Best Yamaha AV Receiver Reviews

Yamaha RX-A4A – best overall

So, we start with the most exciting part of the review – today’s best Yamaha AV receiver. The Yamaha RX-A4A AVENTAGE 7.2-channel AV offers a rich set of specifications. Yet, it is the combination of price, quality, and those specs that make this receiver the gateway to an exceptional audio and video journey.

The AVENTAGE range is characterized by an exceptional design. You will immediately recognize this generation of receivers by the glossy, bright surface with a round knob in the middle. But this is my personal pain. With all my respect for the brand and the quality of its products, it’s a nightmare. The glossy surface attracts dust like a magnet, and the touch control implies fingerprints, fingerprints, and once again – fingerprints. The LCD is practically invisible, just something glowing in the corner. But the chassis itself is a work of art. The slider spins smoothly and accurately catches the volume level you’re looking for. The receiver’s 35.7-pound weight speaks volumes about the quality of its internal components.

In my case, the journey started with movies. Firstly, I lost myself in the menu when I wanted to adjust the receiver’s settings. An unexpectedly witty menu for me can be a true nightmare for someone with no experience with AV receivers. Surely, it is not the coolest beginning, but it is what it is.

Instead of browsing the weird menu, I decided to switch to movies, and this was when the receiver sparkled like a gem. Considering this is a 7.2 unit armed with 110 Watts of power, the support of Dolby Atmos and DTS: X is common for its class, but it is all about how this receiver handles the capabilities offered by these technologies. Combine the modern surround sound with typical Yamaha cold and crystal clear sound – I got real goosebumps. Needless to say, the support of 4K/120 Hz and 8K/60 Hz made sure that all of my content was displayed with the maximum possible for my system and content source’s quality.

Things get even more interesting when it comes to horror, both movies and gaming. The RX-A4A delivers a cold metallic sound, which adds 100 points to the atmosphere. Want more? That’s how I felt when I decided to play Alan Wake 2 using this receiver and Holly Molly – this AVR does a perfect job with precise sound placement. Here is what I say – good luck trying to understand whether that creaking floorboard sound behind your left shoulder is a darkness-born enemy creeping to get you or just a sound effect carefully placed by the developers. At least, I always clearly hear the location of where it comes from.

ALLM and VRR are there for next to zero input lag for those interested in competitive gaming. So, the RX-A4A can serve well for competitive gaming, but I prefer to use it with movies or story-oriented games, as this is where it truly rocks.

On the multiroom side, I was testing the nerve of my family with the Zone 2 feature and MusicCast support. Everyone settled down when I arranged 3 separate rooms with independent sound sources. My wife and I finally got our hands on The Revenant while two of our kids were separately watching some superhero TV series and cartoons in different rooms. It is a capable unit. However, if you want full-scale surround sound, then use the main room, and MusicCast works perfectly for music.

Yamaha RX-V4A – budget

Okay, here is the thing: if you are staying here and willing to learn more about Yamaha’s receivers I have collected for you, you need to be very attentive to their model names. I guess Yamaha puts all the effort into making the models interesting and completely forgets about convenient naming. You will get used to that, but it takes time. In this part, we discuss the V4A – their most interesting budget receiver.

The Yamaha RX-V4A is not in the AVENTAGE lineup, but it was released in 2020, and the design cues are already visible. More rounded sides and no dividing line in the middle. And all the same shortcomings of the glossy surface. Nevertheless – that’s not the main thing. Considering the cost of AVR, we should have expected a simpler filling. And this is reflected in the weight of 19.4 pounds (2 times lighter than the RX-A4A). And while that’s a normal weight for a 5-channel receiver (even heavier if you compare it to other brands), you’re still dealing with less stability, worse ventilation, and, as a result, longevity.

So, starting small, it offers 5.2 channels with 80 watts with 8 ohm speakers. Doesn’t it look that impressive after the RX-A4A? The experienced receiver lovers, or just those who commonly visit my blog, already know why 80 watts of power is pretty enough for this unit – it is a 5.2-channel model aimed at small and medium-sized rooms.

Still, there is a fly in the ointment. I felt so restricted with the HDMI inputs and outputs number 4 and 1, respectively. Okay, call me a grumpy, but that’s NOT ENOUGH. I always run testing in movies, gaming, and music, and I indeed tortured that single HDMI out port to test the unit on all my screens. My typical usage when I have the receiver connected to the TV and my gaming monitor simultaneously is impossible here.

You see, I know the ropes in the AV receiver industry. If you are making your first steps in the industry, using a single screen and building a starter home entertainment system, a single HDMI port is far from the issue for you. You plug it in once and forget it for 2-3 years. But here is what makes the RX-V4A so interesting and capable: 8K and 4K. Do those numbers ring any bells? Yep, this unit supports the same resolutions and screen refresh rates as the RX-A4A, which is HUGE!

It gives you exactly what you think – almost the same video quality as the RX-A4A (you will see the difference only when directly comparing the video quality from receivers). The movies are clear and very enjoyable. Surely, there is no point in comparing the 5.2 setups with the 7.2 channel sound, but the RX-V4A, while doing a poorer job with object placing (obviously), still delivers Yamaha classic crystal clear and cold sound.

The detailed dialogues of criminal dramas, stunning soundtracks of superheroic or epic movies, and creepy noises from horrors were there, right around me. Surprisingly, the YPAO works way better with the 5.2 channel system than the 7.2 one.

Yamaha RX-A8A – premium

The time has come to look at the absolute beast of today’s review – the RX-A8A, an 11.2-channel monster. Want me to compare it to the RX-A4A? Okay, here we go:

• The RX-A8A offers a more extensive channel configuration, making it suitable for larger and more complex home theater setups.
• 150 Watts vs. 110 Watts – add a little more power, which will be 50% more.
• Auro-3D onboard and obviously a far more flexible multiroom capability.

Do you feel tired of the technical specs already? Yeah, me too. I didn’t mention that the RX-A8A offers a modern and powerful DAC module, but let’s keep it that way, or this review is going to be boring as hell.

I’ve just realized something, something that I wasn’t meant to do. As the AV receiver lover who wants my reader to get quality units, I made a silent vow to put the Yamaha RX-A4A on top because it deserves it. So, I named it the coolest Yamaha home theater receiver in today’s review. But I realized right now that I am also the one who mocks it while reviewing the RX-A8A. So, let’s take a look at the similarities between these two.

• Both receivers offer 4K and 8K HDMI, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDCP 2.3, and eARC (7 in/3 out).
• They offer extensive steaming capabilities, though the RX-A8A also has balanced XLR support.
• Talking about the video quality, you will see that the RX-A8A offers a slightly more detailed picture than the RX-A4A.
• On the sound side, the difference is obvious: 11.2 channels offer more preciseness in object placing and offer a way more readable surround sound. Yet, both units stick to the Yamaha typical sound, showing the brand’s consistency within all price ranges.

Regarding design and build quality, the 47.2-pound weight speaks volumes. I didn’t call the RX-A8A a beast for nothing. When you touch it, you directly feel the power and quality. The design is omitted – AVENTAGE is pleasing to the eye, but you have to be indifferent to dust or wipe it off daily. It’s a horror. But the internal components (I won’t bore you) are something. You can see the quality even from the connectors on the back panel. It’s premium, and you can literally see it. However, the receiver overheated a lot during testing.

You may have thought, if the RX-A8A surpasses today’s choice almost in every instance, why is it not on top? You see, when you need a car to work, you get something that works and allows you to get the job done – the RX-V4A or a Honda Civic does the job and allows you to try how owning a receiver feels.

The RX-A4A is the Ford Taurus, as it does the same and far more than the RX-V4A, but does it in style. Finally, the RX-A8A is an Audi A8 – a masterpiece on the road that mainly focuses on pure emotions rather than performance or getting the job done. Considering Yamaha’s funny naming, I probably should have given this comparison with cars a bit earlier. But let it be for those who stick around with me and read my reviews to the last word.

Yamaha RX-A6A – also great

Let’s look at the main Ford Taurus competitor in today’s market – the Chevrolet Impala. Alright-alright, here I am talking about the RX-A6A. Just don’t tell me I am the only one who doesn’t like the Yamaha Aventage lineup naming. It truly gets better with only the middle number changing, though the RX-V4A falls off from this, as here they change the letter instead of the number. Oh God, Yamaha, why?

Nothing new in the Aventage design, but this receiver has a “feature”. You have extra pre-outputs for an external amplifier, which means you can end up with 11 processing channels. The 41.2-pound weight is a bit on the low side for the RX-A8A, but that’s due to the lack of 2 channels (9 vs. 11), and the internal components and technology are all as good. Nevertheless, the “disease” of overheating has also affected this model. I’ll detail my experience later in the review. I really like the additional spot foot in the center on the bottom; it provides extra stability to the design. And the remote. It is quite convenient, although the on-screen menu is still confusing (perhaps this is too subjective).

So, let’s not waste any moment more for my complaints and instead dig into the RX-A6A because this receiver is the middle ground between the RX-A4A and RX-A8A (in this particular case, the naming is our friend). It is a 9.2-channel receiver with 150 watts of pure power. Similarly to the RX-A8A, it packs many technologies, resulting in awesome video and sound quality.

The first on my list was “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” — something to watch with kids. As the dream superhero worlds unfolded, the Yamaha RX-A6A delivered with remarkable precision. It was a surreal experience for my kiddos, and the receiver’s signature sound was evident — cold, neutral, crystal, and metallic. The subtle nuances in the soundtrack were there for us to enjoy.

Next up was “Dune.” The only thing that kept my wife and me from our phones was our conversation about the sound quality. For a moment, it seemed that she started to share my second lifelong passion – AV Receivers and great sound (Obviously, she is the first one, and yes, I know that you are reading this, dear. You are looking so fantastic today).

But let’s get back to the world of receivers. So, the Yamaha RX-A8A’s power output truly shone here – the receiver’s ability to maintain a neutral and crystal-clear sound was one thing that allowed us to enjoy instead of falling asleep. HDR10+ was another, as the extensive dynamic range created fantastic views for us.

So, finally, here comes something that I watched alone, primarily focusing on the sound. Also, this was the day when I had the RX-A6A working for more than 8 hours straight. As a result, it went into an emergency shutdown. When touching the upper panel, the receiver felt as if I could get my most loved fried monster fingers for this Halloween right on top of it. Anyway, the eerie and ethereal soundtrack blended seamlessly with the chilling vastness of space. It was an emotional rollercoaster, and the receiver delivered each moment with a sense of cold realism.