Considering the continually falling prices of receivers and discrete speakers, Yamaha's new neoHD components that emphasize integration and ease of use rather than just the "boxes per dollar" HTIB metric sounds like a good move. On power-up, the YMC-500 ($600) and YMC-700 ($800) also turn on the TV, guide the user through a tree of activities (starting with "Watch/Listen/Play" options) and power up the correct devices. Both models pack 3 HDMI inputs, a pair of component ins, and one composite (yuck) set. On the audio side, there's decoding all the way up to Dolby TrueHD (no mention of DTS-HD MA in the PR -- perhaps a Zoran chipset lurks within?) and a nice dollop of Yamaha technologies, including Cinema DSP, AIR SURROUND XTREME, YPAO room correction and Adaptive DRC dynamic volume control. If you spring for the YMC-700 model, you also get wireless connectivity to the media lurking around your house on PCs, a license for TwonkyMedia software for streaming to the YMC-700, and Rhapsody access. Still not convenient enough for you? Then grab for the $800 YMC-S21 HTIB system (pictured) that combines the YMC-500 with a 2.1-channel speaker setup -- interestingly, the PR doesn't spell out a YMC-700 + 2.1-channel speaker bundle. Full details after the break.

Despite the trickle down of advanced features on many manufacturers' lower-end receivers, there's still plenty of room for their upper-echelon offerings as well, and the UK's AVReview put four £1,200 - £1,500 ($1,750 - $2,200) receivers in a matchup. Entering the ring were the Onkyo TX-NR906, Pioneer SC-LX71 (SC-07 in the US), Sony STR-DA5400ES and Yamaha RX-V3900; we only wish models from Denon and Marantz would have made it to the contest as well. That said, matching up four receivers is not to be taken lightly, and it sounds like each of the contestants would serve you well in both features and absolute performance. We won't spoil the ending for you, but even though only one receiver snagged the overall crown, at this price point you should know that things are more nuanced than a single "winner;" your personal priorities are going to be the biggest variable in choosing the best model for you.

[Boxing glove image courtesy germes-online]

As much as we itch to go fully custom in assembling speaker/receiver combos from disparate brands, there are reasons that HTIB systems are so popular, with value and ease of use coming in high on the list. The four updated HTIB systems from Yamaha certainly stack up pretty well: a couple of systems (YHT-791 and 591) with HD audio codec support are balanced out by a pair of 5.1 systems (YHT-491 and 391) that trim the price without leaving you totally out of the game. Holding pole position is the $850 YHT-791, packing 90-Watts to the seven discrete channels and 100-Watts in the 10-inch sub. Four HDMI inputs, HD audio codecs and even a iPod dock round things out and pretty much ensure you'll have the audio thing covered. If you need that DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD support but not 7-channels' worth, save yourself $200 with the YHT-591 and up to 5-channels at 105-Watts each -- it'd be the direction we'd lean in. But don't take our word for it -- hit the link, check out all four systems yourself and let your own ears decide.

[Thanks, Brian!]

It's late February which means it's time for Yamaha to roll out new receiver models across its bread-and-butter RX-V receiver lineup. Right on cue, Yammy has introduced five refreshed models, ranging from the RX-V765 to the RX-V365. The top four models now feature 4 HDMI inputs, and 1080p upscaling of analog inputs has now been sprinkled across the top three models. On the audio side, all models save the RX-V365 now play nice with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. One thing is for sure -- with prices ranging from $650 to $250, these features combined with Yamaha's typically solid performance will put a lot of pressure on other offerings, both in the Yamaha family and out. Hit the links for full details on the model of your dreams.

Read - RX-V765 ($649.95)
Read - RX-V665 ($549.95)
Read - RX-V565 ($479.95)
Read - RX-V465 ($379.95)
Read - RX-V365 ($249.95)

We're not too sure why you'd pass on the opportunity to pick up one of Yamaha's phenomenal soundbars, but those who just have to have their speakers and upscaling DVD player match should find oodles to appreciate in the DVX-700. The 2.1-channel HTIB system includes a DVD player that upconverts to 1080p via HDMI along with 210-watts of power spread evenly over the subwoofer and two satellites. Each of the front two speakers include a 2.125-inch driver and 1-inch tweeter, while the subbie houses a 6.5-inch bass blaster. The system's claim to fame is its supposed ability to "deliver fully convincing surround sound performance without requiring multiple speakers to be installed throughout the room." Given just how well it has accomplished that in the past with its soundbars, we don't doubt that this bold claim is accurate; it's just that we're a tad hesitant to cough up $1,199.95 (MSRP) in order to find out.

About this time last year, Yamaha treated us to its CD-S2000 SACD player and A-S2000 amplifier, both of which sported that timeless look that was just too dazzling to hide away in some AV cabinet. This year, the outfit is keeping with the trend by introducing the equally stunning (and even more silver) A-S700 amplifier and CD-S700 CD player (pictured after the break). The former features 90-watts x 2 of RMS power and gold-plated RCA inputs, while the latter includes a Burr Brown 192kHz/24bit DAC and a USB port for playing back MP3 / WMA files. Both units are destined to hit Japanese audio shops next month for ¥73,500 ($730) and ¥60,900 ($605), respectively.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

We sure hope you're an iPod owner if you're looking seriously at any one of Yamaha's latest mini audio systems, 'cause every last one of them packs an inbuilt dock front and center. Kicking things off is the MCS-1330, which features 60-watts of amplification, an integrated CD player, two speakers and a few other inputs for non-Appleites. The MCR-330 and MCR-230 only seem to differ in connection type, with both units packing 40 total watts of power and a USB socket. The CRX-430 finishes things off with 50-watts of RMS juice and a built-in CD player. The whole lot should ship by early December and will range in price from around $300 (CRX-430) to $1,233 (MCS-1330).

[Via TechDigest]

Happy surprise -- there's no need to wait for next month's CEDIA show to get details on Yamaha's BD-S2900 Blu-ray player, since Audioholics released them from its own stockroom. The online store that goes alongside the site has them in stock and ready to ship next week. The pricing is a good example of "under-promise, over-deliver" joy as well -- the MSRP on the deck is $1,200, but you can get one on your doorstep for just a nickel under $1,000. That's still not cheap, especially for a Profile 1.1 unit, but we don't expect many potential buyers are seriously weighing the BD-S2900 against a Funai NB500 (or one if its variants), or even a PS3. If you want to get in on some gloating in the comments, break out that credit card and prepare a spot in your equipment rack!

Read - Audioholics announcement
Read - Yamaha BD-S2900 store page

Well, what have we here? Thanks to a few mighty believable screen captures, it looks as if Yamaha is getting ready to unveil at least three new AV receivers on the world alongside a stupidly priced Blu-ray player. The 7.1-channel RX-V1900 ($1,399.95) looks to boast four HDMI sockets, USB, a slew of digital audio ports and an undisclosed amount of power; the RX-V3900 ($1,899.95) and the RX-Z7 ($2,699.95) will deliver even more potency, though these are clearly aimed for the more affluent HT enthusiasts among us. Our real love interest here, however, is the mythical BD-S2900 -- an $1,199.95 Blu-ray player with BonusView, support for 1080p24 / 12-bit Deep Color, 192kHz / 24-bit DACs and a bunch of other ho hum specs that make us wonder just how inaccurate that MSRP must be. Here's hoping CEDIA clears things up on the whole gang.

[Via AVBuzz, thanks Yuval]

Yamaha cranked out its pricey YSP-600 sound bar just a few months back, but the company's already looking to put the past behind and move forward with the YSP-3050. The latest in the outfit's long-standing line of Digital Sound Projectors offers up 21 beam drivers, two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog-to-HDMI video upconversion, HD upscaling to 1080i / 720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output. Aside from engulfing you in audio with just a single bar, the unit is also XM Radio / iPod-ready (via the $99.95 YDS-11), and the integrated FM tuner and bundled remote make it even easier to see in your den. You'll also find the firm's propriety automated system calibration (IntelliBeam) along with TV Equal Volume to keep those sudden bursts at bay when it comes time for commercials. 'Tis a shame this piece costs $1,399.95, but if you're tight on space, it just might be worth it. Full release after the break.

If a few more companies get into these speaker-lamp combo designs, it just might define a whole new product category. Yamaha's YST001 speakers, however, offer up a couple of features that make them better suited for HT use. First and foremost, the cabinet design and front-facing drivers on these are a natural fit for the HT arena. Second, the lighting is rearward-facing, so using a pair of these speakers for front channels will bring an adjustable backlight to your display -- good news for those who want to produce better perceived contrast. From our mangled Japanese translation, the YST001 seems to be a combination of Yamaha's NS-M125 bookshelf speakers and a speaker stand with integrated lighting from Koizumi. Nice idea -- and the design seems to have avoided the gimmick of dynamic, colored backlights -- but ideally we'd like to see the speakers positioned closer to ear level. Read on for a couple of gallery shots.

[Via CyberTheater]

Just in case you can't find a HTIB (home theater in a box) system from Yamaha's CES salvo of four systems, the company has rolled out the TSS-20 at the "really small" end of the scale. The receiver of Yamaha's other HTIB systems has been replaced by a small module that pumps out 6-Watts to the five Bose-esque satellites, and the bass unit (we wouldn't call it a subwoofer) packs 18-Watts of oomph. This setup looks an awful lot like an acoustimass rig, but we're hoping it sounds better. No pricing announced, but it should ship in late May (at least in Japan).

Yamaha's no stranger to the quickly-expanding sound bar arena, and its latest looks to be quite the winner. The YSP-600 offers up 62-watts of total power split between two woofers and 16 "beam drivers," Dolby Digital / Pro Logic II support, a pair of HDMI inputs (along with one output) and a "Night Listener Enhancement" mode to keep you involved in the action without getting any nastygrams from your neighbors. Heck, it's even set to receive commands from any remote belonging to a Toshiba REGZA or Panasonic VIERA HDTV. The pain? A stiff £499 ($988) when it arrives next month.

Not even two months after Samsung went wild at CES and cranked out a slew of new HTIBs, along comes Yamaha with a foursome of its own. Up first is the YHT-790 5.1-channel system, which boasts a SCENE mode to "instantly access any entertainment source and surround sound experience," YPAO system calibration, two HDMI inputs (and one output), Sirius / XM Radio comparability and the ability to stream music channeled in from A2DP-equipped devices if the (optional) YBA-10 is plugged in. As for the YHT-690, you'll notice a 720p / 1080i upscaling DVD player tossed in, while the slightly less powerful YHT-590 / YHT-390 provide just the basics for a few bills less. Hit up the links below for details on each.

Read - YHT-790 ($849.95)
Read - YHT-690 ($649.95)
Read - YHT-590 ($549.95)
Read - YHT-390 ($399.95)

On one hand, the designs of Yamaha's latest devices could have easily been ripped straight from last century, but in another sense, there's a certain level of attractiveness that comes with brushed aluminum AV components sporting retro-inspired buttons / knobs. Nevertheless, the CD-S2000 SACD / CD player (which arrives in silver or black motifs) plays nice with MP3 / WMA files and sports analog, optical / coaxial digital and XLR audio outputs. As for the A-S2000, it's available in the same two hues and can crank out up to 190-watts x 2 at 4-ohms or 120-watts x 2 at 8-ohms. Apparently marketed towards the high-end crowd, neither of these December-bound units come cheap, as the CD-S2000 will demand ¥208,950 ($1,824) while the A-S2000 rings up at an equally staggering ¥176,400 ($1,540).

[Via AudioJunkies]