The all new, reimagined Aventage lineup – RX-A8A, RX-A6A and RX-A4A, offering 11-, 9- and 7-channels, respectively – check literally all boxes that consumers might think of. From stereo to spatial audio, and from 4K today to 8K tomorrow, the range represents a new reference for Yamaha, combining passionate engineering, relentless attention to detail and True Sound reproduction into the brand’s most innovative AV receivers to-date.
The new Yamaha Aventage series was designed to support the latest trends and specifications for home entertainment, with cutting edge components and technology. In fact, the three new Aventage models will offer a staggering number of HDMI 2.1 inputs supporting 8K60/4K120, with seven inputs on each.
“We broke the mold when we premiered our flagship Aventage series in 2010. Now we've reengineered it from the ground up, shattering expectations for what's possible for an AV receiver to recreate in the connected home,” says Alex Sadeghian, director, Consumer Audio, Yamaha Corporation of America. “Not only do the new Aventage AV receivers stay in lockstep with emerging tech – such as the latest gaming consoles and rising resolution of TV screens, with ingenious sound quality right there with them. These AV receivers also stay one step ahead in anticipating customers' future needs – from a new, modern look all the way down to the components.”
Advances to the Aventage lineup in 2021 are the most significant to date, with a clean and powerful new look, inside and out. It begins with a simplified, modern design that features a bold, center volume knob, a brand new, high-resolution LCD display, a rotary jog dial and touch-sensitive buttons.
The attention to detail continues all the way down to flagship-quality parts at the base, with each new model providing stability against vibrations via the signature Aventage "fifth foot". This Anti-Resonance Technology wedge has been further analyzed and developed for even more efficient dispersion of chassis vibration in the three new models, placing the fifth foot near the front center of each unit's base.
The new Aventage AV receivers have both the processing power and flexibility to support 8K/60, 4K/120, 4K/60, HDMI 2.1 and HDR10+ content, and include seven inputs and three outputs in each model supporting 8K60/4K120. This HDMI 2.1 compatibility provides faster, smoother and uninterrupted entertainment and gameplay with auto low latency mode (ALLM), variable refresh rates (VRR), quick frame transport (QFT) and quick media switching (QMS).
The RX-A8A, RX-A6A and RX-A4A models all support immersive (spatial/3D) audio with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, enabled by the Qualcomm QCS407 smart audio platform. This SoC provides powerful quad-core audio processing for cinematic listening experiences and is designed to decode and play back a rich variety of audio content.
All inputs on the new Aventage models support Dolby Vision. In addition to DTS:X and Dolby Atmos, the three models also offer Dolby Atmos with Height Virtualization, simulating the overhead sound experience for an immersive, 360-degree sound field in a number of speaker configurations. The top two models also support Auro-3D.
In addition, all models feature Surround:AI, a proprietary Yamaha technology, which the company details to use artificial intelligence to analyze DSP parameters in order to optimize each sound element, such as dialogue, background music and sound effects, in real time. The three new Aventage models double the previous platform at 64-bits, thanks to the Qualcomm QCS407 chip.
In order to deliver maximum performance in surround sound modes, each receiver comes equipped with Yamaha Parametric Acoustic Optimizer (YPAO) automatic room calibration with multi-point measurement, precision EQ and a new low frequency mode. This included technology detects speaker connections, measures the distances from them to multiple listening positions in a room and automatically optimizes speaker settings, such as volume balance and acoustic parameters.
The advances to the appearance and processing platform are echoed in the upgrades to the internal circuit design, mechanical structure and audio parts. This includes a symmetrical amplifier layout for optimized signal paths, reducing signal noise and cross-channel interference. The transformer is further mechanically isolated from the amplifier stages with a separate mounting bracket for greater vibration reduction, which contributes additional rigidity to the internal H frame structure.
All models also feature premier ESS Sabre audio DACs, combined with a high slew rate amplifier circuit, which more than doubles the performance of the previous generation, allowing it to respond to rapid changes of input levels with precision and accuracy.
All new Aventage models offer the entire suite of Yamaha MusicCast capabilities and app control, including Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, built-in music streaming services, multi-room audio and voice control via Alexa, Google and Siri-enabled devices. Built-in streaming services include Amazon Music HD, Deezer, Napster, Pandora, SiriusXM, Spotify, Tidal and Qobuz, plus thousands of Internet radio stations.
Full two-way control is available via software integration drivers that seamlessly connect the new Aventage models, and dozens of other Yamaha home audio products, with all the leading home automation and smart home control systems.
The flagship RX-A8A model ($2,999.95 MSRP) is a 11.2-channel, 150-watt AV receiver with 4 zones, HDMI 2.1 with HDCP 2.3 and eARC (7-in/3-out), 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz (7-in/3-out), Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization, Surround:AI, Auro 3D, YPAO R.S.C. automatic room calibration with multi-point measurement, precision EQ and low frequency mode. The RX-A6A ($2,199.95 MSRP) is a 9.2-channel, 150-watt AV receiver configuration with all the same features; and the RX-A4A is an affordable ($1,299.95 MSRP) 7.2-channel, 110-watt AV receiver model with two zones and all the same features except Auro 3D. All three models are expected to be available in the Summer 2021, with some features available via updates.
www.yamaha.com
