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Yamaha has revealed its new entry-level RX-V series of receivers for 2016 — and one of the biggest changes over last year is the inclusion of the surround-sound standard Dolby Atmos in three of the models.
Having unveiled the RX-V381 last week, the company has now added the 5.1-channel RX-V481 ($450), and three 7.2-channel units, the RX-V581 ($550), RX-V681 ($650) and RX-V781 ($850).
Yamaha’s MusicCast system is controlled with an app for Android and iOS.
Yamaha
While all four models feature Internet connectivity as well as the company’s own Wi-Fi MusicCast system, only the last three will include Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos originally appeared in high-end 2014 receivers from the likes of Yamaha and Onkyo, but this is the first time the standard has appeared in Yamaha’s entry-level range.
All of the models are compatible with the latest 4K standards, including HDCP 2.2, HDR and BT.2020. Though the company doesn’t say how many HDMI inputs support 4K, it’s likely all of them, as the entry-level RX-V381 has four compatible ports.
While competitor Onkyo has featured a phono input for many years, Yamaha is getting back in the game with its RX-V681 and RX-V781, which both accept a signal directly from a turntable.
The RX-V481 will be available in April, the ‘V581 and ‘V681 in May and the ‘V781 in June. Australian and UK pricing and availability is yet to be announced, but the starting price of $450 converts to around £310 or AU$590, but expect final pricing to vary significantly.
