Yamaha RX-V465 review

Yamaha's RX-V465 is the cheapest AV receiver here and is designed for simple home cinema setups.

It's the only model on test to amplify 5.1 audio channels only, rather than 7.1, but this is more than enough for all but the largest of living rooms. If you want to upgrade, stereo phono outputs can be connected to an external amplifier to produce the extra two channels.

All the connectors you'd expect are on the back, including four HDMI, two component and four composite. Two coaxial and two optical S/PDIF audio inputs are split evenly between the composite and component inputs, and can't be reassigned to different video inputs.

The RX-V465 can decode the lossless high- definition Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks used by many Blu-ray discs, as well as all the older DVD standards. There's no multi-channel analogue input, though, so this receiver's not ideal for use with a PC.

The speaker connections are two pairs of binding posts for the left and right speakers, and spring clips for the centre and left and right surrounds. We would prefer sturdy binding post connections for all speakers.

Setup is easy, thanks to the tiny microphone that you plug in and position at ear level on your favourite seat. The RX-V465 then measures and adjusts sound from each speaker, configuring the optimal sound.

Surround sound was accurately positioned, with smooth movement and plenty of impact on explosions and ricochets. The sound was a little bass-heavy, but this works well for film soundtracks. Subtle background sounds were audible, if not quite as clear as from some more expensive receivers, such as Onkyo's TX-SR577. The emphasis on lower-range audio means that both stereo and 5.1 music can sound a little flat or overwhelmed by bass, but the overall result was still enjoyable.

The RX-V465 is easy to use, and the remote makes it simple to adjust settings and switch inputs. Sound quality's great for the price, making this a decent choice for anyone who wants home cinema on a tight budget. Spend a bit more on Onkyo's TX-SR577, though, and you can get even better sound.