Product Description

High Digital ToP-ART design concept combines the latest and best technologies, parts and circuit designs to maximize sound quality. High Current Amplification uses superior components to achieve high current power with low impedance from power supply circuit to speaker terminals.This reciever is XM Satellite Radio "Ready" allowing you to hear over 160 digital channels of music, news, sports, talk and entertainment form American's number one Satellite Radio service. With the addition of the XM Passport and XM Connect-and-Play Home Kit (sold separately) just subscribe to XM Satellite Radio and hear radio as it was meant to be!This receiver is also capable of receiving XM Satellite Radio with XM HD Surround powered by Neural Surround. This is a new advanced in surround technology that allows delivery of a more detailed sound stage with superior channel separation and localization of audio elements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22899 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Yamaha
• Model: RX-V659BL
• Dimensions: 6.75" h x 17.13" w x 17.25" l, 27.10 pounds

Features

• 7.1-channel, 700W Powerful Surround Sound (100W x 7) 2 Zone/2 Source Receiver
• HDTV Compatible 3 Component Video Inputs
• iPod compatibility via optional Yamaha YDS-10
• XM Ready with XM HD Surround powered by Neural Surround
• Compressed Music Enhancer

Customer Reviews

Great receiver!
Contrary to a previous review - this receiver will set up easily & will output 5.1, 6.1 OR 7.1 (& more with a/b or extra zone). You just have to correctly wire your speakers (auto set-up will TELL you if you are properly hooked) & the 659 will do the rest. Auto set-up very close - I lowered center 1db for my preference - the rest was FINE!
This unit powering a (custom picked) set of Fluance speakers & KLH 12" sub ROCKS on music - volume rattling all my windows & NO distortion - much cleaner than the onkyo 304 it replaced. I believe the power (100watts) is actually underrated -it's more by 10-15%.
ON DVD/Movie performance - the separation is FANTASTIC! I'm hearing effects I never even knew were there! With the center graphic EQ, I got the voices to really match my front speakers output. I also like the ability to rename sources & if you have alot of devices this unit has all the connections (EXCEPT hdmi) you will ever need.
I have not tried XM radio nor the iPod dock son cannot speak about those.

Good AV Receiver
Yamaha RX-V659BL 7.1 Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black)

A very good Audio/Video Receiver/Amplifier. The Sound Field Program capability coupled with the Optimizer Microphone allows for very unique sound effects and setting the stereo center for any point in a room. It will compensate for mis-matched speaker systems and can also emulate 7.1 surround sound with only two speakers.

Lacks a traditional graphic equalizer and the tone controls are limited to Bass and Treble only. The built in "equalizer" has three modes: off, parametric equalizer, and center graphic equalizer. Off is straight forward, no equalization; Parametric Equalizer is used with the Optimizer Microphone to shape the room and set the Sound Field; and Center Graphic Equalizer is used to balance the sound from the center speaker with that of the front left and right speakers.

Hooking up an external graphic equalizer requires some creativity, as this Yamaha amplifier also lacks pre-amp (or equalizer) In/Out jacks. I connected the amplifier's Zone 2 output to my equalizer's input and the equalizer's output to the amplifier's "front" multi-channel inputs. Then I listen to Zone 2, with Multi-Channel Input enabled, for equalizer effects.

Excellent Value
I recomend this unit for anyone. It is a huge upgrade from my five year old kenwood that I paid $400 for. When I was shopping for a new receiver I considered Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon, Yamaha. From my research I eliminated Denon because all I heard was that all Denon receivers are a pain to setup. Next I eliminated Pioneer because only the Pioneer Elite receivers compared to this Yamaha unit but, the Pioneers' were much more expensive. So it came down to Onkyo and Yamaha. I went with the Yamaha RX-V659 because of the Price ($350), power (100w x 7), and that it had auto-setup.