Sound & Sight Exhibition 2011 - Yamaha Flaunts New Aventage Series
Check out some of Yamaha's latest AV receivers showcased at the International Sound & Sight event, including the flagship RX-A3010 and 'entry-level' RX-A810. Yamaha also took this opportunity to set up an informative session for HardwareZone members and we covered both of these highlights in this article.
Overview of International Sound & Sight Exhibition 2011
We have more than four IT fairs within a work year. Some are relatively low-key while others like the IT Show have proven to be hugely anticipated events by gadget-seekers island-wide. On the other hand, exhibitions showcasing the best in audio and visual equipment are few and far between in the local scene. But all is not lost.
Making its 13th appearance is the International Sound & Sight Exhibition, now on at the Parkroyal hotel on Kitchener Road from the 2nd to the 4th of December. Organized by Sound Journal, the event is a rare chance for audiophiles and budding AV enthusiasts to catch the latest audio-visual crop from a host of prominent manufacturers. Members of the public can purchase tickets at the exhibition itself. A single day pass costs $15 while a two-day pass is going for $20. Opening hours are between 11am and 7pm.
Yamaha, an established maker of musical instruments and audio-visual components, is one of the distinguished participants at Sound & Sight this year. Besides showcasing their latest AV wares, the Japanese firm also conducted a Meet-The-Members session with our HardwareZone forum members on the first day of the show. Essentially, participants received informative tips on how to source for an appropriate receiver and the basic mechanics of putting together a home theater system. There's more on that towards the end of our coverage. For now, here are some of the highlights from Yamaha's latest AV booty.
No prizes for guessing which of their audio range Yamaha is pushing to the forefront here. The entire Aventage receiver series is probably the first thing you'd encounter upon stepping into the room.
Acoustic Aventage
Yamaha carries two main series under their AV receivers line-up: V-Series and Aventage. The premium-grade Aventage range only found its way to our shores recently following its official announcement back in August. To quote Yamaha's product site, the Aventage was engineered "to bring studio grade sound and sophisticated video enhancements to your home". That isn't an excessive marketing brag to be fair, since the new systems do feature improved internal components, networking capabilities (DLNA), a HQV Vida VHD1900 video processor, as well as 9.2-channel output (A2010 and A3010 models) with support for DTS-HD Master and Dolby TrueHD formats. Yamaha's high-end receivers are also fitted with an ART (Anti Resonance Technology) wedge, or an additional fifth-foot if you will, designed to stabilize the center of the receivers against vibrations.
RX-A3010
Sitting at the top of the Aventage cluster is the 9.2-channel RX-A3010. Decked with an aluminum front panel, this state of the art receiver is armed with a fortified H-shaped Cross Member Frame to increase the chassis' durability and to reduce vibrations from the transformers and heat-sinks. This beauty packs a whopping 2,070W maximum effective power output to drive the nine dedicated channels. Other audio treats include a high-speed thermal feedback power amplifier and a low-jitter PLL circuitry to improve the receiver's sound imaging. Yamaha's flagship receiver also features CINEMA DSP HD; a surround sound processing which combines two CINEMA DSP engines with advanced 3D processing and two front presence channels to recreate a cinematic aural experience. Video-wise, the A3010 is equipped with a drool-worthy HQV Vida processor with 12-bit color processing which supports 3D imaging and SD upscaling to HD quality.
The A3010 tops its A3000 predecessor with Yamaha's insertion of two additional powered channels. In other words, you can now drive a 9.2-channel system (versus 7.2-channel) using just one dedicated box. In the networking field, the A3010 supports DLNA streaming as well as vTuner Internet Radio services. Apple fans will also relish its iPhone App Control feature which enables users to control the receive's UI via the iPhone.
This receiver pumps out 11.2 channels with pre-outs alternatives. There's no lack of HDMI 1.4a slots as well given its eight HDMI inlets and two HDMI outputs (simultaneous). There's also a wide array of analog (S-video, composite and component) ports available to cater for legacy systems.
RX-A810
Don't write off this 'entry-level' Aventage as yet. The RX-A810 is actually a marvelous choice if you are comfortable with a 7.2-channel receiver equipped with a more conservative power output. While it doesn't showcase as many IO ports as its A3010 sibling, like the number of optical inputs for instance, the A810 does feature similar audio and visual benefits like its counterparts. For instance, it houses the same Burr Brown DAC chipset, plus it also supports a bi-amp configuration if you prefer to assign the amps individually. Not to mention this receiver also supports HD audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio among others. For calibration, the A810 uses Yamaha's multi-point YPAO and DSP Effect Normalization technologies which varies the CINEMA DSP parameters as determined by the reflected acoustics. At the video end, the A810 is able to process 3D signals and provide HD upscaling for lower resolutions as well.
The A810 packs the least muscle in the Aventage series, but don't discount its performance as a network receiver. As mentioned, this 7.2-channel receiver has assignable amplifiers for a bi-amp configuration as well as wireless DLNA perks. Zone 2 also caters for pre-outs options for those who prefer to wire their speakers to an external amp.
The A810 does not feature an enterprising panel like the A3010, but it has the right hardware to power a dedicated 7.2-channel setup. Besides, it also flaunts a delicious onscreen GUI as well as up-scaling capabilities (including refining low-quality 1080i sources) to tickle your AV fancy.
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Model | RX-A810 | RX-A1010 | RX-A2010 | RX-A3010 |
Channel | 7.2 | 7.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 |
Rated Output Power
(20Hz-20kHz, 2ch driven) | 100W x 7 (8ohms, 0.06% THD) | 110W x 7 (8ohms, 0.06% THD) | 140W x 9 (8ohms, 0.06% THD) | 150W x 9 (8ohms, 0.06% THD) |
Cinema DSP | Yes (3D) | Yes (3D) | Yes (3D) | Yes (3D) |
Audio Codec Support | Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus/ Pro Logic IIx, DTS-HD MA | Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus/ Pro Logic IIx, DTS-HD MA | Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus/ Pro Logic IIx, DTS-HD MA | Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus/ Pro Logic IIx, DTS-HD MA |
Bi-Amp | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DAC | 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown | 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown | 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown | 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown |
Web Browser Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
HDMI Upscaling | Analog to HDMI/HDMI to HDMI | Analog to HDMI/HDMI to HDMI | Analog to HDMI/HDMI to HDMI | Analog to HDMI/HDMI to HDMI |
HDMI Input/Output | 8 (front 1) / 2 (Simultaneous) | 8 (front 1) / 2 (Simultaneous) | 8 (front 1) / 2 (Simultaneous) | 8 (front 1) / 2 (Simultaneous) |
USB Input | iPod/iPhone, USB Memory, Portable Audio Player | iPod/iPhone, USB Memory, Portable Audio Player | iPod/iPhone, USB Memory, Portable Audio Player | iPod/iPhone, USB Memory, Portable Audio Player |
Optical Input/Output | Two/Nil | Four/One | Four/One | Four/One |
Dimensions (mm) | 435 x 171 x 369 | 435 x 182 x 432 | 435 x 192 x 467 | 435 x 192 x 467 |
Retail Price | $1499 | $1899 | $2499 | $2999 |
Restio ISX-800: Clean & Bold
Yamaha may have branded the Restio ISX-800 as a piece of desktop equipment, but to us it is anything but. Essentially, the Restio is a conventional CD player with unconventional looks. In fact, it is a beautiful creation from Yamaha with credit to the player's squarish form factor and angular good looks. The four-way speakers are veiled by a metallic grille, augmented by printed stripes below to convey a sense of depth. To mount the player, you can either position the Restio on its "half-moon" stand or mount it to the wall with an optional bracket. This bracket (AT-800) is sold separately. You'll find a dock at the left end of the panel which supports various iterations of the iPhone and iPod. Playback via a USB drive is possible, although formats are limited to MP3 and WMA. We noticed that its LED display also doubles up as a handsome digital clock. Priced at S$999, the Restio ISX-800 will arrive in Singapore in the latter half of December.
Yamaha isn't always about hardcore hi-fi components. The Restio ISX-800 makes a beautiful showpiece which requires minimal frills to get it up to speed. It will also appeal to those who desire a minimalist CD player with iPod/iPhone docking benefits.
The ISX-800 features a slot-loading CD deck and top-facing controls which makes for convenient access. Two soft-dome tweeters and dual woofers are responsible for its sterile sound quality. The Restio will be available in Purple, Black, Green or White.
Yamaha Gives Our Readers Some AV Tips
With more home/room AV discussions sprouting in our Home Theatre & Audiophiles forum, Yamaha has recently partnered with HardwareZone to keep our audience informed of their latest developments, new products and offer members valuable assistance. To kick this relation up the next level, Yamaha took advantage of this exhibition as an ideal venue to arrange a get-together session to showcase their latest AV products and lend a helping hand in some of the most frequently asked questions such as what to consider in setting up a home theater system, what AV components are ideal for the novice users and what paths are available for those who already own an old home theater setup.
For example, one key marketing spec of an AV receiver would be its power output capability, but how many people can relate those numbers to actual audio output quality? Other than high-end audiophiles who splurge from one AV component to another, most people won't have the chance to get a hands-on experience of the impact of these specs. Well that's exactly what Alex Low from Yamaha's AV Marketing Department set out to showcase to our HardwareZone members to let them experience the difference in performance from two AV receivers that are specced differently. Similarly, other topics were also touched upon to educate and empower our members to better make a more informed purchasing decision in their future AV equipment upgrades.
As a bonus, our members also benefited from Panasonic spokesperson's briefing on their latest home theater projectors, one of which was used by Yamaha to demo their AV equipment as they ended off the get-together session with a highlight reel from the latest Transformers movie.
Just as we reported above, the get-together session arranged by Yamaha for our members was to give them tips on what to consider when embarking on a home theater setup.
A full house listening attentively to Yamaha's and Panasonic's presentations on their latest technologies and what to consider in purchasing their AV equipment. Importantly, the right spokespeople were around to help each of the members' queries as they mingled together after the main presentation.
Yamaha ensured they had the right equipment set up with multiple AV receivers and speakers to quickly switch around to demo various functions.
For further follow-ups and more candid photos of the event, you can check out the dedicated discussion thread in our forum.
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