Yamaha rx-a720 "official" owner's thread - Page 4

I have posted the perfect way to do the update using your PC/Laptop, but nobody paid any attention.
Post #46 in this thread.

- make sure your A720 is on and connected to your home network;

- double-click on A720 icon in your Network window using your PC or laptop. It will open Yamaha web-based application.
- Go to Settings
- Go to Update Firmware
- Wait about 20 minutes for the process to complete.

That's all.

OK, your prob guys.
Edited by galileo2000 - 1/5/13 at 7:30pm

I paid attention and read your post, but you didn't really explain it well enough to follow. Thanks for the additional instructions - not sure they would have helped in my case since the initial update failed and the unit became unresponsive.

I am not an expert, but this seems normal to me. I believe when you calibrate the speakers the reference sould level that is used is very loud, so all this winds up being in the negatives or you blow out your ears.... run the self-calibration and you will see what i mean... our cat heads for the hills.

BTW, I finally got the iPod/iPhone software to work. Actally pretty neat: AV Controller on iTunes.

BTW2, I have hooked up a large USB drive to the unit to play my ripped CDs in WAV format, and it works. Also have the server working. But I learned thart you could get an AV connection to connect an iPhone directly to the unit and that also works.

I am currently a happy camper with this unit and glad I upgraded from the 3800 (which cost 2X as much). I can get the iPhone to work on that also, but no display.

Not sure what the problem with AirPlay in your particular setup is. My receiver is hooked up via network connection and AirPlay works fine.

No it works fine, I was just commenting on another post. Actually everything works with this machine for me.

Now that i have said everything is working, does anyone understand how to fine-tune a subwoofer?

My a720 is used in a home theater "cabinet" with two small but good Vienna Acoustics speakers (Haydens) and outside a small but good Aperion 8" subwoofer.

The Haydens supposedly go down to 44hz so I set the crossover at 60hz and have to say the whole thing sounds pretty good.

BUT, once I got the iPhone AV Connector working i noticed there was a Subwoofer Trim control on it set to zero and could go +/-6db.

How is this used? I understand it is supposed to somehow separate the subwoofer signal from the amisn, but I do not get how these settings interact?????

Hello,
I am new on this. This receiver is 7.2, with two zone, I have conected 7.1 Can you conect 2nd subwoofer on zone 2 ?

Here are a few factoids I have recently learned about the unit, for your interest:

1. The subwoofer trim is only used if the subwoofer seems to send a directional sound signal (I called Aperion to explain it to me). So probably nobody needs it. There is a good diagram/explanation on the Yamaha web site for this unit. BTW, I have set the crossover to 40hz with my Vienna Acoustic Haydens... they go down to 44hz. I set the crossover on the subwoofer to max... all the crossing is done in the Yamaha. Note well, that the automatic setup on the Yamaha "leveled" my subwoofer to -10! It was vitually absent. I put it at zero and am a happy camper with normal woofing.

2. I have been able to hook an iPhone up to an input like AV5 or AV6 and get video to display on a TV. I bought the Apple AV Connector and it send the VIDEO signal from the iPhone so I can play moveies/videos using the "Video" app and the material shows up on the LCD screen.

3. You cannot use #2 to play music and see the iPhone display. Rather in this case you must use AIRPLAY.

4. Finally, I have the iPhone Yamaha AV Controller app working. Note that if you have trouble, It has just been updated to 3.41. It is better than the handcontroller in my option. There is also an Android version. I manually entered my IP.

Cheers and everybody enjoy this great unit.

I have had the A720 for almost 2 months now and been loving it.. until about an hour ago when I decided to update the firmware..

I ran the network update, it got very far into the update process then got the 'Error 2000'
After that the Receiver will not 'boot' into anything -- Only get "ROM ERROR" so am unable to try the network update again. The only option now is using USB & doing the unplug the power cable, hold in the "Pure Direct" button. I have tried this several times now - It goes through 'Verifying' but keep getting the ' Device Error' now
Note: - I am using the USB port in the front of the receiver.

Anyone know if this 'Device Error' is referring to the Reviver or the USB stick?.. I have reformatted the USB stick using FAT, FAT32, exFAT and reloaded the firmware several times also.
Edited by Maadhatter - 1/13/13 at 11:36am

Sorry to hear,

Would try:

Full system reset: p.73

iPhone/Android app, that also has an update control.

PANDORA: Note well this is now found again via the iPhone app. You can connect to an established account and it shows up on the A720. Have to enter your account information on the A720, not the iPhone.

I finally found another usb drive.. it seems to be working so far 'x-fingers'
also.. while the receiver is a paper weight the android app doesn't work *.^

EDIT:
Success!! The Receiver is working again. Apparently if you try a USB Update and you get 'Device Error' -- Use another USB Drive.. I hope this helps someone at some point.

Same thing with using USB drives to stram video and music... FAT32 is not all the same it seems....

Congrats... check out if you can get to PANDORA.... is it on the Android app?

Yes, Pandora is on the Android app.. it is working.

I have had the RX-A720 for 2 months and love it, thanks for the tips on updating firmware via USB it helped when I was having issue with the YWA-10 setup.

My current setup is:

Yamaha A720
Yamaha YWA-10
Toshiba Regza 52XV545U via HDMI
LG DVD via HDMI
WDMC via HDMI
Bose Accoustimass Sub and 5.1 speakers

I am testing a Plex media server on one of W7 PCs and having an issue with video streaming, audio via iTunes is working correctly. The RX-A720 can browse the media server and select certain files from the available .avi, mp4, divx files and attempt to play them.
The audio plays but the video does not, is the RX-A720 able to decode\play these file types?
I am able to play these files directly on my LG 47LW6500 Smart TV directly from the Plex Media server, plays all file types no issues, audio and video are perfect.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

cairn999

Have had this amp for a few weeks now and so far i like it.

But have some questions

When I stream my sirius/xm through it, I get no subwoofer, I have not figured out how to turn it on, I have tried every DSP program, straight, dolby etc and it will not turn on. Kinda useless to listen to music with no bass.

Other question is does it automatically choose what audio decoder it uses? I have a ton of movies on my NAS that I stream through Xbox but it only ever streams the audio at PCM

You know what, it is an AUDIO receiver. It will NOT play video files, it is not designed to do so.
It will not pass the video stream either, you need either Smart TV (which you have) or another computer w/Plex client.
Yamaha will gladly play the audio of your video files though

You are right. I just digitized all my old (good) VCR tapes. They are on a Windows Media Server, but will not play directly to the Yamaha either from the server or via AirPlan and an iPhone. They do however, play nicely from my Logitech Google TV (or QApple TV I would guess).

Yup, AV Receiver alright.

Ahhhhh... I asked myself the same question for days... how to get that nicde Apeion subwoofer to work.... eventually I discovered that the automatic set up set the woofer gain of - (minus) 10..... look in the manual set up and see if you can crank it up.....

I couldn't find an RX A 820 thread so I hope you don't mind me jumping in here. I picked this up but haven't hooked it up yet. I'm in the process of collecting all the parts of a HT then will hook them all up. This is the first Yamaha I have ever owned. I based my decision to buy on the constant positive reviews. Hope I made the right decision, it appears I have.

This is my second... after a rx 3800. I have had no trouble with the set up of mine. I think there is a series and the a720 is the low end, but they are basically similar just with additional HDMI sockets etc... The Yamaha web site has a chart.

I just added an Oppo 103 to it. I have high end speakers and a sub woofer and am very satisfied with the unit. Do you have speakers yet?

Welcome to the group.....

Jerryyyyy,
I have Definitive Technology UIW BPA in walls for L/R front, Definitive Technology DI LCR 5.5 for center, Definitive Technology UIW 64 for in ceiling surround. I am getting ready to pull the trigger on a SVS SB 12 NSD. Samsung 60" LED. None of this is installed yet. I have everything in hand except the sub. I chose the A820 because of the dual HDMI outputs. I am going to run an outdoor tv with it and also have zone 2 speakers for outside. I do realize that it is simultaneous broacast meaning i have to watch the same channel on both tvs at the same time. I am not an Onkyo fan which sells dual HDMI out receivers for less than this Yamaha so that factored into my decision as well. I really didn't want to jump up into a $1500 and up price bracket to fulfill my needs. Hopefully this will get it done

Newegg is offering a $240 Newegg Gift card with the purchase of an A720 until 1/20. I was going to wait until April when my company gives out bonuses, but wow this is tempting...

Hi there
I have posted this in "The official Yamaha Aventage" thread as well.


I bought Yamaha A720 with Mirage OmniSat OS3 front,rear,center and S10 Sub. Here are the current config in my receiver.

Power Amp Assign - 5ch Bi-AMP
Configuration:
Speakers- Small, Subwoofer - Normal, Bass Cross Over - 80Hz
Distance from listening position:
Front - 10ft
Center - 9.8ft
Rear left - 4.6ft, Rear Right - 5.6ft
Level:
Front left - 0db, Front right - -1.0db
Center - -2.0db, Sub - -5.0db
Rear left - -1.5db, Rear right - -3.0db
Parametric EQ - YPAO:Natural (Need clarification on this as there are Flat, Front, Natural and Thorugh).

Sound setup:
Lipsync
Auto/manual - Auto
Adjustment - 0ms
Dynamic range - Max
Max Volume - +16.5db, Initial volume - -40.0db
Adaptive DSP level - On

Subwoofer:
Phase - 0 degree
Level - set to 60%
Frequency - 120
Filter - ON

Our living room is 15x13 with left side open and window on the right side.
Please let me know whether this configuration is good for listening music and movies.

I have to increase the volume to -35db to hear the sound from the speakers and sometimes I have to increase to -20db. Not sure whether its normal to increase the dial from -80db to -35db or -20db to hear the sound when listening to music and movies.

Your input and suggestion is much appreciated on this issue as at times I feel that something wrong with the speakers or its not tuned properly.

Thank you,

I just set up my 720 and that is about where my listening level is.I also have a 2010 and usually watch movies at -20 on it as well.

Just grabbed one off NE to replace my onkyo. Could have gotten it cheaper via the Eletronics expo route $496 but we need a new vacuum.... so we are getting the receiver and a free vacuum (gift card) via newegg:p Can't wait to hear out this sounds with my Kef's later this week:)

I have a PC/media center that is hooked up to the receiver, as well as a TV, each through HDMI. If the TV turns off then all audio from the media center turns off (decoder off is reported on the a720).

Suggestions to keep audio working without having to turn the TV back on?

Want a free audio upgrade for your CDs that you are turning into MP3 files? Choose one of the following methods to improve your sound quality:
1. When ripping your audio from a CD, change the sampling rate of your MP3 files from 192 kbps to 320 kbps or higher if possible.
2. MP3s and WMA files are lossy compressed files which mean that some of your initial musical data will be lost in translation. Choose an alternative format instead like the lossless FLAC format or the uncompressed WAV format.
3. If nothing else, be sure to set up your receiver using the YPAO microphone and turn on the Compressed Music Enhancer when listening to compressed audio.
Current networked Yamaha receivers can read all the formats mentioned above via an Ethernet connection. Store your audio on a networked attached storage (NAS) drive to have centralized access to all of your music around your house from your computers and in your home theater or listening area.



Input Mixing
Although HDMI is pretty much the standard format these days, using separate video and audio connections still comes up and is a necessary feature on almost every receiver. For example, if your customer wanted to use an HDMI source but wanted audio optically, you would need to assign the optical input to the HDMI source.
Being able to mix and match inputs allows their Yamaha receiver to be flexible and ensures that it is functional with old and new equipment.
Just follow these simple steps for any AVENTAGE receiver to assign the right input mix:
1. Connect the equipment in the desired way. For example, Component Video (AV1) and Analog Audio (AV5).
2. Select the VIDEO source (AV1).
3. Press the OPTION button on the remote.
4. Scroll down to Audio In and select the desired audio input (AV5).
Now your customer will see video from AV1 and hear audio from AV5. When it’s this easy, your customers will be mixing and matching inputs in no time.
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Sometimes it is nice to get a refresher, especially when it comes to HDMI CEC. This technology can be a great asset or a hindrance, depending on what your customer needs, so here is a quick overview on HDMI CEC.
HDMI CEC or HDMI Control allows your customer to operate external devices via HDMI. For example, if they connect a TV that supports HDMI Control to a Yamaha receiver with an HDMI cable, they can control the unit (power, volume, etc.) in conjunction with TV remote control operations. They can also control playback devices (HDMI Control-compatible BD/DVD players, etc.) connected to the receiver unit with an HDMI cable.
Keep in mind that HDMI CEC operates by linking between compatible devices and often this means like-brands because the language may be different. For example, a Sony Blu-Ray and Sony TV can control one another if HDMI CEC is active on both devices; but, if a Samsung Blu-Ray and Sony TV are connected, HDMI CEC may not work.
HDMI CEC is a great way to help your customers simplify the remote control operation of their home A/V system. However, if your customer intends to use a third party universal remote control, it is typically a good idea to turn HDMI Control OFF on all connected devices. This will ensure that the remote is the device that is turning on, off, and changing volume on programmed equipment.
Every current Yamaha receiver supports HDMI CEC. To activate, simply access the set-up menu, select HDMI, and turn on HDMI Control. Help your customers make the most of HDMI Control by knowing how to use it, or not, depending on their needs.



Thankfully, Yamaha AVENTAGE receivers make it simple to back up and restore the settings on their receivers. Even better, this capability can be done completely over the network! Just follow these simple steps to have your customers backed up in no time:
1. Find the IP address of the receiver through the INFORMATION section of the set-up menu. Typically, this will be something like (192.168.1.?).
2. Type the IP address into any modern web browser on the same network to access the Web Control Center.
3. Choose Settings from the menu and select either Backup or Recovery depending on the need.
4. Choose the file path to complete.
Edited by Lemnitzer - 1/22/13 at 9:45pm

Sometimes, great things can be hiding in plain sight, and this is definitely the case when it involves Yamaha receivers. Yamaha receivers have a special menu called ADVANCED SET-UP that allows users even more control over their receiver. With just a few unique button pushes, your customer can unlock the full potential of their Yamaha receiver. Keep in mind that the ADVANCED SET-UP menu should only be used when needed.
In order to access this menu, first turn the receiver off. While holding down the STRAIGHT button on the front of the receiver, press the power button to turn the receiver back on and you are now in the advanced menu. Locate the PROGRAM buttons or knob and use them to cycle through your options. Press the STRAIGHT button to change selections. From this menu, your customer can:
1. Change speaker impedance from 8 to 6 ohm.
2. Assign an IR ID which is helpful when using more than one Yamaha receiver in close proximity.
3. Switch from NTSC to PAL format.
4. Initialize or reset the receiver’s parameters to set to factory condition.
5. Apply a firmware update.
6. Reset the Sirius Parental Lock.
Once the settings have been adjusted, simply press the power button again to turn everything off and then on again. The receiver will be back in normal mode and their advanced functions are configured in the blink of an eye. Who knew that such power was hiding in plain sight!



All of these tips are from the Yamaha Newsletters

double-click on Yamaha in your Network Neighborhood instead of entering the IP and then proceed as described.