The "Official" Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A1020, RX-A2020 and RX-A3020 Thread - Page 14

Thank you! I had a perfectly-functioning WRT54GS that I gave away a few months ago that would've been perfect for this... D'oh. Was running Tomato but could've easily put DD-WRT on it. Appreciate the reply, I'm going to look into it more.

Hello All,

New to the thread, but need help.

Does ANYONE have a real, true comparison between the RX-3020 and the Pioneer SC-68 or the Denon 4520?

Just need to make the right decision. You know it's rare you can listen to any or all three for an EXTENDED time.

Thanks,

MJ

I doubt any "real" or "true" comparision of those three receivers has been made. You'll just have to do it yourself. Find a store or stores that will let you audition the three receivers and find out for yourself which you think sounds the best.

If you're unwilling or unable to do that then you might as well assume they all sound the same. Even if one sounds better than the other, you have no way of knowing this. The only way you'll know if you made a mistake is if you buy a receiver that doesn't have the features you want.

Thanks.

Might be exactly true. But I'm hoping this tread could make some initial differentiations. These receivers are all becoming about the same.

But the Pioneer seems different. Because it's using this Class D amp, it is BOUND to sound a bit different.

I'm sure I can do a return if things aren't right. But who wants to go thru all of that?!

Supposedly, Pioneer has tuned the Class D to sound like Class AB with more sizzle. But Pioneer and Denon BOTH have more old school pedigree.

MJ

Pioneer SC-XX series sounds a bit better.

I spend a L O N G time in a Best Buy store today. Did a varied A/B comparison with the Yamaha Aventage RX-A2020 against the Pioneer SC-67. Both receivers are one from the top of their manufactures high line. Power (at least rated) is similar 140 X 9. I listened thru midlevel B&W tower speakers.

The Pioneer had just a bit more oomph at every volume level.

I particularly noticed differences at lower volumes. Once you turned the Yamaha near reference [ 0 ] it began to come alive. But the Pioneer was there already. And then at [ 0 ] seemed to have more warmth and excitement.

1 down, one to go.

i take that back I do have the same problem, if they cant fix it it will be going straight back.

But the actual number on the volume dial means nothing when comparing two models. You need to use an SPL meter to make sure the two are playing at exactly the same volume (within 0.5db, or less if possible) in order to do a fair comparison.

The more people that contact both Oppo and Yamaha support about this, the more chance it will get fixed.

Someone on the Oppo thread said that the "fix" is to set the Oppo to always convert its audio output to LPCM. But I have not tested this exhaustively myself.

Also I don't know if by doing that, one would be sacrificing anything in audio quality (??)

I would like to see this too as the owner of a 4520 which I use as a pre-pro. I have no experience with the Pioneer or Yamaha so cannot make the comparison myself.

All,

I have a Yamaha RX-A2020 Receiver with a Sony BDP-S580 Blu-Ray Player hooked up via HDMI. Rarely will the Sony display it's menu once powered up. Basically it will display the Blu Ray logo and disappear. The Sony will display the Home in the LED display. If I power off the player a few times, it will eventually display the menu. The Sony Blu Ray was previously hooked up to a Sony receiver with no issues.

I have changed HDMI ports, HDMI cables and attempted powering on/off the receiver and blu ray player in different orders with no success. I have other devices hooked into the receiver via HDMI with no issues with powering up.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

I recently purchased a Yamaha RX-A3020 but have not figured out how to get it to do the following: Pass video through for Blu-ray with no processing. Pass all other sources through with processing.

It seems that when using options it's either processing is on for all inputs or off. What I have done for a workaround at this time is use a preset video processing mode for all inputs except Blu-ray and the preset for Blu-ray does not have any processing enabled. But with this configuration I "think" it is still routing video through the processor instead of having a HDMI direct connection to the TV. My TV has a 1080P direct feature that I would like to use and avoid all video processing with the AVR.

Any help with configuring this would be appreciated.

You can do it if you set up a scene for each source, then always switch sources by selecting the appropriate scene. See page 107 in the 3020 manual, where it describes (under "Detail") the different things that can optionally be loaded as part of a scene. If you enable Video settings as part of a scene, then Video Mode is one of the things that will be associated with each scene. Video Mode can be Direct, to disable processing.

I don't have this receiver so forgive me if this doesn't apply but an idea is that the Yamaha has HDMI-CEC enabled and is interfering trying to talk to Sony bluray. Try disabling it if available if you haven't already.

Thanks for the help.

Question....

Which "rear speakers" handle more of the workload i.e. produce more sound in a 9.1 setup: "Rear Surround" or "Surround"???

I am re wiring my speakers with some awesome 14gauge 100% oxygen free wires. And I want to be sure I'm using the correct speakers for the job.

The Surround Backs are larger than the Surrounds fyi.

Thanks


BigMarcus ~ EVO 4G LTE

Surround

Thanks!


BigMarcus ~ EVO 4G LTE

How has the HD Radio tuner in the 1020's on up been working out for people.

Quite frankly, from what research I've done, they will be very similar. Only difference between the Class D and the Class A/B is the A/B will use a bit more power and will run hotter, while the D will supposedly output more power when driving all channels with less THD. Denon, Pioneer and Yamaha all have long track records in making high quality home audio equipment.

So if the specs (power) is about the same, then I'd look at the features / options each model has and use that to make your decision. One thing I like about the Yamaha is it has a feature to enhance compressed audio files during playback. My entire library is digital MP3, so this is a feature I like. Granted my files are encoded at 320 or 256 kbps, this still is a feature that interests me. My old Alpine car audio receiver employed similar technology and it made a drastic difference in how my digital files sounded.

The other thing is to compare auto setup between models, as Pioneer's MCACC and Yamaha's YPAO leave a little something to be desired compared to Audessey that is used by Marantz, Denon and Onkyo.

I am using the A3020 with a Sony PS3 as my BD player and it works perfectly with HDMI-CDC mode. Start reading the thread at post #211.

Hi guys I've narrowed down my new receiver option to the Yamaha RX-A2020 but before i pull through with the order i'm also looking at some reviews for the Pioneer Elites namely the SC-61 as it's the same price locally with the A2020 and I'd prefer not to do cross border shopping

I've been looking at a lot of reviews and it seems a lot of people always note that what a buyer should really look at is the WPC when all channels are driven and so when looking at Home Theater Magazines review of the Pioneer Elite SC-61 I noticed their HT Lab Measures and it shows 109 watts with 5 channels driven and 99.4 watts with 7

Correct me if im wrong but the higher watts measured when all channels are driven = better? (that's the impression im getting)

I tried looking up some measurements for the A2020 but couldn't find any; does anyone have any measurements? I found some for the A1020 but i imagine they would be really different from the A2020 (the A1020 is around the 60 wpc)

I'm trying to make the right decision and I'm a bit confounded with everything and I'm not too sure if my beliefs are right (more WPC = better and D class amp = better Bass)







I know the SC-61 doesn't support as many channels as the A2020 but I can only see myself using 5 and maybe soon to be 7 channels but having a couple more channels in the yamaha is a nice option i guess but not a deal breaker

Any small difference in power between the Yamaha and the Pioneer is not really important, and the number for all channels driven is especially unimportant (only those tests drive all channels to the max, not real music or movies). You should choose based on other factors such as do they have the features you need.

And class D amps don't mean better bass. You need a good subwoofer for better bass and it will have its own amp so the receiver doesn't have to power the bass.

thanks very much ^^ i always get so confused when looking into these things

i had thought the pioneer would add to the amp i have on the sub i guess not

thanks so much i guess i'll go through with the A2020! Im just so relieved that a decision has been made


again, thank you very much! i know you guys get bombarded with newb questions all the time so thank you for taking the time

As far which receiver sounds the best Yamaha, Pioneer Denon etc etc that can be very difficult to discern properly.Lots of potential distractions

Listening environments in stores are completely different than in your home usually AND connection, hookup means, cabling may be radically different

Even some switching devices used in some audition places can alter things

Receiver's settings have to be adjusted to be able to give similar results as well..speaker setups, sound field tweak adjuastments

Anyone using a 9.1 or 9.2 channel setup with their 3020 or 2020 and using the DSP HD3. How does it sound?

I really like the RX-A3020 but am very disappointed that they are not supplying DTS Neo X and Pro Logic iiz. Thinking very seriously about the Sony STR-DA5800ES even though it has less power. Can't find any reviews anywhere that have tested 9 channels with HD3.

Thanks.

I wouldn't let power ratings stop you from getting the AV receiver you want. Without even looking up the numbers I can tell you tha there's less than 3 dB of difference in the power outputs of the RX-A3020 and STR-DA5800ES. That means that the perceived difference in maximum volume before distortion becomes a problem is going to be very small.

Thanks for your reply.

I am a bit worried that the Sony would be underpowered for my Martin Logan Clarity fronts and Motif center since they're both 6 ohm. Andrew Robinson, in his review of the STR-DA5800ES, mentioned that there sometimes appeared not to be enough oomph and he was driving real sensitive Techton Design Pendragon speakers.

I would love to hear from some RX-A3020 owners who are using the DSP HD3 for their 9 channels and how it sounds to them.

A lower speaker impedance doesn't imply that you need more (or less) power to drive them at a given perceived volume level. On the other hand a more sensitive speaker requires less power to drive them at a given volume level.

If you want to compare two receivers for audio quality there's really no alternative to auditioning them in your own home. You can't compare them based on power specs or reviews that don't put them head to head.

Pioneer and Onkyo also make AV receivers with DTS Neo:X support and I think Yamaha is the only company that doesn't make a Dolby Pro Logic IIz receiver. You should be able to find something that advertises more watts than STR-DA5800ES and has these features, even if you're unlikely to notice a difference in what you hear.