Yamaha RX-A740 to RX-A3040 AVENTAGE A/V Receivers Preview

Yamaha’s AVENTAGE A/V receivers have been favorites at Audioholics since their introduction; they’re typically packed with features, and they measure well on the test bench in our experience. Case in point, the RX-A830 scored the top spot in our 2013 Midpriced A/V Receiver Comparison, boasting the best rounded feature set in addition to being tied for the lowest price in the roundup. Now Yamaha has announced the 2014 refresh to the AVENTAGE line, with five new models to talk about. At the top of the heap are the 9.2 channel RX-A3040 ($2,199.95) and RX-A2040 ($1,699.95); the midline offerings include the 7.2 channel RX-A1040 ($1,199.95) and RX-A840 ($899.95), with the 7.2 channel RX-A740 ($699.95) rounding out the line as the base model.

Now unless you’ve been living under a rock / and or ignoring the releases of all the other A/V receivers this year, you’ll probably have some idea of what goodies Yamaha has up their sleeves. As you’d expect, all models are HDMI 2.0 compliant; moreover, to take full advantage of the new standard, all models offer video upscaling to 4K/60p resolution. The other big common feature is the addition of integrated wireless networking. Once connected to your home network, the 2014 AVENTAGE receivers can stream music via Apple’s Airplay and HTC Connect, as well as deliver content from internet sources including Pandora, Spotify Connect, Rhapsody, SiriusXM Internet radio, and vTuner. Network connectivity also means users will be able to take advantage of Yamaha’s excellent control app for iDevices and Android.

As you might gather, even the “entry level” (and we use that term loosely) RX-A740 is a fully featured A/V receiver. With 90W/channel on tap (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.09% THD, 2ch driven), a powered second zone, six HDMI inputs (including one on the front panel with MHL support) plus one output, and YPAO auto-calibration with R.S.C., it looks to have everything most users could ask for. What the heck could Yamaha offer on the higher end models you ask? For an extra $200, the RX-A840 bumps power marginally to the magical 100W/channel figure, adds a Zone B HDMI output as well as another pair of HDMI inputs, and features a "party mode" which plays the same source in all zones in unison (eliminates propagation delay between zones found on older receivers). The RX-A840 also has a couple of big upgrades for the audiophile as well, including preamplifier outputs and a version of YPAO with support for multi-point measurements.

Front & rear views of Yamaha's RX-A740 (left) and RX-A840 (right).

Moving up the line to the RX-A1040, you’ll find another cost increase of $300. Naturally there’s another bump in rated power, now up to 110W/channel, though we do note that weight increases considerably, from 23.4lbs to 32.8lbs which may indicate better performance into low impedance loads due to a larger power supply and beefier amp section. In terms of features, the HDMI outputs can perform the neat trick of being zone-switchable (though it only works with HD content such as a Blu-ray player or HD cable box), and there’s also an upgrade in DACs, from a Burr Brown 192kHz/24bit model to ESS’s ES9006 SABRE chip. Finally, the second zone features a good deal more control, with adjustable tone controls, as well as settings for initial and maximum volume.

Front & rear views of the Yamaha RX-A1040

So what do the top dogs offer? As mentioned previously, both the RX-A2040 and RX-A3040 are 9.2 channel receivers, with the A3040 offering expansion out to 11.2 channels via pre-outs. As you might guess by the channel count, both receivers are ready for Dolby Atmos, and of course power is again increased to 140W/channel for the RX-A2040 and 150W/channel for the RX-A3040. The increased channel count also means users can assign amps to have a third powered zone. Also on the multi-zone front, the HDMI zone switching sees an upgrade which allows users to utilize any A/V source, including network streaming. Turning to the DACs, the RX-A2040 utilizes a pair of ESS ES9006 SABRE chips, while the RX-A3040 sees an upgrade to a pair of ES9016's. Last but not least, the RX-A3040 boasts Yamaha’s most advanced version of YPAO with R.S.C, 3D, multipoint and angle measurement.

Front & rear views of Yamaha's RX-A2040 (left) and RX-A3040 (right).

Summary

As always, there’s a lot to like about Yamaha’s AVENTAGE line. The 2014 refresh sees considerable improvements over last year’s models, including HDMI 2.0 and wireless networking on all models. The high end RX-A2040 and RX-A3040 also see the addition of Dolby Atmos support. Add in the fact that even the $900 RX-A840 boasts preamplifier outputs for adding a separate amplifier, and the use of ESS SABRE DACs from the RX-A1040 on up, and you’ve got a compelling A/V receiver lineup. The only question we have is when can we get one in for testing?

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.