Features

• Gold Finish
• Coordinates with Yamaha MCRE300GL and Yamaha MCRE500GL
• Selectable Auto Reverse
• Convenient Slide Loading System for added simplicity and ease
• Selectable Dolby B and Dolby C Noise Reduction Systems for better recording and playback performance

Features

• 5-channel surround receiver with Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Matrix 6.1, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, and Dolby Pro Logic II processing
• 75 watts per channel x 5 channels
• Offers 5.1-channel analog audio inputs (compatible with multichannel DVD-Audio or SACD players), Auto Priority Input Selection, Auto Decoder Selection, 40-station AM/FM presets
• Silent Cinema, Virtual Cinema DSP, Quad-Field Cinema DSP, and 21 other surround algorithms
• 5 video inputs (including 2 component-video), 2 outputs; 4 digital-audio inputs, 1 output; 5-way binding-post speaker terminals

Reviews (8)

Excellent home theater receiver
Like other reviewers, I looked at many other models before choosing this receiver. My local audio shop had a great lisenting room set up with multiple receivers for comparison, and compare I did! I found that for the price, this receiver could not be beat in terms of sound quality, and sound field choices. You can choose to let the receiver auto-detect the best sound field for your DVD movies, or you can choose your own if you wish. I've found that leaving it on Auto is perfect.

Another great thing about this unit is that you can re-map the inputs on the back to different functions. For instance, maybe your DVD player has digital audio out via a coax cable - not the optical digital out found on newer players... no problem, there's a spot for that on the receiver, and with a simple menu, you can set the receiver's DVD audio input to use that coax digital input, instead of the default optical input. With other reciever's I looked at, you'd just have to remember that you plugged your DVD audio input into the 'CD in' on the back of the receiver, and always pick 'CD' on your remote instead of DVD when you went to watch movies. Plus, if you're passing your video through the receiver, this would also cause problems on other units.

There are also a number of other great settings... if you don't have a powered subwoofer, you can set this in the simple menu system, and the receiver will send the bass, as appropriate to you main speakers. Plus, you can tell it if you have large or small main/center/rear speakers, so that the amp uses the correct amount of power for your setup.

Also, you can go to Yamaha's website and look at pictures of the back panel on this amp... there are a plethora of connections for just about anything you'll need... I have a complex setup with a digital cable box, Tivo, VCR, DVD player and a computer all hooked up to this, and I still have open connections for more stuff!

If your budget is in the <$ 500 range, this is the reciever for you.

Cannot ask for more for the Price
The Sound is crisp and clear. The Amp section really shows itself with a good speakers. The setup is very easy. Great Job by Yamaha for the price.

Solid construction!
Yamaha builds some of the longest lasting amps out there in the market, I'm not sure what this guy below is talking about. I own one HTR 5550, and it's been working nothing but wonders for my system. If one experiences problems, I'm sure Yamaha would be more than happy to deal with it, providing you did buy from an authorized dealer.

Yes you have to buy from authorized dealer to get warranty. But even without warranty, this receiver should last you at least 4-5 years no problem (unless of course you abuse it).

Warning!
I'm not going to damn this receiver, but...

1. I was told by someone else that the sound has a hiss in it. It does at higher volume levels, but is very noticeable.

2. Someone else told me the sound was a little "thin." It is, but has good clarity.

3. The right channel went out within a couple of months.

4. The manual is good, but the setup between the balancing of the five channels is painful, manual labor.

I was attracted by all the features and the cheap price. High current amp? Ha!

I was attracted by the name, never having had a Yamaha receiver before. This one's going back to the store and I'm now researching Denon and Onkyo. Higher priced, but I want reliability.

Best in the price range
This is the kind of receiver that gives you lots of functionalities while not giving up on sound quality. The receiver itself is very well built, you can expect it to last quite a few years.

First I have to comment on the sound. The first thing I noticed when I got it, was that this thing is Loud! The HTR 5550 has a high current amp, meaning it has a higher speaker output even at 75 Watts / channel as compared to other receiver that doesn't have a high current amp. The sound is very crisp, not too bright, very balance and clean. I never have to turn the volume more than half way.

The tuner is very sensitive and receives some superb signal. I can for the first time, sit back and just listen to the radio without being distracted by statics or the poor sound quality.

The HTR5550 gives you lots of flexibility. Yamaha was concerned about all of you audiophiles who has all sorts of speakers, and thus they give you a lot of room in adjusting speaker level, so it's almost guaranteed that no matter what kind of speaker setup you have, it will be totally compatilble with the HTR 5550.

The sound fields are very useful, expecially when it comes to DVDs. The options in connectivity is superb, even comes with two component video input so you can hook up both your DTVs and DVD to your receiver. This is definitely the best bang for the buck! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Yamaha CRW-8424SZ CD-RW drive features 24x read, 8x write, and 4x rewrite speeds. With up to 4 MB of buffer memory and an average access speed of 140 milliseconds, the Yamaha CRW-8424SZ makes archiving and backing up data easy and efficient.

This drive allows you to store data and graphics files with floppy disk ease onto removable media to free up limited and expensive hard disk space. Using the CD-RW format, it is also easy to record your original music on audio CDs and to back up and archive information for instant access on the most reliable media. Because over 300 million computers now feature CD-ROM drives, data stored on CDs can be read almost anywhere. Record, erase, and record again, up to 999 times on one disc while still preserving reliability. ... Read more

Features

• Internal CD-RW for PC or Macintosh
• 24x read, 8x write, 4x rewrite speed
• SCSI-3 interface
• 4 MB memory buffer
• 140 milliseconds average access speed

Reviews (7)

Yamaha 8x24 Internal SCSI Drive
This product is exclent, I thought it would be much slower but then i bought it and it is super fast

Decent drive for the money
A friend has one of these - I used it to burn about 10 CDs. PII 350 MHz, Win98SE, 128MB RAM. Worked like a charm, no coasters when data came from the SCSI Hard Drive or the SCSI DVD/CD ROM.

Excellent, nearly trouble-free
I really love this drive. It's fun, and it's easy. Installation was a snap. I was literally burning CDs (in Windows 2000, no less) in under five minutes from when I got home. It's now happily living on a channel managed by a RAID controller, which my DVD-RAM drive can't do. As with all SCSI devices, this one consumes almost none of the CPU's time. The benefit to this is that you can do other things while burning CDs. For example, I successfully burned a CD while playing and encoding MP3s, downloading files off the Internet, and installing a game from my DVD drive (all at once!).

The only dim spot was that, about two days and twenty CDs after buying the drive, it broke - it wouldn't initialize. This happened when the power was on, too. I was able to exchange the drive for a new one which has lasted several weeks without flaw.

A real goodie !
Writing and rewriting performance is excellent. Installation was trouble free on a Tekram Ultra SCSI controller - Win 95/98, Win NT, Win 2k with no problems. Price is right and no lost disks yet. Works well with WinOnCD 3.7 (was included in the box), Nero 5 and EasyCD 4 .... Only slight nag is that CD text is not supported but a firmware release could solve this (hopefully). Highly recommended.

Best CDRW yet
Just bought the Yamaha 8x4x24 CDRW and the product is the best thing I have bought in months. I have had many problem with other CDRWs but this one has given me nothing but joy. I have had ZERO problems with this product, easy installation, FAST DRIVE, 99.99% Problem free. This product is THE CDRW to buy, it out performs the Sony Sepra and HP CDRWS. Yamaha is the name to trust when buying CDRWs, trust me you will love this product. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Burner!
This is one of the best external cd-rw drives you can buy. If you need to add on to your existing PC or Mac. It burns fast and can also serve as an extra CD drive. Because it's a scsi connection, it's just as fast as an internal drive.

Yamaha CRW2100SXZ
I just purchased the Yamaha CRW2100SXZ. At first the price seemed a little steep but it was well worth it. It is the fastest external burner u can buy. It burns fast and is very easy to install. I highly recomened it for everyone who is looking for a burner for a laptop since its very easy to fit into a backpack. ... Read more

Features

• Writes to CD-R at 24x speed
• Rewrites to CD-RW at 10x speed
• Reads CD-ROM at 40x speed
• Blank media required to use the drive
• Your personal computer must be USB 2.0 enabled

Reviews (5)

Anil
This really is a top of the line Home Theater Amp from Yamaha. Weighs in around 22 KGs and performs superbly. Has all the features and input/outputs one can think of. Does Dolby Digital as well as DTS decoding. Also has additional two channels for front top left and front top right to give better surround impact.

I have been using the amp for the last 1 year and has no complaints and am proud of it's performance.

I WISH I HAD BOUGHT THIS HERE
I CANT BELIEVE THIS RECIEVER IS HERE FOR THIS PRICE.IWENTEVERYWHERE TO FIND THIS RECIEVER AND EVERY STORE HAD IT FOR 2700.00DOLLARS.SO IWENT AND BOUGHT THE YAMAHA RX-V2095 WICH IS AGOOD RECEIVER ALSO BUT ITS NOT THE DSP-A1.IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE GOT IT HERE AND GOT THE RECIEVER I REALLY WANTED AND SAVED.

DSP-A1: A Tour de force in Audio/ Acoustic Technology
The DSP A1 delivers nothing less than the world's finest home theater audio performance. In every single respect, it is absolutely state- of the art. Never before have you been able to select so many different sound fields to match audio and video genres.Never before have you been able o experience such thrilling audio "presence" in your own homeThrough the wonders of Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Surround, together with Yamaha's own leading-edge Digital sound Field Processig technology, you will enter a new realm of home entertainment.

Yamaha
Yamaha a1 es un amplificador top-class. Con un sonido limpio, un una contrucion elegante y bien respetada. Sin duda es uno de los mejores amplificadores. Es una combinacio de fuerza en audio,acustica, tecnologia y facil de usar.

The DSP-A1 ROCKS!
I bought this monster a couple of months ago,took it home and hooked it up,I was was expecting to hear everything that the reviews said.Did I?you bet.....this is truly and awsome home theater center piece...don't take my word for it ....go take a listen .....you'll be truly blown away by the sheer detail and dynamics of this amp. ... Read more

Features

• Delivers 40x read speed, 20x write speed, and 10x rewrite speed
• Record a 74-minute audio CD in under 4 minutes
• Requires no additional time to control the rotation speed of its motor
• Removes buffer underrun with SafeBurn System
• 8 MB buffer

Amazon.com Product Description

The Yamaha DD50AD touch-sensitive digital drums enable you to practice or play anywhere with the full set of drummer's tools at your fingertips. Features like 4 large and 3 small touch-sensitive drum pads, 75 assignable PCM voices, 100 PCM rhythm styles, and 20 pre-programmed and 1 programmable percussion sets ensure you will be driving beats that fully express your creativity.

The Yamaha DD50AD helps you master any percussion style at the tempo you choose. The two foot switches for high hat and bass make it a true drumming experience. An easy-to-read LED display and enhanced buttons and dials make for a very user-friendly interface. General MIDI compatibility and MIDI in/out ports mean you can hook the drums up to your PC for some serious music producing. A set of drumsticks and headphone jacks are included. The machine can be powered by the Yamaha AC adapter, which is also included. This unit comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 7 touch-sensitive pads
• Authentic drum layout
• 75 assignable AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) percussion voices
• Digital reverb
• MIDI compatibility

Reviews (9)

I can make it better!
I recently purchased a DD50 from ebay - and it was about what I expected. Yamaha make generally good trusty products - but this kit has the same basic flaw as all electronic druma I have tried - that is - the pads do not pick up light strokes - and also don't respond to heavy hits. In other words they don't react anything like real drums.

Ok this is a very cheap unit so you get what you pay for right? - well actually - I did design and market electronic drums (analogue type) back in the eighties - and I spent a long time working on this "response" thing - eventually getting very impressive results.

So when I got the DD50 recently I immediately set about improving things - and I have devised a fairly simple way of improving the response drastically with a bit of add-on circuitry.

If you are interested please email me. mickwest1@hotmail.com

Yamaha digital drums kids toys
When I first tried out my new drum set, I was pretty happy. However, after about thirty hours or so of use the power wouldn't stay on, making jam sessions real hard. The repair shop wanted to charge me the same amount as a new unit to fix it. When I contacted Yamaha directly, they wouldn't have anything to do with me, saying that the unit was seven years old. When I pointed out the unit was purchased only two months previous, they reiterated it was seven years old. These things are only good for kids toys or someone that just wants to fiddle around, not a serious musician. Due to the callous response I recieved from Yamaha, I will never purchase another product of any kind from this manufacturor again

Fun to play, but not quite sensitive enough
The drum machine is fun to play, and with the two foot pedals, I can pretend I'm playing a real drumset. I enjoy having all 100 sample songs to play along with, and I like being able to choose which parts play (drum 1, drum 2, bass, and backing). My only gripe with the sample songs is that while there are plenty of examples of rock music, there are not enough (or no) examples of some other types of music (folk, blues, alternative).

The drum pads do not always trigger if you hit them too lightly. I would expect them to play very quietly if you hit them softly, but you have to hit them fairly hard to make a sound. There is a way to adjust the sensitivity, but even with the highest sensitivity, it is not sensitive enough for me.

Also, the bass drum pedal has no sensitivity at all. No matter how hard or soft you kick it, it plays the same volume.

Really Good ! BUT it's missing one major part!!! GRRRR!!!!
I bought this digital drum set and when it arrived at my house i was really excited, i opened it up and found that it didn't come with the DC cord to turn it on and i did not have any of the 6 c size batteries it required or any of the cords to connect it to different speakers so i could not use it at all. i was really mad i had to wait a few days until i could find one of the only 2 DC cords that work, both Yamaha ones and quite hard to find....I tried to DC cords i had but they didn't work because they weren't on of the special Yamaha DC cords you need.However when i did get to try it this drum set was quite good....BUT i had to wait 3 days...and another 7 days for the shipping..... ...

Good Little Kit
I just recently purchased the DD-50. Have owned several machines in the past but this one is so far the best. I really enjoy the touch sensitive pads and the way you can create and assign your own pads and kits. I purchased my DD-50 on a closeout and it didn't have an owners manual with it. I would be forever greatful if someone out there could tell me where I could get one. And once again Yamaha, you have made a customer Happy......... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Yamaha's F310R2 guitar package is an affordable, all-in-one kit for guitarists seeking a high-quality instrument with multiple accessories, including an instructional video, a guitar case, picks, a strap, even polish. The guitar features a spruce top, Meranti back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and a nato neck. Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the package includes a variety of components and guitar-maintenance accessories.

What's in the Box
F310 acoustic guitar, guitar case, YT150 tuner, instructional video, picks, strap, capo, polish, and a polish cloth. ... Read more

Features

• Starter kit founded around Yamaha's acclaimed F310 acoustic guitar
• Includes guitar case, tuner, instructional video, and more
• Spruce top, Meranti back and sides
• Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Nato neck
• Backed by Yamaha's limited lifetime warranty

Reviews (1)

electornic fan
this is a great guitar for starters! it even includes a starters kit! so its great for teens of even children to start on!! ... Read more

Features

• 61 piano-sized keys
• Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) input and output
• Interactive Yamaha Education Suite included for beginning musicians
• 100 authentic instrument voices and styles encourages creativity
• Multifingering auto accompaniment

Reviews (1)

AWESOME!!
I received this as a gift, and I love it! ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Yamaha's PSR340AD is jam-packed with features, like a built-in sequencer, a disk drive on which original songs can be saved, 100 accompaniments (on an included floppy disk), and more than 200 voices. The voice bank on the PSR340AD contains 100 panel voices, 10 drum kits, and 128 General MIDI voices.The inclusion of the General MIDI voices means that the PSR340AD willcorrectly play General MIDI files (a standard of most of the MIDI files in educational software and of those available on the Internet). Add an accompaniment to the voice that you are already playing and suddenly you arecontrolling a whole music ensemble. The keyboard also has a dual mode, in which two voices can be combined, and a split mode, in which one voice can be assigned to the upper half of the keyboard and another voice to the lower half.

You can set some effects for the voices such as eight types of reverb, four types of chorus, and 26 types of harmony. The PSR340AD can, of course, be connected to a computer via MIDI cables (sold separately), which canrecord musical performances from the keyboard and then play them back using the synthesizer's instrument voices. The sequencer allows you to record an original song.It works very much like a multi-track cassette recorder; you can first record one instrument, say a bass, then you can add another instrument like a guitar while listening to your first track.If the guitar track is not quite right, then you can record it again without changing the bass part.This sequencer allows you to record music in real time or record it in step time, the virtual equivalent of writing parts down on paper.

The best feature of the PSR340AD is the built-in floppy drive.The drive accepts standard 3.5-inch computer floppy disks.Disks can contain MIDI files downloaded from the Internet or purchased from Yamaha, Yamaha createdaccompaniments, and user composed songs.

A couple of tools on the PSR340AD will help you play chords on your own. If you can play the root of the chord, the "Smart" tool will play the rest. The "EZ Chord" tool allows you to program a series of chords-then you just have to play one key to trigger each of the chords. If you decide that you are ready to learn how chords are constructed, you can use the "Dictionary" tool, which willmap out the parts of the chord on the staff display.

On the whole we liked the PSR340AD, but the keys are a bit flimsy-you definitely do not want to play them too hard. Two hundred and thirty-eight voices seem like a lot, but if you are a serious MIDI musician, you will be yearningfor more. For the price though, the PSR340AD is a fantastic buy.Items such as built-in speakers, a headphone jack, and a jack for a foot sustain pedal are also included.The keyboard can be powered either by an AC adapter orbatteries, and it can also be connected to a stereo or amplifier. With a weight of just a little over 17 pounds, the PSR340AD is easily portable. --Chris Fresolone Pros:

• Built-in sequencer
• Built-in floppy drive
• General MIDI compatible
• Touch sensitive keys
• Useful chord tools
• Many features included for the price

• Only 238 voices
• Keys are a little flimsy

Features

• Choose from a wide range of digital effects
• Floppy disk drive loads songs in multiple formats
• Includes realistic grand piano sound, over 200 voices, plus 10 drum kits
• Automatically configures keyboard parameters
• Comes with Yamaha education suite--great for beginners

Reviews (1)

PSR340
The keyboard performs flawlessly although I am having a problem interfacing with my computer. I believe this is a software problem with my computer and no fault of the keyboard. I would recommend this keyboard. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This three-channel unit combines with any two-to-five-channel amplifier or receiver with pre-main coupling to create a system with Dolby Pro Logic and eight sound modes including Cinema DSP. Your system will also be ready for Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1-channel formats. ... Read more

Features

• Readies receivers or amplifiers for any 5.1-channel format
• Dolby Pro Logic decoding
• 125 watts per channel
• 6 hi-fi DSP programs
• Processor selector (internal/external)

Amazon.com Product Description

When your audio is just as important as your video, you'll want the DV-C6480 five-disc changer, offering everything from premium progressive-scan processing to ultra-refined DVD-Audio playback for multichannel music magic. The player's impressive list of compatible disc formats includes CD-R, CD-RW, MP3-CD, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW.

Video features
Topping the DV-C6480's abilities is progressive-scan playback, in which the unit scans one complete frame at a time (instead of rendering alternating sets of odd and even lines), giving you pristine, flicker-free images on a high-definition or HD-ready television.

Standard component-video, S-video, and composite-video outputs are also included for full compatibility with all current televisions.

A function called 3:2 pulldown restores 24-frame-per-second accuracy to applicable motion-picture video sources (from DVD's native 30 fps). In the DV-C6480 this is handled by Faroudja's DCDi processing (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing), which works pixel by pixel, not merely frame by frame, ensuring smooth, clean pictures free of jagged edges.

The player uses a 10-bit, 54 MHz video digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and Yamaha's Cinema Image technology improves picture quality with movie sources by softening the brightness, upgrading the contrast in dark scenes, and reducing video noise.

Audio features
The main attraction in the audio realm is surely the DV-C6480's ability to deliver full-blown DVD-Audio sound. This format gives you up to six channels of discrete, full-frequency sound at greater-than-CD resolution (24 bits, 96 kHz sampling rate versus 16 bits, 44.1 kHz for CD), and some discs even exploit the chance to offer an ultra-high-resolution, stereo-only program at 192 kHz sampling rate. In stereo or surround, the sound from DVD-Audio is packed with detail, yet smoother and sweeter than the sound from even the best standard CD players. (See our full selection of DVD-Audio discs.)

In contrast to DVD-Video surround formats like Dolby Digital and DTS (which typically travel digitally to your surround receiver), full appreciation of DVD-Audio requires that you route analog-audio interconnects between the DV-C6480 and a surround receiver with six-channel analog-audio inputs.

"If DVD-Audio is so high-tech," you might be wondering, "why do I need analog outputs to appreciate it?" The answer is, for reasons of data density, DVD-Audio players perform their own digital-to-analog conversion, passing high-resolution analog signals on to your amplifier. (And analog, after all, is what your amp feeds your speakers.) The setup may be a little more complex, but the quality of the resulting sound rewards the extra effort.

If you're going in for DVD-Audio, you'll only need analog connections to your receiver since, conveniently, the player also decodes Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound. This means you won't need a separate digital-audio interconnect to enjoy your movies, though coaxial and optical digital-audio connections exist should you want to use them. (Some AV receivers offer digital inputs but no multichannel analog inputs, and if yours is like this, you will need a digital-audio connection to enjoy surround mixes.)

Cinema Dialogue enhances the sound from the center channel, so voices can be heard with utmost clarity.

Other features
Yamaha's patented five-disc PlayXchange technology lets you change four discs while a fifth is playing. An advanced onscreen menu simplifies setup and operation. Other features include shockproof memory, a large disc stabilizer, and a remote control. ... Read more

Features

• 5-disc carousel player compatible with DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, video CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3 CD
• Progressive-scan output for superior picture quality with HD and HD-ready TVs (with 54 MHz digital-to-analog video conversion)
• Uses DCDi (advanced 3:2 pulldown) by Faroudja
• PlayXchange lets you change four discs while one plays
• 5.1-channel analog audio outputs, built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders

Reviews (3)

My experience so far...
As far as the basic stuff goes (picture, sound and hardware) this player is pretty rock solid. Using the S-video in (via an adapter) on my old Commodore 1702 monitor, the picture is good enough that the size of the phosphors on the screen are the biggest limitation. :) I'm anticipating great things from the component out using progressive. Sound-wise, using the on-board decoders and the 2-channel downmixed outputs, sometimes the low frequencies are "choppy" sounding but I think this is simply phase-cancelling when the channels are mixed and not a fault with the player. Sound is superb otherwise--I can't wait to hear it when I get a proper multichannel receiver.

Some Goods:
* I've heard that a lot of players have quiet audio outputs. This player has pretty "hot" outputs, a tad too hot for audio CDs and MP3s but a lot better for movies compared to my digital-cable box.
* A power switch, not just "standby" like most players. If certain DVDs start getting abusive and functions (like "stop") don't work when they should, cutting the power always works. :)

Some Niggles...
Not to sound overly negative, but more effort really could have gone into the firmware, aesthetic and functionality aspects, especially for a high-end player like this.
* Poor MP3-CD support. It played the CD-RW MP3 discs I tested it with fine (both ISO-9660 and Joliet, there's about a 1/2 second gap between tracks) but ignores any filenames and folders and simply plays the tracks in the physical order they're in on the disc, even if the alphabetical order (by filename) is different. It wouldn't have taken much effort to program in ID3 support and proper player functionality (folders, shuffle, program and such), especially since they're there for CD and DVD-audio. A bit of a disappointment, because I was wanting good MP3 support so I wouldn't need to use my computer or portable player.
* No SVCD support as far as I know. There should be, considering most players I've researched do support it.
* Somewhat long disc-reading time, no picture zoom, less-than-ideal "jog shuttle" functionality (but there's frame-advance and frame-reverse which I find very important), sluggish operation in general, a few other minor things.
* Flimsy, too-small, poorly-laid-out remote. The player itself is rock-solid though.

I don't know if I'd recommend it for the average person new to DVDs. It's a great player, but the manual is one of the worst I've seen, and relies too much on assumed knowledge and technical descriptions. In addition, most on-screen menus rely on icons and cryptic descriptions. But if you're technically inclined like I am or experienced with DVD players you shouldn't have a problem. I got mine open-box, and I really wonder if had been returned because of trouble using it or understanding the manual. Poor manuals have been a persistent problem with Yamaha electronics in general, which is unfortunate because a well-written manual can make a big difference.

All in all, some simple attention to details could have made this player absolutely outstanding. But, if you're looking for great picture and great sound from your DVDs, which is what I got it for more than anything else, this one delivers.

Simply a great DVD player
Compared to most DVD players today, the Yamaha 6480 is built like a battleship. Most new players have minimal weight and look cheap. This player has a high quality power supply that adds to its weight and all its mechanical operations are very quiet and smooth. I'll break down the operation of this player into seperate catagories.

Video:
The DCDi de-interlacer that is so prominently displayed on the front panel silk screens is used for video source material and is not used for film source materials. Unless you play back video source dvd's this should not be a huge factor. The built in De-Interlacer provides crystal clear images with no flicker or distortions. There is no "Chroma Bug" that so many players seem to have and many home theater review sites mention. Compared to the JVC FA95GD, the Yamaha 6480 has far better color saturation and picture stability, very comparable to high end panasonic players, but with sharper image quality. The pause during layer changes is almost non-existant. Disk swaps are very smooth and quiet as compared to the JVC as well. This player does not scale non-anamorphic DVD's correctly. So far the only players that I have encountered that do are the JVC players and the Panasonic RP91.

Audio:
The 24 bit Burr-Brown D/A converters built into this unit work only with the multi-channel output for DVD audio or if you use the internal decoder for Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound. If you have a cheap decoder built into a home theater receiver, use the onboard decoders. Your ears will thank you. I have encountered no problems playing CDR's, CDRW's, DVD-r or DVD-RW disks to date. The onboard decoder even gives MP3's a warm and rich quality.

Gripes:
Player only comes in black. It would be nice to have a model that matches some of the high end Yamaha Home Theater Receivers such as the DSPA1 Gold. Major gripe.... The power button on the front panel is the only way to power up or down this unit. The remote control can not do this for you. This really isn't a huge issue, but if you have a all-in-one remote with macro's programmed to power on or off your entire home theater, you will still have to walk up to this player and turn it off at the end of the movie.

A very good player overall and of high quality build. If you need progressive playback and don't need to scale non-anamorphic dvd's this player is one stop shopping at a very affordable price. ...

Now THIS is What I Call a DVD Player
I must've been really good this year, because this is what I found under the Christmas Tree. After having to deal with my very poor Pioneer DVD/Laserdisk Player (which wouldn't even play a couple of the DVDs I had bought in the past), now I have this bad boy. A Yamaha 5 Disk DVD Player.

If you're a movie addict like me, this makes for a great device. If you know that you're going to be watching a lot of movies that day, you can load up to 5 DVDs. No more having to keep taking DVDs in and out. Nope, grab the ones you know you'll be watching, and you will be set. This is also very nice when you are watching movies that are more than one disk, or programs and series that are more than one disk. (Which means you could be watching the first season of Sopranos in no time!)

The video quality is really good and crystal clear. Way better than my older player. The sound is also a lot better as well. It's like seeing my favorite movies for the very first time.

It's also a very nice stereo. If you don't think you'll be watching 5 DVDs, you can listen to 5 CDs.

There are tons of cool features that are available that I haven't even begun to play around with. Just know there's a lot you can do. (You can even program specific chapters you want to watch. You can watch a movie in RANDOM mode if you wanted to!)

All in all, I was very happy with this Christmas gift. It does cost a lot of money, but if you love movies as much as I do, this might be something to think about getting. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The PSR-290 has a special Portable Grand Piano Voice which gives you excellent tonal quality. The keyboard also uses a sophisticated AWM (Advanced Wave memory) tone generation system. Additionally, with the natural Touch Response feature, with a convenient front panel on/off switch, you'll receive maximum level control over the voices. It also works in conjunction with the Dynamic Filter, which dynamically adjusts the timbre or tone of a voice according to your playing strength. Included with the package is the Yamaha Education Suite, a set of learning tools to make studying and practicing music more fun. Each style has memory space for two One Touch Settings, and you can change them to your own desired voice setting letting you save your custom panel settings for instant recall. The built-in stereo amplifier/speaker system come with a special Bass Boost feature. The keyboard runs on six D batteries or through household current using the adaptor (not included.)

What's in the Box
Keyboard, music stand, song book, owner's manual, and one year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Portable Grand Piano Voice
• Natural touch response/dynamic filter for musical control
• Yamaha education suite included
• One touch setting for custom panel settings
• Bass boost speaker

Reviews (3)

Amazing for Beginners
Was awesome, on Thursday i receive an e-mail saying that they shipped my daughters keyboard... on Saturday (same week) at 10:30 the Fedex car was at the door. My daughter wasnt at home and i decide to make a run to buy some batteries before she comes back, (i choose without AC Power because budget was tied), but on my way i saw a house having garage sell, then i stop to see if they have some eletronics or speakers, BUT, the best, i saw that PA3C adaptor from Yamaha that fits perfect for the keyboard... 1.50 USD, and i run back home to try...PERFECT!
We are having so much fun...as the others say, this is a home keyboard, don't expect something to explode your ears. I like in the way it is.
Awesome first experience.
Miriam

A very good deal for the price
Both my wife and I were looking for an entry level keyboard. After spending some time on the Internet and stores, we finally nailed down our choice to this one for its excellent price and features. There was a little goof up with the One Click method, and Amazon shipped it over priority mail instead of the free shipping. But when we sent them an e-mail they refunded the shipping cost.

The product so far has performed up to our expectation. Although we are yet to experiment on the advanced features like downloading songs, the basic functionality works just fine. There are plenty of preloaded rythms to select for the song you would like to play. Also there are practice songs (didn't help much to us as we play Indian music). The only poor thing about this model I guess is the speaker. It should have been more powerful perhaps. And also note that it doesn't come with the AC adapter. So better you order that one too.

Awesome Keyboard!!! AWESOME price!!!! A+
After i did alot of searching and researching of different keyboards in this price range, i found that amazons price and that the psr-290 was a perfect match! This keyboard is an awesome piece of hardware for the money.
I have bought mine having never played a piano or keyboard, so i really didn't know what to expect. After playing with mine for a week now, i must say that this baby is LOADED with tons of features. Best buy was offering this same keyboard for 199.00, so amazons price at 159.00 was totally awesome especially considering i used the FREE SHIPPING method. I ordered mine on a late thursday night and it was on my door step on monday morning!!! THAT WAS AWESOME INDEED!!! :)

As far as the keyboard goes, you simply can't beat the price and performance! My only beef was that amazon shipped it in the box that its packed in. I'm sure its because it so big, but i could tell that the box had been put through its paces, but nothing was damaged in the end. So all in all, i am VERY pleased with this keyboard!!!
If you are wanting this for a beginners keyboard, this baby will NOT leave you disappointed! GO FOR IT!!! hehehe ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Yamaha 8x4x24 Internal IDE CDRW Drive is a fast and easy-to-use CD-recording device. This CD-RW drive allows you to store data and graphics files with floppy-disk ease, freeing up limited and expensive hard disk space. With Rapidlinked packet writing, you can drag and drop to add files, archiving and backing up important data for simple access from any CD-ROM drive. These files are versatile, and can be read from any drive worldwide. Flash ROM extends the life of the drive by allowing you to instantly upgrade via software available on the Yamaha Web site.

The CD-RW drive can record up to 650 MB of photos, videos, or music for instant access/playback, and its 8x write speed allows you to record a 74-minute CD in just nine minutes. Recording music from CDs for yourself or your friends, or recording original music to share, is easy and fast. It can record, erase, and record again up to 999 times. The 24x read speed eliminates the need for additional CD-ROM drives. The Yamaha CD-RW drive has up to 4 MB of buffer memory; and, with plug-and-play installation, it can be installed in a PC-compatible or Macintosh computer in just a few minutes. ... Read more

Features

• Internal CD-RW drive with IDE interface for Macs and PCs
• Archive files and save videos, music, and photos with ease
• 24x read, 8x write, 4x rewrite speed
• 4 MB buffer
• Maximum data transfer rate of 3,600 KBps

Reviews (6)

Nice Burner
I will say I am a little bit lucky coz I never meet the problems mentioned as above, except a small bug during the installation while I fixed it readly. This burner, compared with HP9150i, is much more quieter and smoother. The writing speed seems faster than other 8x burner, (i.g. HP8250i, plextor). So far, I burned 0 coaster of 19 CDR. Well, it perhaps has buffer deficiency, if any. The burnings make my PIII/128Mb to P166pro.....The reading is 24X, but nonsense for me even if it were 2X or 4x. I have a DVD for reading..

Anyway, recommended!

I hate this stupid thing.
When I tried to burn a CD with the max. number of songs (74 minutes), the first two songs were recorded, but then it just stopped recording. The computer also froze after a while, because I was waiting to see if it would resume recording. After many frustrating attempts at recording, and then restarting my computer I am ready to return this to the store.

Decent support of Mac, otherwise great drive
The included software for Mac is very disappointing, especially since far more is promised than included. However, for what I want to do with it (backups and occasional easy CDs), it's a great drive, cheap and fast. If you have a Mac and want to cut CDs, you really need a big hard drive to read off... don't try CD -> CD on this drive, the Mac IDE controller will choke. If you want to do that, spend the extra money and get SCSI.

Fast , but lots of problems
I was initally impressed by the write speed of this drive. But after some more use, I realized that this drive was extremely susceptible to buffer underuns. I couldn't even open up a program while burning or it would fail. I used to own an HP 8250i that basically behaved like a scsi burner, I could have multiple applications open at once with no problem. However, with the Yamaha, I can't even play an mp3 while burning. Addtionally, the drive indeed does not support RAW sector writing, sometimes known as disc-at-once recording. This is different from the normal definition of DAO which it does support. If you don't mind leaving your computer alone while burning, then this drive will be fine, but if you want use other apps while burning, then you're better off getting something else.

Its fast
I bought this CDRW about 3 weeks ago and I am very satisfied with what I have seen so far. Previously I owned a 2-2-8 burner by Memorex. This drive is so much faster, especially with 8X CD-R recording.

According to the previous review, he/she said this drive does not support Disc-At-Once recording. Well, this drive definitely does so I dont know what that person is talking about.

Initially when I installed this drive, Win 98 had problems with it, but it is not the drive's fault. I fully recommend this drive, especially since the price is very decent. Also, I dont think 12X is really needed since 8X is quite fast already. It only takes 9 minutes for a full CD! I think that speaks for itself.

P.S. - The adaptec software kinda ( ) since it is too simple. I recommend NERO BURNING ROM. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With Yamaha K-903's dual-well design, two autoreverse-equipped cassette transports provide tremendous versatility for simple copying as well as relay-record and -playback functions. With the K-903, unattended play can extend for three hours using C-90 tapes.

Two-speed dubbing lets you make quick copies or dub at the standard, originally recorded speed. A choice of Dolby B or C noise reduction provides recordings with high signal-to-noise ratios and ensures compatibility with most existing recorded cassettes.

CD/tape synchro start activates the tape deck when it senses the audio signal from a CD player. During playback, music search will fast forward or rewind until the deck senses a break in the recorded sound, providing an easy way to scan a tape for a desired track.

A 12-segment peak-level meter simplifies recording-level adjustment. The meter is a peak-holding type, which helps you set your record levels to avoid distortion caused by short, transient peaks.

The deck automatically senses the type being used (chrome, metal, or ferric) and adjusts bias and equalization for that particular tape. A four-digit tape counter provides an accurate way to locate a tape segment, and a front-panel headphone jack permits private listening so you can enjoy a cassette without disturbing others. An optional remote control (model RKX1) lets you control the deck from your listening position.

What's in the Box
Cassette deck, two sets of stereo analog audio (left/right) RCA interconnects, and a user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Dual-well cassette deck with autoreverse; relay play initiates play in Deck B after Deck A has finished
• 2-speed dubbing (1x, 2x)
• Auto tape selector sets up machine for the correct formula of tape (chrome, metal, or ferric)
• Dolby B and C noise reduction for quiet recordings and compatibility with most existing cassette tapes
• Measures 17.125 x 5.75 x 11.125 inches (W x H x D)

Amazon.com Review

Ready for multimedia surround sound? Or maybe you just need a sound system for that hot DVD player in your living room or your computer. Either way, there's a good chance that this is the system for you. Yamaha's CinemaStation NX-SW10 includes a 50-watt powered subwoofer, a center-channel speaker, and a pair of small rear-channel speakers (the subwoofer sends 25 watts each to the center and rear speakers).

This system is designed specifically as a companion to Yamaha's CinemaStation VS-10 controller and stereo speakers, and please note that it won't work correctly without that set. When used together, however, the two create a complete 5.1-channel home-theater sound system.

The subwoofer's bass-reflex enclosure uses a 6.25-inch long-throw driver powered by a hefty 50 watts. In addition, Yamaha's Active Servo circuitry helps correct anomalies between the incoming audio signal and the actual motion of the driver, which creates not only deep bass (well, reasonably deep for a driver this size) but accurate bass, so your music and movies will sound just the way they should.

No controls are available from the woofer because all adjustments are made at the VS-10 control unit. Three sets of spring-clip connectors and a set of marked speaker wires connect from the subwoofer to the center-channel and surround speakers. The center channel uses dual 3-inch cones, while each surround speaker uses a single 3-inch cone. The surround channels can be mounted either on a wall with the supplied brackets or on optional stands.

With the entire rig dialed in just so (not a difficult task, thanks to Yamaha's clear instructions and intuitive ergonomics), we get excellent speaker-to-speaker timbre matching (each speaker's character matches the next, critical for proper multichannel sound) as well as an impressively large and pleasantly seamless soundstage (an impression of the events before and around you).

The center channel does a fine job of fixing dialog at the screen, and provides good if not outstanding off-axis performance (the ability to root sounds at the screen from extreme left/right listening positions). The subwoofer also performs admirably. It may not have the "slam" we hear with more beast-like woofers, but it's fast, punchy, well-defined, and provides reasonable thrills with action-packed DVDs.

Keep in mind that Yamaha's NX-SW10 works only with the company's VS-10, which provides the digital processing and controls, along with a stereo amplifier and speakers. Nice as each system is, they are complete only when used together and are meant for small-to-medium-sized rooms.

Like its mate, the NX-SW10 is a high-quality package. We evaluate a lot of compact home theater rigs, and this one is definitely a cut above average. Good stuff, Yamaha. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

• Well made
• High-quality sound
• Easy to set up and operate
• 2-year warranty

Cons:

• Must be used with Yamaha's VS-10
• Restricted to use in small or medium-size rooms

Reviews (1)

excellent addition to the VS-10
This review is based on someone who doesn't necessarily have to get the most up to date and expensive sound system. I mainly purchased this as a decent all in one sound system to go with my PS2/DVD and VCR. I had used the VS-10 by itself and it had decent sound. The virtual sound option was pretty nice. However the addition of the NXSW10 to the VS-10 made a word of difference. First is the bass. The subwolfer gave an excellent 3D sound and feel. Second, the satellite speakers drowned my room with sound. Very nice. Third, the entire system was very easy to use and setup with my TV and other electronic equipment. DVD movies sound very nice with multiple sound options from theater quality 5.1 to mono-stereo (if that will really need to be used). Regarding the PS2 use, Armored Core 2 is a good example of pulling out with this system can do. Very nice indeed. If someone is considering to purchase the VS-10 then I highly recommend the NXSW10 to go with it. ... Read more