Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black)

by Yamaha

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 17.1 x 7.1 inches ; 38.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 46 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001E5CDRS
• Item model number: RX-V3900BL
• Batteries: 6 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,915 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer

The Network-Ready Yamaha RX-V3900BL Is Ready to Become Your Home Theater Hub

This 7.1-channel network AV receiver offers unsurpassed versatility with access to today’s most popular music sources including Internet Radio, Rhapsody online music service, music streaming from a PC, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready, USB, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility, as well as extensive multi-zone custom installation and convenience features, plus Web Browser Control.

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Built-in Web server offers simple and intuitive zone control

Web Browser Control

The RX-V3900BL has a built-in Web server that offers a simple and intuitive zone control solution for use in a home network. To use this feature, simply connect the receiver to a LAN and enter the unit's IP address from a web browser on a PC, touch panel controller, or even a PDA. The browser will display the top menu, allowing control of power on/off, volume and other settings for all zones. It also allows access to detailed Zone information pages with meta data from HD Radio, internet radio, iPod, XM/SIRIUS or PC music files. By utilizing this powerful feature, multi-zone configuration is no longer a time consuming task.

New GUI with Display Overlay
The RX-V3900BL has a built-in Web server that offers a simple and intuitive zone control solution for use in a home network. To use this feature, simply connect the receiver to a LAN and enter the unit's IP address from a web browser on a PC, touch panel controller, or even a PDA. The browser will display the top menu, allowing control of power on/off, volume and other settings for all zones. It also allows access to detailed Zone information pages with meta data from HD Radio, internet radio, iPod, XM/SIRIUS or PC music files. By utilizing this powerful feature, multi-zone configuration is no longer a time consuming task.

Yamaha network functions get you connected to your music

Network Capability Makes Your Yamaha a Portal to All Your Digital Music
Using a network connection and Windows Media Player 11, the user can stream PC music content (MP3, WMA, WAV), listen to internet radio, and access the Rhapsody™ and SIRIUS* streaming services. Rhapsody requires a paid subscription (30-day free trial period is included). When a track is selected, the album art is displayed, and you can also select Channels for constant streaming music. The RX-V3900BL can also function as a Client in Yamaha's MusicCAST home audio network, seamlessly integrating with the MCX-2000. With the optional YBA-10 Bluetooth dock, you can enjoy music wirelessly from Bluetooth enabled mobile phones, portable devices, or personal computers. There is even a USB terminal on the front panel for portable USB music players, and of course an iPod can be used via the optional YDS-11SL dock.

3D CINEMA DSP for Surround Realism
The RX-V3900BL features surround sound processing with the enhanced capability of 3D CINEMA DSP. By using two presence speakers in addition to the four FL/FR and SL/SR speakers, the sound field is given an extra vertical dimension. Pressing the 3D DSP button provides a sound field that expands both upward and downward. Hi-Fi DSP programs sound more natural, closer to the feeling of actually being in a concert hall with a high ceiling or a small live house where the sound seems to bounce up from the floor. CINEMA DSP programs have an added dimension of height that was previously difficult to achieve, so sounds coming from above have precise localization. When volume is low, CINEMA DSP effects may be difficult to hear. Adaptive DSP Level overcomes this problem by evaluating the difference between the volume level and a reference level, and adjusting the DSP level to ensure optimum effectiveness--that is, the best possible sound.

Power up to three rooms at the same time

Superior Custom Zone Control
Users can enjoy audio in three rooms as well as video in the second room with an extensive array of custom zone control features. These include Main/Zone 2/Zone 3 power controls, front panel selection of XM/FM/AM tuning, volume and input source, Zone 2 video output and on-screen menu display, and Zone 2/3 tone and L/R balance controls for ceiling or wall-mounted speakers. A separate Zone Remote Unit is provided and there is also an RS-232C interface for a touch-panel controller.

Adaptive Dynamic Range Control
Adaptive DRC is a new volume control technology that is effective for low-volume listening, such as at night or with headphones. It applies DRC processing to eliminate the volume differences between loud commercials and ordinary programming and to take into account our ears' loss of sensitivity as volume decreases. The compensation is performed automatically, so all dialogue is heard clearly even at low levels, and there are no sudden loud bursts of sound.

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Technical Specifications

• Power Output: 140 watts x 7 Channels
• Tuners: AM/FM, HD Radio, XM/Sirius (with subscription)
• iPod Compatibility: Yes (with optional YDS-11SL)
• Bluetooth Compatibility: Yes (with optional YBA-10WH)
• YPAO System Calibration: Optimizer Microphone Included
• HDMI Up Conversion: Scale to 480p / 720p / 1080i / 1080p
• Dolby TrueHD: Included
• Dolby Digital EX and Dolby Pro Logic IIx: Included
• DTS-HD Master Audio: Included
• DTS-ES Discrete 6.1: Included
• DTS 96/24 and DTS Neo-6: Included
• HDMI Inputs/Outputs: 4 inputs / 2 outputs, version 1.3a
• Component Video Inputs/Outputs: 3 inputs / 1 output
• Digital Inputs/Outputs: 5 optical and 3 coaxial inputs / 2 optical outputs
• Network Connection: RJ-45 LAN Terminal
• RS-232C Interface: Included
• +12V Trigger Output: Yes (2)
• Pre-Outs: All Channels
• Remote Control: Learning and Macro Capability
• Product Dimensions (W x H x D): 17-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 17-1/4"
• Product Weight: 38.4 lbs

Product Description

Yamaha's next generation 7.1-channel Network AV receiver offers unsurpassed versatility, access to today's most popular music sources including Internet Radio, Rhapsody online music service, music streaming from PC, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio ready, USB, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility, as well as extensive multi-zone custom installation and convenience features, plus a Web Browser Control.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great new Yamaha receiver few flaws, November 29, 2008

By 

Brian H. Stewart (Loveland, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) (Electronics)

I purchased this unit a week after it went on sale. I had been investigating the device for some time prior to the actual release. I used this to replace a Yamahe DSP-A1 purchased about 10 years ago. I wanted to simplify my cabling by switching to an HDMI capable receiver. The availability of 4 HDMI inputs was a big selling point for me.

After initial setup I put the unit through it's paces with SACD recordings of Elton John's Madman Across the Water and the Alman Brothers Eat a Peach. The SACD 5.1 sound from my PS/3 over the HMDI was exceptional, wonderful depth to the soundfield. The video upscaling in this unit is far superior to that included in my 50" LG Flat Panel and has made watching non-HD signals much more palatable. Using blu-ray DTS HD and DD Pure HD both sound amazing. I also purchased a Rhapsody subscription account to use with the unit and love the virtual library of hundreds of thousands of CDs at my fingertips through the remote. I have found several albums on Rhapsody that result in a "unable to play" error, I am not sure if they are encoded in a format other than MP3 or if this error also occurs when using Rhapsody on a PC, these were usually extremely obscure recordings.

The onscreen Ipod controls are great and the album cover display is a great addition, now if they could only get the album, flip view from the iPhone or iPod touch working for scanning through and selecting albums/songs that would be truly fabulous.

The lack of inclusion of wireless networking is a big mistake in my view, how many people would have their ISP drop right next to their stereo system? I overcame this easily with the purchase of a "Wireless Gaming Adapter" which attaches to the Ethernet port on the receiver and connects it to my wireless network, this solution has worked well and runs about 50-100 dollars.

My biggest concern with the unit has been the adaptive sound leveling. This is a great feature to make sure you don't get blasted out of the room when commercials come on at twice the volume of your show. Usually this feature mutes the sound and makes the adjustment very quickly but every now and then it has difficulty setting the volume accordingly and drops the audio for as much as 10-20 seconds, very annoying when using DVR functions to skip commercials then having to go back 2-3 times to get the audio enabled again at the end of the commercials. Once the unit could not seem to set the audio at all and it required selecting a different source before sound was enabled again.

Overall I am quite happy with the unit and hope that a software/firmware upgrade may alleviate the audio level drop issues at some point in the future, while sometimes annoying this issue comes nowhere close to outweighing the great benefits of this receiver.

Pros:

Exceptional sound quality
Great video upscaling
Extensive features listing
Amazing array of device connections

Cons:

Not in everyones pricing range
Initial configuration not for the inexperienced
No built-in wireless networking (could have been a design decision to reduce potential degration of the audio signal)
Infrequent extended audio drop outs when relevelling the audio between programing and commercials or when changing stations
Some CDs visible through Rhapdosy cannot be played

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound, Great Receiver, January 17, 2009

By 

D. Nehring "browncoat" (around N 39° 31.00 W 104° 44.00) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) (Electronics)

I purchased the V3900 to upgrade my older avr in order to get hdmi switching and improved audio format support (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD). I've had the receiver for about a month now and I'm 100% satisfied with the purchase.

Pros:
--excellent sound for both movies and audio, numerous audio processing choices
--4 hdmi inputs, 2 hdmi outputs, all inputs (including component) are user assignable
--video conversion to hmdi, numerous video processing choices
--hd radio tuner
--net radio, rhapsody support, dlna (home media server support) via wired ethernet
--ipod support, usb support
--user upgradable firmware (sirius internet radio claimed for March 2009 firmware)

Cons:
--browsing of home media servers is a bit cumbersome and slow through the on screen menus, I much prefer to use squeezebox or the xbox360 for those music choices
--ipod dock sold separately
--no screensaver when playing back net radio or other music content sources
--no built in wi-fi support

Surprises
--the net radio support is excellent. Yamaha has their own integration with vtuner http://yradio.vtuner.com where you can "register" your receiver and then use to manage your favorites which can include music stations and podcasts
--the ipod playback also supports video from the ipod


Other receivers considered and listened to
--Pioneer SC-07
--Denon 4308
--Onkyo TX-NR906

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great receiver with a caveat, February 15, 2009

By 

Brian DX "bgillespie24" (Ocean City, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yamaha RX-V3900BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) (Electronics)

I'll keep this review short, as the other reviewers have covered a lot of ground here. However, since I upgraded from the Yamaha 1800 receiver to this unit, some folks might find my thoughts interesting.

High points:
- Overall sound is excellent, as well as very flexible. A slight upgrade from the 1800
- Video processing is top notch. I actually use the HDMI -> HDMI up-conversion, as for non-1080p sources I believe this improves the overall picture quality. A MAJOR upgrade from the 1800
- Ergonomics are very good, and the on-screen GUI that works with the HDMI output is a BIG plus from the 1800, which did not support this.

Low points:
- For my two video displays (Sony HD RPTV and Panasonic 2000 video projector) you cannot use the simultaneous output of HDMI1 and HDMI2. Every time I toggle between my two displays I have to change this setting.
- Whenever I switch my FIOS DVR to my Panasonic 2000, the DVR output is down-rezed to 480p. This was briefly mentioned in another review. This only happens with my FIOS unit; my DVD and BluRay players do not have this problem. Also, this is not an issue when using my Sony RPTV. Annoying to say the least, however I'm hoping that a future Firmware update for the Yamaha might fix this. (BTW: I tried every video option on the 3900 including using the THROUGH option for HDMI -> HDMI output; the problem remains)

Overall, I'm still happy I bought the 3900, however I cannot give it a 100% recommendation until this HDMI handshaking issue is resolved)

** 10/16/2009 Update ** After researching my HDMI issues, I purchased a Gefen HDMI Detective (About $120) and this has completely fixed my handshaking issues!