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The Yamaha only scores a satisfactory on the ease of use as it has just so many functions and so many capabilities it would just be impossible to make this thing simple. With a million different settings for the effect of the sound it can all get a little bit silly. You can set the Z9 ... Read review
Advantages: Powerful, Capable and Brilliant Disadvantages: Expensive and Bulky
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The Yamaha only scores a satisfactory on the ease of use as it has just so many functions and so many capabilities it would just be impossible to make this thing simple. With a million different settings for the effect of the sound it can all get a little bit silly. You can set the Z9 to the acoustics of venues across the world, like cathedrals in certain cities or football stadiums. But really I’ve found its all too much like hard work and ... ...for the money you're paying it should do some things for itself.
When setting up a new system it will calibrate itself, once all the speakers are plugged in and set up. There is a microphone which you plug into the Z9 and then leave the room. The speakers will all kick out some sound and the Z9 will set them all up with the distances and delays automatically, saving you some time.
I've owned the Z9 now for some time and am not sure if it is even sold anymore new, so hopefully this will be helpful to those looking to purchase one second hand. I bought the Z9 just over 24 months ago now and it has seen me through 3 sets of surround sound speaker systems.
Capable of running 9:2 surround sound systems the Z9 kicks out a wicked sound and you will really get the best out of your system with this Amplifier. The sound quality is flawless and you really do need a great set of speakers to get the best out of this Amplifier. I made the mistake of running a £500 KEF set of speakers from it. At this quality of speaker the Amplifier is barely even trying and easily more than copes with this.
I now run a Dali Ikon 5:1 surround system with bi-wired front speakers. Now this is more like it!! The Z9 is now really kicking out something special and if you crank it up, whether you live in a quiet culdisack, or out in the sticks, you will have the neigh boroughs complaining!! What a sound, when they say vision is only half the experience, they meant it because of the sound this thing kicks out. It’s hard to explain but just imagine being there, whatever your watching, just close your eyes, and it’s like being right there in the action.
The Z9 comes with 2 remotes, one with just enough buttons to make you feel like you're flying a Boeing 747 and the other a handier smaller remote for the menu screen and turning the volume up and down, all you want really :).
The Yamaha only scores a satisfactory on the ease of use as it has just so many functions and so many capabilities it would just be impossible to make this thing simple. With a million different settings for the effect of the sound it can all get a little bit silly. You can set the Z9 to the acoustics of venues across the world, like cathedrals in certain cities or football stadiums. But really I’ve found its all too much like hard work and just let the Z9 select automatically what's best. After all, for the money you're paying it should do some things for itself.
When setting up a new system it will calibrate itself, once all the speakers are plugged in and set up. There is a microphone which you plug into the Z9 and then leave the room. The speakers will all kick out some sound and the Z9 will set them all up with the distances and delays automatically, saving you some time.
It has loads of inputs which i run all of my devices through, DVD player, PS3, Wii, Vinyl player, SKY HD and Archos docking station and i still have more inputs left free.
The Z9 does get very warm and kicks out a lot of heat when being used for a long time. I've not had any problems with the Z9 nor know of any that can occur because of this though. It is very large and weighs an awful lot as well so if you do get one from somewhere then take space into account.
It is very hard to review this amplifier as it was all set up professionally and since it has just done its job perfectly, I don’t have any problems with it and don’t play with the settings as it is all much too complicated. It really is the kind of thing you buy and then sit back, relax and just enjoy the hours of great quality sound it will bring you.
I'm sure there are a thousand things this thing can do that I’m not even aware of but it still scores an excellent as it does what I want it to do.....and it does it perfectly!
