About The Yamaha Aventage RX-A2A 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
The Yamaha RX-A2A Home Theatre Receiver is the first of the new Aventage series to hit the market and it has been well worth the wait. This AV receiver incorporates a comprehensive list of up-to-date features including Dolby Atmos Height Virtualizer & the option of wireless rear speakers which gives you all sorts of choices to enhance your home entertainment experience.
The latest Yamaha Aventage AVR's have a classy new look that gives them a mature air that perfectly reflects the serious nature of these home theatre receivers. The RX-A2A may be the entry into the Aventage range but it has a lot going for it and very little missing. Of course, being Aventage, it comes with a 4 year warranty and a 1 year DOA replacement warranty which provides perfect peace of mind in your new purchase. As with all Yamaha products, the RX-A2A is incredibly simple to set up and use and it has a wide range of cutting edge audio visual features combined with a robust, high slew rate, seven channel amplifier stage that will make your surround system sound quick, clear and dynamic.
Dolby Atoms with Height Virtualizer*: For those without in-ceiling or upward firing speakers in their system, Dolby Atmos with Height Virtualization Technology simulates the Atmos experience with forward facing-drivers. Configure up to five speakers to replicate the effect of two in-ceiling speakers, or utilize all seven channels to simulate the powerful effect of four overhead speakers.
Of course, the option is available to use actual in-ceiling or upward firing speakers to feel every dimension in Dolby Atmos. Enjoy a 5.1 surround speaker system and two additional overhead speakers or two Dolby Atmos elevation speakers, delivering dramatic overhead effects for truly enveloping audio – including Dolby Surround upmixer for legacy content. *This function is available via a firmware update.
DTS:X: DTS:X immersive audio formatting places sound where it would naturally occur in space, creating life-like, multi-dimensional audio. The included spatial remapping engine of DTS Neural:X offers improved immersion and heightened realism with all your favourite movies.
CINEMA DSP 3D for Movies, Music & Games: This unique Yamaha proprietary sound field creation technology, was created by combining measured sound field data with digital signal processing. Yamaha collected sound field data from famous concert halls and music clubs around the world, utilizing its wealth of experience in the fields of concert hall design, public address and mixing. By digitizing this vast trove of information and incorporating it into dedicated LSI devices, it effectively reproduces the spaces of concert halls and music clubs in your home. Immerse yourself in the astounding realism of your movies, and enter a world of profound theatre sound.
High Slew Rate Amplifier: For the first time, Yamaha has incorporated a High Slew Rate Amplifier into their new home theatre receivers. Although the advantages of an amplifier that can respond super-fast to changes in input levels has been widely acknowledged, the execution of a reliable circuit has always proven tricky. Well, as you would expect, Yamaha's technical boffins have cracked it and have perfected a high slew rate amplifier that is ultra-reliable, with the clear advantage of having a much improved response time to rapid changes of input levels that is especially suitable for high resolution audio.
Compressed Music Enhancer: When music is encoded into a digitally compressed format like an MP3, the frequency response suffers. Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer employs sophisticated digital signal processing using exclusive algorithms to restore what was lost, so the music always sounds the way it should.
Anti Resonance Technology Wedge: The Anti Resonance Technology (A.R.T.) Wedge is a fifth foot in the centre of the chassis unit base. It dampens vibrations from the power transformer, power transistors and heat sinks, as well as vibrations that might be caused by the sound from the speakers - providing dynamic sound and focused, accurate reproduction.
HDR10+*: HDR10+ provides deeper contrast and more realistic images that stay true to the creators' intent. It helps give more visual dynamic range (the ratio of light to dark) on a scene-by-scene (or even frame-by-frame) basis and also provides, in a small amount of metadata, the scene characteristics between bright and dark so that important detail can remain. This enables displays to reproduce images more realistically, adhering to the creator's original intent. *This function is available via a firmware update.
8K/60Hz, 4K/120Hz*: The RX-A2A supports end-to-end 8K/4K resolutions and higher refresh rate solutions with a single upgraded cable for seamless integration within the HDMI eco-system. 8K delivers a super-immersive viewing experience with twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of 4K, and 4 times as many pixels; and combined with a 60Hz refresh rate enables smooth and sharp viewing of content with high-speed action. 4K/120Hz enables ultra-fast motion UHD images to be crisp and razor sharp; allowing sports, action movies, high-performance gaming and VR to benefit significantly. *This function is available via a firmware update.
Advanced Gaming-Dedicated Functions (ALLM, VRR, QMS & QFT)*: Enhanced gaming and media features ensure an added level of smooth and seamless motion and transitions for gaming, movies and video. These include: Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) which enables the ideal latency setting to automatically be set allowing for smooth, lag-free and uninterrupted viewing and interactivity. Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) reduces or eliminates lag, stutter and frame tearing for more fluid and detailed gameplay. Quick Media Switching (QMS) for movies and video eliminates the delay that can result in blank frames before content is displayed. Finally, Quick Frame Transport (QFT) reduces latency for smoother no-lag gaming, and real-time interactive virtual reality. *These functions are available via a firmware update.
AV Setup Guide App for Initial Setup: The RX-A2A is simple to set up and simple to use without worry or confusion. Use the Yamaha Setup Guide App which provides expert set up assistance for your AV receiver and source devices. It even guides you through various other settings such as speaker connections, TV and source device connections and power amplifier assignments. Use your smartphone or tablet, together with the MusicCast Controller App to operate the RX-A2A and change settings quickly and easily. The same Controller app functions as a remote control for all your MusicCast-compatible devices as well as full multi-room audio controls. Simply tap the beautifully designed screen and take control of all the audio equipment and all the music in your home. There are a wide variety of capabilities like the Link function that lets you play the same song in different rooms simultaneously and the ability to freely customize the room screen with your own pictures. Make your musical world even more exciting.
MusicCast - Whole House Audio At Your Fingertips: This is big news and a real point of difference between Yamaha and every other manufacturer. MusicCast is a new revolution in network audio and makes it super easy to create a whole house audio system starting with the RX-A2A. MusicCast products are designed with sound quality front of mind with support for high-res formats including Apple Lossless (ALAC) up to 96 kHz and WAV, FLAC or AIFF up to 192 kHz. MusicCast employs a high performance wireless network to deliver music and audio enjoyment to multiple components in multiple rooms ... and easily. MusicCast can stream digital music content from your smartphone, PC or NAS drive to other MusicCast devices in your home including soundbars and wireless speakers. It can also share the music from external devices such as a TV or CD player connected to the RX-A2A. Audio content from Bluetooth-connected devices can also be streamed to MusicCast devices in multiple rooms. Use all your MusicCast products together or separately, it's completely up to you. Control it, all from one app, designed to be intuitive, quick and simple to use. Use a Yamaha soundbar, a wireless speaker, or an AV Receiver - whichever suits you best - mix and match then expand your MusicCast system as time goes on.
Music Streaming Services*: Explore a world of music with music streaming services built-in including Spotify, Deezer, Tidal, Qobuz, Napster & Amazon Music (subject to availability). Synchronizing your playlists and tracks from your smart phone or computer to the AV receiver, music streaming services make it impossibly easy to either listen to your favourites or discover new music. *Music streaming service availability varies by region.
eARC HDMI: Unlock the full potential of your 4K content. Enhanced Audio Return Channel (also known as eARC) is the next generation of ARC – available in the industry-leading AV receivers from Yamaha. eARC delivers full-resolution, multi-channel audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD through your existing HDMI connection, giving you the most realistic surround sound experience for immersing yourself in your favourite movies and moments. Click here for some of our eARC HDMI Cables.
Voice Control with Alexa & Google Assistant*: Touch or voice control – the choice is yours. Intuitively control a single MusicCast product or an entire whole-home system with ease using Alexa or Google Assistant and hear your home come alive. *Availability of voice command control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant varies by region and a third party device is required to initiate voice commands.
Apple AirPlay 2: "Hey Siri. Play music in the kitchen and living room." AirPlay 2 adds the ability to stream Apple Music and other streaming services to multiple MusicCast devices throughout your home. Easily control it from your iPhone or iPad, link it with a HomePod, or simply utilize voice control and ask Siri to assist.
Customise Your Sound with Yamaha YPAO R.S.C/Multi-Point: YPAO (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer) analyses the room acoustics and your system, then precisely adjusts various audio parameters to provide the best sound for your room. Simply by placing the supplied microphone at your listening position and switching YPAO on, the system is automatically calibrated for optimum performance in your home theatre room. The RX-A2A adds the versatility of YPAO multi-point measurement and YPAO volume.
SCENE Buttons with the Ability to Preset Songs & Stations: There are four SCENE buttons which you can pre-set for different inputs, as well as a sound field program, Music Enhancer, HDMI output and more. The inputs can be set to specific sources, such as an FM or Internet radio station, a station on a streaming service, a USB device or a song on a PC or NAS (network). Once you have set the buttons, simply press one on the main unit or the remote control to power on the receiver and hear your desired music. The buttons can be re-set at any time.
Review Of The Yamaha RX-A2A Home Theatre Receiver
"This first taste of the new Aventage range proved a great success. The new fascia design and remote control soften its physical presence; the codec support for both music and movie soundtracks is comprehensive up to Atmos and DTS:X, short only of esoterica like Auro-3D (available on the top two new Aventage models) or the inexplicable IMAX Enhanced. It provides its own sources via DAB+ and FM tuners, plus all the streaming abilities of MusicCast.
Best of all the Aventage RX-A2A proved remarkably easy to set up and calibrate once the fiddly cable-attaching session is complete, then delivering enjoyable and upgradeable sound for music, and that immersive soundfield for seven-channel movie listening with enough power to satisfyingly drive speakers of mid to high sensitivity in all but the largest of cinema rooms.
And if you do need more, then there are three higher Aventage 10 models on the way, which will shortly be waiting to serve." What Hi-Fi?
Our Take On The Yamaha RX-A2A Home Theatre Receiver
What may seem like small details - a solidly built double-bottomed chassis - separate power supplies for digital and analogue circuitry - all add up to better performance and this is all supported by an industry best full 4 year manufacturer's warranty. In fact, Yamaha have such confidence in the Aventage receiver product line-up that if any fault should develop in the first year of ownership, they will exchange it for a brand-new unit! These advanced Yamaha receivers are optimised to sound their best, with high-quality components and an attention to detail designed to satisfy the most discerning ears. The Aventage RX-A2A gives you the best of both worlds; fun features and fantastic sound to heighten your enjoyment of music, movies, TV and video games. And of course with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MusicCast this receiver is hot to trot for the best movie experience with ample power to drive many of our favourite speakers.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: 7-channel home theatre receiver
- Power Output: 100 watts per channel into 8 Ohms (20-20 kHz) at 0.06% THD, with 2 channels driven
- MusicCast Surround: Ability to add wireless surround speakers such as two Yamaha MusicCast 20's
- Dolby and DTS surround sound decoding
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X processing for use with in-ceiling or "height" speakers for more enveloping home theatre sound
- Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization creates three-dimensional effects without height speakers (available via free future firmware update)
- Cinema DSP 3D adds richness and depth to music and movie soundtracks
- YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer) automatic speaker calibration
- Included microphone helps fine-tune your system to best match your room's acoustics
- R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) helps deliver smooth, well-balanced surround sound across different seating positions
- Music Enhancer: Improves sound quality of Bluetooth streams, MP3s, and other digitally compressed music files
- Amp Assign Function: This lets you use the surround speaker outputs in different configurations like bi-amping the front speakers, or for use in Zone B
Digital & Music Streaming
- Wi-Fi: Built-in Wi-Fi for listening to music from a networked PC, Internet radio stations and music services
- MusicCast: Wirelessly connects compatible Yamaha components together for seamless whole-home audio
- Includes support for Spotify (subscription may be required)
- Free MusicCast app offers easy Wi-Fi control, settings adjustments, and music selection and playback
- Supports wireless rear surround sound
- Voice Control: Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control devices (available separately)
- Apple AirPlay 2: Lets you stream directly from an iPhone or iPad and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth for wireless music listening with smartphones, tablets, and compatible computers
- HR Music Files: Plays high-resolution digital music files via USB storage device or a networked computer (PCM up to 24-bit/384kHz resolution; DSD up to 11.2 MHz)
Multi-Room Audio/Video
- Dual-room/dual-source output
- Amp assign function lets you use the surround back speaker outputs in different configurations like bi-amping the front speakers, or for use in Zone 2
- Using powered 2nd-room output allows 5.2-channel sound in the main room
- Cannot select different USB/Bluetooth/network sources for each zone
- Zone 2 stereo Preamp Outputs: For use with an optional external amplifier or power amplifier
Connections
- HDMI 2.1 audio/video switching: 7 inputs, 1 output
- All HDMI connections support 4K/60Hz video
- All HDMI connections will support 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video via a free future firmware update)
- HDCP 2.3 technology ensures compatibility with Ultra HD sources and TVs
- HDR-compatible for extended picture contrast and brightness with compatible TVs and HDR-encoded content
- Supports HDR10, HDR10+, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) and Dolby Vision (HDR10+ enabled via free future firmware update)
- Gaming-optimised video processing technologies for a smooth, lag-free gaming experience
- Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Quick Media Switching (QMS), and Quick Frame Transport (QFT) reduce or eliminate lag and frame tearing (VRR, ALLM, QMS, and QFT enabled via free future firmware update)
- Supports ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel)
- eARC receives uncompressed surround sound signals including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X via the HDMI connection with your compatible TV
- Digital audio inputs: 1 Toslink optical, 1 coaxial
- Analogue Inputs: 3 analogue stereo RCA line level audio inputs
- Phono Input: MM (moving magnet) phono input for connecting a turntable
- Preamplifier Outputs: For Zone 2 and Front two channels
- Subwoofer Outputs: Two line-level subwoofer outputs (each output carries the same signal)
- Front-Panel USB Port: Enjoy audio playback from USB flash drives
- Speaker Outputs: Connect upto 9 speakers (Front L/R, Centre, Surround L/R, Surround Back L/R, Front Presence L/R)
- Note: The RX-A2A can only power a maximum of 7 channels simultaneously. Internal amplifier "assign" function is available
- Speaker Wire Terminals: Will accept Banana plugs (recommended) or bare wire. We do not recommend pins or spades on the RX-A2A
- Zone 2 Stereo Preamp Outputs: Allow use with an optional and compatible external amplifier or power amplifier
- Ethernet Port: For hard-wired network connection
- Trigger: 12-volt trigger output
- Headphone Jack: Full-sized ¼" (6.35mm) headphone jack
- Detachable Power Cable: Allows easy upgrade to a IsotTek Power Cable
Other Stuff
- Remote Control: Yamaha system remote (not learning) included
- Free MusicCast app: Lets you use your Apple or Android device as a Wi-Fi remote
- Yamaha AV Receiver Setup Guide app: Easily guides you through the connection process and initial settings
- FM/DAB+ Tuner: Yes. Radio signal varies depending on your distance from the transmitter. If radio is important, then consider streaming Internet radio from your smart device via Wi-Fi.
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 435 x 171 x 372mm (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi antennas raised 435 x 245 x 372mm)
- Net Weight: 10.2kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 4 Years
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.