Yamaha RX-V385 5.1-Channel AV Receiver at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The RX-V385 is a 5.1-channel AV receiver from Yamaha (Hamamatsu, Japan), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Built around a fully discrete amplifier configuration with a low-jitter PLL circuit, the RX-V385 delivers 70W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 2ch driven) alongside Yamaha's proprietary CINEMA DSP sound field technology with 17 programs, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and three Burr-Brown 384kHz/32-bit DACs. With Bluetooth, four HDMI inputs supporting 4K/60p pass-through, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma, and YPAO automatic room calibration, the RX-V385 delivers a complete and capable home theater foundation at an accessible entry price point.

CINEMA DSP and Discrete Amplifier Configuration

CINEMA DSP is Yamaha's proprietary sound field creation engine, developed from acoustic measurements of famous real-world venues including the Bottom Line, the Roxy Theater, and European cathedrals, encoded into dedicated LSI processing hardware. The RX-V385 offers 17 selectable DSP programs that recreate distinct acoustic environments in your listening room, from intimate clubs to large concert halls and cinematic sound stages, supporting full HD Audio decoding including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Underpinning the processing is a fully discrete amplifier circuit with a low-jitter PLL clock, a design approach that prioritizes clarity and channel separation over cost-reduction measures common at this price tier. Three Burr-Brown 384kHz/32-bit DACs handle digital-to-analog conversion across all channels.

4K HDR Video, eARC, and Bluetooth with Music Enhancer

All four HDMI inputs on the RX-V385 support 4K/60p pass-through at 4:4:4 color, with HDR format compatibility covering HDR10, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma for accurate, high-dynamic-range video reproduction on compatible displays. eARC support is available via firmware update, enabling full-resolution lossless audio return from a connected television over the existing HDMI cable. Bluetooth connectivity includes Yamaha's Compressed Music Enhancer, which is specifically optimized for Bluetooth audio transmission to restore dynamic presence and frequency detail lost during wireless compression, ensuring that streamed audio from smartphones and tablets sounds as natural and engaging as possible.

Key Features

• Discrete Amplifier Configuration: Fully discrete amp circuit with low-jitter PLL clock prioritizes signal clarity and channel separation, delivering audio performance above what integrated amplifier designs typically achieve at this price level.
• CINEMA DSP with 17 Programs: Yamaha's proprietary sound field engine built from acoustic measurements of real concert halls and venues worldwide, supporting HD Audio decoding for movies, music, and gaming.
• 70W per Channel RMS: Rated at 70W per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 2ch driven, 0.09% THD) with dynamic power scaling up to 180W per channel into 2 ohms for demanding speaker loads.
• Three Burr-Brown 384kHz/32-bit DACs: High-performance Burr-Brown DACs across all channels ensure consistent conversion quality throughout the surround sound stage.
• Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio: Full lossless surround sound decoding for Blu-ray and streaming sources, alongside Dolby Digital Plus for compressed formats.
• HDMI 4-In / 1-Out with 4K/60p: Four HDMI inputs and one output support 4K/60p pass-through at 4:4:4, with HDCP 2.3, HDR10, Dolby Vision, Hybrid Log-Gamma, and BT.2020 color space compatibility.
• eARC: Enhanced Audio Return Channel available via firmware update, delivering full-resolution lossless audio from your TV back to the receiver over the existing HDMI connection.
• Bluetooth with Compressed Music Enhancer: Built-in Bluetooth (SBC/AAC) with Yamaha's Music Enhancer optimized specifically for Bluetooth transmission, restoring dynamic and frequency detail lost during wireless compression.
• YPAO Room Calibration: Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer automatically measures your room and adjusts speaker levels, distances, and equalization for optimized surround sound performance at your listening position.
• Bi-Amp Capability: Supports bi-amplification of compatible front speakers, driving tweeter and woofer with independent amplifier channels to reduce interference between high and low frequency ranges.
• Voice Control via Alexa: Compatible with Amazon Alexa devices including Echo and Echo Dot for hands-free receiver control.
• SCENE Buttons: Four programmable SCENE presets allow one-touch power-on and switching between configured inputs and sound programs.
• ECO Mode: Reduces power consumption by approximately 20% compared to standard operation for energy-conscious listening sessions.
• Color On-Screen Display: Multi-lingual color OSD supports English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, and Chinese for straightforward system navigation.

Technical Specifications

Connections at a Glance

• 4 x HDMI Inputs (4K/60p, 4:4:4, HDCP 2.3, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG)
• 1 x HDMI Output with ARC / eARC (via firmware update)
• 1 x Optical Digital Input
• 2 x Coaxial Digital Inputs
• 3 x Analog Audio Inputs (including 1 front panel)
• 1 x USB Input (front panel)
• 1 x Subwoofer Preout
• 1 x Headphone Output (3.5mm)
• 1 x Front Panel Mini Jack Input

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yamaha RX-V385?

The Yamaha RX-V385 is a 5.1-channel AV receiver from Yamaha featuring a fully discrete amplifier configuration, CINEMA DSP with 17 sound field programs, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, three Burr-Brown 384kHz/32-bit DACs, four HDMI inputs with 4K/60p and Dolby Vision support, Bluetooth with Compressed Music Enhancer, and YPAO automatic room calibration. It is designed as an accessible entry point into Yamaha's home theater ecosystem without compromising on amplifier circuit quality. The RX-V385 is available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada.

How does the Yamaha RX-V385 compare to the Denon AVR-S570BT and Sony STR-DH590?

The Yamaha RX-V385 competes directly with the Denon AVR-S570BT and Sony STR-DH590 in the entry-level 5.1-channel AV receiver category. The RX-V385's most significant differentiator is its fully discrete amplifier configuration with a low-jitter PLL circuit, which neither the Denon nor Sony models employ at this price point, both relying instead on integrated amplifier IC designs. CINEMA DSP with 17 selectable sound field programs is a further exclusive to the Yamaha that the Denon and Sony lack entirely. The Denon AVR-S570BT includes Dolby Atmos decoding, which the RX-V385 does not support, making it the stronger choice for listeners planning to add height speakers. The RX-V385 is the better option for listeners who prioritize amplifier circuit quality and Yamaha's sound field processing over object-based overhead surround formats.

Does the Yamaha RX-V385 support Dolby Atmos?

No, the Yamaha RX-V385 does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X object-based surround formats. It decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio for high-quality lossless 5.1 surround sound, and uses CINEMA DSP with Virtual Presence Speaker processing to create a heightened, three-dimensional sound field from a standard 5.1 speaker layout. Listeners who require full Dolby Atmos decoding should consider the Yamaha RX-V4A or RX-V6A, which support object-based overhead audio in 5.2 and 7.2-channel configurations respectively.

What is YPAO and how does it work on the RX-V385?

YPAO (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer) is an automatic room calibration system built into the RX-V385. Placing the included measurement microphone at your listening position and running YPAO triggers an automated acoustic test that measures speaker levels, distances, and room response, then adjusts the receiver's audio parameters accordingly for optimized surround sound performance in your specific room without manual configuration.

Can I use the Yamaha RX-V385 for bi-amping my front speakers?

Yes, the Yamaha RX-V385 supports bi-amplification of compatible front left and right speakers. In bi-amp mode, separate amplifier channels drive the tweeter and woofer sections of each front speaker independently, reducing interference between high and low frequency signals and providing greater dynamic headroom to each driver. This requires speakers with separate tweeter and woofer binding posts and is most beneficial with high-quality bookshelf or floorstanding speakers that have been designed to support bi-wiring or bi-amping.

Where can I buy the Yamaha RX-V385 in Toronto or Canada?

The Yamaha RX-V385 is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Yamaha dealer in Toronto, Canada. Purchasing from an authorized Canadian dealer ensures full Yamaha manufacturer warranty coverage and access to local product support and in-store demonstration. Vinyl Sound carries a broad selection of Yamaha home theater receivers and HiFi equipment.

Does the Yamaha RX-V385 have Wi-Fi or network streaming?

No, the Yamaha RX-V385 does not include Wi-Fi or a network port for streaming. Wireless audio connectivity is provided exclusively through Bluetooth (SBC/AAC), which supports streaming from smartphones, tablets, and computers within Bluetooth range. Listeners who require Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, or MusicCast multi-room audio should consider stepping up to the Yamaha RX-V4A or RX-V6A, both of which include dual-band Wi-Fi and the full MusicCast ecosystem.