Surround AI meets popcorn powerhouse

Yamaha’s latest Aventage flagship AV receiver is a thrilling fusion of fidelity and innovation

The RX-A3080 is literally the smartest Aventage AV receiver yet from Yamaha. If you’ve been looking for a reason to upgrade an old AV receiver, or make the jump from a soundbar, this model could well be it.

A nine channel design, it’s both Dolby Atmos and DTS: X capable, but can be used in a variety of speaker configurations, and comes with a raft of DSP soundfield processing modes.

Dolby Atmos configurations could be 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 (which would be our preference), alternatively you can opt to run a 7.2 layout, with additional stereo amplification to a second room.

However the receiver has handle processing up to eleven channels, giving a 7.2.4 Atmos layout, if you add additional amplification. Power output is rated at 150W per channel (into 8 ohms).

The receiver offers seven HDMI inputs, all of which are HDCP 2.2 4K 60p 4:4:4 compatible, with support for Dolby Vision and HLG HDR as. In addition, there are three HDMI outputs. This gives the option of running to a TV and projector in one room, and a third screen in a separate zone. There’s also analogue stereo provision for zones 2 and 3.

Features include a tuner, dual-band Wi-Fi (twin aerials pop up on the rear), and a phono preamp (MM).

Additional connections include six digital audio inputs (three coaxial, three optical), plus AV and component options. Reflecting its up-market status, there’s even a pair of XLR inputs. These could be partnered with Yamaha’s own CDS2100 SACD player, for audiophile grade stereo playback.

Supporting all this is full set of channel pre-outs, again with an XLR stereo output. Home automation is served via RS-232C, IR remote and two 12-volt triggers.

Build quality is excellent, even if the design is predictably conventional. The RX-A3080 sports an aluminium fascia, with input and volume knobs either side of a drawbridge.

There’s no forward-facing HDMI input, instead we get a USB port, YPAO mic input for room EQ, a pair of stereo analogue inputs and a full sized headphone jack. A faux surround Silent Cinema listening mode is available; to try, listen with a surround or soundfield mode engaged.

Wireless support covers Bluetooth and Apple Airplay, with voice control courtesy of an Amazon Alexa skill. Yamaha’s familiar Compressed Music Enhancer has had a revamp, and now works with Bluetooth sources. If you don’t want to go wireless, there’s Ethernet.

Of course, the RX-A3080 is MusicCast compatible too. Yamaha’s multiroom ecosystem is one of the most diverse available, covering everything from small speakers to soundbars and systems. MusicCast also supports streaming of files up to 24-bit/192kHz.

If you want to try wireless rear speakers, instead of conventional wired boxes, it can even be used with MusicCast 20 or 50 speakers.

At 19.6kg, the RX-A3080 is no lightweight. The internal design uses a classic H-shape for reinforcement, with Yamaha’s familiar Anti Resonance Technology (ART) wedge foot, placed centrally to minimise vibration.

Plugging in the supplied YPAO-R.S.C. (Reflected Sound Control) room calibration mic automatically triggers the setup EQ routine. You may need to tweak the results, as it seems determined to assign all speakers as large, which isn’t always a good thing (regardless of their physical size).

YPAO Volume mode caters for late night low level listening, but our advice is to disable this for everyday use.

Alternatively, you can manually assign the speaker layout, choosing your own crossover, YPAO parametric EQ (Flat, Front, Natural). We preferred our YPAO Flat.

The RX-A3080 has a bold, dynamic character, that’s big on impact and scale. The receiver presents big blockbuster movies with a relish that’s infectious. A run through of Mission Impossible Rogue Nation (Blu-ray Dolby Atmos) proves positively exhausting.

The pre-credit stunt, which has Tom Cruise hanging from the side of an Airbus, is a glorious symphony of Lalo Schifrin theme and engine roar. Despite the complexity of the mix, dialogue is kept crisp and clean.

There’s a huge amount of detail available in the sound stage. Much of this sonic finesse can be attributed to the ESS Sabre PRO ES9026PRO Ultra and Sabre ES9007S DACs which cover main and presence channels. Yamaha’s own D.O.P.G. (DAC On Pure Ground) technology is on-hand to reduce noise reduction.

When not listening to a native Dolby Atmos mix, Dolby Surround extracts information from multichannel or two-channel sources to feed into the height channel. This upscale is surprisingly effective.

Tried with a 5.1 mix of It Follows, a horror tale with a great synth score from Disasterpeace, Dolby Surround is able to cleanly place ambient noises, like cicadas and rain, in the height channel, leaving the main theme throbbing around the surround channels. Neural X performs a similar trick, bringing similar spatial detail to non immersive mixes.

As you would expect, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X can be used with Yamaha’s own Cinema DSP HD3 post processing modes. These various DSP treatments are a bit of a mixed bag, but they can do wonderful things. The 5.1 soundtrack of The Walking Dead is altogether more cinematic with Adventure DSP switched on.

New trick Surround AI is a winner. The AVR can analyse and optimise audio processing, focusing on specific sonic elements like dialogue, sound effects and music, all in real time.

Surround AI tends to make the soundstage larger. When Dwayne Johnston and his gang first land in the jungle (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), there’s a heightened sense of ambiance.

Similarly, the brutal rain-soaked finale of John Wick (Blu-ray, Dolby Atmos) becomes thumpingly visceral, and the Dolby Atmos deluge delightfully realistic. The receiver delivers big transients and has no problem dropping deep with tight, effective bass.

This isn’t just a movie monster though. Its musicality shines through. A 96kHz 24-bit PCM 5.1 mix of Rush’s classic album 2112,

proves spine-tingling, the distinctive riff from Passage to Bangkok is deliciously sweet. High-Res Audio is completely at home here. File compatibility includes DSD and 192kHz-24-bit FLAC.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that the RX-A3080 is a cut above the rest when it comes to features and sonic sophistication. It offers excellent connectivity with superb multi-room functionality. The only obvious caveat though is the seven channels of amplification on offer. Rival AVRs are offering eleven channels for similar cash.

However, as a flag-bearer for Yamaha home cinema, and Surround AI in particular, the RX-A3080 is all-to tempting. We think the sheer variety and versatility of its sound processing options make it a great fit for most listening rooms.

Specifications

• Power output : 9 x 150W (into 8 Ohms)

• HDMI: yes 7-in 3-out, v2.0a with HDCP 2.2

• Dimensions: 435(w) x 474(d) x 192(h) mm

• Weight: 19.6kg