News

Home cinema stalwart Yamaha has announced its entry-level 2013 AVR series, and introduced a DAB model to its stable for the first time.

The new RX-V lineup features six models, beginning at just £250. The models will go on sale between now and June.

The most potent of the new range is the £650 RX-V775 (pictured). A 7.1-channel design, this claims a power output of 160W-per-channel (into 6ohms, one channel driven) and offers six HDMI inputs and twin HDMI outputs. Napster and Airplay support is built-in; other features include 4K passthrough and upscaling, iPod, iPad and iPhone hookup via USB, 
and DLNA networking. Below this sit the RX-V675 (£500), RX-V575 (£450), RX-V475 (£350) and the RX-V375 (£250). The latter model is a budget 5.1-channel affair, offering just four HDMI inputs 
and eschewing all home networking functionality.

The new DAB radio model is a change of tack for the brand. Dubbed the RX-V500D, this will retail for £400 and is more in line with the RX-V475 in terms of grunt and specifications. Up to 40 presets from its DAB tuner can be saved, selectable from either the supplied handset or the free Yamaha AVR app for both Android and iOS.

Dizzy with DSP
A key part of Yamaha's ethos is its devotion to DSPs, and this is retained in 2013, with 17 separate modes offered on even the most basic model. 'Yamaha 
was the pioneer in surround sound technology and the first to take the aspect of surround processing to the next level,' says the brand.

All of the new models except the entry-level RX-V375 are Bluetooth and Wi-Fi compatible. However, accessing these technologies requires the separate purchase of additional adaptors, whereas Yamaha's biggest rival in the affordable AVR market, Onkyo, has this year incorporated both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into its TX-NR525, TX-NR626 and TX-NR726 models.

As for the brands' new high-end hardware, this will surface end of May. So you'll have to be patient...