Skip to main content

Yamaha unwraps new Atmos-enabled Aventage AVRs

When Yamaha launched the Aventage line back in 2010, it was something of a big deal for the company. Yamaha had already built a solid reputation  with its value-leading RX-V series (which continues strong to his day), but the Aventage line was a sign that Yamaha was willing to pull out all the stops in an effort to bring audiofile-level design and performance to the A/V receiver genre. Now, the Aventage line has gained two new primo models, both of which will be eligible for a firmware update that will allow them to support Dolby Atmos surround sound at home

The two latest models are the RX-A3040 ($2,199.95) and the RX-A2040 ($1,699.95), both of which support the latest HDMI 2.0 standard — enabling Ultra HD 4K passthrough and up conversion up to 60 fps — and wireless network functionality for access to Pandora, Spotify Connect, Rhapsody, SiriusXM Internet Radio, and vTuner, plus Airplay and HTC Connect support. The A3040 supplies 150-watts into 9 channels while the A2040 will offer only slightly less at 140-watts per channel.

Both the A3040 and A2040 are 9.2-channel receivers which can be expanded to 11.2 channels with the addition of an external amplifier. As such, users will be able to take advantage of the full capabilities of Atmos surround, which provides for up to four channels of surround sound delivered from either ceiling-mounted speakers or through the use of so-called Atmos-enabled speakers, which aim sound at the ceiling so it is reflected down at the listener from above. Decoding of all digital audio signals, including Atmos, is performed by premium ESS 192 kHz/32-bit ES9016 DACs, which can handle most of the latest high-resolution audio sampling rates and bit depths, including FLAC, WAV 192 kHz/24-bit, and Apple® Lossless 96 kHz/24-bit. There is no mention of native DSD support, but Digital Trends has reached out to Yamaha for clarification on that point. 

Aside from packing all of the usual bells and whistles associated with a flagship A/V receiver, Yamaha’s Aventage line is built with massive power supplies, a rugged chassis, premium materials and un-compromised electrical engineering, all in the name of providing the best possible sound and video quality. In our experience, these measures pay off in the form of outstanding performance. And with the addition of a redesigned iOS and Android setup app for smartphones and tablets, configuring and operating the receiver is more intuitive and visually appealing than past Yamaha designs.

The two top Aventage models are due in August and will be available through authorized Yamaha retailers.  

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
The best Dolby Atmos soundbars for 2023
Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos Soundbar in white with Sub

Even with some of the most cutting-edge TVs on the market right now, and more on the way this year after CES 2023, it's still widely acknowledged that adding a soundbar to your TV is a great way to take its sound to another level. But if you want to take it up a notch higher, there's no better solution than a Dolby Atmos soundbar.

Dolby Atmos soundbars do an amazing job at creating a stunning and immersive three-dimensional soundscape for your home theater setup that would otherwise only be possible with a costly and elaborate 5.1.2 (at minimum) system made up of several speakers, a subwoofer, and an AV receiver. With an array of speakers, including "up-firing" drivers that bounce sound off the ceiling, and front and side drivers, Dolby Atmos soundbars deliver an experience that's as close as you can get, without all the components.

Read more
JBL reveals its new flagship soundbar at CES 2023: 15 channels and 1170W of Dolby Atmos power
JBL Bar 1300X Dolby Atmos Soundbar.

JBL has taken the wraps off its most powerful Dolby Atmos soundbar to date at CES 2023. The Bar 1300X follows the same design principles as the company's previous top-of-the-line Bar series soundbars, including the line's signature detachable, fully wireless surround speaker modules, and a wireless subwoofer. But the Bar 1300X brings even more sound and power to your TV room, with an 11.1.4-channel configuration and a massive 1,170 watts of total power. It will be available on February 19, 2023, for $1,700.

The JBL Bar 1300X boasts both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X compatibility, but what sets it apart from JBL's other Atmos/DTS:X soundbars is its six dedicated up-firing drivers, which will presumably do a better job of delivering the height channel effects that these 3D surround sound formats are known for. It also has the largest wireless subwoofer in the Bar range, with a 12-inch driver.

Read more
A new Mercedes might be the best way to experience Apple Music’s spatial audio
Interior of a Mercedes-Benz with an Apple Music Spatial Audio sound system.

Mercedes has announced that it's the first car maker to give drivers a way to hear Apple Music's spatial audio content as it was meant to be experienced. Starting with the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and the EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, and EQS SUV, spatial audio tracks in Dolby Atmos Music from Apple Music can be played without the use of an iPhone when buyers select the Burmester 4D or 3D sound system option for their vehicles.

Dolby Atmos support in cars isn't new. The Lucid Air became the first car to support the 3D audio format in 2021, and Mercedes itself added support for it on its Burmester systems that same year. But having a sound system that is Dolby Atmos capable, and being able to actually stream Dolby Atmos content to that system, are different things. Prior to Mercedes' announcement, getting a true Dolby Atmos Music experience from Apple Music meant using an iPhone with headphones or earbuds, or using an Apple TV connected to a Dolby Atmos-capable TV, soundbar, or home theater system.

Read more