CONCLUSION

With well more than a dozen A/V receiver options in the $550-to$700 range, Yamaha’s V685 plays on a hotly contested ground. But for those who consider close listening of acoustic stereo music to be a key function, it’s a must-audition: Dsp-surround for music may or may not ultimately prove to your taste, but serious listening under controlled conditions should be mandatory before deciding. For everyone else, the Yamaha is still a fully competitive choice, with excellent basic sonics, the usual level of video processing, and its own distinctive helping of features.