Yamaha RX-V3900 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver

The Yamaha RX-V3900 is a high-end home theater receiver designed to be a complete centerpiece for your home theater system. Having had a chance to use the Yamaha RX-V3900, I can say that it just about does everything except make the popcorn and pour the soft drinks. With features such as extensive audio decoding options, HDMI upscaling and switching, iPod connectivity and control (via USB or Dock), XM/Sirius Satellite and Internet radio, and also built-in Networking and Bluetooth capability, this receiver can perform just about any audio or video task required now, and in the forseeable future.

The RX-V3900 has an abundance of features:

1. 7 channel amplification delivering 140 Watts into each full channel at .04% THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). .1 channel Subwoofer line output for a powered subwoofer.

2. The RX-V3900 has extensive surround sound processing options, including: Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES, DTS 96/24. Also, DTS Neo:6 and Dolby ProLogic IIx processing enables the RX-V3900 to extract 7.1-channel audio from any stereo or multichannel source. The RX-V3900 also decodes DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD soundtracks on Blu-ray Discs and HD-DVDs via its HDMI 1.3a compatible inputs. The RX-V3900 also features XM-HD Surround and SRS Circle Surround II processing.

3. Parametric Equalizer for each channel.

4. Automatic speaker setup via YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer). This system uses a provided microphone and built-in equalizer to automatically set the speaker level for each channel. The YPAO first checks to see that each speaker is wired correctly to the receiver. Then, using a built-in test tone generator room acoustics are analyzed and the receiver is set to a variety of parameters, such as the speaker size, the distance of the speakers from the listening position, and sound pressure levels. In addition to using the YPAO, a user can also manually set personal preferences for speaker level, distance, and low frequency crossover settings for each channel.

5. Speaker connectivity provided for 7.1 or 5.1 channels, 5.1 channels in combination with a two channel 2nd Zone, Bi-amping, or Front Presence configurations.

6. Audio inputs: Six stereo analog, Five digital optical, Three digital coaxial. Also included: one set of eight channel analog audio inputs: Front (Left, Center, Right), Rear (Surround Left & Right, Surround Back Left & Right) and Subwoofer. These inputs can be used for accessing SACD, DVD-Audio, or external decoder (self-decoding Blu-ray Disc Player).

7. Second zone preamp outputs. Silent Cinema headphone output.

8. Two HDMI outputs, Two Digital Audio outputs, Two VCR/DVR/DVD Recorder In/Out connection loops, as well as RS232 connection and 12 volt triggers for custom installation control needs.

9. Video Inputs: Four HDMI, Three Component, Six S-video, Six Composite.

10. XM/Sirius Satellite Radio (optional antenna/tuners and subscription required). AM/FM Tuner with 40 presets. Internet Radio and Rhapsody access via Ethernet connection.

11. iPod Connectivity and control via optional Docking Station.

12. Audio Delay for adjusting lip-sync (0–240 ms)

13. On-board crossover (9 frequency bands) and phase control for Subwoofer. The crossover control sets the point at which you want the subwoofer to produce low frequency sounds, against the ability of the satellite speakers to reproduce low frequency sounds.

14. Two Wireless remote controls are included. One remote is provided strictly for main system, a smaller remote can also be used for the main system, or can be set for Zone 2 or 3 operation.

15. An on-screen GUI (Graphical User Interface) display makes operating the receiver easy and intuitive. It is compatible with iPod, internet radio, PC and USB displays.

16. Video Processing: Analog to HDMI video conversion and 1080p video upscaling via built-in Anchor Bay ABT2010 Video Scaler/Processor.

For an additional close-up look at the features and connections provided on RX-V3900, also check out my Photo Gallery.

Hardware Used

Home Theater Receivers used for comparison included, the Onkyo TX-SR705, Harman Kardon AVR147.

Blu-ray Disc and CD Source Components: Sony BD-PS350 Blu-ray Disc player and OPPO DV-983H DVD Player (used for standard DVD upscaling comparison).

CD-only Player sources included: Technics SL-PD888 and Denon DCM-370 5-disc CD Changers.

Loudspeakers used in different setups included:

Loudspeaker System 1: 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s.

Loudspeaker System 2: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers.

Subwoofers: Klipsch Synergy Sub10 - System 1. Polk Audio PSW10 - System 2.

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, and Syntax LT-32HV 720p LCD TV. Displays calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

DVDO EDGE Video Scaler used for baseline video upscaling comparisons.

Audio/Video connections made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables. 16 Gauge Speaker Wire used.

Level checks made using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Software Used

Blu-ray Discs: 300, Across The Universe, Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian, Hairspray, I am Legend, Iron Man, Quarantine, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, Sunshine, The Dark Knight, and Wall-E.

Standard DVDs: The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander, Moulin Rouge, and V For Vendetta.

CDs: Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me.

DVD-Audio discs included: Queen - Night At The Opera/The Game, Eagles - Hotel California, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Uninvisible.

SACD discs used included: Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon, Steely Dan - Gaucho, The Who - Tommy.

In addition, music content on CD-R/RWs was also used.

The Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD video test disc was also used for more precise video performance measurements.

The YPAO Results

Although no automatic system can be perfect, or account for personal taste, the YPAO function did a credible job of setting up speaker levels properly, in relation to the room characteristics. Speaker distances were calculated accurately, and automatic adjustments to the audio level and equalization were made to compensate.

After the YPAO procedure was complete, the speaker balance was very good between the Surround and Main channels, but I further manually increased the Center Channel speaker level by 2db for my own personal taste.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take