Yamaha RX-V1800 7.1 Channels Receiver

I'm used to purchasing receivers in the $300-$400 dollar range, but when I redid my home theater, I figured that I wanted to get all the bells and whistles. The RX-V1800 is an A/V receiver that not only switches audio sources, but also video sources. The benefit is that you plug all of your sources audio and video cables into the RX-V1800 and only have to run a single audio/video out to your TV. The RX-V1800 supports HDMI so your TV only needs a single HDMI cable for video and audio and a power cord. This is a great improvement over the 9,000 cables you normally have to run. If you are purchasing the RX-V1800 with a TV at the same time, this also means that you don't have to be so concerned with the number and types of ports on the TV because the RX-V1800 has a lot.

Sound calibration is automatic, and actually works. If you are an audiophile then you'll find comfort that you can manually configure it too. The RX-V1800 comes with a microphone with a long cord. You plug the microphone into the RX-V1800, place it where you will be sitting most of the time, and select setup. It sends a bunch of test signals, and BAM, all done in less than 2 minutes. It does make a big difference so make sure you do it.

I had hopes that this box would do it all, but what I found was that it is about 95% there. The RX-V1800 claims video conversion and boasts HDMI. The RX-V1800 has multiple predefined input sources marked out (i.e. DVD, VCR, CD, etc). Each predefined source has multiple input options such as HDMI, S-Video, etc. The RX-V1800 will convert whatever is sent to it and output it to the monitor output source of your choice. In my case, HDMI. What it does not do, is convert the input to other outputs, such as for a DVR. So for instance, if you have a HD-Cable box that is outputting HDMI, and would like to record it on your DVR which only has S-Video, you have to connect HDMI from your cable box to the RX-V1800, and connect the S-Video from your cable box to your RX-V1800. In a perfect world, the RX-V1800 would take in anything, convert it, and send it out all the video outs no-matter what they are.

The RX-V1800 has the ability to put all of it's menus onto the TV that is connected to it, unless the input source is HDMI. This gets annoying when you want to adjust settings such as surround sound programs, or your woofer. Your choices are to either look at the screen of the RX-V1800, which is far away and small, or switch to another video source that is not HDMI, make your changes, and then switch back.

The RX-V1800 upconverts video. My TV is good at up converting so I did not notice a difference when my TV did it, or when the RX-V1800 did it.

One thing that is very annoying is that the universal remote that comes with the RX-V1800 cannot control your cable box, it only controls your TV, so you will not be able to change channels or select the TV guide. Crazy, I know. Everyone is complaining. So you will be stuck with 2 remotes.

One word of caution, check the depth of your entertainment center. The RX-V1800 is very deep. It did not fit in my entertainment center and I had to purchase a new one. I was unable to find an entertainment center that actually fit the RX-V1800's depth. I had to improvise with the new one and cut a large hole in the back and slip the RX-V1800 out 2 inches.

All in all though this thing is killer. It's pricey, but like a good set of knives you won't be buying another one for a while.