Yamaha is one of the undisputed kings of home cinema. It doesnt change its range every year in response to the fluctuations in the micro-climate of home cinema, but when it does launch a product, its a popular choice among consumers for its whole lifetime. And the RX-V630RDS is certainly no exception.
Yamaha has bedecked this receiver with six channels delivering 75Watts each, but many will be more attracted to its array of Digital Signal Processing modes and settings. Right from the start, Yamaha has never considered standard Dolby surround settings to be enough, so it adds extra signal processing modes to enhance the sound. The RX-V630RDS has 41 different DSP modes to transplant the acoustic surroundings of a wealth of venues into your living room. Naturally, the full range of Dolby Pro-Logic II, Dolby Digital/Digital EX and DTS/DTS ES compatible decoders are present, and these can be used with or without further Yamaha DSP enhancements. The only decoder thats missing is DTS Neo: 6, the companys variation on the DPL II theme.
Offered in either black or silver, the RX-V630RDS looks classy, but doesnt have the overwhelming solidity of, say, the Onkyo or Denon designs. There is nothing flimsy about the Yamahas build, but it lacks the heavyweight feel of other similarly priced products. In addition, the remote will win few friends. It is tolerable, but looks dated in comparison with other models in this test. Despite this and the lack of an on-screen set-up menu system, the amp is average to set up.
Turn the RX-V630RDS on and its easy to see why Yamaha has a commanding reputation as a home cinema manufacturer. The sound is wonderful, full and more powerful than the on-paper ratings suggest. Best of all, it has an effortless charm that means you can sit in front of it for hours without straining. This can make reviewing difficult: those snippets of Enemy at the Gates or Spider-Man soon turn into extended viewing sessions, pulling out similar films (like Stalingrad and Batman) and pretty soon, countless hours have been absorbed in cinematic pleasure.
This easy, attractive sound comes by ridding the output of any hint of brightness or brashness. This is aided by a soundstage that envelops you in a rich and entirely believable surround environment, which maintains just the right size for the material being played. Yamaha has practically made the RX-V630RDS a tribute to the sound engineer. When Jude Law is tracking Ed Harris in Enemy at the Gates, you just dont notice the change from burned-out car to ruined plaza to bombed-out hotel: you feel the changes in an unconsciously claustrophobic manner. Brilliantly chilling.
Of course, this cinematic mastery does come at a price. Playing music through the RX-V630RDS is not nearly as inspiring as watching films. The very action used to make cinematic events come to life seems to flatten and dull the edges of music on CD. Judicious playing with the DSP modes can help matters somewhat, but the Yamaha amplifier still leaves even the blistering pace of The Red Hot Chili Peppers sounding slightly tired.
Ultimately, this is a home cinema receiver and Yamaha has made the RX-V630RDS perfect for the task. Very highly recommended.
6.1 channel receiver, with 75Watts per channel, latest set of surround formats, including Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro-Logic II and DTS ES, 41 individual Yamaha Cinema DSP modes, fully programmable remote operates a range of products over and above the Yamaha receiver, sophisticated 32-bit Digital Signal Processor plus 24-bit/96kHz audio D/A converters
Stock up on popcorn. Youll need it to keep you going through the week-long DVD marathons induced by the excellent Yamaha receiver
This article first appeared in Home Entertainment Issue 114 - March 2003
http://www.digitalhomemag.com/reviews