The Yamaha RX-V373 receiver proves that a multifunctional AV amplifier can cost below $ 400. But many budget models whose manufacturers tried to do this in the past were the result of a forced compromise, offering half-finished features that users were not really impressed with. The $ 250 RX-V371 is an example of an older generation of Japanese-made AV amplifiers, whose capabilities are extremely limited. On the other hand, the Yamaha RX-V373 receiver offers some interesting features that are usually found only in expensive high-end models.
Design
Yamaha is not inclined to innovate in the field of design, but it may not be necessary, as there are many buyers who have long been accustomed to the design of receivers from this manufacturer. The model has dimensions of 435 x 315 x 151 mm. The amplifier style is simple and straightforward. On the front panel there is an enlarged knob for adjusting the volume level, 4 familiar SCENE circular buttons, controls for the built-in radio and tone keys - a standard set that is usually found in AV receivers.
Connectivity Overview
Since this is an entry-level model, there are not many options for connecting to the front panel of the device. On the left is the headphone jack, and on the right, under the cover, is a video input for connecting a camcorder or game console and a USB port. The latter is compatible with iPod and iPhone. You cannot view photos or videos through it, but you can play MP3 files from a flash drive or external hard drive. The remaining connectors are located on the rear panel of the AV receiver, including 4 HDMI input and output connectors, 2 component inputs and an output, 2 digital optical and 2 coaxial inputs, 4 analog inputs and 2 outputs, a subwoofer jack and a headphone jack.
Equipment
Together with the receiver, the user receives a remote control with two AAA batteries for it, a calibration microphone and two radio antennas for receiving FM and AM. Also included is a brochure on safe operation, instructions for quick setup of the device and a disc with a user manual.
4K support
The ability to play 4K video is one of the most amazing features that has ever appeared in entry-level models, as 1080p TVs still dominate the market. There are still too few screens that support 4K technology , the resolution of which is 4 times higher than full HD. But as soon as this standard becomes more accessible, the RX-V373 receiver will be ready to transfer any data from a 4K-compatible video source to the display.
HDMI with 3D and ARC
The model is capable of processing 3D signals received via the HDMI port. This means that you can connect any Blu-ray player and high-definition TV that supports stereo image to the AV amplifier to enjoy 3D content with optimal performance. In addition, the latest specification of the HDMI standard provides for a sound return channel, so an optical cable to listen to the audio coming from the display is not needed.
The Yamaha 373 receiver supports 5.1-channel configuration, which is quite common today because of its availability. A number of audio formats can take advantage of it, including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD. All of them provide support for the CINEMA DSP system, which is great for watching movies.
Yamaha 373 Receiver: Preset Procedure
To achieve decent sound quality, you need to properly configure the speakers. Fortunately, this is easy to do thanks to YPAO or the parametric optimizer for room acoustics, which is a special sound enhancement system using the small microphone that is included in the package. It serves to calibrate the speakers. Any acoustic signal picked up by the microphone is analyzed and used to determine the best parameters of each speaker. This allows the amplifier to easily adapt to various room configurations. The process takes less than 5 minutes, but is worth it if the user is not confident in their musical abilities. To start the setup procedure:
- turn on the receiver and TV, setting the latter to display amplifier messages;
- turn on the subwoofer and set the volume level to 50%, and the crossover frequency to maximum;
- place the YPAO microphone at the height of the listener's ears and connect it to the front panel jack;
- the setup menu appears on the TV screen, in which you select Start and press Setup.
You can save the settings by selecting Save and pressing the enter button.
After calibration is complete, the next step is to connect the various components of the home theater to the HDMI ports. 4 connectors are attached to the SCENE buttons located on the front panel of the amplifier. This makes it easy to switch to other input sources. In addition, the Yamaha 373 receiver provides the ability to reassign any of the SCENE buttons to another source.
Sound enhancement systems
The receiver is quite powerful in sound terms thanks to a number of functions that can improve any 5.1 speaker system connected to it. Speaker imagery can be enhanced by using the Subwoofer Trim subwoofer control. This technology amplifies low frequencies so that they do not overlap the outputs of the front speakers. The adaptive dynamic range control system Adaptive DRC copes with the adjustment of audio levels, so you can hear all forms of sound effects: from a weak whisper to deafening explosions. This feature can be useful if the user is tired of commercials broadcast at maximum volume. Silent Cinema technology also enables any pair of headphones connected to a Yamaha 373 AV receiver to significantly increase the surround sound.
Instant on
The receiver automatically turns on when you press one of the SCENE buttons, you should select the DSP mode and signal source. At the same time, these settings can be changed by selecting other input devices and digital signal processing systems, followed by pressing the SCENE button for more than 3 s.
HDMI CEC
If the receiver is connected to a CEC-enabled TV, it will turn off and on with it. Also, HDMI CEC technology allows you to interact with other compatible components, for example, skip or stop playback with the remote control of the amplifier. In addition, the TV remote control can be used to control the volume level.
Connect Apple devices
The USB port located on the front panel of the AV receiver allows you to connect any model of iPod and iPhone to play audio files stored on them. It is not necessary to be near these devices, since the remote control included with the Yamaha RX-V373 allows you to control them. Song titles as well as system messages and prompts during initial setup are displayed on an attractive multilingual two-line LCD screen. To improve sound quality even further, Compressed Music Enhancer will recover any missing track data.
Additional functionality
The above are far from all the features of the receiver. The model also provides:
- 30/36-bit color with a refresh rate of 24 Hz;
- automatic synchronization of sound with a delay in the range of 0-250 ms;
- multilingual color on-screen menu;
- choice of 9 subwoofer crossover frequencies;
- preservation of initial and maximum settings for volume level;
- record in memory of 40 stations;
- playing background video while listening to the radio, etc.
Sound quality
The music playback level of the Yamaha 373 receiver is said to be impressive for a budget amp. Rock and acoustic compositions sound very clean. Naturally, the result largely depends on the chosen acoustics, but it can be said with full confidence that the signal quality between the source and speakers will not be lost.
Power consumption
The amplifier is very friendly to the environment, as it has an ECO mode, which reduces energy consumption by 20%. The savings can be even greater if you set the device to turn off automatically after 2-12 hours. The Yamaha 373 receiver only consumes 0.3 watts in standby mode. In the active state, the device requires 73 watts of energy.
Conclusion
Most users are not able to evaluate the performance of the Yamaha 373 receiver in terms of the performance of its 4k functions. Since the technology is still very young, so far this is not necessary, but in the future the user of the amplifier can be sure. A quick review of AV receivers allows us to conclude that few basic models support 4k. As large ultra-high-definition televisions become more affordable, the amplifier will be ready to serve them at maximum resolution. The price of the receiver looks very seductive, and its performance is sufficient to view Blue-ray discs on a high-definition TV. According to reviews, the device lacks the network functions of more expensive amplifiers, but overall it is a great entry-level receiver for surround sound speakers. One of the main reasons for replacing this model with a more expensive one is the need to have a large number of HDMI ports. And to find among competitors something similar in functionality to the Yamaha 373 receiver, the price of which is only $ 250, is almost unrealistic.