Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 Media Controller/Home Theater Receiver - Product Review

The Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 is designed to be easy to use, while still providing necessary AV flexibility. The YMC-700 offers 5.1 channel audio processing, 3 HDMI inputs, USB, and a docking station port for iPods and Bluetooth devices. The YMC-700 is also WiFi enabled, allowing home network connection for access to media content from a PC or Rhapsody and Internet Radio. However, the key to Yamaha's new media controllers isn't the inputs, outputs, and AV features, but its unique onscreen menu-driven navigation system. After reading this review, check out my Short Review Photo Gallery and Video Peformance Test Results.

Features of the Yamaha neoHD YMC-700 include:

1. Media Controller combined with 5.1 channel Home Theater Receiver. YPAO automatic speaker setup system. By connecting a provided microphone, and activating a series of test tones, the YPAO calculates the size of your loudspeakers, how many loudspeakers are connected, and the location distance of each speaker from the main listening position. Manual override of each calculated setting is also allowed.

2. Audio Decoding: Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS 5.1, 96/24. It is important to note that the YMC-700 does not offer DTS-HD Master Audio decoding.

3. Air Surround Xtreme can create up to a 7.1 channel virtual surround field when using the YMC-700 with just two speakers and subwoofer.

4. Compressed Music Enhancer provides optimium audio reproduction of the compressed music sources, such as WMA and MP3 files.

5. Audio inputs: 1 Stereo Analog, 1 Digital Optical, 1 Digital Coaxial. The Digital audio input connections are used to access Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound from DVD players, Digital Cable Boxes, Satellite Boxes, or other source component that has either a Digital Optical or Digital Coaxial output connection. Some devices have both options, in which case, you can can choose either. It is also important to note that some CD-Only players have digital audio outputs as well, however, these are just two channel outputs.

6. Video Inputs: 3 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 Composite.

7. The YMC-700 has one HDMI output. The HDMI output is for connecting the YMC-700 to your HDTV. HDMI also passes both video and audio signals. It is important to note that this is the only audio/video output connection on the YMC-700. There are no analog video output connections on the YMC-700. This means that the YMC-700 can only be connected to HDTVs that have an HDMI or DVI-HDCP input connection. The YMC-700 performs analog to HDMI conversion (480i to 480p), but does not perform any 720p, 1080i, or 1080p video upscaling functions.

8. iPod and Bluetooth connectivity and control via optional docking station. USB input for access to digital media content stored on flash drives.

9. Wired (ethernet) and Wireless (WiFi) network/internet connectivity. Firmware Upgradeable via Network or USB.

10. Rhapsody and Internet Radio access.

11. 3 Dual IR Flasher connection inputs/1 IR flasher output for control of additional source components.

12. Wireless remote controls included. On-screen GUI (Graphical User Interface) display.

Hardware Used

Home Theater Receivers used for comparison: Onkyo TX-SR705 (used in 5.1 channel mode for this review comparison), Harman Kardon AVR147.

Source Components: OPPO Digital BDP-83 and Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Disc Players OPPO DV-980H Upscaling DVD Player

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

Loudspeaker Systems used included:

Loudspeaker System 1 (5.1 Channels): 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , Klipsch Synergy Sub10.

Loudspeaker System 2 (5.1 Channels): 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speaker, Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer.

Loudspeaker System 3 (5.1 Channels): Mordaunt-Short Alumni speaker system made up of: one Alumni 3 Left/Center/Right Speaker, two Alumni 2 Surround speakers, and one Alumni 9 powered subwoofer (on review loan from Mordaunt-Short).

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, Displays calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

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, Bolt, Godzilla (1998), Hairspray, Iron Man, Night at the Museum, Quarantine, Rush Hour 3, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, The Dark Knight, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen and Wall-E.

Standard DVDs: The Cave, Godsmack: Changes, 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, Outlander, and U571.

CDs: Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light and A Beach Full of Shells, 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, Transiberian Orchestra - Night Castle.

Additional content streamed from the internet (Rhapsody, Podcasts, Internet Radio), as well as audio and still image content shared from PC, connected USB flash drives, and iPod.

Getting Started: The neoHD Graphical User Interface

Probably the most innovative aspect of the YMC-700 is neoHD menu system (GUI - Graphical User Interface) that operates features and functions.

Before you get started actually using the YMC-700, the menu system takes you through a step-by-step setup process that verifies that you have everything connected correctly. In addition, if you make any mistakes, the menu system makes it easy to trace back your steps without pulling your hair out in frustration.

Although there are few quirks, such as a point system that isn't really needed for setting everything up, the GUI, working in conjunction with a uncomplicated wireless remote control, is very easy to use after a few minutes. To put it simply the neoHD is an activity-based system. It is based on what you want to do (Watch, Listen, Play), rather than just simply identifying inputs and function selections. Check out some onscreen menu examples in my supplementary Photo Gallery.

For complete details on how neoHD GUI operates, check out Yamaha website which features both an easy-to-understand text-based explanation and video demonstration.

Proceed to Page 2: Audio Performance, Video Performance, Pros/Cons, and Final Take.