https://costcocouple.co
The Yamaha TSR-7850 AV Receiver is normally priced at $489.99.
There's currently a $110 instant rebate which reduces the price to $379.99.
Discount is valid till 12/29/19.
Item number 1017850.
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expiredDJ3xclusive posted Mar 3, 2021 10:21 PM
Yamaha TSR-7850R 7.2-Channel 4K Atmos DTS A/V Receiver (Refurbished)
$319
+ Free Shippingat Newegg
Top Comments
The TSR-7850 model has nicer on screen controls.
The TSR-7850 has a remove that feel more premium and heavy but is less well designed. The RX-V6A remote is better laid out but feels cheap and plasticky.
The new RX-V6A supposedly has issues with passing 4K/120Hz through it. I just send the images to the TV and use eARC to send the sound from the TV to the receiver. Problem solved.
For the TSR-7850 there are two apps you can use to control the device, each doing different things. For the RX-V6A, they tried to combine them into one and the execution is not good. (Either way the phone control of setting is a huge improvement over using the on screen controls. It is nice to make changes without interrupting what you are watching.
I don't feel that the newer version offers anything worth spending more money for.
If you're going to go for atmos / DTS X etc., you really need the four elevated (or at least directed) channels to get good 3D imaging/vectoring of the object-based sound. People & publishers that take the time to do back-to-back room-calibrated tests with good tracks confirm this. Why we are 8 YEARS into Atmos receivers and still so many X.X.2 receivers from the industry? How much does it really cost to move to X.X.4? Just seems like such an unnecessary handicap. DTSX/Atmos provide such a significant enhancement to surround sound, to add all the technology to the receiver but forget about the two extra effect channels to make it really work is just asinine. Thank you marketing departments!
(IMO: If you want to really use atmos/DTSX, wait for a refurb deal <$400 on a 5.2.4 capable unit, instead of dropping almost as much money on a partial-implementation of a great technology!)
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74 Comments
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Back to your question: I read a bunch of HT & HD forums and this is what most people agree on, including lots of sound magazines/blogs that have actually gone through the trouble of testing in properly set up home theater environments:
If you want to experience Atmos and DTS:X, then
(best for 3D object / vector-based sound) 7.2.4 > 5.2.4 > 7.2.2 > 5.2.2 (least good for atmos or DTS:X tracks)
How much better is 7.2.4 vs 5.2.4? This is mostly going to come down to your listening environment and seating arrangement. In an ideal setting, it is better, but a properly designed 5.2.4 will be able to deliver the perception of the side channels reasonably accurately. A less ideal/optimal seating arrangement and listening space (breaks in walls, hallways, obstacles, poor distances, poor angles, etc.) will benefit more from the side channels. If you can design your basement HT from scratch, a 5.2.4 system should be VERY good from the listening sweet spot. You can widen this sweet spot a bit by adding the side channels to make a smaller home theater more effective with bit larger effective listening area.
For me, doing it myself, the home theater build cost difference was negligible moving from 5.2.4 to 7.2.4, but the receiver cost difference was 2-3x the refurb pioneer 9.2...so that was the direction I went. Nobody has noticed that the side channels don't work on the system, but then again thanks to covid not many people have had the opportunity.
I think about them whenever I read folks posts about buying a 'Future Proof' receiver.
Any recommendations?
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I'd read there are display issues with the newer model yamaha at costco, but I would probably give that a shot first and take it back if needed, then get this. It's just hard to beat purchases at Costco. I would guess that if I wanted to, I could still take back my receivers years later for a full refund. It's hard to justify that kind of deal based on any very relatively minor differences in these similar receivers.
That's my 2 cents.
1) Direct to Wifi Music. (Spotify, etc.) The older ones will have Bluetooth but that required you to be in proximity to the receiver and is more prone to dropping. I had no idea about this before I bought one and it is my favorite feature.
2) A good web app for managing settings. These are so much easier to use than the on screen controls and you can use them without interrupting the programing.
Also, at my Goodwill there is never a matching remote. The remote resellers scoop them up too quickly for me.
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