Specifications

2
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RX-A3000 Aventage
Receiver
Review Summary
Manufacturer: Yamaha Electronics
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Value Rating: 5/5 Stars
MSRP: $1799.95
www.Yamaha.com/
hometheater
Pros
• Tonsofconfigurabilityoptions
• HDMIstandbypass-through
(can change inputs)
• Dualconfigurablesubwooferoutputs
• Supportsfull11.2hometheateruse
• iPadandiPhoneappcontrollable
Cons
• Overabundantconfigurableoptions
can be confusing
• NotcompatiblewithMusicCastGen1
• Bulkyandpoorlydesignedremote
control
top of the line RX-Z7 AV receiver. It
had 7 channels of amplification with 140
watts each. All manner of video upscaling
(analogue and digital) was included and it
had a whopping 5 HDMI inputs and even
two paralleled outputs. For room correction,
Yamaha pulled out the stops and debuted a
new proprietary YPAO-based multi point
room calibration system. For multi-room
applications there was support for 4 Zones
of audio (including a dedicated digital audio
output for Zone 4) and networking features
to stream online music and even allow the
receiver to be controlled by an iPod Touch
or iPhone. It weighed just over 40 pounds
and cost $2700. It was pretty impressive to
say the least.
Then, two years later, Yamaha released
the RX-A3000 Aventage receiver. It too
has 7 channels of 140Watts each, the
same analogue and digital upconversion.
But it has 8 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs, all
3D compatible and supporting the latest
features like Audio Return Channel. It also
has even more impressive features, like the
ability to bypass HDMI while in standby,
so you can use your TV without having
to turn on the receiver. It has close to
the same advanced multi-zone YPAO room
correction system and network features
and the 4 Zones of audio. It adds another
component video input, bringing the total
to 4 - which is more than enough in our
opinion, especially given the decline and
phase-out of analogue outputs in favor of
HDMI. It does remove one digital audio
input and output. It also removed the two
switched outlets on the back. But here’s the
kicker. It’s nearly as hefty as the RX-Z7 and
costs just $1700.
Now we’re not going to say that the
amplifier section is exactly the same as the
RX-Z7, but given the feature set, weight
and $800 cost savings, Yamaha’s RX-A3000
RX-A3000 RX-A2000 RX-A1000 RX-A800 RX-A700
Price
$1800 $1400 $1000 $750 $600
Power (RMS)
140Wx7 130Wx7 105Wx7 95Wx7 90Wx7
HDMI 1.4a (in/out)
8/2 8/2 8/2 6/2 6/1
USB audio
Yes Yes Yes No No
Network receiver
Yes Yes Yes No No
HD Radio
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Sirius Internet
Yes Yes Yes No No
Video Processing
HQV Vida HQV Vida Proprietary Proprietary None
Analog to HDMI
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
H-shape cross member frame
Yes Yes No No No
Symmetrical power amp layout
Yes Yes Yes No No
Learning remote
Yes Yes No No No
HDMI standby-through
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GUI
Yes (w/Zone) Yes (w/Zone) Yes Yes Yes
IPhone App Control /
Web browser control
Yes Yes Yes No No
12V Trigger output
2 2 2 1 1
Channel expandability
11.2 9.2 None None None
Zone 2/3 video
Yes Yes No No No
Zone 4 output
Optical No No No No
Zone remote
Yes Yes No No No