All six systems feature 4K and 3D video passthrough via HDMI 1.4a. All six also feature HDMI audio return channel.
The launch brings the number of AirPlay-enabled home-theater packages to four, at prices starting at a suggested $649. These four can also be controlled from Yamaha’s iOS, Android and Kindle Fire apps.
Other technologies starting at $649 include DLNA-certified networking to stream music from a networked PC or network-attached storage drive, embedded Internet radio, HDMI standby through mode to enable video-source selection without turning the A/V receiver on, and Apple certification for iPad connectivity. The two lower-priced systems at $449 and $479 models are certified for iPhone/iPod connectivity.
Also starting at $649, Yamaha offers virtual presence speaker technology, which simulates a pair of front-height channels without adding separate front-height speakers.
All models feature Advanced YST active servo technology for all speakers, Silent Cinema, and compressed-music enhancer. Advanced YST enables speakers and amplifier to cancel out impedance so the driver operates with perfectly linear motion, the company said. YPAO is the company’s automatic room-calibration and room-correction technology. Silent Cinema enables playback of surround sound through ordinary headphones, and proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology restores lost detail and high-frequency sounds in compressed music files.
The $649 YHT-697 features two glossy black curvilinear front-channel towers speakers and three compact, wall-mountable surround and center channel speakers. All are two-way speakers.
The system offers onscreen display that overlays onto HD and 3D video signals to depict system control and setup prompts. Data such as song titles from connected iPads, iPhones, iPods or USB drives is shown on the receiver’s onscreen display.
The YHT-697 also offers Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding. Cinema DSP 3D with 17 DSP programs enables users to adjust the listening experience. The package also features high-end 192/24 Burr Brown DACs for stereo and 5.1-channel playback.
