Yamaha RX-V385
Pros
- 5-Way Binding Posts
- Sounds Great for an Entry-Level Unit
- Bluetooth Included
Cons
- May Struggle in Large Rooms
- No WiFi
When it comes to appearances, the Yamaha 5.1 Channel RX-V385 won’t win any design awards. Yamaha hasn’t changed the looks of their amps for several years which means the 385 looks exactly like its predecessor. Outwardly, the receiver is your basic rectangular box. The front has the normal array of input and preset selection buttons which comes pretty standard on most AV receivers. The remote that comes bundled with the Yamaha 385 is well laid-out and easy to use.
For inputs, the Yamaha RX-V385 is pretty well endowed for an entry-level receiver. It has a couple of analog audio inputs, two coaxial inputs, and a single optical input. A USB input on the front allows you to connect a USB drive and stream audio files to the receiver. The amp does not have built-in WiFi, however, it does have Bluetooth which will allow you to stream music wirelessly. It also has a single HDMI HDCP 2.2 compliant output to complement its 4 HDMI inputs. If you have a 4K TV, the 385s HDMIs support many of the current Ultra-HD standards including HDR10, Dolby vision, hybrid log-gamma and BT.2020. All-in-all for an entry-level receiver, the 385 boasts more inputs than we’ve come to expect at this price point.
Read Our Review of the Yamaha RX-V685
Yamaha RX-V385 Setup
Getting the Yamaha 385 up and running is straightforward and simple, however, if you run into a jam, Yamaha provides an AV setup guide that you can install on your tablet that will walk you through connecting your gear. One thing we were surprised about, was the 385’s use of binding posts for speaker connections. Most entry-level amps forgo the binding posts in favor of less expensive spring clips, so it’s nice to see that Yamaha went the extra mile. We give them two thumbs up for that.
Yamaha suggests that you calibrate your setup using YPAO which stands for Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer. Essentially, you use the provided microphone to take sonic measurements in your room. The software then makes the proper adjustments to the receiver in order to optimize the performance of your equipment based on your rooms acoustics and speaker performance. The entire process only takes a few minutes and is well worth it in order to eek out the best performance from your new amp.
Sound Quality
Taking the Yamaha RX-V385 for a spin was a treat. For a so-called entry-level receiver, the 385 displayed quite a bit of oomph. Avengers Endgame allowed the 385 to display its dynamic range. The dialogue was clear and precise. The amp handled the chaotic final battle with ease. Our subwoofer blasted to life in the last half hour with the 385 producing copious amounts of bass. Despite this, the 385 displayed excellent spatial acuity by smattering our listening area with sounds of the on-screen battle.
Next, we took Captain Marvel for a spin. Again, the Yamaha 385 shined with its ability to fill our listening area with sound. If the 385 has one flaw, it’s that the receiver may not excel in larger rooms. When pushed to its upper limit the amp found it hard to keep up.
Conclusion
Yamaha’s RX-V385 is not your average entry-level receiver. The receiver has plenty of inputs and a few features that we wouldn’t expect to find on an amp at this price point. As far as sound quality, the 385 sounds much bigger than it is. Pair this receiver with a good set of speakers and your home theater will shine.
