Yamaha RX-V557 XM-Enabled 6.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver

In addition to its home theater audio and video features, Yamaha has included an innovative twist that is probably a harbinger of things to come.

The RX-557 includes a built-in XM-Radio satellite tuner. However, since XM radio is a paid subscription listening service, the consumer must both purchase a special XM-radio antenna, as well as pay a monthly fee for the service.

Despite this aspect, however, I found that setting up the XM feature was fairly straight forward. There is a special input on the back panel of the 557 to which you connect the XM antenna. In addition, the antenna has an extremely long cable as it must be placed near a window facing south. This may restrict some installations.

After the antenna is set up and connected, the 557 will display a serial number from the antenna on its LED display from which you call or activate your service via the XM website.

The result is a listening experience I did not expect. Having given up listening to AM/FM in my home theater setup years ago (except for product reviews), I actually found myself listening to the XM radio function quite a bit as I was doing other things in the room. The extensive program offerings in terms of niche music channels and cable news services adds a lot of listening flexibility.

In addition, the sound quality was consistently good (depending on the original programming source) and free of pitfalls of traditional AM and FM radio signals. The only glitch, at first, was placing the antenna correctly.

The Pros and Cons of the RX-V557

The standout features of the Yamaha RX-V557 include:

1. Very good sound quality in both stereo and surround modes.

2. Video signal conversion from composite or S-video input to component output simplifies video connectivity.

3. Incorporation of an XM-Satellite Radio tuner brings the pleasure of good-quality radio listening (in both programming options and sound quality) into the home theater environment.

4. Although the basic setup of the RX-V557 is easy, there are also extensive speaker setup and adjustment options for added installation flexibility.

5. The front panel controls are simple and well-designed. In addition, the 557's LED display does a great job of displaying XM radio information as well as receiver status information.

However, as well as having some great positive attributes, I did find some aspects of the 557 lacking:

1. No dedicated phono (turntable) input is provided. Although the 557 has a 6-channel input for SACD/DVD Audio players, it must be noted that Vinyl records are still outselling both of these formats.

2. No onscreen menu display option.

3. No S-video or digital audio input on front panel.

4. The 557 could use a second AV input/output loop to accommodate both a VCR and DVD recorder or DVR.

Final Take

The RX-V557 delivers enough power for an averaged-size room and provides exceptional sound with its high-current amplifier design. Useful features include: 6.1 channel surround processing, composite to S-video to Component video conversion; Second Zone pre-outs, which allow the user to supply either a simultaneous or second source to another room (additional amplifier required), and Center Channel Equalizer, for fine tuning movie dialog tracks.

The most innovative feature of the RX-V557 is the inclusion of an XM-Satellite Radio tuner in addition to a standard AM/FM tuner. With the addition of a compatible XM Satellite Radio antenna, and the required subscription fee, the consumer can enjoy an extensive offering of specialized music, news, and information channels. XM radio definitely has the potential to increase the flexibility of a home theater setup.

The sound quality of the RX-V557 is clear and well-balanced for an entry level AV receiver. One of the indicators of a good receiver is the ability to perform well in both stereo and surround modes. I found the audio quality of the 557 in both stereo and surround modes to be very good, making it acceptable for both extensive music listening as well as for home theater use.

I also found the composite and s-video to component video conversion function worked very well. This simplifies connection of older components to today's digital televisions.

If you are looking for a flexible, good performing, and affordable receiver to be the centerpiece in a basic home theater, the RX-V557 deserves consideration. I give it 4.5 Stars out of 5.