The RX-V640 is one of the latest "budget" AV receivers from Yamaha that is designed to deliver solid performance, while supplying a number of useful features. Its discrete 6-channel amplifier supplies 85 RMS WPC into standard 8 ohm loads (0.06 THD). It has all needed front and rear analog/digital AV connections (Audio inputs: 7 analog, 4 digital, 1 coaxial. Video inputs: 5 composite, 5 S-video, and two Component video inputs) as well as 6.1 channel analog inputs for an external surround sound decoder or SACD/DVD-Audio sources. The RX-V640 also offers 2-channel second zone preamp outputs. The RX-V640 also has AV switching of composite, S-video, and component sources, with the additional usefulness of two-way video conversion. This feature actually converts S-video input to standard composite output or vice-versa. This enables the user to hook-up a VCR, DVD player, and TV using a combination of S-Video and composite connections. Component video connections are not subject to conversion, however.
In addition to multi-format DD/DTS surround decoding, the RX-V640 also has Pro Logic II, and DTS Neo:6, which create effective 5.1/6.1 channel surround fields from two channel sources.
Other functional features include a front headphone jack, two rear convenience power outlets (both switched), an AM/FM stereo tuner and, of course, a remote control. Unlike most AV receivers in this class, the RX-V640 does not have an onscreen display; all settings are displayed on the 640's front panel LED display and changed through the supplied remote control. The MSRP of the RX-V640 is an affordable $499.
Testing Setup
Components used in the evaluation inlcuded a Denon DCM-370 CD/HDCD Changer, Panasonic LX-1000 Laserdisc Player, Pioneer DV-525 DVD player, Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder, a Yamaha YST-SW205 powered subwoofer, and an Optoma H56 DLP video projector. A variety of loudspeakers, in both matched and mismatched setups were used. All line-level (including subwoofer) and digital audio connections between components were made with Cobalt interconnect cables.
A sampling of the software used included standard CDs: HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon (2003), Nora Jones: Come Away With Me, Lisa Loeb: Firecracker (HDCD), Blondie: Live (HDCD), Telarc: 1812 Oveture. One Laserdisc was used: Godzilla 1998. DVDs used included: Godzilla 1998, Spirited Away, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea, Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report (DTS/Dolby Digital), and U571(DTS). DVD-Audio/DTS music discs used included: Queen: Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles: Hotel California, Sheila Nicholls: Wake, Alan Parsons: On Air. Also included: The Corrs: In Blue (Dolby Digital). Portions of other software titles in the above categories were used as well.
Proceed to page 2 (at the link below right), for the results and conclusion relating to the Yamaha RX-V640.
~ Robert Silva
