Yamaha does it again
Written: Jul 12 '02 (Updated Jul 13 '02)
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Pros: Yamaha Sound, Plenty of DSP Modes and Processing, Good value
Cons: No S-video switching, Tuner could be better (Okay FM, bad AM)
The Bottom Line: Anyone looking for bang for the buck value with high quality surround processing and amplifiers need to take a hard look at this receiver.
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| hvymtl6988's Full Review: Yamaha HTR-5440 5.1 Channels Receiver |
I saw this receiver as part of a broken YHT-24 set without the surround speakers. When I saw the price I just couldn't believe it. I'd already owned a digital surround system but it was a RCA (don't laugh, it was cheap). So without thinking twice I bought it. I've owned lots of different equipment (audio/video is sort of a hobby for me) but nothing I found was as reliable or as good sounding as a Yamaha. At 65 clean watts per channel (80 watts if you rate it at high distortion .7% and at 1khz like Pioneer, Sony, JVC and most other consumer level receivers) it delivers alot of bang for the buck. The surround processing is dead quite, accurate, and free of whining and excess hiss found in other budget receivers. Of course the DSP modes are actually usable if you adjust them correctly just like most Yamaha receivers. Yamaha has always been able to cut corners in just the right places just as in this receiver by omitting features like S-video switching, 5-way binding posts for all channels, no pre-outs, etc. Otherwise the processing chip is the same 32-bit as with most of their receivers (save the 6 channel models) and you have to realize that you have to double the wattage to hear a SMALL difference in how loud it plays at top level so the 65 watts per channel should be plenty for most applications except very large rooms without use of a subwoofer. It has good dynamic range, though not the best since it not a high current amplifier design. The D/A converters are satisfactory, very clean and open sounding which were better than the 24bit ones that are used in the accompanying DVD player though the ones in the receiver are not 24 bit/96 khz capable. But there are hardly any recordings with that resolution anyway so that's really not important. It's fairly easy to use (I'm used to the Yamaha "set menu" system) and it sounds great. Yamaha continues to create great values for its customers.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150
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Epinions.com ID:
hvymtl6988
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Reviews written: 16
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