Yamaha RX-Z7 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver Offers Best-in-Class HD Performance

August 25, 2008—Yamaha, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today announced the introduction of the high-end RX-Z7, a powerful AV home theater receiver (140W x 7: $2699.95 MSRP) that smashes category boundaries by combining limitless source playback, the latest network receiver/digital media hub capabilities and superior HD audio and video performance. The RX-Z7 offers five HDMI inputs and advanced multi-zone capabilities and controller compatibility, making it the perfect centerpiece for sophisticated custom installations.

Designed to accommodate the full range of today’s digital music sources and services, the RX-Z7 offers unprecedented access to content throughout the home, from the Internet and beyond. With a well-designed graphical user interface that’s optimized for display on HDTV monitors, the RX-Z7 makes it quick and fun to browse the vast content collections that it makes so easily accessible.

Offering DLNA support and compatibility with Windows Vista, the RX-Z7 can stream music files (WAV, Mp3, WMA, AAC) stored on locally networked PCs and other devices, as well as Internet radio streams (Mp3, WMA). In addition to supporting SIRIUS Internet Radio*, the unit offers full compatibility with Rhapsody, giving users unrestricted, on-demand access to the subscription music service’s enormous selection of content spanning virtually every genre, style and taste. The RX-Z7 also integrates with Yamaha’s MusicCAST system, providing access to as many as 40,000 songs that can be stored on that system. The AV receiver can display album artwork through its GUI to take user engagement to a new level.

The receiver offers stunning images with 1080p upscaling and Anchor Bay VRS video processing technologies. Five HDMI inputs, including one on the front panel, provide ample connectivity for devices such as Blu-ray players, DVR and DVD players, while two HDMI outputs enable two high definition monitors to be connected for simultaneous viewing. Auto Lip-Sync Compensation prevents sync issues sometimes associated with transmitting video and audio via HDMI. Refinements also include PReP Progressive Reprocessing with 2:2/2:3 pull-down detection and motion adaptive deinterlacing to eliminate artifacts. Among the RX-Z7’s versatile video adjustment capabilities are six video presets that can store noise reduction and image enhancement settings that can be directly recalled to any of the video inputs.

The RX-Z7 is the ultimate AV receiver for iPod users. It easily connects to Apple iPods via the optional iPod docking station (Yamaha YDS-11; MSRP $99.95). Once docked, the iPod can be operated via the receiver’s remote controls. A one cable connection allows users to view the iPod’s operating status (song title, artist, album with cover art), as well as video and pictures on a television monitor. Docked iPods charge automatically, so they’re always ready for a road trip. Giving users even more ways to access their music, the RX-Z7 boasts two USB ports that adhere to the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) for playback of Mp3, WMA, WAV and AAC audio files from a portable player or USB drive.

For those who keep music stored on their phones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices, the RX-Z7 is compatible with Yamaha’s optional YBA-10 Bluetooth Wireless Audio Receiver (SRP $129.95), which enables wirelessly streaming audio to the AV receiver.

The RX-Z7 is XM (with XM HD Surround powered by Neural Surround) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio-ready.

The RX-Z7 seamlessly integrates HD Radio technology, which enables listeners to enjoy enhanced-quality audio from local radio stations, free of charge, over the airwaves. Utilizing HD Radio, FM signals are elevated to CD-quality audio, while AM station signals sound more like FM radio, virtually eliminating any static or hiss. The receiver also displays HD Radio’s transmission of content information, such as song titles, artist names and much more. Currently, more than 1,700 U.S. radio stations are broadcasting HD Radio content. The RX-Z7 also supports iTunes tagging, so when users hear a favorite song on HD Radio, they can instantly bookmark it to their iTunes account.

Like Yamaha’s flagship RX-Z11, The RX-Z7 leverages the latest HD Audio Surround formats, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Surpassing other receivers, the RX-Z7 provides enhanced surround sound realism by applying Yamaha proprietary Cinema DSP 3D processing. Dialogue, music and effects are ideally located in separate sound fields, delivering ultra-accurate placement, smooth movement, exceptional clarity and richness, and startlingly realistic presence.

Yamaha carefully designed the RX-Z7 to Digital ToP-ART standards, minimizing analog circuitry to maximize performance. The receiver features Pure Direct, a special listening mode that causes the signal to bypass all but the most basic audio circuitry, and even turns off the display to prevent any chance of noise interference. High current amplification ensures that ample power is on tap to deliver engaging dynamics.

Advanced Features for Custom Installations

An ultra-versatile home theater solution, the RX-Z7 supports up to four zones. The RX-Z7 System Memory feature enables users to set up to 6 listening settings for the main zone, and four for each additional zone, for such variables as speaker configuration, YPAO automatic system calibration setup, HiFi and home theater listening, HDMI and overall zone. A preamplifier mode gives users the option of pairing the unit with a high-end power amp.

Assignable zone component video for zones 2, 3 and 4, zone 2 video output with OSD capability and zone 4 optical digital audio outputs, give users the power to enjoy the entertainment of their choice throughout the home. To further capitalize on this feature, users can integrate a Yamaha YSP-series Digital Sound Projector, the market-leading single component surround sound solution, in a second zone which would enable them to simultaneously enjoy true surround sound in that zone as 7.1 channel HD home theater audio is delivered to the main room.

The two included remote controls, an RS-232C interface, remote input/output and programmable dual +12V trigger outputs make the receiver a strong choice for custom installations. Moreover, the unit can be controlled with the Web Browser Control on a PC or smart phone, as well as on a touch-pad controller for local area or home networks. Users can also view a variety of information for iPods, satellite or HD Radio via the Meta Data Display on the browser. This greatly extends the operational capabilities to easily control the many applications the unit makes available.

Yamaha’s advanced YPAO Sound Optimization system automatically analyzes the acoustics of the room and adjusts various speaker parameters to provide optimum sound quality at the listening position, including multi-point measurement support and standing-wave reduction EQ, speaker layout measurement with included microphone base and the YPAO Easy Starter for instant system integration.

Other enhancements include 22 Cinema DSP Processing modes as well as Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control) now with enhanced input source level compensation and YPAO speaker setup data, to help keep the music at just the right level without sacrificing dynamics. Yamaha’s Compressed Music Enhancer technology compensates for the lost detail of audio that is compressed during the “ripping” process and is capable of processing multi-channel signals so all channels (rather than just two) are independently enhanced.

Like the RX-Z11, the RX-Z7 has an extended warranty to ensure users will enjoy their high-end home theater experience for the foreseeable future. For more information visit www.yamaha.com/hometheater.

* Sirius Internet Radio will be available via software update in March 2009.

SOURCE Yamaha Electronics