It’s not just TVs that are having to ‘spec up’ to cope with the promised capabilities of the next generation of games consoles and PCs. Makers of AV receivers are also having to take gaming into account like never before - especially when it comes to their HDMI connections.
As reported previously, new AV receivers from Marantz and Denon have been announced that boast HDMIs capable of supporting such key PS5 and Xbox Series X-friendly features as variable refresh rates, automatic low latency mode switching, 4K images at 120Hz frame rates, Quick Frame Transport (to reduce latency), and Quick Media Switching (to get rid of pesky screen black outs when switching between frame rates or resolutions).
Now Yamaha has confirmed that it, too, is adding two new gaming-friendly AV receivers to its range. And despite the RX-V4A and RX-V6A being relatively affordable ($439.95/£449 and $599.95/£649 respectively) considering how many features they offer, they also deliver a big gaming advantage over their Denon and Marantz rivals: multiple high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 ports.
The Yamaha RX-V6A will carry three HDMIs capable of supporting next-gen gaming features.
Photo: YamahaIn fact, the RX-V6A carries three 4K/120Hz HDMIs, while the cheaper V4A actually carries four. Which means that hardcore gamers with separates-based sound systems will be able to connect an Xbox Series X, PS5 and high-end PC to either receiver simultaneously, rather than having to keep manually switching the console connections over like they would if they wanted to route more than one next-gen console/PC at a time through the Denon and Marantz AVRs.
It’s important to add that if your TV has an eARC output, that gives you a way to get round the single HDMI 2.1 ports on the Denon and Marantz models. Though most TVs this year won’t allow DTS:X to be passed on via eARC.
The Yamaha receivers’ 4K/120Hz HDMIs can also support 8K at 60Hz. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X seem to have gone pretty quiet on the 8K front after initial hints, but the 8K support might just come in useful for PCs and potential future 8K external video sources.
The V4A is a 5.1-channel receiver, while the V6A ups the channel count to 7.2 and additionally supports Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization technology. This is designed to recreate the overhead channels associated with Atmos mixes without you actually needing to install ceiling-mounted or up-firing speakers.
In fact, the V4A doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X at all, which for me personally, at least, makes the V6A by far the most attractive of the two new Yamaha receivers (despite the cheaper model having that fourth high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 port). After all, object-based sound systems are set to become ever more important with the next-gen games platforms (though things are still a little unclear on this front where the PS5 is concerned when it comes to non-headphone audio systems).
The entry-level V4A actually boasts one more high-bandwidth HDMI than the more expensive V6A. But ... [+]
Photo: YamahaThe V6A is also more powerful than the V4A, packing 100W per channel to the V4A’s 80W.
Both models, though, support the entire suite of Yamaha’s MusicCast capabilities, including Wi-Fi; AirPlay 2; Spotify Connect; built-in music streaming services; multi-room audio; voice control via Alexa, Google and Siri; as well as MusicCast Surround, which lets you pair optional wireless MusicCast speakers to be used as surrounds in a 5.1-channel set up.
One final spec point worth mentioning is that all of the HDMIs on both models (seven in total on the V6A, and four on the V4A) also support Dolby Vision and HDR10+ HDR passthrough, as well as standard HDR10.
Both receivers will be available in the US and Europe in October - just in time for the new consoles to arrive. That said, Yamaha states that the key HDMI 2.1 gaming features - 8K/60, 4K/120, VRR, ALLM, QMS and QFT - as well as the HDR10+ support will require a post-launch firmware update to unlock. A firmware update that likely won’t arrive until December.
The RX-V6A’s Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization feature will also need a firmware update to unlock, and that’s currently tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.
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The Link LonkAugust 26, 2020 at 01:35AM
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Yamaha Unveils The Most PS5 And Xbox Series X-Friendly AV Receivers Yet - Forbes
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