Yamaha RX-V4A Reviews – Reference Level Sound

Yamaha RX-V4A AV receiver is one of the latest models from Yamaha and it supports all the newest features, including HDMI with HDCP 2.3 and eARC (4 in / 1 out), Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz/5 GHz, AirPlay 2, MusicPlay (iOS and Android), and Spotify Connect.

You can use it to create a surround sound system with wireless MusicCast speakers or use it to add multi-room audio streaming to your existing home theater setup.

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Yamaha RX-V4A receiver with voice control. Listen to your favorite music streaming services, including Pandora, Spotify, Napster, SiriusXM, TIDAL, Deezer, Qobuz, and Amazon Music.

With Alexa or Google Assistant devices or Siri via AirPlay 2, you can control the receiver with your voice. The RX-V4A also features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for an immersive home theater experience.

Features

4K UHD Pass-Through

This model is capable of passing through 4K Ultra HD video signals to a compatible display. This ensures compatibility with the latest super high-resolution video formats.

HDMI CEC

Thanks to the HDMI CEC industry standard, you can use your TV's remote control unit to command some functions of this receiver. For example, you can turn it on or off with one-touch play of your TV's remote, or adjust volume levels using either the AV receiver's remote units or your TV's remote.

AV Controller App

Download Yamaha’s free AV Controller App (from Apple Store or Google Play) onto your iPod/iPhone/iPad for multi-room entertainment. Enjoy stored music and select Internet radio services on your mobile device through the AV receiver, all without loading any CDs or connecting your mobile device to the network.

Yamaha's MusicCast

This AV receiver is part of Yamaha’s cutting-edge multi-room wireless strategy that offers a wide range of products to make your listening experience even more enjoyable. The presence of Chromecast built-in lets you use popular music streaming services* like Pandora, Rhapsody, or Spotify (subscription required) as well as sound from videos and photos on your smartphone through this unit.

CINEMA DSP 3D

This receiver is equipped with Yamaha’s CINEMA DSP 3D processing. This allows you to enjoy an immersive surround sound experience with three-dimensional sound effects, even from two-channel sources.

HDMI

The Yamaha RX-V4A features four HDMI inputs, so you can easily connect your high-definition sources like a Blu-ray player or game console. It also supports 4K Ultra HD video passthrough, so you can enjoy the highest resolution videos with no degradation in picture quality.

Zone 2

With Zone 2, you can enjoy music or movies in another room of your home without disturbing the people in the main living area. In this feature you to send audio from different sources to multiple zones.

High-End Circuitry Design

This receiver delivers the highest sound quality, for pure music enjoyment. Built with high-quality components and cutting-edge design techniques, this model provides high-end performance at an affordable price range. With the Yamaha RX-V4A you can enjoy lossless FLAC file format playback via USB or through network sources (including PC SHARE), as well as DSD 2.8MHz/5.6MHz audio streaming support on some models). These features are found on full-size AV receivers twice their price.

Compressed Music Enhancer

The Compressed Music Enhancer from Yamaha is a processing technology designed to restore the warmth and presence to your compressed digital music files.

YPAO Volume

This function automatically adjusts elements of the sound such as the output level, bass, and treble to produce an optimal sound. It is also possible to manually adjust these items if you prefer.

Network Functions

Thanks to network connectivity you have several options on how to enjoy audio content stored on your computer with this receiver. You can access various online services including Spotify, Pandora, Rhapsody, SiriusXM Internet Radio, or listen to your favorite tracks through Windows Media Player 11 (or higher) streamed via DLNA 1.5 or Windows share folder/portable devices streamed via Bluetooth connection. You can also use the receiver's front USB port to play MP3, WMA, or AAC files directly from a flash drive or portable HDD with format support including DSD (2.8 MHz)/LPCM (up to 192 kHz).

USB Digital Connection for iPod and iPhone

This connection allows direct digital connection of an iPod,iPhone via USB interface. Pure Direct mode offers playback of music files in their native formats without any tone or spatial enhancements while Advanced Music Optimizer improves the sound quality of compressed music. The RX-V4A features high-resolution audio decoding with multiple lossless file types including FLAC, Apple Lossless, and DSD (2.8/5.6MHz) as well as gapless playback for uninterrupted listening enjoyment.

Design

The RX-V4A measures in at 6.3 inches wide by 11.2 inches deep by 3.9 inches high and weighs in at a little under 10 pounds. It has a black matte finish with a silver front panel. The unit is surprisingly compact for an AV receiver and should fit easily into most entertainment centers.

Connections

The Yamaha RX-V4A has a variety of connection options. On the back of the unit, you will find four HDMI inputs, two composite video inputs, two component video inputs, five stereo RCA audio inputs (including a phono input for connecting a turntable), one optical digital audio input, and one coaxial digital audio input. There are also two subwoofer outputs, Zone 2 output, and an Ethernet port. The front of the unit has a USB port, headphone jack, and an input for the included infrared remote control.

Setup

The Yamaha RX-V4A is very easy to set up. After connecting all your components, just plug in the power cord and follow the on-screen prompts (using the included remote) to set up your speakers.

Performance

I spent several weeks testing out the RX-V4A and was very impressed with its performance. The sound quality is quite good for a receiver of this price range. I feel like it sounds better than some receivers costing two or three times as much. The surround sound effects are accurate and realistic sounding, which is surprising considering the RX-V4A has only five channels instead of seven or nine.

One feature I particularly liked was that you can adjust many different audio settings depending on what type of content you are listening to, such as sports, cinema, or music, so that the audio sounds just right. Digital processing noise is minimal which lets the audio sound much more natural.

The Yamaha RX-V4A is also a great-looking receiver and it will fit in nicely with most home theater setups. It has plenty of connection options so you can hook up all your components, but keep in mind that there are no video inputs on the unit itself (only HDMI outputs) which means you will need some kind of switch or A/B box to use both components and HDMI devices at the same time (see pictures below).

There are only five channels instead of seven or nine like some receivers, but considering many people don't even have seven speakers in their home theaters this shouldn't be too big an issue for most people. I tested out some DVDs that had Dolby True HD 5.1 audio and the sound quality was excellent.

Sound Quality

The RX-V4A sounds great for a receiver in its price class. You can adjust the sound to match the type of content you are watching, such as sports, cinema, or music. The surround sound effects are accurate and realistic sounding. Digital processing noise is minimal which lets the audio sound much more natural.

Ease of Use

The RX-V4A is very easy to set up. After connecting all your components, just plug in the power cord and follow the on-screen prompts (using the included remote) to set up your speakers. The unit is also compact and easy to transport.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• 4 HDMI inputs
• Supports 4K Ultra HD video passthrough
• Zone 2 feature
• Compressed Music Enhancer
• YPAO Volume
• Network Functions
• USB Digital Connection for iPod and iPhone
• Pure Direct mode with Advanced Music Optimizer
• Gapless playback

Cons:

• No built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity. You need to purchase a separate adapter to use these features.

 

The Yamaha RX-V4A is a great receiver for the price. It has plenty of connection options, sounds great, and is very easy to use. While it doesn't have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, you can purchase a separate adapter to use these features. If you are looking for a good-quality AV receiver that doesn't break the bank, the Yamaha RX-V4A is a great option.