The DVD-S2500’s performance surpasses that of some
more-expensive players. Its deinterlacing processor does a good job with
film-based signals and an outstanding job with video-based signals—the best I’ve
seen from a DVD player, in fact—so artifacts or image distortions won’t be a
concern. Detail is also good. The RX-V4600, meanwhile, had ample moxie to fill
my large room with 5.1-channel music and movies. The bass from my tower speakers
can sometimes get unruly in this space, but the Yamaha did a fine job keeping
things under control while still providing solid impact. YPAO aims for a flat
speaker response, and it got it. I prefer a warmer sound, though, and felt the
equalized settings made the sound a bit too sterile. Luckily, you can tweak the
EQ to find a sound that’s more to your liking.
 |
| The video performance on Yamaha’s DVD-S2500 is one of the best we’ve seen from a
DVD player. The player offers stereo and 5.1 surround signals through the HDMI,
but not DVD-audio or SACD. For those you’ll have to use the FireWire output. |
This combo has a cohesiveness
that I appreciate. The menus for both components are similarly laid out, and it
just feels like these two pieces belong together. Yamaha has chosen some odd
names for the buttons on the receiver remote, and setting up the AM/FM tuner
presets is more difficult than it needs to be. This is one of the first
receivers that can tune in HD Radio. If you’re able to pick up the signal—I
could tune in five stations in one room in my house, but none in another—there’s
an audible improvement in sound quality.
While $2,650 isn’t exactly pocket
change, you’re not going to find a less-expensive system with HDMI switching and
multichannel audio playback, FireWire, composite/S-video transcoding, multizone
audio and video functionality, and a host of setup parameters—with above-average
performance, to boot. This is an excellent value for someone looking to build a
digital-minded mid-level system.
RATING: ELEVATED
Description: Yamaha RX-V4600 A/V receiver and DVD-S2500 universal disc
player
High Points: HDMI switching; excellent video performance; FireWire
allows for digital playback of high-resolution music
Low Points: The player
can’t send high-resolution DVD-Audio via HDMI; both remotes are a little
confusing
Contact: Yamaha Electronics
800.4YAMAHA
www.yamaha.com
Price: RX-V4600, $1,900;
DVD-S2500, $750
Total: $2,650
