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Yamaha Debuts The RX-V1 And Raises The Curtain On Home Theatre For The Next Millennium
Yamaha Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of musical instruments, which introduced the world's first reality-based digital soundfield processing for surround in its DSP-1 in 1986, and followed that up with a series of groundbreaking A/V processors and receivers, has revealed its RX-V1. The new model is a new digital home theatre receiver, which it says will set the standard for home theatre receivers for several years. It will be available in March 2000. (Availability will differ depending on areas). The new receiver is an expression of Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART design - an engineering, performance, and quality standard for the new era of digital electronics. It features Yamaha's Dolby Digital/Matrix 6.1 and can be used to enjoy the newest Dolby Surround technologies and the DTS-ES 6.1-channel surround format. The RX-V1 incorporates a pair of newly designed LSI's which deliver High-Density CINEMA DSP. Other new digital features include Burr-Brown PCM 1704 multi-bit DAC's (96 kHz, 24 bit) for all 10 channels, and a wide-range, precise digital volume control. The RX-V1 also features Yamaha's new SILENT CINEMA technology, a new easy to use remote control unit, and interactive control capability via a back-panel RS-232C terminal. The RX-V1 is an 8-channel receiver which maintains Yamaha's flagship tradition of adding two front-effects speakers to the surround array. The new receiver delivers 110 watts to the six full-range channels (Front: left, center, right; Rear: left, center, right) required by the latest Dolby and DTS surround formats. Yamaha's front-effects channels each receive 35 watts. New Digital Technology Ready for any announced technology and for the future, Yamaha's RX-V1 incorporates many new digital features and technologies, including a newly designed Yamaha LSI for DSP. The YSS-910 is a 44-bit IC which is dedicated to Yamaha's Digital Sound Field Processing and other Yamaha processing modes, such as CINEMA DSP. When used in conjunction with the company's YSS-918 for Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, the combination delivers clarity, imaging, and acoustic subtlety not possible before. In addition, the LSI's incorporate speaker set-up functions and equalizing circuits in the digital domain to eliminate analog circuits after the D/A converter. The receiver utilizes a digital volume control for precise output adjustment of the analog. This super-accurate device replaces previously used mechanical controls. Manufactured by Crystal Semiconductor, the control features an expanded range and can be varied from 0 dB to -99 dB in 0.5 dB steps. And while the device itself is digital, it is operated via a new and highly accurate volume knob axis which provides the ""feeling"" of steady and complete control. In addition to the knob setting, volume can be monitored by a numeric (dB) on-screen display with a bar graph. More Surround Programs In addition to increased performance, the RX-V1 provides more surround programs and options than its predecessor. With the inclusion of Dolby Digital/Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES (Surround EX), the total number of available programs has increased from 42 in the DSP-A1 to 54 in the new receiver. The RX-V1 also features SILENT CINEMA, which allows listeners to enjoy much of the effect of multiple-channel surround in private, through the use of headphones. In developing SILENT CINEMA, Yamaha has used new technology and perceptual tools such as Head-Related Transfer Functions (""HRTF"") to achieve a credible full-surround effect even though only headphones are being utilized. This is made possible through the power of the new YSS-910 44-bit LSI, originally developed for the Yamaha PM1D digital recording console. The RX-V1 also provides Virtual CINEMA DSP, which allows listeners to enjoy much of the effect of multiple-speaker surround without using rear speakers. Powerful Amplifier, New Design The RX-V1 has a powerful new amplifier that delivers 110 watts each to the six channels required by the newest surround formats. In addition, the amp provides 35 watts each to the two front effects channels that contribute to a sense of soundstage depth that the company incorporates in its flagship processors and receivers. Total power for the 8-channel amplifier is over 700 watts, RMS. Careful attention has been given to the circuit design and layout, as well. It utilizes Yamaha's Digital ToP-ART design. All current paths from the power supply to the power amplifier and to the speaker drive circuits have a low-impedance design. The extra-large anti-resonance aluminum-extruded and naturally cooled heat sinks provide efficient heat dissipation and are located on the base frame with the power amplifier circuit boards. This placement, away from the processing and pre-amp circuits, prevents interference-degradation of the signal. Another feature of the amplifier design is the use of wide bandwidth power transistors. These provide very wide frequency range characteristics - 100 kHz, -3 dB - and will easily handle even the next generation of wider frequency digital audio products, such as DVD Audio. Yamaha has also equipped the RX-V1 with an improved, large-capacity preamplifier power supply to ensure stable signal operation for analog and digital signal processing and video signals. Yamaha's construction design assures that the low-noise and stable power supply operates with no interference generated by the power amplifier section. The amplifier features a total low-impedance ground design and uses thick ground jumper wires to minimize the fluctuation of electric potential from the DC range to high frequencies, and contributes to the amp's sonic purity. Similarly, a copper-plated bottom cover for the power amplifier section and shielded cases for the DSP boards guard against signal degradation. Underscoring the company's Digital ToP-ART concept, the Processor Direct switch enables the signal to bypass tone-control circuits and connect directly with the power amplifier. Since the digital volume device also achieves a shorter signal path, it is possible to connect the processor board output directly to the power amplifier and maintain a pure direct path and signal. Remote Control And Custom Installation The RX-V1 comes with an easy to use new remote control capable of learning up to 150 commands for Yamaha electronics or a large number in multi-brand systems and is pre-encoded with codes for most major brands of audio/video equipment. This new remote control also features an LCD window, direct access operation, backlit keys, macro programming capability, and a low-power consumption design. A unique terminal on the RX-V1's back panel is an RS-232C port. This provides the most sophisticated interactive remote control now possible and enables connection of powerful custom installation control systems such as the Panja system touch panel. Other Advanced Features The RX-V1 has expanded its input/output bay. The receiver features independent LD, CD, and DVD input terminals and has increased its digital inputs to include such future technology input sources as Digital TV, Cable TV, and Satellite Digital TV. All digital terminals are compatible with 96 kHz signals. In addition, all A/V inputs are equipped with S-Video terminals and the receiver has two independent video monitor output terminals. This allows the RX-V1 to be connected to both a TV and a projection system simultaneously and is ideal for custom installation and other applications. RCA pin jacks are also provided for easy changeover to component video, for better picture quality. Here again, the circuitry is designed to safeguard signal integrity. The changeover device for the component video signal utilizes relay connectors and does not route the signal through the amplifier. Yamaha has built a high quality AM/FM tuner into the RX-V1. As many as 40 stations can be pre-set and arranged in groups to make selection easier. For true simplicity, the RX-V1 will even automatically pre-select the 40 strongest stations in an area and then allow for preset editing into groups.