"Official" Yamaha RX-A1000/RX-A2000/RX-A3000 thread

Introduction

Yamaha has broken with the product numbering they have been using in recent years. They created a new series numbering, the A series.

They claim to have done substantial design work. Some of the design work is related to vibration control and a more stable chassis. This series comes with a three year warranty, which implies that Yamaha has a lot of faith in the quality of this line.

I think of some of the re-design as the new ToP Art.

The new models are the RX-A1000, RX-A2000 and RX-A3000.

US MSRPs are $1099.95, $1499.95 and $1899.95.

A cursory look suggests that these three receivers replace the RX-V1900, RX-V3900, RX-V1065 and RX-V2065.

The weight, cabinet size and power consumption of the three models would normally suggest a similar power supply transformer. But the rating of the 1000 is quite a bit lower. Without a service manual or bench tests, it's not clear to me how their power differs. The 1000's power output spec is quite a bit lower. It's possible that's due to a lower supply voltage - but that's pure speculation.

Some evidence suggests that these are less powerful than the 1900/3900 were. The power consumption figure on the 1900/3900 was given as 630 VA (US Model.)

Unlike the x65 series, they brought back substantial analog connectivity. This will annoy some people, and will be appreciated by others

All three models have only seven amps. The 2000 can be expanded to 9.2 using external amp(s) and the 3000 can be expanded to 11.2. There are numerous amp configurations, if interested, I suggest reading the manuals.

Design Features

According to Yamaha, the A series contains some key design elements (not all of these are applicable to all models) -

* Double bottom Construction (for more rigidity)
* Optimized power amplifier layout (Symmetrical layout)
* Fifth foot (They call it the A.R.T. wedge, better stability reduced vibration)
* Ultra Low Jitter Circuitry ( Similar to what they used on the Z7? Unknown)
* Hybrid Power Supply (Independent analog/digital supply)
* H Shaped Cross-Member Frame (Improved rigidity)
* High Quality DACs (Direct path to ground DAC)
* Zip ties to ground (Bundling ground wires together I think)
* Three year warranty
* Custom Designed Parts (No idea what this really means, they already had some parts specific to Yamaha in previous models)
* Higher grade terminals (Wider spacing, supposed to reduce vibration)
* HQV Vida processing
* Return to Yamaha custom DSP ( Possibly outsourced but customized DSP, just guessing)
* Enhanced virtual presence (Not sure yet what this will do)
* 3rd party control (HDMI CEC?)
* Web Control (Control receiver from web browser)
* iPhone/iTouch control app

Power Specs

RX-A1000

105W x 7 (RMS Output Power (20Hz - 20kHz)
Product Dimensions (W x H x D) 17-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 16-7/8"
Product Weight (lbs.) 32.4 lbs.
Power Consumption - 490 W/620 VA (US model)

RX-A2000

130W x 7 (RMS Output Power (20Hz - 20kHz)
Product Dimensions (W x H x D) 17-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 16-7/8"
Product Weight (lbs.) 35.3 lbs.
Power Consumption - 490 W/620 VA (US model)

RX-A3000
140W x 7 (RMS Output Power (20Hz - 20kHz)
Product Dimensions (W x H x D) 17-1/8 "x 7-1/8" x 16-7/8"
Product Weight (lbs.) 37.5
Power Consumption - 490 W/620 VA (US model)

Common Features

* HD Radio
* Network capability (with Rhapsody)
* SCENE Plus
* 8 channel input
* USB Port
* Low Jitter Circuitry
* Dock (For Bluetooth or iPod/iPhone)
* HDMI (8 in, 2 out, zone B capable); CEC, HDMI passthrough in standbye, Audio Return and 3D
* Component in/out - Four in, one out
* S-Video - All AV inputs have S-Video
* Digital in/out - Four optical in, three coaxial in; one optical out
* Analog to HDMI Conversion
* Analog/HDMI Deinterlacing/Scaling (1000 appears to have some limitations the 2000/3000 do not)
* Multi-point YPAO
* Channel Expandability w/ Ext. Amp (3000 up to 11.2, 2000 up to 9.2, 1000 does not seem to have channel expandability)
* Phono Input

Features specific to 2000/3000 models
* H Shape Cross Member Frame
* Ultra Low Jitter Circuitry
* HQV Vida
* YPAO has standing wave correction
* Video Adjustments ( 3000 and 2000 both have video adjustments, but the 2000 is more limited, see manuals)
* Zone GUI
* Learning Remote
* Zone Remote

Features specific to 3000
* More complete video adjustments
* Up to 11.2 with external amp(s)
* Zone 4 (digital out)

You can buy a very affordable phono amp. Check out Jerry Raskin's needle doctor web site. Thanks for mentioning phono inputs, I don't think that's in my summary.

I noticed that as well. Not sure what to make of that.

Someone posted this in another thread -

http://www.twice.com/article/455720-...eiver_Line.php

I would guess all of these can go from 480i in to 1080p out. I am 99% sure that's true for the 2000/3000. I think the 1000 has some limitations, but I would be shocked if it could not so the most obvious conversion from 480i analog to 1080p HDMI.

I am not sure how the zones work. I have not finished reading the manual.

All three manuals are on Yamaha's web site.

It depends on a bit on what features you value. The 1000 has a better feature set than the 1900.

I am too lazy at the moment to do a direct comparison, but some features which are obviously superior on the 1000 are -
* The 1000 has the GUI
* The 1000 has network audio
* The 1000 has a lot more HDMI inputs
* The 1000 has more video processing options, such as HDMI upconversion ( I don't find video processing that helpful though)
* The 1000 has the latest HDMI version and feature set
* The 1000 has a better warranty

If the feature differences don't matter to you, and you can get a good deal on the 1900, I see no reason not to get a 1900.

Were I in the market for a new receiver today, I would probably get the RX-A2000. But I would like to wait and see what user feedback it gets. I am sure one of these receivers will get reviewed by a major publication or web site. But it may take a few months. It's not even supposed to ship until Sep. I think?

I think that's a bad call on their part. It's only hurting them discouraging prospective owners from easily downloading manuals. Their competitors have no such restriction.

I would gladly email you a manual if you send me a PM with an email addr and you tell me what manuals you want. Don't everyone do that though at once!

I would think subs are designed for 1 volt outputs if that's the standard, which it seems to be. Is it hard to drive some subs to full power with standard sub outputs.