★★★★★ 5
Most dynamic and engaging sound
1/15/24: I should mention that I connected my old Yamaha rx 1070 and no HDMI or HDCP issues.
The A8A started giving HDCP 2.2 errors. No video on TV. Have to restart receiver to get compatibility. This happened after a recent firmware update. Very unfortunate since it's an awesome receiver.
Update 12/27: so I've had this receiver for just over a month and I can say with confidence that I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I have disconnected to Arundel 1723 speakers and the sound is just outstanding. I leave the surround AI on all the time and I've compared the sound with it on and off and the difference is perceptible. The surround AI makes dialogue more intelligible and creates a wide sound field. The best part again are the scenes which you can configure to your heart's content. I will point to the fact that initially I did the YPAO angle measurement incorrectly.
There are two parts to the stand the tripod(propeller type)and a stand that fits onto it. The fourth position is high up on the stand after it is fixed to the propeller stand. Use a tripod stand to achieve great results. If you have Dolby Atmos and/ or front presence and rear presence speakers turn off the speaker virtualization and this will give you better sound. Also when doing the calibration choose your measurement points at least two to three feet apart.
To give you some context I have tested the Onkyo RZ70, Sony 7000ES ,marantz Cinema 50 and Denon X4800.
The Yamaha a8a outshines all these receivers. It is a blast to watch movies. The sound is very punchy especially in the mid bass and the lower bass is literally room shaking.
The surround AI feature is awesome and I would advise that you use it. I was initially skeptic about this but it creates a sense of immersion as if you are right in the movie. The dialogue is crystal clear and very easily intelligible. I would strongly recommend using AI or at least giving it a try.
The remote is backlit which is great. One of the most powerful features of this receiver is scenes. With this, you can assign various functions to one button on the remote.
The only downside I see is the on-screen display which takes up the whole screen. It should be a banner at the bottom. The other issue I have is in the music cost app where on the input screen the whole real estate is taken up by a symbol that you can choose. I would have preferred instead some more useful information like the number of speakers being used. This is one of the best receivers I've ever heard. You will not be disappointed if you buy this.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
