Customer Reviews

Yamaha RX-V363BL 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this Yamaha (RXV363) unit because a lightning storm burned out the Sony, which I was happy with. This unit resides in my bedroom - which consists of an HDTV, FIOS, DVD and Sony 5.1 satellite speaker system - and is not my main HT system, which reside in the basement and consist of the higher end components. I looked at the Yamaha RXC463, Onkyo TX-SR506, 606, Sony STR-DG720 but did not want to spend the extra cash for the satellite ready capability. Nor was I interested in the video switching capabilities since I connect all video source directly to the TV and all audio sources to the receiver. For switching, I use my Harmony 880 - one button operation.

Connectivity:

For my situation, the Yamaha has all the connections I need (DVD and FIOS). Setup is simple and straight forward. Remember, you get HD quality from both HDMI and Component connections.

As far as connecting video components thru the receiver, I can't give an opinion on that because I do not go thru the receiver for video connections, up conversion and all that stuff. I always connect my video source directly to the TV- always. I just believe that you lose picture quality going thru a receiver. Remember, the most direct path between 2 points is a straight line. I only use the receiver for the audio connections because to me that's its main purpose - audio and TV is video. Besides connecting thru the receiver, in my opinion, is mainly for convenience and possibly (emphasis) saving a few bucks on cables.

As stated by other reviewers, the HDMI ports (video pass-thru) do not output sound (manual specifically states this fact as well as other sources on the internet) so you must connect separate audio cables. Having HDMI output audio is good if you are using the speakers in the TV (but why would you do that if you want a HT quality sound) but if you have surround speakers then you should use either the digital or optical audio connections.

Now with that said, I know that there are some that have many components to connect in their system or want the convenience of having the least amount of cables connected to the TV, receiver etc. For those you either have to dig a little deeper in the pockets or get a separate switching device for all of the components. This unit, at $200, is an entry level HT receiver so don't expect it to do what the high end units can.

Remote Control

The remote control is a little tricky. What I found is that it's a little confusing on how to switch between sound stages at first but like anything new you get used to it.

As an alternative to those who want simplicity in switching between video sources do yourself a favor and get the Harmony 880 remote control - one remote, one button control bliss baby. Amazon seems to have the best prices on the remotes. Check it out.

Overall:

Overall this is a good unit. This is a nice entry level unit and it does well for the limited setup I have in the bedroom. This unit actually makes the Sony satellite speaker sound much better than the Sony receiver did. This unit has better sound fields than my older Sony unit - I like the Straight and Enhance and 5 channel speaker modes. My Sony did not have these.

TIP: Before purchasing any HT equipment you must do your research. You can go to the manufacturer's website and download the manual and determine if it contains all the connections etc you need for your system. What I've found in some of the previous reviews is that the unit was purchased without truly knowing its capabilities and then that person bashes it - which is unfair. The only problem is the individual did not do his/her research and/or know the true capabilities of the unit. The World Wide Web has all sorts of reviews on this unit - both professional and end user - so it baffles me that these people did not know the limits of the unit. Uhhh oh yeah they didn't do their research. So when you read these reviews, read between the lines of the comments, which many times will reveal that the person did not do the necessary homework prior to the purchase and/or did or do not understand the functions of a specific AV receiver. So please make sure the equipment has all you need before putting out negative reviews.

Also, remember if you have surround speakers you do not need to send the audio thru the HDMI just use the digital coax or optical audio connections. And don't believe much of the hype about the cables (i.e. the better ones are the most expensive ones). Just don't use the cables that come in the box and don't spend tons of money on cables either.

I have owned Yamaha Natural Sound equipment for over a decade, and continue to love it. This receiver is an impressive value for the money -- and in some respects is actually superior to its more expensive counterparts. For example, this unit has the Night Listening mode, which makes watching movies at night much easier (easier on your spouse and neighbors, anyway) -- while the more expensive V463 does not! Because I don't care about XM/Sirius radio or 7.1 surround (the main features of the more expensive units), this one fits right where I want it.

The only downside I see to this unit is its relatively limited number of video inputs, and the inability to route all the video inputs together. For example, you only get two HDMI inputs and one output. In my case this is enough, but others may find it limiting. Also, the component inputs are not upconverted into HDMI -- you have to run component outs AND HDMI out into your TV if you're using both kinds of inputs. In my case this is okay, but again, if you have a lot of high definition devices this may be a pain (since to switch inputs you'll have to switch both on the receiver as well as the TV).

I currently own one of these units (attached to my computer), and am actually about to buy a second one for my home theater. I spent a bunch of time on the Yamaha site researching the higher end ones, but feel that this inexpensive one is what I actually want. Another bonus -- it fits perfectly in the 6" space in my IKEA Billy TV stand, where some of the higher end ones don't!

UPDATE: (PLEASE SEE UPDATE 2 BELOW) After two months of owning two of these units, I have one issue to report: the HDMI signal does not pass audio on these units. Originally I thought that wouldn't be a problem (since there are various digital audio inputs as well, and I had plenty of cable) -- but there is an issue with lip sync on my TV, as the HDMI and digital audio are slightly out of sync. What this means is, when I watch something via HDMI, the dialog seems to arrive a little later than the lips move onscreen, and I find it unwatchable. (This issue does NOT seem to exist with the component and other video inputs.) I ended up running the HDMI inputs directly to my TV because of this -- and it solved the issue -- but it makes the HDMI switching of this receiver useless. Oh well, it was only two HDMI inputs anyway.

Aside from that, I'm very pleased -- the units sound great, have plenty of power, have a decent remote, and have plenty of inputs for what I'm doing. I still highly recommend this model, though you'll want to consider the HDMI issues before buying. You'll also want to thoroughly check your various devices to make sure this unit has the proper inputs (for example, coaxial digital input for DVD) for what you have. You can workaround this in some cases (for example, using the "CD" optical digital input with your Blu-Ray player...) but you'll want to plan it out in advance.

UPDATE 2: Apparently I was on crack about the lip-sync issue. Another reviewer noted that there is indeed a way to adjust the lip-sync audio on a per-input basis, to correct for exactly the issue I had mentioned. I haven't set this up yet, but hey -- that was the big downside I saw (which just meant I had to run separate audio and HDMI cables, which still worked fine with my setup...), and apparently I was wrong. For what it's worth, I'm still using both units daily (one in my home office, one in my home theater) and they're still performing just great. Highly recommended.

If you plan on using both HDMI inputs PLUS all 3 component inputs then this receiver is not for you. Furthermore, the video inputs are directly tied to the audio inputs, somewhat limiting configuration possibilities further.

It works like this :

Video (ports are labeled either DVD, DTV/CBL, or DVR)
DVD : Component OR HDMI
DTV/CBL : Component OR HDMI
DVR : Component

Audio (digital inputs can be assigned)
Input 1 (digital coax) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 2 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
Input 3 (digital fiber) : assign to DVD, DTV/CBL, DVR, CD, CDR, V-AUX
(note, if you assign a device to of of these inputs you can not assign it to another)

In addition, each input type has is own composite (L)(R) connection. By default the receiver will choose a digital signal over the composite analog one.

When you have these inputs straightened out you will be able to select which input you want the receiver to use at any one time.

So, if you select and input source of DVD it will do the following:

1) Pass the HDMI signal from the HDMI DVD input port to the HDMI output port.
2) pass the component signal from the component DVD input to the component output
3) check the 3 digital inputs for one assigned to dvd and play this signal over the speakers if present
4) if no digital signal exists for dvd then it will play the composite input for DVD sound over the speakers.

All that aside, and ignoring that the documentation is not well written, the receiver is nice and does its job very well. Night Cinema is cool and the sound quality is pretty outstanding.

I just have to use my component switch with this receiver to use all of my devices.

There are a number of positive reviews here, and I won't replicate what they say save to confirm that the sound quality is excellent, and the connectivity is fine for 99% of us. I'm on the whole actually happy enough with it. However, you should be aware of a couple of significant issues.

1. Although there is a button on the front for speaker set A/B/Off, there is no option to have output going to both speaker sets A and B at the same time. Even though the corporate drone in Best Buy said it would, and nothing in the advertising blurb counteracted this, this simple truth is hidden in smallish text on a page somewhere in the depths of the manual. I therefore purchased a Monster Cable SS4 Multi-Speaker Selector so that I could have audio on the deck and in the main room at the same time. The combination works fine.

2. Second problem. There are no codes for programming the remote to operate the Dynex 42 inch flat panel. It is a BestBuy own brand, made by Toshiba. None of the Toshiba codes work, and there are no codes listed for Dynex.

3. The manual is written for the Hindu goddess Kali, because you need 10 arms to flick back and forward through the manual all the time.

I have actually learned to like the sound enough to keep the system, and so the 2 stars is probably too negative, but it won't affect the product rating much, and may draw your attention to a couple of problems you might not be aware of. Enjoy.

I've had mine for about a month now so I can now say with some assurance that it is a good receiver for this amount of money.

The upsides:

*It sounds great with surround sound, even dvd-a audio!

*It's easy to use with the 4 presets - though I wish I could change the pre-sets to include cd player instead of radio. (Maybe you can but I haven't figured it out yet)

*It has a full function remote with good range

*It blocks off sound automatically when you plug in a headphone (saves having to turn off the speakers with a 2nd step)

*It is set so you can simulate dts sound with headphones for night listening

*It has many different pre-sets and they really come in handy. I found, for example, that using the 5 channel simulator preset sounds great with 2.0 movies, bringing the sound to the rear speakers - especially with movies that are hard to hear the dialogue.

The downsides are many but they're mostly minor. And by the way I would give this 4 and 1/2 stars instead of 5 if I could, because of the downsides:

*Not enough inputs/outputs. I'd have liked it to have an HDMI in from the dvd player. The HDMI it does have is ONLY FOR VIDEO, NOT THE AUDIO SIGNAL.

*It does not have a mute button on the unit itself, only on the remote. You can achieve mute quickly by giving the big volume dial a couple of quick spins but then you lose your volume setting. No big deal but I have never seen another unit without a mute button on the face of it.

*The digital coaxial cable (optional) does not provide DVD-A audio nor good DTS audio. On mine, with DTS audio it was VERY low. In order to get good 5.1 channel audio you have to use regular audio cables in the inputs marked Multi-Channel. Adding HDMI Audio would have been a VERY big PLUS. I assume it was not cost effective. Personally I'd have rather spent an extra $30 or so and gotten the HDMI Audio capability.

*Although it is advertised that this unit works with the IPod dock, you should know that THIS UNIT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THE YAMAHA IPOD DOCK even though it is not stated. That is, it does not show the IPod menu on the tv with this unit, only with the more expensive units in this series. So what good is it? Not much. This should be made clear on the box/and amazon etc. item descriptions. I bought this in part due to the IPod capability and now feel cheated. This is from a Yamaha tech:

"The RX-V363 will not display the IPod information on the TV/Display."

(However the new Tekkeon Navdock works great with the Yamaha and for only $20-30 more. Check it out. Yes, it costs more than the Yamaha dock but has many more features and you can even view video from your IPod classic without buying a proprietary cable from Apple!)

So all in all, despite its downsides, this is a fantastic receiver for 200 buckaroos. You just can't beat it. I had a Sony in this price range before (actually more, 7 years ago) with similar features, and this sounds much better than the Sony did and has better features.

UPDATE 2: October 26th 2010
I've had no electrical problems since my previous update.

UPDATE 1: July 26th 2008
I've encountered a problem with my receiver which caused it to freeze: which might have been my own fault... I believe the problem was because I was using 6ohm speakers with the receiver still at 8ohm. I have since adjusted the receiver to deal with 6ohm speakers (which is a handy option for the receiver to have).

PART 1:
I bought the Yamaha RX-V363 500 Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver in May 2008 because my Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 burnt out after 3.5 years of use, and all I was left with were its 5 sataite speakers [they are 6ohm]. So in order to make use of my satellite speakers I bought this Yamaha receiver.

I'm using this system for 5.1 surround with my Xbox 360, and it's been great. I've had no problems with it. The receiver is customizable, allowing you to adjust the bass/treble of all the surround speakers, excluding the front-center. There's an option that allows adjustment to individual speaker volume.

The receiver (and remote control) comes with 4 handy "SCENE" buttons, which allows you to set each button for a different input. I have the 1st button customized to play PC's sound using "CinemaDSP" which allows the PC's stereo output to be heard from all 5 speakers: it's really awesome, since my laptop doesn't have a 5.1 sound card. I have the 2nd button customized to play the Xbox 360's 5.1 surround sound using Dolby Digital 5.1.

One negative comment about the receiver is that the HDMI inputs do not transfer audio :( It makes no sense [to me] to have HDMI connections that only transfer the video portion of the signal. ...It's not a huge problem, because the receiver has optical-inputs. I don't send the Xbox 360's HDMI cable through the receiver, just the optical cable (for sound).

The receiver is very cost effective, and it's a smart buy at this low price. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to hook up their 5.1 system.

PART 2:
Overall I give Yamaha's RX-V363 receiver 5 out of 5 stars for the great quality put into the system, and all the functions that come with it.

PROS:
+ Excellent price.
+ DD 5.1 work great with my Xbox 360.
+ Very customizable (6ohm or 8ohm), and the "4 SCENE" buttons are very handy when switching inputs.
+ The unit is not: heavy or too big, nor does it get hot.
+ Easy to use.
+ Aesthetically pleasing.
+ I'd buy another if I had a use for it.

CONS:
- No True-Dolby Digital support, nor the DTS's equivalent (due to the audio signal not being supported via the HDMI input).
- Can't specify detailed Bass & Tone output for the front-center speaker.

Check out the pictures I uploaded!

AcidSnow

After reading the countless reviews about this Yamaha Receiver, i had my doubts about purchasing it. I heard the horrible stories about the HDMI video only. I have a 50 inch plasma, and wanted a good but inexpensive receiver for sound. Well, I purchased it anyway, and i'm glad I did! I was able to get the receiver $121 shipped, and was well worth the purchasing!

I'll get the cons out of the way:
1) No HDMI for sound, only video! So the HDMI is pretty useless folks! Don't bother buying it for this reason alone, unless you would like to use HDMI for video ONLY!
2) Only DTS!
3) Configuring up can be a pain for the novice!
4)Terrible manuel!

Pro's:
1) Cheap price!
2) Great sound for inexpensive receiver!
3) Was able to get it to work properly after using the optical digital connection!

Instructions: Hook up your dvd/blu-ray player directly to your television for HDMI video. For sound, I used an optical digital connection from the DVD player, to the "CD" optical digital connection on the back of the receiver.

For sound watching the television. I connected the optical digital connection from the receiver labeled "Sat/TV" to the opticial digital connection of the HD cable box.

After that, it worked like a charm. Had this receiver for a week now, and have no issues whatsoever. I currently have a HD Player, but will soon be in the market for a blu ray player. Once I get the PS3, or standalone player, i'll get the sound using the optical digital connection.Enjoy!

My husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer last summer. We didn't have a lot of money to play with after his illness; but he did have a "Bucket List" of things he wanted to have or do before his time comes. One of the the things on his list was a High Def TV. We got a Sony Bravia 42."

The problem was that once you get HDTV, you need accessories. For instance, my 18 year old Kenwood receiver no longer picked up the HD sound, which meant my 18 year old Bose towers no longer worked with the TV or new Panasonic Blu-Ray player.

The boy that helped me at local "geek" store tried to sell me a new home theater system, the cheapest good one being $1000.00. And then he said with a sigh "It still won't sound as good as your old Bose towers." At least he was honest and told me that all I needed was a new receiver!

I looked high and low for a decent receiver that would fit my empty wallet, and husbands desires. I purchased this one after researching reviews and crossed my fingers.

I could not be more happy. It was easy to set up, easy to work, and I have my old Bose towers back in full force pumping out the finest sound that I can imagine. I also got the dock for our I-Touch and I am happier than I can say, in that I have been able to make my husbands last wishes come true. I do believe that this receiver was cheaper than what I paid for my old Kenwood almost 20 years ago.

My son would tell you that his only problem with this receiver was that it stopped him from getting my Bose towers (he got the old system... minus the Bose).

Thank you Amazon reviewers for helping me make this wonderful purchase.

After owning this for three weeks, I'd like to give it 3.5 stars. I'm super happy about the great sound quality for DVD's, CD's, and TV shows, but making this do what you want is a real headache.

The worst part about the remote control is that there is no control for treble and bass on it. That's right, you can only control treble and bass on the set itself, not from the remote. There is a "Night" switch that lowers overall bass for those times you don't want to disturb your neigbors, but that's it.

It does take a lot of study to learn the controls. It's hard to tweak the settings; instead, you have to create and sort many "scenes," which are basically programmed settings, then flip through your many scenes to find one that works with whatever you are listening to.

Let me be clear, the sound is phenomenal--on DVD's, CD's, and TV--for the price. (I am using four Sony speakers, a Polk center sound and subwoofer, a Sony DVD player, and a Samsung HDTV.) The connections are simple and plentiful (including three digital outs) for a home theater system.

And, to be fair, it is fairly easy to single out and set the volume for the 5.1 speakers. Center sound is excellent for dialogue.

But if you are listening in straight stereo, there is no simple "balance" control that I ever found.

Truly a pain learning how to use it. No way my wife will even attempt it. The manual is like an engineering text book.

Great receiver! Easy to install, sounds great, and has a ton of options to maximize your listening. We have it hooked up to Polk surround sound speakers and we couldn't be happier. Plus the speakers and receiver combined cost under $400...an amazing deal!