Yamaha on Tuesday filled out the rest of its RX-V 79-series AV receiver line, bringing step-up models with HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 support for use with 4K Ultra HD TV-equipped home theater systems.
The 2015 models, which join the series’ entry model RX-V379 introduced last month, include: the 7.2-channel RX-V779, RX-V679 and RX-V579, and the 5.1-channel RX-V479, all offering 4K Ultra HD-HDMI support.
More on Yamaha’s new A/V receiver line after the break:
The new receivers also offer a variety of wireless device connectivity options including integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirPlay, and support for Spotify Connect music streaming.
The receivers also link to the Pandora music service and access Internet radio provided via vTuner.
Models RX-V779 ($849.95) and RX-V679 ($649.95) add SiriusXM Internet Radio and Rhapsody music streaming. All models are compatible with Yamaha’s AV Controller App to control the receiver with Apple iOS and Android mobile devices.
The RX-V779 (160 watts, 1kHz, 1ch driven) and RX-V679 (150 watts) also support 4K Ultra HD at up to 60p 4:4:4 chroma sub-sampling for watching content in this super high-resolution format, while the RX-V579 ($549.95) and RX-V479 ($449.95) provide 4K Ultra HD at 60p 4:2:0. The new Ultra HD Blu-ray spec. supports up to 4:2:0 chroma sub sampling.
Yamaha said that at this time none of the receivers in the series support the new HDMI 2.0a spec., which will allow passing through 4K Ultra HD video content encoded with high dynamic range metadata. A company spokesman told HD Guru that Yamaha couldn’t say at this time if a firmware update would be possible in the future to add the HDMI 2.0a capability.
However, the addition of HDCP 2.2 support will allow the receivers to work with copy-protected 4K Ultra HD content, playable on most 4K UHD TV sets available today, from connected media streaming devices and forthcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray players.
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Yamaha said the RX-V679 and RX-V779 have video upscaling processors to take lower-resolution SD and HD videos fed through analog and HDMI inputs and process them enhanced appearance on 4K-Ultra HD- supporting TVs.
All of the Yamaha RX-V 79 Series receivers include support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio HD audio format decoding, the company said.
Yamaha said its exclusive Compressed Music Enhancer in the receivers has been optimized “to effectively reproduce vivid and lively sound from music streamed via Bluetooth from smartphones and other devices.”
In addition, a YPAO automatic calibration system in models RX-479 (140 watts, 1kHz, 1ch) and RX-V579 (140 watts) optimizes speaker output for the best listening experience in the room. The RX-V679 adds YPAO – Reflected Sound Control, while the RX-V779 offers YPAO – R.S.C., which provides multipoint measurement to calibrate the listening area for better sound at every seating position, the company said.
The RX-V779 also offers HDMI Zone B to deliver an additional HDMI audio and video feed to another room. For difficult speaker-placement conditions, Yamaha’s Virtual Cinema Front technology available in each model allows placing all five speakers at the front of listening area and still deliver a surround sound experience.
By Greg Tarr
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