Yamaha AVENTAGE Series – Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A

It is the chosen flagship of the new generation of the Yamaha AVENTAGE Series, which is now available with the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A. Not only does it take home cinema to a whole new level, the network AV receiver is also the control centre for high-end home cinema.

When Yamaha Corporation announces a new generation of the Yamaha AVENTAGE Series, ambitious home cinema enthusiasts should take notice, because these solutions have been providing the finest AV receivers for years. This should also apply to the new generation, in which the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A takes on the role of flagship.

Of course, the focus here is on umpteen new formats, especially with regard to immersive surround sound, but the company also promises that nothing less than uncompromising sound is offered here, which is to be in no way inferior to a classic hi-fi chain.

Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A – The new flagship receiver

To do full justice to its role as the chosen flagship, the new Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A is equipped with all the features you’d expect from a reference-class network AV receiver.

First and foremost, the manufacturer points to the latest generation of signal processing, which uses digital reference technology to support all relevant formats for picture and sound in outstanding quality, as well as technology from the best analogue hi-fi components. Designed as an 11.2-channel network AV receiver, the new Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A presents itself in the proven manner of an extremely elegant design, whereby the construction of the housing has been made even more robust than before to ensure interference-free signal processing.

Immersive 11.2-channel audio and cutting-edge video formats

The Yamaha AVENTAGE Series has defined the standards for modern home entertainment since its launch ten years ago, says the Japanese consumer electronics company, and the new Yamaha RX-A8A AV receiver raises the bar once again as the new flagship model.

The current reference model does not stop at the latest HDMI technologies with resolutions of 8K up to 60 Hz and 4K up to 120 Hz, but also provides a massive housing optimised for maximum freedom from resonance and the very best components for the captivatingly clear sound that has made Yamaha one of the leading manufacturers of high-end hi-fi components. The Yamaha RX-A8A delivers immersive surround formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and, in the future, Auro-3D via eleven main channels and two subwoofer channels with a powerful 150 watts of power per channel, guaranteeing impressively lifelike 3D game worlds and film experiences like those in the world’s best cinemas.

Solid and stylish cabinet

Although the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A is a technological behemoth weighing more than 21 kilograms and standing at an imposing 19.2 centimetres tall, its sleekly elegant front panel exudes a lightness that blends perfectly into modern living environments.

The large volume control is placed in the centre as a defining element, and the high-resolution LCD display, together with a jog wheel and touch-sensitive buttons, makes operation simple and intuitive. When designing the AVENTAGE RX-A8A, Yamaha’s experienced developers focused on one aspect above all others: uncompromising performance that can only be achieved with an equally uncompromising mechanical design.

The generously oversized mains transformer is placed in the centre and flanked by the power amplifier blocks on the left and right. This symmetrical layout was adopted from the Yamaha A-S3200 flagship stereo amplifier and ensures the shortest signal paths, best symmetry and channel separation as well as interference-free power supply even at full power.

The double bottom of the H-frame cabinet, which has been further improved, is now made of one millimetre thick sheet metal, and the power transformer and cooling plates of the power amplifiers are effectively decoupled by additional frames for absolutely vibration-free operation. As a result of extensive computer-based vibration analyses, the innovative fifth unit base has been fitted with a brass insert and placed centrally at the front of the cabinet, which further reduces the mechanical vibration influences on the valuable electronics.

The technology of the best analogue hi-fi components

Yamaha has been a leading manufacturer of high-end hi-fi components for decades. All this experience has gone into the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A, resulting in breathtaking three-dimensional sound worlds of audiophile quality.

The circuitry of the analogue preamplifier is realised with a four-layer circuit board to ensure an ideal and extremely short signal path with minimal impedances. High-quality WIMA film capacitors (Made in Germany) ensure fascinating richness of detail in the mid- and high-range, while power supply capacitors with a capacity of an impressive 22,000 uF/ 75 volts provide even more voltage reserves than in the predecessor models – for bloodcurdling bass thunderstorms with unerring accuracy. The conventional power supply is completely decoupled from the audio path, both mechanically and electrically.

The power supply and output stage conductors are twice as thick as those of the predecessor model, the Yamaha RX-A3080, and the internal cables for power and ground connections are just as thick (1.63 mm) as those of the eleven-channel power amplifier giant, the Yamaha MX-A5200.

As if that wasn’t enough, Yamaha’s designers have also made significant improvements to the power amplifiers of the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A compared to its predecessor: With a halved rise time and at the same time ultra-stable signal transmission, they achieve the highly praised precision of the Yamaha MX-A5200 power amplifier in an all-in-one device for the first time.

Digital Reference Technologies

The benefits of the best analogue technology can only be fully appreciated when the quality of the digital input is matched, so Yamaha has equipped the top of the range Yamaha AVENTAGE Series with the most advanced converter chips available today.

As with the reference Yamaha CX-A5200 preamplifier, all channels are converted to analogue via two ESS ES9026PRO chips. Thanks to the patented 32-bit Hyperstream technology, this top model from ESS offers almost limitless dynamics with the lowest distortion values even at low levels – so that even the finest three-dimensional reverberation tails come to life with fascinating vividness.

The latest formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro-3D only unfold their full potential with accurate digital signal processing. Designed for outstanding audio performance, the Qualcomm QCS407 quad-core chip not only ensures pin-sharp location of virtual objects in the room, but now also delivers 64-bit processing power for the latest generation of Yamaha Surround:AI.

Razor-sharp images

The Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A has no less than seven HDMI inputs and three outputs, all of which support the latest HDMI format. The latest version of HDMI chips are used here, ensuring full compatibility with the latest HDMI standard. Video resolutions of up to 4k/ 120 Hz and 8k/ 60 Hz will be fully supported from a future firmware update, as will HDR 10+, guaranteeing gaming and home cinema experiences in razor-sharp picture quality.

State-of-the-art immersive audio formats and Yamaha MusicCast support

The immersive audio formats DTS:X and Dolby Atmos with Height Virtualization distribute virtual objects in the room via the 64-bit Qualcomm QCS407 Smart Audio Platform – no matter how many speakers are used for the personal 3D home cinema.

For maximum flexibility, the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A will also support Auro-3D via a firmware update in the future. Since the new reference behemoth can split its 11.2 power amplifiers into three zones and also supports Yamaha MusicCast, multiple different speaker setups with wireless streaming speakers from Yamaha can also be realised without any problems.

Latest generation Yamaha signal processing

The innovative Yamaha Surround:AI system also uses the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A’s 64-bit Qualcomm QSC407 chip to accurately analyse incoming audio signals.

The technology automatically detects speech, music or film effects and positions them in the surround field, ensuring a fully immersive 3D experience with the best possible intelligibility and audiophile music reproduction – as if a sound engineer were precisely matching each source material to the personal home theatre setup.

For even more impressive 3D performance, Yamaha’s unique calibration system has also been significantly enhanced in the new Yamaha AVENTAGE Series. Yamaha YPAO 3D incorporates speaker height and angle into the multipoint measurement and, together with Yamaha Surround:AI, ensures object localisation that goes far beyond the capabilities of DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.

Yamaha YPAO’s new Low Frequency Mode also analyses the important decay phases of the impulse response in the frequency range between 15.6 and 200 Hz, thereby also reducing room modes that are excited by the LFE channel. In addition, the PEQ now has much finer frequency gradations and provides 49 correction frequencies for the subwoofer instead of 13. Another highlight are the four speaker presets, which now offer maximum flexibility.

Perfectly equipped for thrilling gaming performance

Already today, the hardware of the Yamaha AVENTAGE A8A is equipped for modern gaming technologies, which will be immediately available with a future firmware update. ALLM automatically sets the screen to the low-latency mode ideal for gaming, and Variable Frame Rate (VMR) prevents blurry images when the video console’s processor is under heavy load. Quick Media Switching (QMS) switches seamlessly and fully automatically between different refresh rates, while QFT ensures smooth performance even in the most demanding virtual reality applications. Last but not least, the AVENTAGE RX-A8A can be conveniently controlled via the Yamaha MusiCast app, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, making it the perfect multimedia hub for movies, gaming and high-end music enjoyment, with picture and sound quality that effortlessly satisfies even the highest demands.

According to current information, the new Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A will not take long to arrive, as it is expected to be available in stores from July 2021.

The recommended retail price for the new flagship of the Yamaha AVENTAGE Series is € 3.599.

Getting to the point

The Yamaha AVENTAGE Series has always held a special appeal for home cinema enthusiasts, and not without reason. The Japanese consumer electronics company Yamaha Corporation always uses the latest technologies and pays particular attention to ensuring that the latest picture and sound formats are always presented in the best quality. In keeping with this tradition, the latest generation of this product line, which Yamaha Music Europe GmbH is now presenting in detail, is also to be presented. Of course, the new flagship, the Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A8A, stands out in particular, as it leaves nothing to be desired and can indeed fulfil the manufacturer’s promise to represent a new reference in the AV segment.