If you are looking for an AV receiver that gives you access to plenty of power, features, and connectivity options, the Yamaha RX-V661 is a great choice. We were impressed with this receiver's value, features and ease of use. It is truly a "bring it home, plug it in and start enjoying your movies and music" receiver.

The RX-V661 allows you to watch all of the major movie formats in surround sound (including Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, and DTS 96/24), plus enjoy just about any format of music and video games. Its HDMI v1.2a inputs permit nearly all music and movie formats, including SACD, DVD-Audio and even the latest high-resolution 7.1 surround formats offered by the new high definition DVD players. During our listening tests, we were very impressed with the RX-V661's Pure Direct mode for 2-channel and multi-channel listening. Pure Direct is a special listening mode that eliminates much of the digital signal processing from the audio path (including the video circuitry) and provides the highest possible signal purity from the digital or analogue source to your speakers. The result is a great sounding option for us stereo purists. The receiver offers a second zone audio-only output option to power speakers in a separate room.

The receiver has plenty of other great features, like being XM Radio and XMHD-ready (requires the XM mini-tuner) and it is iPod-ready (requires the optional YDS-10 universal dock). The receiver also provides Silent Cinema DSP which makes it possible to enjoy surround sound through normal headphones. We kicked off our listening tests by running Yamaha's YPAO automatic system calibration. We found the calibration system easy to use and it did a nice job setting all the audio levels in our reference theater. The auto calibration system uses a small microphone (included with the receiver) to run through a series of tests to make sure you are getting the best possible sound in your room.

The RX-V661 offers more than enough audio and video connections. The highlight among the connectivity options is the 1080p compatible HDMI 1.2a inputs, which decode both audio and video. You can use just one cable from the DVD player to this receiver, and another to the television. If you aren't yet ready for HDMI, the RX-V661 also includes component (3 inputs/1 output), S-video (5 inputs/ 1 output), and composite options for connecting a variety of video sources. The audio options are just as impressive, with both digital (4 optical and 2 coaxial) and analogue inputs.

The single feature that impressed us the most on this receiver was the SCENE template system. The receiver comes with 18 presets, four of which are assigned initially to the SCENE buttons (available on the front panel and the remote.) These four SCENE settings numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 are initially set to DVD viewing, Disc Listening, TV Viewing, and Radio Listening. To make the receiver even more user-friendly, these 4 SCENE settings can be customized to whatever settings you use most (XM Radio, iPod, etc.) The power behind the SCENE system is the ability to automatically select both the source and playback mode. You can even assign a Night listening mode to one or more of your scenes, making this perfect for a special late-night DVD setting.

The programmable remote for the RX-V661 was very easy to use and was logically laid out. One disappointment was that it did not offer a full backlight to make operation easier in darkened theater settings. With its reasonable retail price, the RX-V661 represents one of the lowest costs of entry for those looking to get into a receiver that can handle the latest HD audio formats available on the latest Blu-ray and HD DVD players. Overall this is a great AV receiver that will truly satisfy many looking to get into a next-generation product at a reasonable price point.

Pros: loads of multimedia features
Cons: User's manual could be better organized

Warranty
2 years