kinds of inputs. In my case this is okay, but again, if you have a lot of high definition devices this may be a pain (since to switch inputs you'll have to switch both on the receiver as well as the TV).
I currently own one of these units (attached to my computer), and am actually about to buy a second one for my home theater. I spent a bunch of time on the Yamaha site researching the higher end ones, but feel that this inexpensive one is what I actually want. Another bonus -- it fits perfectly in the 6" space in my IKEA Billy TV stand, where some of the higher end ones don't!
UPDATE: After two months of owning two of these units, I have one issue to report: the HDMI signal does not pass audio on these units. Originally I thought that wouldn't be a problem (since there are various digital audio inputs as well, and I had plenty of cable) -- but there is an issue with lip sync on my TV, as the HDMI and digital audio are slightly out of sync. What this means is, when I watch something via HDMI, the dialog seems to arrive a little later than the lips move onscreen, and I find it unwatchable. (This issue does NOT seem to exist with the component and other video inputs.) I ended up running the HDMI inputs directly to my TV because of this -- and it solved the issue -- but it makes the HDMI switching of this receiver useless. Oh well, it was only two HDMI inputs anyway.
Aside from that, I'm very pleased -- the units sound great, have plenty of power, have a decent remote, and have plenty of inputs for what I'm doing. I still highly recommend this model, though you'll want to consider the HDMI issues before buying. You'll also want to thoroughly check your various devices to make sure this unit has the proper inputs (for example, coaxial digital input for DVD) for what you have. You can workaround this in some cases (for example, using the "CD" optical digital input with your Blu-Ray player...) but you'll want to plan it out in advance.
The only downside I see to this unit is its relatively limited number of video inputs, and the inability to route all the video inputs together. For example, you only get two HDMI inputs and one output. In my case this is enough, but others may find it limiting. Also, the component inputs are not upconverted into HDMI -- you have to run component outs AND HDMI out into your TV if you're using both kinds of inputs. In my case this is okay, but again, if you have a lot of high definition devices this may be a pain (since to switch inputs you'll have to switch both on the receiver as well as the TV).
I currently own one of these units (attached to my computer), and am actually about to buy a second one for my home theater. I spent a bunch of time on the Yamaha site researching the higher end ones, but feel that this inexpensive one is what I actually want. Another bonus -- it fits perfectly in the 6" space in my IKEA Billy TV stand, where some of the higher end ones don't!
UPDATE: After two months of owning two of these units, I have one issue to report: the HDMI signal does not pass audio on these units. Originally I thought that wouldn't be a problem (since there are various digital audio inputs as well, and I had plenty of cable) -- but there is an issue with lip sync on my TV, as the HDMI and digital audio are slightly out of sync. What this means is, when I watch something via HDMI, the dialog seems to arrive a little later than the lips move onscreen, and I find it unwatchable. (This issue does NOT seem to exist with the component and other video inputs.) I ended up running the HDMI inputs directly to my TV because of this -- and it solved the issue -- but it makes the HDMI switching of this receiver useless. Oh well, it was only two HDMI inputs anyway.
Aside from that, I'm very pleased -- the units sound great, have plenty of power, have a decent remote, and have plenty of inputs for what I'm doing. I still highly recommend this model, though you'll want to consider the HDMI issues before buying. You'll also want to thoroughly check your various devices to make sure this unit has the proper inputs (for example, coaxial digital input for DVD) for what you have. You can workaround this in some cases (for example, using the "CD" optical digital input with your Blu-Ray player...) but you'll want to plan it out in advance.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
NOTE: Only 3 High Def video inputs possible
(3 out of 5) by Derrick G. Page on May 22, 2008If you plan on using both HDMI inputs PLUS all 3 component inputs then this receiver is not for you. Furthermore, the video inputs are directly tied to the audio inputs, somewhat limiting configuration possibilities further.
It works like this :
Video (ports are labeled either DVD, DTV/CBL, or DVR)
DVD : Component OR HDMI
DTV/CBL : Component OR HDMI
DVR : Component
Audio (digital inputs can be assigned)
Input 1 (digital coax) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 2 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 3 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
(note, if you assign a device to of of these inputs you can not assign it to another)
In addition, each input type has is own composite (L)(R) connection. By default the receiver will choose a digital signal over the composite analog one.
When you have these inputs straightened out you will be able to select which input you want the receiver to use at any one time.
So, if you select and input source of DVD it will do the following:
1) Pass the HDMI signal from the HDMI DVD input port to the HDMI output port.
2) pass the component signal from the component DVD input to the component output
3) check the 3 digital inputs for one assigned to dvd and play this signal over the speakers if present
4) if no digital signal exists for dvd then it will play the composite input for DVD sound over the speakers.
All that aside, and ignoring that the documentation is not well written, the receiver is nice and does its job very well. Night Cinema is cool and the sound quality is pretty outstanding.
I just have to use my component switch with this receiver to use all of my devices.
It works like this :
Video (ports are labeled either DVD, DTV/CBL, or DVR)
DVD : Component OR HDMI
DTV/CBL : Component OR HDMI
DVR : Component
Audio (digital inputs can be assigned)
Input 1 (digital coax) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 2 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 3 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
(note, if you assign a device to of of these inputs you can not assign it to another)
In addition, each input type has is own composite (L)(R) connection. By default the receiver will choose a digital signal over the composite analog one.
When you have these inputs straightened out you will be able to select which input you want the receiver to use at any one time.
So, if you select and input source of DVD it will do the following:
1) Pass the HDMI signal from the HDMI DVD input port to the HDMI output port.
2) pass the component signal from the component DVD input to the component output
3) check the 3 digital inputs for one assigned to dvd and play this signal over the speakers if present
4) if no digital signal exists for dvd then it will play the composite input for DVD sound over the speakers.
All that aside, and ignoring that the documentation is not well written, the receiver is nice and does its job very well. Night Cinema is cool and the sound quality is pretty outstanding.
I just have to use my component switch with this receiver to use all of my devices.
54 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
Good sound, but surprising limitations
(2 out of 5) by J. Ratcliffe on Aug 1, 2008There are a number of positive reviews here, and I won't replicate what they say save to confirm that the sound quality is excellent, and the connectivity is fine for 99% of us. I'm on the whole actually happy enough with it. However, you should be aware of a couple of significant issues.
1. Although there is a button on the front for speaker set A/B/Off, there is no option to have output going to both speaker sets A and B at the same time. Even though the corporate drone in Best Buy said it would, and nothing in the advertising blurb counteracted this, this simple truth is hidden in smallish text on a page somewhere in the depths of the manual. I therefore purchased a Monster Cable SS4 Multi-Speaker Selector so that I could have audio on the deck and in the main room at the same time. The combination works fine.
2. Second problem. There are no codes for programming the remote to operate the Dynex 42 inch flat panel. It is a BestBuy own brand, made by Toshiba. None of the Toshiba codes work, and there are no codes listed for Dynex.
3. The manual is written for the Hindu goddess Kali, because you need 10 arms to flick back and forward through the manual all the time.
I have actually learned to like the sound enough to keep the system, and so the 2 stars is probably too negative, but it won't affect the product rating much, and may draw your attention to a couple of problems you might not be aware of. Enjoy.
1. Although there is a button on the front for speaker set A/B/Off, there is no option to have output going to both speaker sets A and B at the same time. Even though the corporate drone in Best Buy said it would, and nothing in the advertising blurb counteracted this, this simple truth is hidden in smallish text on a page somewhere in the depths of the manual. I therefore purchased a Monster Cable SS4 Multi-Speaker Selector so that I could have audio on the deck and in the main room at the same time. The combination works fine.
2. Second problem. There are no codes for programming the remote to operate the Dynex 42 inch flat panel. It is a BestBuy own brand, made by Toshiba. None of the Toshiba codes work, and there are no codes listed for Dynex.
3. The manual is written for the Hindu goddess Kali, because you need 10 arms to flick back and forward through the manual all the time.
I have actually learned to like the sound enough to keep the system, and so the 2 stars is probably too negative, but it won't affect the product rating much, and may draw your attention to a couple of problems you might not be aware of. Enjoy.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
Great receiver for the money
(5 out of 5) by KV Trout on Jul 18, 2008 (Los Angeles, CA USA)I've had mine for about a month now so I can now say with some assurance that it is a good receiver for this amount of money.
The upsides:
*It sounds great with surround sound, even dvd-a audio!
*It's easy to use with the 4 presets - though I wish I could change the pre-sets to include cd player instead of radio. (Maybe you can but I haven't figured it out yet)
*It has a full function remote with good range
*It blocks off sound automatically when you plug in a headphone (saves having to turn off the speakers with a 2nd step)
*It is set so you can simulate dts sound with headphones for night listening
*It has many different pre-sets and they really come in handy. I found, for example, that using the 5 channel simulator preset sounds great with 2.0 movies, bringing the sound to the rear speakers - especially with movies that are hard to hear the dialogue.
The downsides are many but they're mostly minor. And by the way I would give this 4 and 1/2 stars instead of 5 if I could, because of the downsides:
*Not enough inputs/outputs. I'd have liked it to have an HDMI in from the dvd player. The HDMI it does have is ONLY FOR VIDEO, NOT THE AUDIO SIGNAL.
*It does not have a mute button on the unit itself, only on the remote. You can achieve mute quickly by giving the big volume dial a couple of quick spins but then you lose your volume setting. No big deal but I have never seen another unit without a mute button on the face of it.
*The digital coaxial cable (optional) does not provide DVD-A audio nor good DTS audio. On mine, with DTS audio it was VERY low. In order to get good 5.1 channel audio you have to use regular audio cables in the inputs marked Multi-Channel. Adding HDMI Audio would have been a VERY big PLUS. I assume it was not cost effective. Personally I'd have rather spent an extra $30 or so and gotten the HDMI Audio capability.
*Although it is advertised that this unit works with the IPod dock, you should know that THIS UNIT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THE YAMAHA IPOD DOCK even though it is not stated. That is, it does not show the IPod menu on the tv with this unit, only with the more expensive units in this series. So what good is it? Not much. This should be made clear on the box/and amazon etc. item descriptions. I bought this in part due to the IPod capability and now feel cheated. This is from a Yamaha tech:
"The RX-V363 will not display the IPod information on the TV/Display."
(However the new Tekkeon Navdock works great with the Yamaha and for only $20-30 more. Check it out. Yes, it costs more than the Yamaha dock but has many more features and you can even view video from your IPod classic without buying a proprietary cable from Apple!)
So all in all, despite its downsides, this is a fantastic receiver for 200 buckaroos. You just can't beat it. I had a Sony in this price range before (actually more, 7 years ago) with similar features, and this sounds much better than the Sony did and has better features.
The upsides:
*It sounds great with surround sound, even dvd-a audio!
*It's easy to use with the 4 presets - though I wish I could change the pre-sets to include cd player instead of radio. (Maybe you can but I haven't figured it out yet)
*It has a full function remote with good range
*It blocks off sound automatically when you plug in a headphone (saves having to turn off the speakers with a 2nd step)
*It is set so you can simulate dts sound with headphones for night listening
*It has many different pre-sets and they really come in handy. I found, for example, that using the 5 channel simulator preset sounds great with 2.0 movies, bringing the sound to the rear speakers - especially with movies that are hard to hear the dialogue.
The downsides are many but they're mostly minor. And by the way I would give this 4 and 1/2 stars instead of 5 if I could, because of the downsides:
*Not enough inputs/outputs. I'd have liked it to have an HDMI in from the dvd player. The HDMI it does have is ONLY FOR VIDEO, NOT THE AUDIO SIGNAL.
*It does not have a mute button on the unit itself, only on the remote. You can achieve mute quickly by giving the big volume dial a couple of quick spins but then you lose your volume setting. No big deal but I have never seen another unit without a mute button on the face of it.
*The digital coaxial cable (optional) does not provide DVD-A audio nor good DTS audio. On mine, with DTS audio it was VERY low. In order to get good 5.1 channel audio you have to use regular audio cables in the inputs marked Multi-Channel. Adding HDMI Audio would have been a VERY big PLUS. I assume it was not cost effective. Personally I'd have rather spent an extra $30 or so and gotten the HDMI Audio capability.
*Although it is advertised that this unit works with the IPod dock, you should know that THIS UNIT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THE YAMAHA IPOD DOCK even though it is not stated. That is, it does not show the IPod menu on the tv with this unit, only with the more expensive units in this series. So what good is it? Not much. This should be made clear on the box/and amazon etc. item descriptions. I bought this in part due to the IPod capability and now feel cheated. This is from a Yamaha tech:
"The RX-V363 will not display the IPod information on the TV/Display."
(However the new Tekkeon Navdock works great with the Yamaha and for only $20-30 more. Check it out. Yes, it costs more than the Yamaha dock but has many more features and you can even view video from your IPod classic without buying a proprietary cable from Apple!)
So all in all, despite its downsides, this is a fantastic receiver for 200 buckaroos. You just can't beat it. I had a Sony in this price range before (actually more, 7 years ago) with similar features, and this sounds much better than the Sony did and has better features.