A home theater receiver brings your music, movies, and video games to life. A good AV receiver produces a realistic, life-like sound environment you get lost in. You will feel as though you are right there in the front row at your favorite concert or deep in the action like you are hearing your favorite movie for the first time.
This Yamaha RX-V6A review will discuss the pros and cons of this device if you are considering purchasing one and find one for sale. We recommend you wait for another product and this review will explain why. (>>> Check on Amazon)
Yamaha RX-V6A Review of Specifications:
| Yamaha RX-V6A | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Video | 4K/120Hz |
| Amplifier | 7.2 Channel (100W per channel) |
| Sound | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Atmos with Height Virtualization |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Price | Find on Amazon |
A Note on the Global Shortage
At the time of this writing, this receiver, along with some models by Denon and Marantz are difficult or impossible to purchase. Online sellers have been out of stock for months and Yamaha has made no announcement as to whether production of the RX-V6A will continue. Market experts speculate that Yamaha may abandon this receiver in favor of a new model sometime in Summer 2021.
There is a good likelihood this receiver won’t be available due to numerous complaints from consumers who experienced failures. The most common problems people encounter include random dropping of audio signals and losing synchronization, bizarre network errors that force the user to put the source on an unused source to locate the correct source, significant issues with HDMI 2.1 resulting from widespread use of defective chipsets, and connection failures between various types of common televisions and gaming systems.
What the RX-V6A Promises (Key Features)
This is a mid-level 7.2 channel audio/ video receiver touted as being born from the experiences of the Aventage line. It advertises that it is 8k-ready, but adds an asterisk that explains “via future update.” The defective chipset issue directly impacts the ability of this receiver to provide 8k resolution. It does offer full 4k resolution at 60 Hz which will cover virtually all of the most current formats. The manufacturer states the receiver will be 4k/120Hz via future update.
The receiver provides support for Dolby Atmos and Vision, DTS:X, and HDR10+. In small print, though, you’ll notice that Dolby Atmos Height Utilization features, HDR10+, and the entire suite of gaming features are not yet available. That’s a lot of advertising space talking about included features that aren’t included. We think this is deceptive at best.
Pros
- Excellent per-channel power and simple setup using YPAO
- Easily connects to wireless speakers
Cons
- Numerous issues with inconsistent performance
- Serious lack of features from what is described in marketing
- Unavailable for purchase online
What the RX-V6A Can Do
This is a product Yamaha introduced to capture the top of the mid-range receivers. This unit goeas head-to-head with comparable models from Denon and Marantz among others. When it works correctly, this is an excellent contender in the range and carries a relatively low price tag.
The V6A provides 100 watts of amplified power to seven channels. It can connect wirelessly to two zones, providing audio to remote speakers in other rooms. This receiver uses MusicCast 20 or 50 speakers for wireless audio. The best av music receivers buying guide can be found here.
Built in Bluetooth and WiFi provide Android and iPhone users with numerous options for wireless streaming. The receiver works with Google Voice Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2, and Amazon Alexa to provide voice controls. Pandora, Spotify, and Amazon Music among others are built-in.
Yamaha calls their proprietary method of producing 3D sound Cinema DSP 3D. This receiver provides this feature. Room calibration is accomplished using YPAO -Yamaha Parametric room Analysis- to create a “sweet-spot” based on the specific acoustics of your entertainment area.
Why This Receiver Gets a Thumbs-Down
We have already explained some of the main issues with this receiver. Of particular note is the HDMI 2.1 problems. This receiver, along with numerous other products by Sound United and others use a chipset from Panasonic that has a known bug. The issue prevents the passthrough of a 4k/120Hz or 8k/60Hz signal and results in a black screen. Yamaha continues to advertise this receiver praising the advanced features that HDMI 2.1 provides, yet this receiver isn’t functionally capable of providing that performance.
Sound United is the parent company of Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio. Shortly after the bug was discovered, Sound United and Yamaha both announced a future fix would be available. Early in 2021, Sound United delivered. The problem cannot be solved via firmware update, so Sound United provides an adapter that makes HDMI 2.1 functional. They offer it to anyone who purchases a unit that is defective. Yamaha continues to state that a future firmware update will solve the issue, but has no date available for when this will be.
You can certainly use this receiver as is. 8k is simply super rare still. The biggest let down is for gamers who will anticipate lag and stutter free gaming at 4k/120 only to discover that they are limited to the same 4k/60 they could get from a receiver that costs half this much.
The other issues that numerous users report indicate that quality control is lacking. Yamaha’s willingness to ship new receivers to replace buggy units indicates they are well aware of significant issues that can’t be resolved easily. (>>> Find the current price on Bhphotovideo)