In Use
Although the RV-8 is very complex, the instruction manual is superb in
explaining it all.
I configured a digital input and 5.1 analog input set for my Yamaha universal
DVD player, and a stereo analog input set for my McCormack CD transport and
DAC. Speakers were Carver Amazings all around, and a Final Acoustics ESL for
the center. Velodyne subwoofers rounded out the test system, and Nordost
cables connected everything.
Ribbons and ESLs are a very tough test for any amplifier, especially those in
receivers, but the RV-8 was up to the task.
The sound quality was more like our McIntosh MC-602 and 1201 in tonality
rather than our BAT VK-500, except for, of course, the maximum power. This
is definitely high
performance audio. I noticed clipping at high volume, such as with Copland's
"Fanfare for the Common Man", which is a disc I use very often, as the
dynamics are incredible. However, the sound itself, within the 180 watt two-channel
capability (see Benchmark test results below), was outstanding.
Strings, brass, human voices (such as Mary Chapin Carpenter - Come On,
and Natalie Cole - Unforgettable) were superbly reproduced with a
clarity that would honor any audio product.
I crossed over the rear speakers at 50 Hz, even though they are full range, so
that the bass from the rear would not interfere with the subwoofers at the
front. This worked very well, and is something I do routinely. This is
particularly nice when playing a heavy bass disc, such as the Copland one
shown above.
SACD recordings, played using the 5.1 analog output from the Yamaha, sounded
as
good as I have ever heard from a receiver. The discs included Hiromi's
Brain, which if you have not experienced, is a must hear disc.
Other orchestral recordings include Stravinsky's The Firebird (Telarc SACD
60039) and Liszt's Works for Organ (NAXOS 8.555079).
All in all, I would be very happy with this receiver as the heart of my home
theater system and music listening too.
The menus are laid out in a straightforward manner, but it is easy to get
lost. In order to enter a particular choice, you have to go one step further
in the menu (pressing the right side of the circular button on the remote)
and then hitting Enter.
I tried the tuner briefly (I am not a fan of music on the radio), and it set
up in a flash. The sound quality of receivers is probably surpassing the FM
analog transmissions now, so if you like broadcast music, you should focus
on the digital broadcasts over satellite and cable, which the RV-8 can
decode through one of its digital inputs.
The other zones are very simple to
configure, and Lexicon is unique in providing complete control of second and
third zones from the front panel. For someone with music setups in several
rooms, the RV-8 is sure to be a delight in this regard.
With movies, the RV-8 excelled just as it did with CD and high resolution
audio. I watched a lot of movies with the RV-8 while it was here. These
included Assault on Precinct 13, Constantine, The Merchant of
Venice, and Be Cool, which are in our movie reviews section now.
In all cases, the movies sounded awesome with the RV-8. There are myriad
variations in the ways you can listen to surround sound with the RV-8 and
most other receivers, but I prefer just straight DD 5.1 with no added
enhancements (other than the 7.1 side channels that are synthesized).
This is especially so with the big speakers that I use for
home theater entertainment, and for our tests. Even though the ribbons are
very low efficiency, the RV-8 did just fine. If you have cone speakers with
an efficiency of, say 90 dB or more, you will have enough power to blow the
walls out with this receiver. I use ribbons and ESLs for two reasons. One is
that I like the sound. Secondly, they let me find out what a test product
can do under stress.
Many high performance receivers have 7.1 sound now, with power amplifiers for all
seven channels. Even though the side channels are synthesized, if you have
not heard 7.1, do so, because you will be surprised at how much this adds to
the sound stage. They fill in the gap that pans from back to front or front
to back have without the side channel signals.
On the Bench
Below are our Secrets Benchmark findings for the RV-8. As you can see, it
passed most of the criteria, and we set criteria levels to be very high.
Each criterion can score a maximum of 10 points. This receiver has just about every feature you can want, except for digital
video switching (DVI and HDMI). The power amplifier put out very close to
spec with all seven channels driven. We test the maximum output for a five second
period, which is a terrific strain on the amplifier. We usually find that
the maximum voltage drops down after less than a second, so that is why we
set the Benchmark standard as the maximum voltage that will hold steady for
five seconds. The RV-8 won't accept
digital input for DVD-A or SACD yet, but this is the same for most receivers
these days. Perhaps an update next year (maybe that blank panel on the rear
panel near the bottom)?
Secrets Benchmark Results
Function |
Score |
Notes |
Time Alignment |
|
|
Global A/V
Delay |
10 Points |
Delay up to
60ms. 60ms is minimum to get 10 points, with 100ms being preferred. |
Speaker Delay |
10 Points |
Each channel
is independent, with settings to 30 feet in 0.1 foot increments. 0 to 12
meters in 0.1m increments (0.5 foot minimum to get 10 points). |
Volume |
|
|
Muting |
10 Points |
Options are
-10 dB up to - 40 dB, and Full. Mute button on remote and on front
panel. |
Power-On
Volume / Max Volume |
5 Points |
Default
setting is -30 dB, adjustable from -80 dB to +12 dB. Maximum volume
cannot be set. |
Input Level
Trim |
10 Points |
Very
sophisticated. Can set independent input level adjustment for all analog
audio sources. Setting to Auto provides automatic monitoring and
optimization of input levels. Includes level meters to monitor input
levels. |
Volume Scale |
10 Points |
Relative scale
rather than absolute. |
Speaker
Calibration |
10 Points |
Adjusted in
0.1 dB increments only (0.5 dB increments is minimum for 10 points). |
Headphone |
0 Points |
Has its own
volume, but cannot monitor a different source from the main zone. |
Dolby Digital |
|
|
Basic Functions |
10 Points |
Meets basic
requirements for Dolby Digital. |
DRC (Dynamic
Range Control) |
5 Points |
Limiter allows
setting limits on low frequency content. Compression feature lets you
compress dynamic range for night time listening. Compression is
accessible through 4 button presses, including press to turn it on.
Should be available in 3 button presses or less. When DRC is on, it
should be indicated on the front panel, and it is not with the RV-8. |
Dialogue
Normalization |
10 Points |
Yes. |
Lock-on Time |
10 Points |
Fast. |
640kbps AC-3 |
10 Points |
Specified. |
Dolby Digital EX |
|
|
Basic Functions |
10 Points |
Meets basic
requirements for Dolby Digital EX. |
Flag Respect |
10 Points |
Responds
correctly to flags. |
Pro Logic |
|
|
Basic Functions |
10 Points |
Meets basic
requirements for Dolby Pro Logic. |
SurrEnc Flag
respect |
Not Tested |
This Benchmark specification
indicates whether the processor will automatically read flags for
two-channel stereo tracks that indicate it has been encoded for Dolby
Pro Logic, and not automatically switch to Dolby Pro Logic when playing
two-channel stereo tracks that are not flagged as having been encoded as
Dolby Pro Logic. The RV-8 does not specify this in their instruction
manual. |
Pro Logic II |
|
|
Basic Functions |
10 Points |
Meets basic
requirements for Dolby Pro Logic II. |
Non-mandatory
Music mode features |
10 Points |
Includes
Panorama/Width/Dimension. |
DTS |
|
|
Basic Functions |
10 Points |
Meets basic
requirements for DTS. |
Bass Management |
|
|
Crossover
frequency selection |
10 Points |
Yes, for all channels,
including subwoofer. Settings from 30 Hz to 120 Hz in 10 Hz increments.
Slope is 24 dB per octave for high-pass and low-pass, except for THX-80
Hz which is 24 dB per octave low-pass/12 dB per octave high-pass. |
Crossover
Slope selection |
5 Points |
4th order
slope with the ability to select 2nd order for 80 Hz THX. |
LFE Trim |
10 Points |
Yes. Called LFE Mix in the
RV-8. Settable from -10.0 dB to 0.0 dB in 0.1 dB increments. |
DVD-Audio |
|
|
Bass
Management for 5.1 Analog Input |
10 Points |
Yes. |
HDMI DVD-A
Input |
0 Points |
None offered. |
iLink DVD-A/SACD Input |
0 Points |
None Offered. |
THX |
|
|
Certification |
10 Points |
THX Select, Ultra, and Ultra2
Certified. |
Re-Eq defeat
option |
10 Points |
Yes. Is defeatable in THX
modes. Must be defeatable in THX modes to get 10 points. |
Audio Customization |
|
|
Parametric
Subwoofer Eq |
0 Points |
None. |
Surround Mode
Pre-Set |
10 Points |
Yes. |
Multiple
Surround Management |
0 Points |
No option to
reroute or copy surrounds/rears. |
Academy Mono
Filter |
10 Points |
Available. Restores the
proper mono balance of older mono film sound tracks. Can also be applied
to 5.1 mono logic in RV-8, expanding mono sources in DD encoded sound
tracks to use all channels. |
Downmix |
10 Points |
Yes. Converts
5.1 sources to two-channel stereo. |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
Front Panel
Dim |
10 Points |
Off, 25%, 50%,
75%, 100%, 2 seconds on then off, Always Off. |
Settings
Storage |
10 Points |
Settings are
retained. |
Preamplifier |
|
|
Maximum RMS Output
Voltage at Pre-Out |
3.35 volts 10 Points |
1.0 volt RMS to 1.99 volts
RMS gets 5 points. 2.0 volts RMS and higher gets 10 points. |
Power Amplifiers |
|
|
2 Channel
Maximum RMS Power Output |
180 watts x 2
10 Points |
If it produces at least 25% above
rated output for all channels driven, when driven in two-channel mode,
it gets 10 points. Less than 25% gets proportional points. |
7 Channel
Maximum RMS Power Output |
128 watts x 7
10 Points |
Output with all channels
driven should be at least 90% of rated output. For the RV-8, this would
be at least 126 watts per channel. |
Video |
|
|
Up-Conversion of Composite Video, S-Video, and Component Video to DVI/HDMI |
NA |
This feature, when available,
will allow all incoming video signals to be output on DVI/HDMi to an
HDTV. |
DVI and/or HDMI Switching |
0 Points |
Does not have DVI or HDMI Switching. 5 points
if it has DVI switching. 10 points if it has HDMI switching. |
Component Video Switching
Bandwidth |
10 Points |
RV-8 has 150 MHz bandwidth.
Must be at least 100 MHz to get 10 points. |
Total Score |
315 Points out of 390 |
Ratio = 0.808 |
Click HERE to go to Part
III.
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