Technology accelerates at such a quick pace these days. Just look at the laptops as an example because high-end laptops used to cost more than $3,000 several years back. Nowadays, you can find laptops that perform just as well for just about $1,000 while the new high-end models in the $2,000 to $3,000 price range significantly raise the bar. The same trend is going on for home theater equipment where you can actually look at the affordable consumer models if you are a serious audiophile that wants to really bring out the audio and video features of your home theater setup. Yamaha is a brand that is known for premium AV receivers and you can check out the AVENTAGE lineup to see exactly why these Yamaha AV receivers really deliver. However, a midrange AVENTAGE model already costs more than $1,000 and that can be too much of a premium to pay if you have to buy other equipment for your home theater system. Before you look at those enthusiast models, take a look at some of the high-end Yamaha AV receivers in the consumer category such as the Yamaha RX-V773WA.
Yamaha RX-V773WA
Design
The RX-V773WA is the head honcho of the RX-V series so it needs to make an impression on the design side of things. While it resembles the other RX-V models, the Yamaha RX-V773WA is a bit taller and features a front panel made of aluminum. As expected from a model of this caliber, the RX-V773WA features a second knob in addition to the volume control knob so you can easily change the input source. The available buttons on the front panel doesn’t really overwhelm as much as other competing models so it should be as easy to use and set up as other Yamaha AV receivers.
The back of the Yamaha RX-V773WA looks a bit more sophisticated than cheaper RX-V models and some of the added connections may be enough for you to get this model rather than a less expensive AV receiver. One example of a unique extra connection is the second HDMI out which is something to expect from a $900 AV receiver. There is also a set of pre out jacks as well as separate Zone 2/Presence ports.
Below is the back panel layout. Click on image to enlarge for a clearer view.
Yamaha RX-V773WA Back Panel
Features
Aside from the second HDMI output, the RX-V773WA has the same number of HDMI ports as the RX-V673 so you must go for the AVENTAGE family of AV receivers if you think you need more available HDMI inputs. But there is nothing to worry about on the compatibility front as you can hook up something as old as an ordinary LCD or something as advanced as a 4K display and everything in-between. The Yamaha RX-V773WA has the necessary technology to support 3D displays and 4K resolutions. It is also CEC compatible so your TV remote control may be used to operate the basic functions of the RX-V773WA.
The Yamaha RX-V773WA features an advanced video processor that enables edge adaptive deinterlacing which is more effective than regular deinterlacing because it removes the jaggies that commonly show up on diagonal lines by optimally interpolating the pixels. If you have a 1080p or 4K display hooked up, the RX-V773WA can also upscale any content coming from any source to the maximum resolution that your display supports so imagery looks very clear on the display.
Like other Yamaha RX-V models, setting up your sound system regardless of the number of channels is a breeze because the YPAO Sound Optimization does most of the work. It doesn’t matter what your speaker setup in the room is because the microphone is used for calibrating and audio parameters are set according to the calibration procedures. Reflected Sound Control puts the sound quality to studio levels by correcting early reflections. Multipoint calibration is also supported if you have the patience to go through the setup process.
The Zone B dual HDMI outputs and Zone 2 options give you plenty of configuration possibilities. By switching Zone 2 on, you can power a 5.1-channel sound system in the main room while simultaneously powering a 2.1-channel system in another room through the Surround Back channels. The CINEMA DSP 3D can serve as an alternate option for powering two Front Presence speakers all without switching cables because of the intelligent amp design approach.
The Yamaha RX-V773WA gives you the best networking experience out of the available consumer AV receiver models because it already comes with a Wi-Fi adapter which you can plug into the back USB port. Once your wireless router assigns the RX-V773WA an IP address, you can go ahead and download the Yamaha AV Controller app for your iPad, iPhone iPod Touch, Kindle Fire or Android device so that device can be used as a handy wireless remote for controlling various functions of the RX-V773WA.
Yamaha RX-V773WA AV Control App
Owning an Apple device does has its benefits though since the Yamaha RX-V773WA is AirPlay ready. Like any other AirPlay compatible device, you can send your music playlist from your Apple device to the AV receiver. Doing this from your laptop or desktop is possible too but iTunes needs to be installed. If your playlist consists of many low quality MP3s that normally sound terrible on good earphones, expect the quality to be a bit better because of the Compressed Music Enhancer feature that is present in the RX-V773WA. If your Apple device is running out of battery, you can plug it in the front USB port to charge while still enjoying the playback benefits.
Bottom Line
The Yamaha RX-V773WA is high-end in the sense that it gives you an amazing audio and video experience along with good multi-room and networking support while keeping the price tag well under $1,000. The price tag makes some of the omissions like the lack of extra HDMI inputs or absence of Zone 3 well worth the price. In fact, these lacking features still make the RX-V773WA a pretty energy-efficient AV receiver and you can even turn on the ECO mode to enjoy more energy savings. The fact that the Yamaha RX-V773WA comes with a Wi-Fi adapter is nice if you are ordering this online because you may not find the Wi-Fi adapter in local stores.
