( 10 reviews )
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Posted: May 12 2009
Yamaha RX-797 Natural Sound Stereo Receiver February 2006 When the time came to replace my Yamaha RX-595 Stereo Receiver I started looking at new two channel stereo receivers. It is striking how limited the choices are. The market is flooded with multi-channel home theater unites, but I was only interest in stereo. I was looking to spend in the neighborhood of $500.00. Here are the choices I considered: NAD, Marantz, Onkyo , Rotel (which I could not find anywhere) and Yamaha. Harman-Kardon, Denon, Sony and Sherwood also make stereo receivers in that price range. Admittedly, I am partial to Yamaha receivers having had a wonderful experience with the RX-595. Suffice it to say I settled on the Yamaha RX-797. Right off the bat, I was not seduced by the way the unit looks. The elongated display, yellow in color, (without a radio signal strength indicator) did little for me visually. The fact that it supports XM Radio may have something to do with the way the display is configured. The seduction did not start until I turned the unit on and started to listen. The tuner is marvelous! On the FM side, all the stations normally listen to are crystal clear and I don't have to touch the antenna. On the AM band, I'm pulling in stations from Cleveland, New York and Boston in the afternoon without even trying (I live in the Philadelphia area). I don't believe my old tuner could do this. The tuning section is very strong. The first CD I played was by Dr. John, not the highest of quality CD in my collection, but it sounded ok. I then pushed the CD DIRECT button and to my surprise the entire display evaporated and went dark but the music keep playing. I eventually figured out that unit shuts down everything between the CD player , the amp and the speakers. A gimmick? Perhaps, but it's pretty cool. I've read a lot about new receivers lacking `warmth'. I think I know what that means. With this receiver I have experienced warmth and lack there of. Some CD s sound very warm and others sound somewhat harsh (I'm playing it all through a pair of $500 Klipschs) I attribute the difference to the quality of the CD. I really don't know for sure. Overall, I paid $450.00, this is a quality receiver for the money. It is built like a brick bathroom. It has lots of power -100 watts per channel, a great tuner, it's XM radio ready (if you're so inclined), supports two listening zones with two remotes including a sleep timer. This stereo receiver is an oasis in a waist land of Home Theater gluttony. If it had purple lights, instead of the yellow, it would be even be better.
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Posted: Mar 31 2009
In 1981 I purchased a new Yamaha Amp and tuner. An A-760 and T-760. 80 watts/ch. What a delight. Over the years I've added many components. A phillips CD burner, a Sony CD burner, a single tray and a 5 disc carasel CD player and several other units. Through all the replacements, turn tables from the 80's, tape decks, etc. the one unit that never got replaced was the Yamaha amp/tuner. Never had a reason to. The speakers I now have are two pairs of Technics 3 way 12". Not a high caliber speaker but seem to sound great to me. THEY replaced Boston Acustics and a pair of infinities. Within the last 45 days, I decided to purchase the Yamaha RX-797, Yamaha YST-SW315 (250/w 10")sub woofer, and a new Yamaha CDC-697 CD player. I can't believe what incredible sound these 3 units are giving me. Now I've been around for a little while, I'm retired, but still feel like a kid when I walk into my living room. Those Technics speakers have never sounded soooo good. The sub is awsome. Crack rafters? I think so. The reciever by itself sounds so crisp with definate separation from L to R. The old reciever/tuner still work very well and will wind up in my son-in-laws rec room and probably give him and my daughter a few more years of pleasure. The only item left from the original purchase in the early 80's is a single disc Sony CD player. I kid you not, it still works perfectly. So for my money, its Yamaha and Sony with Yamaha on top.
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Posted: Mar 14 2009
Our Yamaha RX-797 Audio/Video Receiver has brought quality sound to our home. We can enjoy a variety of music without the abrasive qualities of other receivers we have owned. Music of all kinds can be heard in glorious detail without family members needing to be sound engineers. We are really pleased with the ease and quality.
