Yamaha's New Home Audio/Video Receivers Boastmore Advanced Features At Popular Price Points

Advanced Features Include SCENE (Pre-Set Listening Modes),HDMI 1080p Switching, Multi-Zone Operation, YPAO, iPod and XM Satellite Radio Compatibility

April 2, 2007

Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, introduces its latest series of moderately priced home audio/video receivers that offer the most advanced feature sets in the company's history. The new line includes the RX-V661 (90Wx7; MSRP $549.95), RX-V461 (100Wx5; MSRP $349.95) and RX-V361 (100Wx5; MSRP $229.95). Designed to maximize the audio experience at the touch of a button, the Scene Mode provides four customizable pre-set listening modes for enjoying TV, DVDs, CDs and the radio. The company's proprietary Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO) technology and Optimizer Microphone simplify the home theater set-up process by automatically optimizing room acoustics via a parametric equalizer. Scene mode is available in all three of the line's units, and YPAO is available in the RX-V661 and RX-V461 models. The RX-V661 and RX-V461 connect easily to the Apple iPod via an optional iPod docking station (Yamaha YDS-10). Once docked, the iPod can be operated via the receivers' remote controls, and users can navigate the popular portable's audio and video content via an on-screen display on an entertainment system's TV or monitor. Video from a docked iPod can also be enjoyed on a big screen TV or monitor. Lastly, docked iPods are automatically charged so that they are ready to be taken on the go at all times. All models in the line feature Yamaha's proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology, which restores the lost high and low frequency audio detail that occurs when music is being "ripped©˜ or downloaded onto iPods and other portable audio players. The result is a more natural sounding listening experience that better recreates the original music performance when experienced through home speakers. All four receivers are also compatible with XM Satellite Radio and XM HD Surround via optional XM Connect-and-Play home antennas and XM Satellite Radio subscriptions. The RX-V661 and RX-V461 feature on-screen displays that allow users to easily navigate their entertainment experience, from finding a radio station, to selecting a song from CD or XM Satellite Radio, to monitoring all aspects of the audio system's status. All units ship with a preset remote control. RX-V661: Unprecedented Value for Home Theater Enjoyment Offering video quality normally available on receivers at considerably higher price points, the RX-V661 has two HDMI inputs and one HDMI output and can perform 1080p switching. The RX-V661 also offers flexible system configuration options, as its 7.1 channels can be used to create an immersive surround sound environment in a single room, or 5.1 channel surround in one zone, and two-channel stereo in a second zone. The unit's IntelliAMP feature enables users to enjoy the full 7.1 channel system in the main room when the second zone is powered off. When the second zone (two-channel stereo) is on, the receiver automatically adjust to a 5.1 channel system for the first zone. The RX-V661 has easy access front panel Zone Control buttons. The RX-V661 features Pure Direct to ensure signal purity and the highest-quality sound reproduction from both analog and digital sources. A jitter reduction circuit ensures a clear sound image and detailed sound expression during playback of digital sources, such as DVD and cable TV. In addition, 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converters are used for all seven channels. In addition, the RX-V661 features Yamaha's advanced Quad-Field Cinema DSP system, which provides a choice of 14 realistic-sounding surround programs. It is also capable of delivering 7.1 channels of audio from content encoded in all the latest surround sound formats. With SILENT CINEMA mode, users can enjoy surround-like sound through headphones. A Night Listening Enhancer ensures that all programs (including Dolby Pro Logic IIx) sound natural through speakers at lower volume levels. The RX-V661 HDMI connectivity allows high-resolution audio formats like DVD-Audio and SACD to be conveniently received through a single cable. Other input/output connections include four optical and two coaxial input terminals, an optical output terminal, front-panel A/V inputs with a digital input, three component video inputs and one output with HDTV 720p/1080i compatibility, five total video inputs and three outputs, S-video connections for all inputs and outputs, and a phono input. The RX-V461 and RX-V361 feature comprehensive Dolby and DTS sound decoding packages, while the RX-V661 offers Dolby Digital EX/Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 and DTS 96/24 / DTS Neo:6. All three models also have high-current discrete amplification for the highest quality sound reproduction and an easy-to-use setup menu with 5-band center channel EQ. Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART Technology combines high current amplification with superior components to achieve high current power with low impedance from the power supply to speaker terminals.

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