Yamaha RX-530 Stereo Receiver Review

Yamaha’s compact and moderately priced RX-530 has all the features one would expect in a modern stereo receiver. Its digital frequency-synthesis AM/FM tuner has eight preset buttons that are switchable for access to sixteen station memories each assignable to an am or fm channel. The tuner operates in manual mode (single-channel steps) or auto-scan mode. During manual tuning, reception is in mono, switching to stereo (if available) once a station is tuned in.

The input sources are identified as tuner, CD, phono, video/auxiliary, DAT/tape 1, and tape 2. There is also a CD DIRECT mode, which connects a CD player directly to the amplifier input regardless of the regular source selection. In CD Direct, only the volume control is in the circuit, tone controls and all other signal-modifying circuits are bypassed.

The power-amplifier section is rated to deliver 50 watts per channel into 8-ohm loads from 20 to 20,000 Hz with no more than 0.02 percent total harmonic distortion (THD). Its E1A dynamic power ratings into loads of 8, 4, and 2 ohms are 81, 138, and 112 watts, respectively.

The RX-530 has center-detented knobs for the bass, treble, and balance controls, a large volume knob, and a loudness-compensation control of the type introduced by Yamaha in the 1970’s (and still a feature nearly exclusive to Yamaha). Operating independently of the volume setting, the loudness knob’s counterclockwise rotation reduces the midrange (1,000-Hz) level by as much as 40 dB, with a lesser reduction of bass and treble levels. The result is a family of curves resembling those of many conventional loudness controls, except that the system lets the compensation be applied to any desired degree without regard to the volume-control setting. In practice, it is capable of much more realistic sound at any listening level than the usual combined volume/loudness control.

A six-position REC OUT switch feeds any of the input sources to the tape-recording output jacks on the rear apron, regardless of the source selected for listening. All other controls are either single or dual rocker-type pushbuttons.

Besides the functions already referred to, there is a pair of buttons that independently activate the two sets of speaker outputs on the rear apron and another that turns on the Bass Extension circuit, a low-frequency boost intended to enhance I he deep-bass performance of most small speakers. Center-pivoted rocker switches step through the various input sources and tune the receiver in either direction. There is also a front-panel headphone jack and a power button.

The display window is informative without being confusing. The station frequency (and preset number, if applicable) are displayed in large red numerals. Smaller readouts indicate the tuning mode and reception of a stereo signal as well as the selected input source. A signal-quality indicator shows the relative strength of a received signal.

The rear apron contains two sets of speaker outputs whose spring-loaded connectors accept stripped ends of speaker wires, similar connectors for a 300-ohm fm antenna and the supplied wire-loop AM antenna, and the signal-input and tape-output phono jacks. One of the two AC outlets is switched.

The infrared remote control supplied with the RX-530 can be used to switch it on or off, select the input source or preset channel, and adjust the volume (the receiver’s volume knob is motor-driven during remote operation). Available only through the remote control is a “sleep” mode that automatically shuts off the receiver after an hour. The remote also has a number of buttons that can be used to operate compatible Yamaha CD players, turntables, and cassette decks directly or through the receiver.

The black-finished Yamaha RX-530 measures 17-1/8 inches wide, 11-3/8 inches deep, and 5 inches high, and it weighs 12 pounds, 5 ounces. Price: $399.

Comments

The Yamaha RX-530 is a lot of receiver for its price. It is safe to say that it would meet the needs of a large majority of mainstream audiophiles. Although the measured performance of its FM tuner was not particularly outstanding, it sounded fine in our installation. In a couple of respects, such as image rejection and capture ratio, its measurements were marginal, and near an active airport its image rejection might not be adequate. On the other hand, the tuner noise level was very low for a product in this price range. In extended home use, I never found the slightest reason to criticize its performance. As a bonus, its am quality was among the best I have heard in years, in spite of a characteristically limited bandwidth. The supplied wire-loop AM antenna (in contrast to the usual ferrite-rod antenna) did not pick up the noise and hash from nearby power wiring that plagues most am tuners I have used. With a low noise level even am can be a listenable medium.

In these days of super-power amplifiers, 50 watts may not seem like much, but actually it is plenty for most people. Certainly that is the case if the amplifier can drive low-impedance speaker loads, and especially if it has the considerable dynamic headroom that we measured on the RX-530. With speakers of average or better efficiency (sensitivity of 87 dB or greater), this receiver can play as loudly and cleanly as one could wish.

The RX-530 is well endowed with features. If you use a loudness control, it has one of the best. The Bass Extension circuit is superb for its purpose. The low-frequency response of most small speakers rolls off below about 70 or 80 Hz, and this circuit injects enough boost below that range to add a feeling of bass without exceeding the amplifier’s capabilities or adding any unnatural coloration. If you believe that a CD Direct connection is beneficial, you also have it in this receiver, but in our lab and listening tests it had essentially no effect on the sound.

Every bit as important as the RX-530's performance, though not so easy to quantify, is its ease of operation. I found its ergonomic aspects to be above average with a reasonable mix of basic and extra features. You won’t have to keep the instructions handy when using this receiver, since almost every control does exactly what you would expect, and they all had a smoothness and tactile feedback that appealed to me. The only shortcoming of its front-panel design is the placement of the tuning, band, mode, and other buttons. They are marked with very small, hard-to-see characters, and they are largely hidden by the protruding row of preset selectors above them unless viewed from directly in front.

With that as my most serious criticism of the Yamaha RX-530, it clearly ranks as an excellent value, an affordable receiver that does a lot, does it very well, looks and sounds great, and doesn’t take up an undue amount of space.

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