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Yamaha RX-V685BL review
The review of Yamaha RX-V685BL is allowing us to understand how intricately the explosive development in the home theater sphere has been made. 7.4 points out of 10 are a proper feature and specs evaluation of this unit. In 2018, this receiver model became available for purchase. 7.2-channel amplifier is what this model is equipped with.
Yamaha RX-V685BL Pros
- ✔The receiver has a function of wireless connection to the Internet via Wi-Fi.
- ✔Bluetooth is now one of the key wireless communication protocols. In AV receivers, it is used for audio signal transmission or remote control. And it is in the model under review that Bluetooth support is implemented.
- ✔The presence of a USB port allows the receiver to play content from external media.
- ✔Like any modern receiver, RX-V685BL has a Phono (MM) input for connecting a phonograph or turntable.
- ✔Dolby Atmos technology has been included in this model specifically to create a 3D effect when watching movies, which reveals all its features with a minimum 5.1 configuration.
- ✔Yamaha RX-V685BL with an adaptive and flexible DTS:X surround format can support any speaker configuration, unlike Dolby Atmos.
- ✔With HDR10 pass-through support, it is possible to transfer data over the RX-V685BL with a much wider range of colors.
- ✔With 4K/60Hz pass-through support, it is possible to pass data through this model without degrading image quality.
- ✔ARC feature eliminates the need for an additional composite or optical cable when connecting this unit to a TV.
- ✔eARC is more bandwidth-intensive than ARC and therefore allows Yamaha RX-V685BL to support advanced high-quality audio formats.
- ✔The manufacturer claims support for CEC in Yamaha RX-V685BL and therefore you can control any HDMI-connected device using one remote control.
- ✔This receiver supports the data encryption protocol HDCP 2.2 which allows licensed devices to play high definition audio and video.
- ✔Can stream audio using the AirPlay protocol.
- ✔This receiver consumes less power thanks to ECO mode.
- ✔Yamaha RX-V685BL uses bi-amping to amplify each dynamic in a speaker separately, resulting in clearer, better sound.
- ✔The reviewed receiver has a Pure Direct mode, when used it feeds sound directly to the amplifier and bypasses any DSP processing.
- ✔This AV receiver is able to use 2 zones to send a source signal to speakers or a separate audio system in different locations.
- ✔With the included microphone, the Yamaha RX-V685BL can use the auto speaker calibration mechanism to create the most suitable soundstage.
Yamaha RX-V685BL Cons
- ✖Yamaha RX-V685BL is unable to use Amazon Music.
- ✖Spotify music is not supported.
- ✖There is no voice control function.
- ✖Has no speaker A/B switching function.
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Yamaha RX-V685BL back and front view
Yamaha RX-V685BL specs and features
Amplifier
| Channels | 7.2 |
| Stereo power (RMS), W/Ohm | 90/8, 150/4 |
| Output impedance, Ohm | 8, 4 |
| Frequency response | 10Hz-100KHz |
| THD in stereo, % | 0.06 |
Audio features
| Digital to analog converter (DAC) | Burr-Brown 384 KHz/32-bit |
| Bi-amping | ✔ |
| Pure direct (straight) | ✔ |
| Auto speaker calibration | YPAO |
| Speaker A/B switching | ✖ |
| Other audio features | CINEMA DSP, Compressed Music Enhancer, Virtual CINEMA FRONT |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | 2.4/5GHz |
| USB | 1 (USB 2.0) |
| Bluetooth | ✔ |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | 1 |
| DLNA | ✖ |
| MHL | ✖ |
Streaming services
| Apple Music (AirPlay) | AirPlay |
| Amazon Music | ✖ |
| Spotify | ✖ |
| Other streaming services | has not |
Extensive connection
| HDMI input/output | 5/2 |
| HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) | ✔ |
| HDMI eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) | ✔ |
| HDMI CEC | ✔ |
| Digital content protection (HDCP) | HDCP 2.2 |
| Subwoofer output (LFE) | 2 |
| Headphone output | 1 x 6.3 |
| Optical digital input | 2 |
| Coaxial digital input | 2 |
| Composite input | 1 |
| Component input/output | 1/0 |
| Phono (MM) input | ✔ |
| Front panel connectors | USB, phones, AUX |
| Multi channel preamp output | ✖ |
Video features
| HDR (High Dynamic Range) | HDR10 |
| 4K signal pass-through | 4K/60Hz |
| 8K signal pass-through | ✖ |
| HDMI signal pass-through | ✔ |
| 3D signal pass-through | ✔ |
| HDMI pass-through in standby mode | ✔ |
| Video conversion | ✖ |
| Analog to HDMI scaling | ✔ |
| HDMI to HDMI scaling | ✔ |
| Dolby Vision | ✔ |
| Other video features | BT.2020, HLG |
Additional features
| Voice control | ✖ |
| App control | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android |
| Display | colour OSD |
| Tuner | AM, FM |
| Sleep timer | ✔ |
| Auto power off | ✔ |
| ECO mode | ✔ |
| Graphical user interface (GUI) | ✖ |
| Setup assistant | ✔ |
| Firmware update | network, USB |
| Other additional features | has not |
Multi-room
| Multi-room zones | 2 |
| Zone audio output | speaker, preout |
| Zone HDMI output | ✖ |
| Multi-room control | MusicCast |
| RS-232 | 0 |
| Remote control input/output (IR) | 1/1 |
| DC trigger output (12V) | 1 |
Multichannel surround
| Dolby Atmos | ✔ |
| Dolby TrueHD | ✔ |
| Dolby Surround | ✔ |
| Dolby (other) | Dolby Digital Plus |
| DTS:X | ✔ |
| DTS HD Master | ✔ |
| DTS Virtual:X | ✖ |
| DTS Neural:X | ✔ |
| DTS (other) | DTS 96/24, DTS-HD, DTS-EXPRESS, DTS-Surround, DTS Neo:6 |
| Auro-3D | ✖ |
| IMAX Enhanced | ✖ |
| Multichannel stereo | ✖ |
Audio file formats
| MP3 | ✔ |
| WMA | ✔ |
| AAC | ✔ |
| WAV | ✔ |
| FLAC | ✔ |
| ALAC | ✔ |
| Other audio file formats | AIFF |
Power
| Operational power consumption, W | 400 |
| Standby consumption, W | 0.1 |
| Removable power cord | ✖ |
Dimensions
| Size W x H x D, cm/inches | 43.5 x 17.1 x 37.8/17 x 6.7 x 14.6 |
| Weight, kg/lbs | 10.5/23.1 |
Other
| Release year | 2018 |