Simplicity. That quality has become so rare in today’s audio/video marketplace. Imagine – a receiver that emphasizes music over home theater!
If you feel like a relic when you walk into an electronics store and find yourself overwhelmed by Dolby-surround-this, 7.1-that, take heart. A few companies still offer receivers for those of us who prefer two good, clear channels to complex, multichannel setups. And if you still have a collection of 12-inch vinyl LPs (remember them?) these enlightened audio manufacturers still offer you a receiver with a quality phono preamp.
Yamaha’s RX series stereo receivers articulately answer those needs. The 50 watt RX-397 offers all the basics and the top level RX-797 puts out a generous 100 watts. The subject of this review, the RX-497, fills the gap between the two with a solid 75 watts per channel and a selection of useful features in a well-made, compact unit.
As mentioned in my review of the Yamaha CDC-585 CD changer (
http://www.epinions.com/content_318845521540), the rest of my audio system had stagnated since the 80s. My old receiver, a 40 watt JVC, sounded weak on its left channel. Numerous electronic gremlins had snuck in and the tuner performance had deteriorated. After enough cleanings and tweaks it was time to put the old unit out to pasture.
For me, the receiver forms the heart of a system that includes a pair of JBL L-40 speakers that date back to that company’s golden age of the 1970s. Though not exactly the speakers of my dreams – the famed Century L100 holds that title -- I’ve grown to love the L-40s’ crisp bass and brilliant high end. They’re quite efficient: With the system located in the living room they easily fill both the adjacent dining room and kitchen with sound, even with the old receiver. Now, with the upgrade in power I can crank the volume to a comfortable house-filling level with less danger of clipping (the distortion-producing signal that can spell death for loudspeakers).
Features -- a summary
• Pure Direct
• Discrete Amplifier Configuration
• Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio Ready with Extended Frequency Response
• Linear Damping
• High Dynamic Power, Low-Impedance Drive Capability
• XM Satellite Radio Ready
• Multi-Zone Control Capability
• Subwoofer Out
• Remote Controllable Motor-Driven Volume Control
• Continuously Variable Loudness Control
• Preset Remote Unit
• 40-Station AM/FM Random Access Preset Tuning
• Auto FM Station Memory and Preset
One of this receiver’s most unusual features, the multi-zone capability, deserves mention. It allows you to set up a multi-room configuration using an infrared signal emitter and receiver system that feeds an amplifier and speakers in that remote location. In addition, you can select different inputs for each of those zones (for example one person can listen to a CD in the main zone while the remote zone listens to FM). I haven’t fully explored this feature and I’m not sure if I’ll ever use it. Still, it provides a measure of expandability that you don’t find in competing units.
Tuning in
The RX-497’s tuner pulls in my local stations easily using only the included wire antenna. By local, I mean within a twenty to thirty mile range. More distant stations, from about sixty miles away come in cleanly, but only in mono mode. Hooking an external antenna to the 75-ohm input would surely make an improvement, but for local listening the wire indoor antenna will do.
I can’t imagine having 40 stations to listen to, yet the RX-497 provides that many presets. They’re arranged in groups of eight, thus you must toggle between groups A/B/C/D/E. For me, eight FM stations suffice. The tuner controls don’t seem very intuitive, in part because of their small labels. Fortunately, you don’t have to do much once you have the tuner programmed to your preferred stations.
I can’t yet comment on the XM capabilities of this receiver. According to the manual, the only additional piece of equipment required would be the XM antenna. Judging from those instructions, the hookup looks straightforward.
An amplifier section that rocks!
Rated at 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms, the RX-497 sounds clean, with a rich, warm low end and a clean high end. The word “conservative” also comes to mind. Subjectively, I’d say this unit probably puts out more than the rated 75 watts. The phono preamp seems well matched to my turntable’s Shure magnetic cartridge. Vinyl LPs sound remarkably rich, with excellent stereo separation.
A guided tour of the RX-497’s features
The RX-497 continues the now-traditional all-black look found on so many components. Personally, I’d prefer a bit of chrome mixed in. Still, the RX-497 looks right at home in my equipment rack, just above the matching CDC-585 CD player.
Powering the unit on and off takes some getting used to: A Master power switch turns on the power to both “zones” and places the RX-497 in standby mode. Just below that, a larger Main Zone switch brings the receiver to life (along with anything connected to the rear panel AC outlets). When shutting down, you must remember to leave the Master switch in the “on” (i.e. standby) position if you want to be able to turn the receiver on again using the remote.
Aside from that unusual arrangement, the receiver’s other controls work logically. At the panel’s left end, the silky-smooth input selector knob operates in conjunction with the indicators in the easily read display. A massive volume knob, almost two-inches in diameter occupies the right end of the panel. This nicely weighted control permits volume adjustments in fine increments. The central portion of the RX-497 contains bass, treble and balance controls, all detented in their center positions and all sensuously smooth in operation. The well-selected tone turnover points produce just the right degree of boost or cut.
Loudness compensation has become a rarity in audio equipment, yet Yamaha not only includes it – they’ve actually improved it. Instead of the usual switch that produces a fixed (and often objectionable) boost to the low and high frequencies, the RX series receivers feature a variable contour controlled by a front panel knob. Because my JBL speakers have substantial upper bass response, due in part to their tuned port design, I have found this feature quite useful. On my old receiver, turning on the loudness contour produced an unbearable boom with some recordings, yet turning it off often left others sounding thin or shrill. With Yamaha’s variable control, a subtle amount of boost can be added or subtracted according to one’s taste.
A switch on the upper right of the front panel activates the Pure Direct function. Essentially a bypass of the tone controls and loudness contour, it’s intended to eliminate anything from the signal path that might make the sound less pure. The necessity for this feature escapes me, given the incredibly clean sound of the RX-497. I haven’t found a use for it yet.
The RX-497’s remote will control other Yamaha components as well as TVs, DVD players and VCRs made by other manufacturers. Setting the remote up with the codes provided in the owner’s manual is easy and the unit operates the basic functions of those devices quite well.
Unfortunately – and if you’ve read my other electronic equipment reviews you knew this was coming – the remote leaves a bit to be desired, ergonomically. Its input buttons are small and semi-circular. The numeric section buttons are round and small. The mute button for the TV is smaller still. Combine all this with nearly unreadable labels and you have a unit that’s both annoying and convenient: A single unit capable of controlling multiple components once you identify and punch the proper button. I will at least give the designers credit for organizing the various sections logically and color coding them: Orange for input selection, blue-gray for the numeric pad and black for everything else.
Finally, check out the rear panel of the RX-497: Here the engineers excelled, with a user-friendly layout that makes hookups a snap. Input and output jacks reside in logical, well-spaced groupings and the speaker terminals have large, easy-to-turn grips. An impedance selector accommodates 8- or 4-ohm speaker loads and two switched AC outlets help reduce power strip clutter.
Overall, the RX-497 makes an impression of solidness – something built a bit better than it has to be. Hoisting it out of the box almost reminded me of the 1970s era Marantz receivers I used to set up at my old audio store job. The 497’s relatively compact dimensions of 17-1/8” wide by 5-3/4” high and only 12-1/8” deep make it an easy fit in nearly any audio cabinet.
The sublime listening experience
That Yamaha word again – “natural” – accurately describes the RX-497’s sonic performance. No matter what the source, music from my system sounds fuller and yet more transparent than I ever thought possible. My beloved JBL L-40s come to life with the RX-497’s 75 watts, sounding much less strained at higher volume levels than before.
One of this receiver’s most pleasant surprises comes from the fullness and detail of the low end. The amplifier’s high damping factor contributes, no doubt, to the tightness of the bass. The rest of the spectrum benefits, as well. Mid frequencies, including vocals, have a very natural presence and the high end of the spectrum sounds clean, crisp and never shrill. Instrument definition amazes me. As I listen to albums I’ve had for years, subtle nuances that I hadn’t noticed before are now rendered clearly.
Music lovers, your ship has come in
Still looking for a stereo receiver, free of bells and whistles, that will take you on an awesome musical journey? Look no further. The Yamaha RX-497 should handle your needs easily for years to come. Its unusual multi-zone capability allows for future expansion and the versatile, if quirky, remote control simplifies some of the control functions for other components without detracting from the receiver’s main mission: Clean, detailed, natural sound.
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