I feel anal retentive this morning, so I'm going to scrutinize this post: {no offense but I'M using CAPS; I'm not shouting, really}
"In my home, never...In a controlled listening environment at a local dealer, about 5-6 months ago....just before he dropped the lineup as it was being outsold by other equipment.
PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY"RE COMPETING WITH OTHER VENDORS TOUTING 7.1 and 110 WPC (PERTAINING TO YAMAHA 2200 VS DENON 3802 FOR EXAMPLE - THE PUBLIC OFTEN DOES NOT TAKE ENOUGH TIME TO ACTUALLY AUDITION EACH AUDIO PIECE IN THEIR OWN HOMES, AND OFTEN BUY ON HYPE). IMO FOR YOU TO EVEN MENTION THIS IN LIGHT OF THE FACT I'VE ADMIITTED I LIKE THE RXV2200 IS SEEMINGLY CONFRONTATIONAL. YOU CANNOT PROVE YOUR STATEMENT IS A FACT, SO WHAT PURPOSE DOES IT SERVE THE ORIGINAL POSTER? SILLY.
In the original post, it was specified " sound quality only", and so it was answered. If you feel the Yamaha is a good piece, so be it. But opinions were sought, and the list was presented. Based on the criteria, opinions were provided...including yours.
NO YAMAHA RECEIVER WILL EVER BE THE END ALL FOR SOUND REPRODUCTION. HOWEVER, THE POSTER SAID "FOR HIS HT" MEANING NOT JUST 2-CHANNEL STEREO (THIS IS NOT TO SAY I BELIEVE "YOU" THOUGHT HE MEANT 2-CHANNEL STEREO BTW).. SO I INTERPRET SOUND TO ALSO INCLUDE THE WAY A RECEIVER DISTRIBUTES SOUND WHEN DECODING SURROUND SIGNALS. ACCURACY OF THE SURROUND SOUND STEERING TO ALL SURROUND SPEAKERS. SOUND IS WHAT YOU HEAR, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU HEAR ENOUGH IN CORRECT PROPORTIONS ASSUMING ALL SPEAKERS ARE PROPERLY CALIBRATED (e.g., SET TO SAME SPL LEVEL FROM THE LISTENER'S PRIMARY SEAT). NOT ALL RECEIVER'S OPERATE THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO DECODING - JUST BECAUSE IT SAYS IT "DOES" DPL2, DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY MEAN IT IS THE SAME AS THE NEXT RECEIVER THAT "DOES" DPL2.
I REALLY BELIEVE THE YAMAHA THE POSTER MENTIONS WILL PERFORM PL2 BETTER THAN THE OTHERS -- THE DENON 3802 CERTAINLY DID NOT DO AS WELL AS THE YAMAHA. I KNOW FROM IN-HOME EXPERIENCE, SINCE I HAD BOTH UNITS IN MY HOME FOR OVER 30 DAYS.
EVER HEAR REGULAR DPL? SOUNDS "LESS THAN DESIRABLE, DARE I SAY CRAPPY" GIVEN THE PLETHORA OF DISCRETE CHANNEL SURROUND AVAILABLE NOW. WATCH TV AT ALL? NOTICE MOST STATIONS ARE NOT SENDING OUT DOLBY DIGITAL SOUND OFTEN? DPL2 IS NICE AND WORTHWHILE. IF YOU NEVER WILL WATCH/LISTEN TO TV THROUGH YOUR HT SETUP -- IGNORE DPL2.
WILL THE ROTEL OR NAD OR ARCAM OUTDO YAMAHA? YOU"LL ONLY KNOW IF YOU BRING THEM INTO YOUR HOME.
You are correct regarding life cycles, in fact you may be generous. Hi Tech is very much a changing landscape. By purchasing something like the Rotel, when in 6 years (to use your timeframe) a replacement is sought, there will be a solid receiver available that can reproduce quality music.....something that can't be said of the Yamaha sadly.
AGAIN, YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS HERE IS SOMEWHAT CONFRONTATIONAL. I SAID I LIKE THE YAMAHA SOUND COMPARED TO THE DENON (THIS IS HELPFUL EXPERIENCE FOR THE POSTER), YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY SAYING IT IS SAD THAT (the) YAMAHA (receiver) CANNOT REPRODUCE QUALITY MUSIC. YOU ALREADY MADE YOUR OPINION KNOWN EARLIER IN THE THREAD ON YOUR PREFERENCES AMONGST THE ORIGINAL POSTER'S CHOICES. YOU ARE REALLY TRYING TO SAY THAT MY OPINION IS INFERIOR AND YOUR WISDOM EXCEEDS MINE, AND YOUR EARS LAY GOLDEN EGGS, BLAHBLAHBLAH, .... EVEN IF YOU HAD NO SUCH INTENTIONS, I SUGGEST YOU MORE CAREFULLY REREAD YOUR WRITINGS BEFORE POSTING.
I am not sure any amp can smooth over poor source material, as if it is bad, even the best equipment can't change the quality of the media."
EVER HEAR OF COLORATION IN AUDIO? A DEVICE IMPARTING ITS OWN UNIQUE "FLAVOR" ON THE SOUND YOU HEAR, WHETHER THE DESIGNER MEANT TO OR NOT (I ASSUME THEY DO MEAN TO...)? SURE YOU HAVE. DENON 3802 DOES NOT PRODUCE LONG SUSTAINED NATURAL CYMBAL SPLASHES WHEN COMPARED TO THE YAMAHA RXV2200. REALLY. TRY IT FOR YOURSELF SOMETIME. I AM NOT IMAGINING THIS -- IT IS FACT. NOW IF THE ORIGINAL POSTER CANNOT HEAR THE DIFFERENCE, THEY SHOULD BE SPENDING MUCH LESS MONEY. SORRY FOR USING EASY TO UNDERSTAND WORDS LIKE "SMOOTH" -- IN MY DIRECT HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, THE DENON ROLLS OFF THE HIGH A BIT SOONER THAN THE YAMAHA, THEREFORE HARSH TREBLE SOUNDS ON POORLY RECORDED CD's SOUNDED LESS SHRILL (LESS UGLY, LESS JAGGED, LESS OUCHIER, NOT AS OBNOXIOUS -- PROBABLY LESS DAMAGING TO EARS ALSO) WHEN LISTENING TO THE DENON.
