Product Description

The RX-V363BL 5.1-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver offers an impressive array of features and technologies to enhance the audio/video experience, including HDMI switching with 1080p video pass-through, iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, and four SCENE buttons. Four SCENE buttons make operating the receiver easier than ever. Two volume-setting functions are included on this receiver for additional convenience. Initial Volume Setting allows you to set the volume level that will be heard each time the power is turned on. Maximum Volume Setting prevents unexpected loud sounds. A mini jack on the front panel makes it convenient to connect portable audio players. You have a choice of eight unique CINEMA DSP surround programs to bring out the full audio potential of your entertainment sources. The RX-V363BL receiver is capable of delivering large amounts of reserve power for accurate reproduction of high-energy peaks that are especially prevalent in digital audio sources. Initial Volume Setting and Maximum Volume Setting 5-channel 500 Watts (total) power for encompassing, clear surround sound (100W x 5) High dynamic power, low-impedance drive capability 192kHz/24-bit DACs used in all channels 1080p-compatible HDMI switching (2 inputs, 1 output) including 1080p/24Hz repeat Cinema DSP with 8 DSP programs Compressed Music Enhancer to improve compressed music sources Night Listening Enhancer (Cinema/Music) and SILENT CINEMA Audio Delay for adjusting lip-sync AM/FM with 40-station preset tuning / Auto preset tuning Dimensions - Width 17-1/9 x Height 5-5/16 x Depth 12-1/2 (435x151x318mm) Weight - 17.6 pounds (8 kg)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3404 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Yamaha
• Model: RX-V363BL
• Dimensions: 8.82" h x 21.28" w x 15.67" l, 18.00 pounds

Features

• 5-channel 500W powerful surround sound (100W x 5)
• 1080p-Compatible HDMI 1.3
• Bluetooth music streaming using Yamaha YBA-10 Bluetooth Audio Receiver
• Connect an iPod using Yamaha YDS-10SL Universal iPod Dock
• Includes preset remote

From the Manufacturer
Yamaha's new 500-Watt 5.1-Channel RX-V363 is a high-value home theater receiver that offers many advanced features to enhance your entertainment experience. These include HDMI switching with 1080p video pass-through (2-input, 1-output), iPod and Bluetooth audio compatibility, CINEMA DSP, Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer, and four SCENE buttons.

Multiple inputs make the RX-V363 your home theater hub View Larger

High Dynamic Power Capability for Great Sound
The RX-V363 is capable of delivering large amounts of reserve power for accurate reproduction of the high energy peaks that are especially prevalent in digital audio sources. This prevents clipping and emphasizes the music's dynamic qualities. This receiver also uses 192kHz/24-bit DACs for all channels. The DACs provide accurate sound field reproduction for high-quality multi-channel sources, and outstanding separation and precise musical delineation for two-channel sources.

CINEMA DSP Digital for Enhanced Surround Realism
Conventional multichannel audio reproduction systems base their sound on Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, using matrix and steering technologies to create surround sound effects. Yamaha CINEMA DSP is much more advanced, actually creating richly realized independent sound fields that envelop you in an unmatched surround sound experience. With dialogue, music and effects ideally located in these separate sound fields, you will hear sound with accurate placement, smooth movement, exceptional clarity and richness, and startlingly realistic presence. It will seem as if the walls of your room have disappeared and you are in the middle of your own immense theater. The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround decoding with extreme accuracy, as well as all digital sound field processing.

The RX-V363 is built with the highest quality components available, including Burr-Brown DACs and ADCs

Refresh your MP3s with the Compressed Music Enhancer

Great Picture Quality for High-Definition Formats
The RX-V363 features dual HDMI inputs and one output that can support all HD video formats, including 720p, 1080i and 1080p. This means you can connect two HDMI sources, such as a DVD player and a high-definition set-top box, and enjoy the highest possible quality with HD display (does not support audio signal).

Component video inputs offer much higher picture quality than standard S-Video or composite connections. With the RX-V363, you can enjoy three different component sources without having to change connections.

Audio Delay Compensation Keeps Your Experience On Track
The latest display devices perform complex internal processing, causing time lag in the video signal. It is a small difference, but because the audio arrives first, the viewer may feel that something this not natural. The Audio Delay function for adjusting Lip-Sync matches the audio to the timing of the output of the video on the screen.

SILENT CINEMA DSP
SILENT CINEMA makes it possible to hear large-scale surround sound through ordinary headphones. This is a variation of CINEMA DSP technology that Yamaha developed to let you listen in private to movies and other multi-channel sources for hours without listening fatigue.

Next-Gen Connectivity and Flexibility
Bringing your own tunes to the RX-V363 is easy. It is equipped to use Yamaha's optional YBA-10 Bluetooth Wireless Audio Receiver, giving you the flexibility to stream music from Bluetooth enabled mobile phones, portable devices and even your personal computer. The optional YDS-10 Universal iPod Dock connects the RX-V363 to all versions of Apple's iPod.

Optional docks for your iPod or Bluetooth phone set your music free

Compressed Music Enhancer Refreshes Your Music
Yamaha employs sophisticated digital signal processing with exclusive algorithms to enable playback that improves the performance of compressed music formats, including MP3 and WMA. With the Compressed Music Enhancer, highs and especially lows are richer and smoother, bringing music back to life to be as close to the original as possible.

SCENE – A New Level of Operating Ease
Four SCENE buttons make operating the RX-V363 easier than ever. Pressing a single SCENE button automatically launches the multiple operations that initiate play of the source controlled by that button. They are initially set to default settings for DVD Viewing, Disc Listening, TV Viewing and Radio Listening. Other SCENE settings are also available, such as iPod Listening, XM Listening, TV Sports Viewing and Action Game Playing. Browsing and selecting the settings is quickly accomplished by rotating the Input knob and watching the on-screen display. The settings can be selected for one-time use, or they can replace the original default settings. The SCENE names can be changed also.

Customer Reviews

Yamaha RX-V363
I purchased this Yamaha (RXV363) unit because a lightning storm burned out the Sony, which I was happy with. This unit resides in my bedroom - which consists of an HDTV, FIOS, DVD and Sony 5.1 satellite speaker system - and is not my main HT system, which reside in the basement and consist of the higher end components. I looked at the Yamaha RXC463, Onkyo TX-SR506, 606, Sony STR-DG720 but did not want to spend the extra cash for the satellite ready capability. Nor was I interested in the video switching capabilities since I connect all video source directly to the TV and all audio sources to the receiver. For switching, I use my Harmony 880 - one button operation.

Connectivity:

For my situation, the Yamaha has all the connections I need (DVD and FIOS). Setup is simple and straight forward. Remember, you get HD quality from both HDMI and Component connections.

As far as connecting video components thru the receiver, I can't give an opinion on that because I do not go thru the receiver for video connections, up conversion and all that stuff. I always connect my video source directly to the TV- always. I just believe that you lose picture quality going thru a receiver. Remember, the most direct path between 2 points is a straight line. I only use the receiver for the audio connections because to me that's its main purpose - audio and TV is video. Besides connecting thru the receiver, in my opinion, is mainly for convenience and possibly (emphasis) saving a few bucks on cables.

As stated by other reviewers, the HDMI ports (video pass-thru) do not output sound (manual specifically states this fact as well as other sources on the internet) so you must connect separate audio cables. Having HDMI output audio is good if you are using the speakers in the TV (but why would you do that if you want a HT quality sound) but if you have surround speakers then you should use either the digital or optical audio connections.

Now with that said, I know that there are some that have many components to connect in their system or want the convenience of having the least amount of cables connected to the TV, receiver etc. For those you either have to dig a little deeper in the pockets or get a separate switching device for all of the components. This unit, at $200, is an entry level HT receiver so don't expect it to do what the high end units can.

Remote Control

The remote control is a little tricky. What I found is that it's a little confusing on how to switch between sound stages at first but like anything new you get used to it.

As an alternative to those who want simplicity in switching between video sources do yourself a favor and get the Harmony 880 remote control - one remote, one button control bliss baby. Amazon seems to have the best prices on the remotes. Check it out.

Overall:

Overall this is a good unit. This is a nice entry level unit and it does well for the limited setup I have in the bedroom. This unit actually makes the Sony satellite speaker sound much better than the Sony receiver did. This unit has better sound fields than my older Sony unit - I like the Straight and Enhance and 5 channel speaker modes. My Sony did not have these.

TIP: Before purchasing any HT equipment you must do your research. You can go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual and determine if it contains all the connections etc you need for your system. What I've found in some of the previous reviews is that the unit was purchased without truly knowing its capabilities and then that person bashes it - which is unfair. The only problem is the individual did not do his/her research and/or know the true capabilities of the unit. The World Wide Web has all sorts of reviews on this unit - both professional and end user - so it baffles me that these people did not know the limits of the unit. Uhhh oh yeah they didn't do their research. So when you read these reviews, read between the lines of the comments, which many times will reveal that the person did not do the necessary homework prior to the purchase and/or did or do not understand the functions of a specific AV receiver. So please make sure the equipment has all you need before putting out negative reviews.

Also, remember if you have surround speakers you do not need to send the audio thru the HDMI just use the digital coax or optical audio connections. And don't believe much of the hype about the cables (i.e. the better ones are the most expensive ones). Just don't use the cables that come in the box and don't spend tons of money on cables either.

Excellent value for the money
I have owned Yamaha Natural Sound equipment for over a decade, and continue to love it. This receiver is an impressive value for the money -- and in some respects is actually superior to its more expensive counterparts. For example, this unit has the Night Listening mode, which makes watching movies at night much easier (easier on your spouse and neighbors, anyway) -- while the more expensive V463 does not! Because I don't care about XM/Sirius radio or 7.1 surround (the main features of the more expensive units), this one fits right where I want it.

The only downside I see to this unit is its relatively limited number of video inputs, and the inability to route all the video inputs together. For example, you only get two HDMI inputs and one output. In my case this is enough, but others may find it limiting. Also, the component inputs are not upconverted into HDMI -- you have to run component outs AND HDMI out into your TV if you're using both kinds of inputs. In my case this is okay, but again, if you have a lot of high definition devices this may be a pain (since to switch inputs you'll have to switch both on the receiver as well as the TV).

I currently own one of these units (attached to my computer), and am actually about to buy a second one for my home theater. I spent a bunch of time on the Yamaha site researching the higher end ones, but feel that this inexpensive one is what I actually want. Another bonus -- it fits perfectly in the 6" space in my IKEA Billy TV stand, where some of the higher end ones don't!

UPDATE: After two months of owning two of these units, I have one issue to report: the HDMI signal does not pass audio on these units. Originally I thought that wouldn't be a problem (since there are various digital audio inputs as well, and I had plenty of cable) -- but there is an issue with lip sync on my TV, as the HDMI and digital audio are slightly out of sync. What this means is, when I watch something via HDMI, the dialog seems to arrive a little later than the lips move onscreen, and I find it unwatchable. (This issue does NOT seem to exist with the component and other video inputs.) I ended up running the HDMI inputs directly to my TV because of this -- and it solved the issue -- but it makes the HDMI switching of this receiver useless. Oh well, it was only two HDMI inputs anyway.

Aside from that, I'm very pleased -- the units sound great, have plenty of power, have a decent remote, and have plenty of inputs for what I'm doing. I still highly recommend this model, though you'll want to consider the HDMI issues before buying. You'll also want to thoroughly check your various devices to make sure this unit has the proper inputs (for example, coaxial digital input for DVD) for what you have. You can workaround this in some cases (for example, using the "CD" optical digital input with your Blu-Ray player...) but you'll want to plan it out in advance.

NOTE: Only 3 High Def video inputs possible
If you plan on using both HDMI inputs PLUS all 3 component inputs then this receiver is not for you. Furthermore, the video inputs are directly tied to the audio inputs, somewhat limiting configuration possibilities further.

It works like this :

Video (ports are labeled either DVD, DTV/CBL, or DVR)
DVD : Component OR HDMI
DTV/CBL : Component OR HDMI
DVR : Component

Audio (digital inputs can be assigned)
Input 1 (digital coax) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 2 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 3 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
(note, if you assign a device to of of these inputs you can not assign it to another)

In addition, each input type has is own composite (L)(R) connection. By default the receiver will choose a digital signal over the composite analog one.

When you have these inputs straightened out you will be able to select which input you want the receiver to use at any one time.

So, if you select and input source of DVD it will do the following:

1) Pass the HDMI signal from the HDMI DVD input port to the HDMI output port.
2) pass the component signal from the component DVD input to the component output
3) check the 3 digital inputs for one assigned to dvd and play this signal over the speakers if present
4) if no digital signal exists for dvd then it will play the composite input for DVD sound over the speakers.

All that aside, and ignoring that the documentation is not well written, the receiver is nice and does its job very well. Night Cinema is cool and the sound quality is pretty outstanding.

I just have to use my component switch with this receiver to use all of my devices.