Yamaha RX-Z9 Overview
About a year ago, during my review of the venerable Yamaha RX-Z1 flagship A/V receiver, I stated "Some day Yamaha is going to build a bigger, badder, and more feature packed Receiver". Well it just so happened that day was today as evident by Yamaha's new super-receiver, the RX-Z9. For the past few years Yamaha stood idly by while their competition was duking away the right to reign supreme as the flagship receiver king. The fight involved stealing business away from the separates marketplace by offering the latest in processing power, features and configurability with integrated amplifier sections powerful enough to drive large home theater systems to theatrical levels. It was no surprise to me that Yamaha eventually would join the party by introducing a revolutionary receiver that would have its competition grasping for air playing catch up in an industry where you're only as good as your most recent accomplishment.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises on the new RX-Z9 is its THX Ultra2 certification. Can Yamaha's legendary DSP post processing and THX post processing coexist in one product? Read on to find out.
THX on a Yamaha Receiver?
That's right! The RX-Z9 is Ultra2 certified. Many of the newer Yamaha
receivers are now carrying the THX brand certification such as the
RX-V1400 and RX-V2400. The front panel of the RX-Z9 is also endowed
with many of the latest advancements in home theater audio and video
processing such as
Faroudja's DCDi video processing, DTS 96/24 decoding, i.Link for
DVD-A/SACD playback via a single digital connection, and much more.
The RX-Z9 is one feature packed receiver regardless of asking price. In fact, it is definitely the most feature-oriented receiver currently in existence.
Yamaha RX-Z9 Back Panel
All speaker terminal posts sport WBT binding posts (a nice touch typically found on more
expensive amplifiers). Six component video inputs and two outputs featuring digital video up conversion
with OSD, along with a host of s-video and composite video connections, ensure almost all of your
latest video gear is covered. However, with a back panel this well equipped, I wonder where Yamaha will
find the space to accommodate a next generation product with DVI / or HDMI switching? For now you will
have to directly connect your DVI enabled gear to your Display. The RX-Z9 comes with a detachable power
cord and two switched outlets for your power connection needs. It supports 7CH EXT multi-channel analog
Inputs, four digital coaxial (1 with RF Demodulator) and eight toslink inputs and three toslink
outputs, i.Link, to ensure all the latest and future audio formats are covered. The Yamaha RX-Z9 comes
with all the fixings that currently none of its Separates competitors and only a handful of super
receivers offer such as:
- GUI user interface with simplified remote control operation.
- Digital processing and Component Video Upconversion with OSD.
- Nine Adjustable bass management settings (40Hz to 200Hz, 10Hz step sizes from 80-120Hz).
- Top of the line Burr Brown PCM-1792 DACs which superbly handle DVD-A and SACD.
Note: the PCM/DSD-1792 are basically identical other than slight differences in pin configurations. Both handle PCM and DSD in their native formats or in PCM for SACD if you desire bass management.
- Stereo Subwoofer/LFE outputs with independent level and group delay adjustments.
- Auto set up and YPAO parametric equalizer for all channels.
- Active i.Link for DVD-A and SACD
To the RX-Z9's testament, there are still dedicated, so-called high end processors selling for more that don't offer a majority of the features listed in the above bullets.
