Specifications

12
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Yamaha Electronics Corporation
6660OrangethorpeAvenue
BuenaPark,CA90620
[phone]
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/
The scoring below is based on each speaker doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers
are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating equal to:
Performance x Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com Note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective
testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better
performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value
factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate speakers solely based on performance,
and each reviewer has their own system for ratings.
Audioholics Ratings Scale:
Outstanding (reserved for features or areas that exceed market norms)
Above Average
Average
Below average
Very poor
Score Card
METRIC RATING
 BuildQuality
1
/2
Ergonomics/User Interface
1
/2
Features
1
/2
 TelevisionPerformance
1
/2
 VideoPerformance
1
/2
Overall
1
/2
Value
1
/2
 FrequencyResponseLinearity(20-20k+/-0.25dB)
 SNR
 OutputImpedance(<100mohms20-20k)
 MeasuredPowerInto8-ohms
 MeasuredPowerInto4-ohms
 Multi-channelAudio
 2CHAudio
 VideoProcessing
 BuildQuality
Fit and Finish
 Ergonomics&Usability
Features
 RemoteControl
Overall
Value
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RATING
SUBjECTIVE EVALUATION RATING
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS RATING
crosstalk on two adjacent channels where
one channel was the disturber and the
other was the DUT.The Audio Precision
plotted crosstalk of both channels over
frequency by varying the Distruber/DUT
channels. You can see the RX-Z11 produced
great crosstalk measurements (90dB at
1kHz) with only a slight increase up at
the frequency extremes (low frequency
because of magnetic coupling and high
frequency because of capacitive coupling).
This test really exemplifies the careful board
and magnetics layout of this 11 channel
receiver.
SNR Measurement
With 200mV in, 8 ohms I measured an
SNR of 75.5dB (un-weighted) at 1 watt
power level in pure direct and stereo modes
which again is a very good measurement. I
did note however that once the DSP is
engaged or stereo mode set to non-direct
toallowsubout,noisejumpsupabout10dB.
This is audible only if your head is in close
proximity to any particular loudspeaker
with the volume turned up and no program
material is playing.
Conclusions and
Overall Perceptions
The Yamaha RX-Z11 represents the
pinnacle of technology in a flagship receiver.
It’s ability to transform your listening space
into a concertvenue or mega Cineplex is
unrivaled thanks to the powerful arsenal
of DSP processing and multi speaker
configuration capabilities and robust well
designed amplifier section. With its very
clever power amp assignability and music
mode distribution, it proved to be the
ultimate multi channel / multi zone receiver
capable of whole house entertainment.
I found the DSP mode sound quality to
vary depending on source material so don’t
expect any particular mode to excel all of
the time. It’s important to take the time
and experiment with your music and movie
collection to determine what sounds best
to you. To really take full advantage of the
RX-Z11’s 11.2 surround sound capability,
I highly recommend this product to be
installed into a large listening space (at least
500ft^2orlarger)withaminimumof10ft
ceilings. Unfortunately my theater room is
limited to 8 foot ceilings, so I was unable
to get the height channels up high enough
to reach their full potential. While 11.2
was certainly impressive in my room, the
experience wasn’t quite as dramatic as I
have heard it in prior demos at Yamaha’s
2007 CEDIA booth which incidentally had
higher ceilings.
There seems to be an almost endless
array of configurability and usability of this
product to the buyer willing to spend the
time to learn how to properly use and
configure it. The RX-Z11 is a very complex
sophisticated piece of A/V hardware and is
NOT a product for someone looking for
simplicity and ease of setup but instead
looking for state of the art performance that
doesallofthelatestinHDaudioandvideo
decoding and treats music, multi-channel
music and movies with equal measure. The
RX-Z11 has earned the crown of flagship
status and is a worthy successor to the
venerable RX-Z9.
ByGeneDellaSala
Email - [e-mail]
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