Yamaha HTR-5490 6.1 Channels Receiver
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- Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® DTS® DTS ES® Dolby Pro Logic II
- THX Certification: No
- Number of Channels: 6.1 Channels
- Type: Receiver
- Surround Mode Power: 80 Watt @ 8 ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, THD: 0.04%
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695
The 5490 review...finally! Yamaha HTR 5490 Surround Sound AV receiver
Pros
amazing sound and picture, DVD movie viewing has never been better for me
Cons
No memory set for volume control, not compatible with my universal remote
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
I am not sure what is considered high-end technology, but I bet that it acts like high-end. I recommend this receiver highly, and I am on my third.
You know, I had my eye on this receiver for quite some time. I'll give you an idea for how long I have been waiting.
Well, as you may know this is a bit of a pricey item for most of us. It goes anywhere from $600 to $899.00 depending on where you want to purchase it.
I wanted to purchase it from Best Buy for only two reasons. 1. Because they carried it, Circuit City and The Wiz did not.
2. Because I can save up quite easily to purchase it.
What I did was, first, whenever I would go to Best Buy, I would purchase a GIFT CARD for any amount, (e.g., $25, $30, $50) whatever I could afford that week.
Secondly, I would ask for gift cards for Christmas and birthday presents from everybody.
In 6 months I had enough for the Best Buy price of $749.99 enough for a new DVD player, and I only paid out of my own pocket (after the gift cards), $150.00.
So, anyway, the point is while I was waiting, I needed a layman's review of this product and there was none to be found. Thanks Epinions!
Here is mine.
Well, I upgraded from my old receiver, (the JVC RX-888V) and the sound is noticeably better. The options are cool.
First you can turn any stereo signal into a simulated 5.1, or DTS.
This receiver is equipped with the new Pro Logic II. This processor takes stereo signals and simulates a 5.1 Dolby digital sound.
This receiver also has Neo:6. This turns your stereo signal into a simulated DTS sound.
I use them both all of the time. If I am watching my satellite TV, I usually keep it on Neo:6. It sounds great.
I am totally submerged in sound.
I use the Pro Logic II for my CDs. They have never sounded so good.
I say it's about time for PL II. When I would play CDs through my older receivers, the sound would get sort of messy. But this PL II distributes the music to all of the speakers intelligently, to fill the room full of music so it sounds great. Neo:6 sounds good with CDs too, but PL II is my preference.
This receiver also has DTS ES, and DTS 6.1. The DTS 6.1 only means that now you can incorporate a rear center channel.
I did this. I shelled out another $100 for a really nice Sony center that replaced my older Yamaha center. The Yamaha center is now the rear center speaker.
I noticed that when I am watching a DVD that has 5.1, or even a movie channel on my satellite that has 5.1 sound, that when I press the 6.1 button on the bottom right of my remote control, that these 5.1 signals are now a simulated 6.1. I can get some dialogue in the rear speaker, or sound effects, I love it! Great feature!
The DTS-ES feature is for actual 6.1 discrete sound. So far rare, but we'll wait.
It has enough S-Video and digital optical and coaxial inputs to satisfy you. It has 5 S-Video inputs. 6 fiber optical digital inputs 2 coaxial inputs. 2 component video inputs (for progressive dvd & HDTV).
Also, I have added B main speakers to my speaker line up. Usually on my older receivers you have to choose between your A speakers and your B speakers. On this receiver you can have both and they sound great.
I didn't work with the AM and FM tuner, but the antennae that it comes with are the standard.
Like I said in the CONS box above the two things that I miss and are missing here are:
1. This receiver will not work with my universal remote, so I have to use more than one now.
2. The HTR-5490 does not have volume control memory. That feature was on my old JVC receiver. This means that when you watch DVD usually you would have to turn it up a little louder because of the digital signal. The TV signal would usually be loud already so you would lower the volume to a comfortable volume. The JVC model would remember the volume that you had it on when you watched a DVD or TV. So this way when you switch back and forth you don't blast yourself off your sofa.
Sometimes with the HTR-5490, I do get blasted by the sound. Oh well, can't be as lazy as I'd like.
The remote says that it is a learning remote. It is not true in my case, maybe if you purchase this receiver you would have better luck. My remote only works my DVD player and this receiver.
But, those CONS aside, I still love the HTR-5490.
Also, if you want to go the route I went with the Best Buy gift cards, another way to save almost a hundred bucks is to get a price quoted from J&R Music, and then bring it to Best Buy like I did. J & R were selling it for $699.99. Best Buy matched the price and then beat it by 10%.
Aren't I smart?
By the way, the DETAILS that are listed here for the product are not accurate. It reads that there are no front A/V inputs, and I guess from the look of the picture one might be mistaken, but there IS one.
Also, it says that the 'audio decoding' is just 5.1, but it is that and 6.1, and 6.1-ES, and DPL II, and Neo:6.
I realize that the options are quite limited on Epinions and they need to be updated, and this is probably the reason for the mistakes made in the PRODUCT DETAIL section.
Well, as you may know this is a bit of a pricey item for most of us. It goes anywhere from $600 to $899.00 depending on where you want to purchase it.
I wanted to purchase it from Best Buy for only two reasons. 1. Because they carried it, Circuit City and The Wiz did not.
2. Because I can save up quite easily to purchase it.
What I did was, first, whenever I would go to Best Buy, I would purchase a GIFT CARD for any amount, (e.g., $25, $30, $50) whatever I could afford that week.
Secondly, I would ask for gift cards for Christmas and birthday presents from everybody.
In 6 months I had enough for the Best Buy price of $749.99 enough for a new DVD player, and I only paid out of my own pocket (after the gift cards), $150.00.
So, anyway, the point is while I was waiting, I needed a layman's review of this product and there was none to be found. Thanks Epinions!
Here is mine.
Well, I upgraded from my old receiver, (the JVC RX-888V) and the sound is noticeably better. The options are cool.
First you can turn any stereo signal into a simulated 5.1, or DTS.
This receiver is equipped with the new Pro Logic II. This processor takes stereo signals and simulates a 5.1 Dolby digital sound.
This receiver also has Neo:6. This turns your stereo signal into a simulated DTS sound.
I use them both all of the time. If I am watching my satellite TV, I usually keep it on Neo:6. It sounds great.
I am totally submerged in sound.
I use the Pro Logic II for my CDs. They have never sounded so good.
I say it's about time for PL II. When I would play CDs through my older receivers, the sound would get sort of messy. But this PL II distributes the music to all of the speakers intelligently, to fill the room full of music so it sounds great. Neo:6 sounds good with CDs too, but PL II is my preference.
This receiver also has DTS ES, and DTS 6.1. The DTS 6.1 only means that now you can incorporate a rear center channel.
I did this. I shelled out another $100 for a really nice Sony center that replaced my older Yamaha center. The Yamaha center is now the rear center speaker.
I noticed that when I am watching a DVD that has 5.1, or even a movie channel on my satellite that has 5.1 sound, that when I press the 6.1 button on the bottom right of my remote control, that these 5.1 signals are now a simulated 6.1. I can get some dialogue in the rear speaker, or sound effects, I love it! Great feature!
The DTS-ES feature is for actual 6.1 discrete sound. So far rare, but we'll wait.
It has enough S-Video and digital optical and coaxial inputs to satisfy you. It has 5 S-Video inputs. 6 fiber optical digital inputs 2 coaxial inputs. 2 component video inputs (for progressive dvd & HDTV).
Also, I have added B main speakers to my speaker line up. Usually on my older receivers you have to choose between your A speakers and your B speakers. On this receiver you can have both and they sound great.
I didn't work with the AM and FM tuner, but the antennae that it comes with are the standard.
Like I said in the CONS box above the two things that I miss and are missing here are:
1. This receiver will not work with my universal remote, so I have to use more than one now.
2. The HTR-5490 does not have volume control memory. That feature was on my old JVC receiver. This means that when you watch DVD usually you would have to turn it up a little louder because of the digital signal. The TV signal would usually be loud already so you would lower the volume to a comfortable volume. The JVC model would remember the volume that you had it on when you watched a DVD or TV. So this way when you switch back and forth you don't blast yourself off your sofa.
Sometimes with the HTR-5490, I do get blasted by the sound. Oh well, can't be as lazy as I'd like.
The remote says that it is a learning remote. It is not true in my case, maybe if you purchase this receiver you would have better luck. My remote only works my DVD player and this receiver.
But, those CONS aside, I still love the HTR-5490.
Also, if you want to go the route I went with the Best Buy gift cards, another way to save almost a hundred bucks is to get a price quoted from J&R Music, and then bring it to Best Buy like I did. J & R were selling it for $699.99. Best Buy matched the price and then beat it by 10%.
Aren't I smart?
By the way, the DETAILS that are listed here for the product are not accurate. It reads that there are no front A/V inputs, and I guess from the look of the picture one might be mistaken, but there IS one.
Also, it says that the 'audio decoding' is just 5.1, but it is that and 6.1, and 6.1-ES, and DPL II, and Neo:6.
I realize that the options are quite limited on Epinions and they need to be updated, and this is probably the reason for the mistakes made in the PRODUCT DETAIL section.
