RX-V595, still good after all these years.
Written: Sep 28 '01
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Pros: Yamaha quality, DD decoding, great sound reproduction.
Cons: Remote, old connections, could benefit from more power.
The Bottom Line: When compared to units built at the time with comparable features the RX-V595 holds it own, only time has diminished its complete usefulness.
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| ambrehm's Full Review: Yamaha RX-V595 5.1 Channels Receiver |
I received the RX-V595 as a graduation gift in 1999 and it has served me well. Being that old though does have its disadvantages, especially in electronics when new, bigger, and better things seem to come out all the time. To its credit, though I have recently bought the RX-V1000 in its place, the RX-V595 still holds its own as a solid Dolby Digital receiver in my mind.
The place that I see where the RX-V595 shows its age the most is in the connections. There are only 2 optical inputs (DVD/LD and TV/DBS) and one coaxial (DVD/LD). The video side is even worse off with no component or S video connections, only composite. Though the back panel provides connections for a wide variety of components within your system, chances are you will not be allowed to connect with the best connections to date. So if you are one like I who must have some of the best, the back panel is a bit disappointing, especially in the video category.
In a somewhat related matter, the RX-V595 also offers A/V connection on the front of the unit for easy connection. Though most current model also offer this feature, it is helpful none the less.
Though this really shouldn’t sway anyone’s decision in purchasing this model I found the speaker terminals somewhat disappointing. The main A/B terminals are heavy duty like expected, but the rear surrounds and center channel terminals are the spring-loaded type. To me this just seems like a cheap terminal and would much rather have the heavy duty “screw type.” I must admit though I haven’t noticed a difference in the quality of the audio due to this, so this is more of a preference then it is a downfall.
The RX-V595 has a built in Dolby Digital decoder for those of you who really want to put this unit to the test and have a full 5.1 channel speaker set up to take advantage of this. Again, today’s new A/V receivers have this as a standard feature, while some even have built in DTS, which the RX-V595 does not. But, chances are if you have a DVD player that is above average you will already have Dolby Digital and DTS decoding so you will have the ability to decode both formats. Thus, the Dolby Digital decoder in the RX-V595 is no longer a selling feature. The RX-V595 does offer a 6 channel input if you feel the need to connect a external DTS decoder (if your DVD player does not already have one built in) or any future formats which gives it some degree of flexibility.
Since receiving the unit, I have really come on around on Yamaha’s DSP sound features. At first I really didn’t care for them, which didn’t pose as a problem since you can turn “Effect off” and be done with it. After playing around with the different modes though, I have found the advantage of using the DSP features. Depending on the type of movie, a correctly chosen DSP mode can really add quite a bit to the sound.
As a general rule I have come to hate Yamaha’s remotes, and the supplied remote with the RX-V595 is no exception. It may just be me, but finding the buttons you want can be a pain while you are still learning the remote, its not laid out in the most useful and logical manner. The physical properties are also an issue in my mind. The supplied remote is very long and slender seemingly unnatural and awkward. The component select is also poorly designed in my opinion. At the top of the remote is a dial with a small window, which displays the component you can currently operate. While at first it seemed like a unique way to save space on the remote, I found it to be more of a pain. To constantly turn a dial to get the component you want seems like a waste of time to me when a simple hard button would do the trick. The dial is also hidden in the remote, so unless you have the dial memorized you have to keep turning and turning to get the desired component. Maybe it is more an issue of laziness on my part but I find the whole process tiring.
The build and quality is what I have come to love and expect when purchasing a Yamaha product. Though there really should be a worry about a receiver literally falling apart, its still reassuring to see and feel how solid and sturdy this unit is. The quality of the output is also and indication of the quality of the components inside. Yamaha did not cut any corners when putting this unit together and it shows.
Though there are many newer receivers out there that offer better connections and more decoding options the RX-V595 still proves to be a quality unit. If you are one who doesn’t strive for the latest and greatest in A/V equipment the RX-V595 would be an excellent decision. From my experiences many people really cant tell the difference between analog and digital audio connection, and cant see a difference in video transfer on smaller TVs so composite connections should be adequate. If you are looking for a solid receiver that offers Dolby Digital decoding I would highly recommend the RX-V595. The receiver is one of the most if not the most important feature in a home theater system so it would be wise to get a good one. In this tradition the Yamaha RX-V595 does not let you down.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 490
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Epinions.com ID:
ambrehm
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Location: macomb, illinois
Reviews written: 16
Trusted by: 2 members
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