The RX-V377 is rated at 100W per channel at 6 Ω, 1 kHz, 0.9% THD (70W at 6 Ω, 20 Hz – 20 kHz, 0.09%) and employs a discrete amplifier configuration in addition to 192 kHz/24-bit Burr-Brown DACs producing high-end audio performance.

The Compressed Music Enhancer feature will appeal to those with music in lossy formats while a full complement of HD Audio decoding is also offered including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Audio.

New to this year’s model is the ability to bypass the conventional 5.1 channel speaker configuration with a new Virtual CINEMA FRONT mode whereby all 5 speakers are placed at the front of the room. This unique feature is set to open the door to surround sound for an untapped market by accommodating environments in which speaker placement behind the listener is not a practical option. Where recently the alternative for such customers has been a sound bar, Yamaha’s RX-V377 provides a more sophisticated solution with connectivity and performance advantages over a sound bar.

“We’re seeing a move to open plan living,” says Yamaha Music Australia’s AV Division product manager Justin d’Offay.

“The new Virtual CINEMA FRONT feature adds a new dimension of flexibility by delivering exhilarating surround sound in any room regardless of the placement of surround speakers.”

For those inclined to the lower end of the frequency range, a newly added Extra Bass feature delivers powerful bass – including that from small speakers where bass can sometimes be lacking.

Positioned as the ideal entry point to home theatre, YPAO auto calibration tailors the receiver to the room’s acoustic signature by measuring the performance of connected speakers.