Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Don’t want to spend too much on a receiver for your new 4K TV? Meet the Yamaha RX-V381

Yamaha RX-V381
Image used with permission by copyright holder
With 4K Blu-Ray discs and players finally hitting the market, this is undoubtedly going to be the year that a lot of people buy their first 4K TVs. Many companies are hoping that one upgrade will lead to another, and that includes Yamaha, which just announced a super-affordable 4K-ready receiver.

Yesterday, the company unveiled its latest receiver, the RX-V381 ($300). This entry-level model is the first in the company’s RX-V 81 Series of receivers and is 5.1-channel, so you’re not going to see Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, but it’s much more affordable than the latest and greatest feature-packed receivers out there from Yamaha and others. Both 4K and HDR are supported, so it seems like the company is aiming for those who might have just picked up a new TV and don’t want to spend much extra on an A/V hub.

Recommended Videos

“Sound editors and soundtrack composers each play huge roles in today’s feature films, and the RX-V381 allows our customers to enjoy these titles as they would in the movie theater, in all their cinematic glory,” Bob Goedken, general manager of Yamaha Corporation of America’s A/V division said. “Yamaha has packed a lot of advanced technology into a very affordable, solidly-built A/V receiver, with an unparalleled level of reliability that assures our customers that they will enjoy this model far into the future.”

The RX-V381 supports both Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, covering the bases for HD audio, and it matches this when it comes to video as well. All four HDMI inputs support HDMI at 4K/60p and HDCP 2.2. The receiver is also Rec. 2020 compliant and supports 4:4:4 color, which allow it to provide the highest color gamut possible for a new 4K TV.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Of course, plenty of people are going to use their receiver for music in addition to their home theater needs, and Yamaha hasn’t forgotten that. The RX-V381 features Bluetooth and a feature Yamaha calls Compressed Music Enhancer, meant to improve wireless sound quality from streaming services and MP3s. The unit should be easy to set up as well, since it features Yamaha’s YPAO automatic calibration — just plug in the included mic, and the system tunes itself to best fit the room.

Yamaha hasn’t specified an exact release date so far, but says the RX-V381 is set to go on sale this month, and will retail for a relatively modest MSRP of $300. For more information on the new receiver, see the Yamaha website.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
The Amazon 55-inch Omni Series is 35% off for President’s Day
The Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV displaying its home screen on a wooden home theater credenza.

With President’s Day only a week away, we’re going to start seeing some major discounts on TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and plenty of other home theater tech. In fact, some of these sales have already started. Take this Amazon 4K LED, for example: Right now, when you purchase the Amazon 65-inch Omni Series 4K LED, you’ll only wind up paying $360. The full MSRP on this model is $550.

There’s nothing like a handful of great TV deals to start the work week, so take advantage of this offer (and ones like it) while you still can!

Read more
This 75-inch Samsung QLED is on sale for under $1,000 today
The Samsung QE1D Series 4K LED TV.

We’re only a week away from President’s Day, and the TV deals have already started rolling in! Top brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG are offering markdowns on some of their best models, but one of the best offers we’ve seen today is also one of the best 75-inch TV deals we’ve come across in a minute:

For a limited time, when you order the Samsung 75-inch QE1D 4K QLED through the manufacturer, you’ll only wind up paying $980. The full MSRP on this model is $1,800.

Read more
Hisense’s version of the Samsung The Frame has a major discount today
Hisense CanvasTV.

TVs continue to get thinner and lighter, and just when you think a chassis can’t get more impressive, brands like Hisense introduce a model like the S7 Series CanvasTV. Designed to look like a piece of fine art hanging from your living room wall or sitting atop a TV stand, this signature Hisense QLED is a major competitor to Samsung’s The Frame lineup of QLED TVs and TCL’s NXTFrame QLED TVs.

And right now, when you purchase the Hisense 65-inch Class S7 Series CanvasTV through Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll only pay $900. At full price, the 65-inch CanvasTV sells for $1,300. It's one of the best TV deals of the week, so don't miss out!

Read more