The "official" Yamaha RX-V673 thread. 7.2-Channel Network AVR - Page 8

great to hear - i'm still waiting.

when you emailed them, what did you ask for? a status update? or did you ask for the upgrade straight up?

tx a bunch!

I just contacted them through Amazon, selected "Other Issue" and straight up asked them. Even referenced the discussion here.

got the long-awaited email. success!

many thx!

I got the upgrade from EE and it should arrive next week. Now I have a technical question that I hope someone can help me with. My current setup is an Onkyo TX-DS575X which is not an internet capable receiver. I have an Airport Express hooked to the optical port on the receiver for AirPlay. My regular router is a Netgear which streams iTunes to the Airport Express. Since the RX-V673 is internet capable, can I attach the ethernet port on the Airport Express to the ethernet port on the back of the Receiver and have wireless connectivity between the RX-V673 and my internet connection? I assume that I could hook it up like I have the Onkyo but I would like for it to use all of the capability of the Yamaha. Am I out of luck and need to run an ethernet cable to my router or will the Airport Express get me there wirelessly? Thanks.

The AX can be setup in either "bridge" or "client" modes. You currently have it in "client" mode so you'll want to change the setting to "bridge" mode in order to use it as a "wifi bridge" to wirelessly connect the 673 to your wireless router. Note that in this mode it cannot receive an Airplay stream so you'll need to use Airplay on board the 673 instead.

Hmm... I still haven't received the official e-mail. I wonder if the response they sent me is in lieu of it. Does anyone know if EE will send you proper tracking information once it ACTUALLY ships? Has anyone actually received an upgraded unit yet, or are these just pie in the sky promises so far?

Hardly pie in the sky as vendors have been doing this for years. In fact, you can get a similar deal simply by picking up the phone and "calling" EE for the v673.

Is there a way to disable the flashing red "HDMI OUT" indicator on the front panel? When I'm listening to an audio-only source, I generally turn on the receiver but leave my TV off. The problem is that when the receiver is on, it's always outputting an HDMI signal, and when it doesn't detect a display, the HDMI OUT indicator flashes on and off constantly. This happens even with the two audio-only inputs, which I use for my CD player and turntable.

I would probably just keep the TV on, but the receiver also has no screen saver functionality, so I'm stuck with a static wallpaper on my screen if I go that route. It's a newer plasma, so burn in isn't as big a problem as it used to be, but it's still an issue I'd like to avoid. I hate to run the TV every time I play an album just to keep a distracting light from blinking on the AVR.

I scoured the manual and couldn't find an answer. Any ideas? (Yes, I've considered electrical tape)

You can assign a hdmi vdeo source to your audio only source and then turn that video source on (ie...cable box, media player, DVD player). This should get rid of the flashing red light. On the remote hit the on screen button, go to input, find your audio source then hit the up arrow. You should see a video out option, just select your video source and your're good. Not the best work around but it's one way to avoid the blinking light.

I ordered a 671 last Thursday though EE, and I received email asking if I would accept the upgrade late Friday evening. I replied that I would and received another email stating they would get my order out and that I would receeive and tracking number when it shipped. I never did, but I did just take delivery of the 673 a week to the day that I ordered.

Plugging in my IPOD to USB worked for a few weeks, but now I cannot get songs to play. It kind of freezes. It says the name of the song on the TV, but just won't play, almost as if I have some setting selected that I can't figure out. Tried resetting the IPOD, nothing works. IPOD plays fine on its own. Even tried hitting mode to control it from the IPOD itself and it still won't play, something on the receiver won't let it play. Anyone have anything similar happen?

Tried that, but the audio-only inputs don't have an option for video out. I'll fiddle with it some more tonight, but I think I'm stuck with it. I'll hit up Yamaha support and see if its something they can address in a firmware update. I'd be surprised if they fix it unless a lot of people complain, but you never know.

At least there's a grey wallpaper option - maybe I can upload a custom black background so I can at least make the screen look like its off.

Well, EE order shipped... now when it arrives next week, hoping its a V673 when I open it up.

If you bought through Amazon then it really hasn't shipped yet and you should receive an email from EE telling you about the unavailability. When I bought my Denon, I contacted them and told them that I was wanting the tracking number (actually wanted to find out if they were going to offer me the upgrade) and they then offered the upgrade. The receiver didn't ship until the next day or two.

So if you're anxious to know....

What happened in my situation is this: Ordered through Amazon/EE. Was told it shipped immediately, but no tracking information was available. Contacted EE via Amazon about getting the V673 upgrade on this order. Was told that YES, they would upgrade me as the V671 is out of stock. NEVER received the upgrade offer!! Perhaps because I contacted them just in time so sending it was pointless? Anyway, a day after I contacted them, my order now had UPS tracking information and the price has not changed. ETA of Wednesday, so I'll know next week if this worked or not!

Yeah, their follow up communications aren't the best but you got `er done.

So... what are you hooking her up to?

Got my 673 today from the Amazon/EE free upgrade deal, exactly one week after I ordered it. After the initial upgrade e-mail and reply, I didn't get a shipping notice from them even though they said they would send one. So I e-mailed and asked if it had shipped and they gave me the UPS tracking number.

Haven't even taken it out of the box yet, but am looking forward to playing with it this weekend.

What a great deal! I hope the AVR works well.

So, what happened?

Well TV wise, a new Samsung P64E7000, but in terms of speakers, a rather anemic Yamaha 6.1 bookshelf speaker system from 2004! Although I've replaced the burnt out sub with an overpowered JBL 12" forward firing. The subwoofer isn't matched well with the speakers.
So once I get the new TV settled (not sure if I will keep it, getting it Monday), next step will be a new speaker system. Probably two Yamaha floor standing fronts, and the bookshelf for the surrounds/center. I'm also tempted to nix the subwoofer completely and just let the floor standing speakers handle all the bass. I guess trial and error will tell. Depends if my catapults in Gladiator have enough oomph without the sub.

I had an issue getting my Windows XP desktop to be recognized by the RX-673, as well as my smart TV. My Vista laptop was found easily. I could see both listed in the shared computers in WMP on the XP unit and all looked great there but nothing I could do could get it to connect from the receiver or TV. Spent a lot of time trying to find the solution on Google, and found a suggestion to try a free DLNA server softeware called Serviio. I installed it on the XP and that right away solved the problem, both the reciever and TV now communicate with both my computers.

Is there a way to connect the V673 to a second amp that powers my outside speakers? I have Lost.FM playing through my X-box connected to my V673, but I can't figure out an output to use to connect it to the other receivers so it will play outside. Any help would be appreciated.

Living room system: Polk biamp RT800i matching everything 5.1, Sharp 65" cca 2010 LCD, LG550 BD/Netflix/Vudu, Roku M2000 iTunes tuner/browser, Mac Mini. Daddy's batcave runs on separates feeding Paradigm Ref. 7.1 XLR and reference SACD player, PJ. HTPC, bar you name it:)

The Integra DTR-70.3 has to go, heats up and cannot keep it outside cabinet anymore d/t kids. Tried 6 120mm PC fans still too hot, afraid it may pull the notorious "Onkyo fried video board" daemon who is no stranger to me after 5 Onkyo/Integras.

So here I am at Best Buy Sony 830 and Pioneer 1022 side by side with the Yammie. Oh yeah, just a look at the back of Sony and it gets disqualified, the Walmartian millimeter speaker wire pinchers of course. The Pioneer looks good on paper, but then quality a big IF, knowing reports here, and the 5 letter country of origin.

No stranger to Yamaha, having owned a 3800 the sound was a bit dull even when used as a preamp in my batcave so many years ago.

So I took the plunge and did not regret it. Compressed music via Roku PCM 44kHz from Mostly Classical or Suburbs of Goa left me sayin WOW, Yamaha has come a long way. This is out of box, same for Netflix movies, pics crisp, even Wii Mario Galaxy looked so nice upscaled.

RX-V673 a keeper, found a very nice and above expectations mid-Fi piece that will stay in our family room for a while. And even after I removed 3 of the 120mm cooling fans left over from the Integra, i get barely lukewarm temps after hours of video at mod volumes.

While I adore Onkyo sound i will be sticking strictly with their Onkyo Pro or Integra processors until they master the art of amplifier design, at least their processors stay alive with one fan over the video board vents.

Common folks Pandora? Unless you pay (and given options i will not) for it they compress it horribly, then the Wurlitzer effect of the 12 song stations kicks in, I would get a cheap post-2003 PC with an ASIO compatible sound card (OxygenHD based card abound, a second hand B-Enspirer will do) and Foobar, or Winamp with plugin, then enjoy PCM out to your receiver like it was meant to sound, be it Shout/Ice-cast or iTunes.

Hi,
I am just a real newbie with regards to these modern A/V Receivers. Mine is a 22 year old Sony that I want to dump and go with a Yamaha 671 but the 673 sounds a bit appealing. Here are my questions (any help would be greatly appreciated):
1. PANDORA: I DO NOT plan on hooking up my receiver and speakers to a TV. I am leaning towards the 671 since it has built-in Pandora. But how the heck can I play, say, "Born in the USA" by the Boss via the receiver if I cannot see a screen? I know on my laptop I can just go to Pandora.com, log in and type in "Bruce Springsteen" and I can play it on my laptop that way. But the receiver does not have a screen and how the heck do I type? By the way, I am too old for DLNA, AirPlay, etc., so I am not going to use (nor have) an iPhone/iPad, etc., nor do I want to sync my laptop to the network and connect to the receiver.
But I DO want to play internet radio, especially Pandora (which is why most likely I would not go with a 673 but buy a 671).

2. I noticed the 673 is only 90 watts whereas the 671 is 105 watts......so why the heck is an "improved" 673 down on power? Is this another reason I should NOT go with the 673?

Thanks!

I should just add that I said in my original post that I find the 673 to be a "bit appealing" but am leaning towards 671 only because the 673 is a newer version, But if it will be impossible for me to play Pandora (I am not a smart guy....I don't have a smart phone, iPad,Ipod, etc.) nor do I have the aptitude to learn DLNA networks, blah, blah.
I just want to know how to play internet radio on a home system that WILL NOT have a TV hooked up to it.

Also, what other companies besides PANDORA offer FREE streaming music?

V Tuner is built into the unit, and has hundreds of options.
Use your PC to enter the receiver's ID number and you can build and edit your "bookmarks" list for the receiver.

Slacker and Spotify are also free.

Not sure the Yamaha offers those though. I know Onkyo does.

Gkgibbs, Thanks for the reply. Does my laptop have to be turned on while the receiver plays? Or Is it like this?
1. Register the Mac address of the receiver on the laptop
2. Create favorites or stations
3. Step 2 saves the fans and stations on the receiver
4. Turn off pc - I am assuming pc does not have to be on after steps 1 and 2
5. Turn on receiver

At this point, how do I login to say, the Pandora account? I mean how do I type in my I'd and pw for Pandora? Where is the keyboard to do this?

Sorry I am thick.

I went through the specs on the 671 and 673. I did not see Spotify or Slacker on either one.

For those who are curious about the feature list, here is what I found at the Yamaha website. It is a very good comparison list between the 671 and 673:

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/av-receivers-amps/rx/?tab=product_lineup&selected=221391_372797_&mode=compare

Since I've been lurking on this thread for several days, I thought I'd sign up just to say "Thanks" for the purchasing help and set-up tips (which I hope to use this week).

When I saw this new line-up from Yamaha... I knew it was time to retire my ancient RX-V2095; I feel the 673 will fill it's heavy shoes nicely. Based on Ryan's tip... I ordered the 671 at EE through Amazon & received the subsequent "substitution" e-mail with followup confirmation. Now, I am simply awaiting for it to deliver. What a fantastic price!

While I wait, I wrote to Yamaha requesting a hard copy of the Owner's Manual... and asking whether the HDMI indicator on the unit's front panel is REALLY meant to flash continually, while listening to an audio only device with the Television off (as JD NC has noticed). I really hope that this isn't the case, since I can only imagine how annoying that might be.

Anyway... thanks again for all who have contributed to this thread... I really appreciate your help. I'm sure I'll have more questions re: set-up in the near future.

I now have an actual UPS shipping number for the upgraded 673 from EE. Thanks for the help on getting me a great receiver at a great price.