Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 (USA and Canadian versions)

• Overview
• Pros and Cons
• Selected Features
• Specifications
• Successor

Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 was introduced in 2015. It is equipped with 5 channel amplifier and is capable of 5.1 maximum channel processing.

We evaluated the Receiver and gave 73 overall score out of 100. Our ranking system is based on the amplifier specifications, audio and video features, connectivity, multizone capabilities, radio and many other details.

Amplifier score is based on power ratings, minimum impedance load, power supply, transformer type, total harmonic distortion, damping factor, signal to noise ratio and other small details. Audio score depends on the number of channels, front wide channel support, maximum channel processing, support of audio formats, DAC specifications, room calibration algorithm... Video score is based on HDR, Dolby Vision and video signal passthrough and upscaling, analog to HDMI upconversion. Connectivity score is defined from all wired and wireless inputs and outputs, internet and bluetooth connections, HEOS, SONOS and others. Multizone score depends on the number of zones with their outputs. Radio score is evaluated form digital radio support and analog tuner with its frequency range, signal to noise ratio, harmonic distortion...

In this section we present pros and cons of Yamaha Aventage RX-A550

Amplifier

Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 has 5 channel amplifier and delivers 80 W (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2 channel driven).

Video Features

The Receiver has 4K passthrough up to 60p and 1080p upscaling.

Adaptive DRC

Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 features Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control) which automatically adjusts the dynamic range of the sound according to the volume level. This ensures that you hear clear dialog and vocals, and all sound effects at comfortable levels. There is no need to adjust the volume level as you listen; everything from whispers to big explosions will be heard clearly and comfortably at the same volume setting. It also tones down loud TV commercials, and is ideal for low-volume, late-night listening, when you do not want to disturb others.

Room Correction

Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 comes with YPAO room correction system and includes the calibration microphone.

Connectivity

Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 can be connected to internet using ethernet cable or built-in wi-fi adapter. It can also connect to bluetooth devices via built-in bluetooth adapter. The Receiver works with Amazon Alexa and supports AirPlay. It has 6 HDMI inputs and HDCP 2.2 copy protection.

Front panel has USB and mini-jack inputs.

Here we list all the available features and specifications of Yamaha Aventage RX-A550.

BASICS
Brand	Yamaha
Series	Aventage
Model	RX-A550
Type	A/V Receiver
Country	USA and Canada
Release Year	2015

AMPLIFIER
Channels	5.1
THX™ Certification
Continuous 6 Ω Rated
Certified 4 Ω Performance
Bi-amp Capability

AUDIO
Surround:AI™
DAC	Burr-Brown
Maximum Channel Processing	5.1
Air Studios Monitor Certification
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos Height Virtualization
Dolby TrueHD
Dolby Digital Plus
Dolby Surround Upmixer
Dolby Pro Logic	PLII
Dolby Digital EX
Surround EX
DTS:X
DTS Neural:X
DTS Virtual:X
DTS Neo	Neo:6
DTS-HD Master Audio
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio
DTS 96/24
DTS Express
DTS-ES	Discrete 6.1, Matrix 6.1
IMAX Enhanced
Auro 3D with Auro-Matic Upmixer
PCM	2-ch/Multi-ch Input
Music Playback via USB	MP3, WMA, AAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
High Resolution Music Playback via USB and/or Network	up to 192 kHz
High Resolution Audio Formats via USB	Apple Lossless, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, DSD
Multi-Channel Music File Playback via USB
Gapless Playback
DSD via HDMI	2-ch/Multi-ch Input
DSD via USB	2-ch Input
DSD to PCM Converter
USB DAC
DTS Dialog Control
Dialog Level Adjustment
Dialog Normalization
Dialogue Lift
Compressed Music Enhancer	including for Bluetooth®
High-resolution Music Enhancer
Adaptive DRC (Dynamic Range Control)
Initial Volume & Maximum Volume Setting
Audyssey Dynamic EQ
Audyssey Dynamic Volume
Audyssey LFC
Audyssey Sub EQ HT
Audyssey DSX
Direct Mode
Straight Decoding Mode
CINEMA DSP	3D
DSP Programs	17
SILENT CINEMA / Virtual CINEMA DSP	Virtual CINEMA FRONT
Virtual Speakers

CALIBRATION
Auto Speaker Calibration System with Mic.	YPAO sound optimization
YPAO Volume
PEQ for SUB	Down to 31 Hz

VIDEO
Video Signal Type	NTSC
HDR10
HDR10+
BT.2020 color space
Dolby Vision
HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma)
QMS (Quick Media Switching)
ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode)
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate)
QFT (Quick Frame transport)
3-D Ready
Video Signal Passthrough	up to 4K/60p 4:2:0
Video Signal Upscaling	up to 1080p
Analog To HDMI Upconversion
Component Video Upscaling
Analog to Analog Video conversion
Component Video Maximum Resolution	1080i
Video Parameter Adjustments
isf Certified Calibration Control

CONNECTIVITY
MHL Input
DLNA 1.5
FireConnect
FlareConnect
MusicCast
Chromecast Built-In
DTS Play-Fi
Works with Amazon Alexa	on MusicCast (Voice control using your Alexa device like Echo, Dot, Tap and Show)
Works with SONOS
AirPlay	AirPlay
Apple Product Connection	iPod, iPhone and iPad
Remote App	(iPhone® / iPad® / Android™ phone / tablet)
InstaPrevue Input Source Prevue
Ethernet
Ethernet Switch
Wi-Fi	with Wireless Direct
Bluetooth
HDBaseT Compatible
Enhanced ARC
HDCP Version	2.2
HDMI Input	6
HDMI Output	1
USB Input	iPod® / iPhone®, USB memory, portable audio player
USB DC Out Port
Analog Audio Line Input	4 (1 AUX Jack in the front)
Analog Audio Line Output
Phono Input
Optical In	1
Optical Out
Coaxial In/Out	2 /
Composite Video Input	4
Composite Video Output	1
S-Video Input
S-Video Output
Component Video Input	2
Component Video Output	1
PC In
Multi-Channel Input
Analog Pre-Outs	0.1
XLR Inputs
XLR Pre-outs
Front A/V Inputs	USB, mini-jack
Speaker A/B
Headphone Out	6.3 mm

ZONES
Zones	1
Zone B Video Output
Zone GUI
RS-232
+12V Trigger Output
Remote (IR) Input/Output	0 / 0
Party Mode

MISC
On-Screen Display	color OSD
SCENE	SCENE (4 sets)
Web Browser Control
PreAmp Mode
Remote Controller
Detachable Power Cord
dockport

RADIO
Analog Tuner	FM/AM
Presets	40
Digital Radio
Internet Radio	vTuner
Pandora
Spotify
Tidal
Deezer
Napster
SiriusXM Internet Radio

CONSTRUCTION
A.R.T. Wedge
Speaker Terminals	5
Large Speaker Terminals	5
Color-Coded Speaker Terminals
Gold plated RCA terminals

POWER
Power Supply	AC 120 V, 60 Hz
Power Consumption	260 W
Standby Power	0.1 W

GENERAL
ECO Mode / Hybrid Standby Function
Auto Power Standby
Dimensions (W x H x D)	435 mm x 161 mm x 327 mm (with antenna: 435 mm x 221 mm x 327 mm) 17-1/8" x 6-3/8" x 12-7/8" (with antenna up: 17-1/8" x 8-3/4" x 12-7/8")
Weight	8.1 kg (17.9 lbs)
Warranty	3 Years

SPECS
Power Output (8 Ω, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 2	80 W (0.09% THD)
Power Output (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 2	95 W (0.9% THD)
Rated Power Output (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel Driven)	115 W (0.9% THD)
Maximum Effective Output Power (8 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel Driven, JEITA)	140 W (10% THD)
Dynamic Power per Channel (2	180 W
Dynamic Power per Channel (4 Ω, Front)	160 W
Dynamic Power per Channel (6 Ω, Front)	130 W
Dynamic Power per Channel (8 Ω, Front)	110 W
Damping Factor	100 (Front, 20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 Ω)
Input Sensitivity and Impedance (Line)	200 mV/47 kΩ (1 kHz, 100 W/6 Ω)
Maximum Input Sensitivity (Line)	2.3 V
Rated Headphone Jack Output Level and Impedance	100 mV/560 Ω (AV 4 etc., 1 kHz, 50 mV, 8 Ω)
S/N Ratio (Line, IHF-A)	110 dB
Frequency Response (Analog In)	+0/-3 dB (10 Hz to 100 kHz)
Residual Noise (IHF-A Network)	150 µV (Speaker Out)
Channel Separation at 1 kHz/10 kHz (LINE)	75 dB/50 dB
DSD Sampling Rates via HDMI	2.8 MHz
DSD Sampling Rates via USB	5.6 MHz, 2.8 MHz
Video Input Sensitivity/Output Level and Impedance	1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component Y) 0.7 Vp-p/75 Ω (Component PB/CB, PR/CR) 1 Vp-p/75 Ω (Composite)
Video Maximum Input	1.5 Vp-p
Video Frequency Response	5 Hz to 60 MHz, -3 dB (Component)
Video S/N Ratio	50 dB
Ethernet Standard	10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
Wi-Fi Standard	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Wi-Fi Terminal Frequency	2.4 GHz
Bluetooth Version	2.1 + EDR
USB Terminal	USB2.0 5 V, 1 A
FM Frequency	87.5 MHz - 107.9 MHz
FM 50 dB Quiet Sensitivity (IHF, 1 kHz, 100% MOD.)	Mono: 3 µV (20.8 dBf)
FM S/N Ratio	Mono/Stereo: 65 dB/64 dB
FM Harmonic Distortion (IHF, 1 kHz)	Mono/Stereo: 0.5%/0.6%
AM Frequency	530 MHz - 1710 MHz

* - 480i/576i and 480p/576p only
** - 480i/576i only
*** - no 1080p/24 upconversion
**** - 1080p signal is not converted

In 2016 Yamaha Aventage RX-A550 was replaced by RX-A660. Let us now have a look at some important changes that the successor brought.

UPGRADES	Yamaha Aventage RX-A660	vs	Yamaha Aventage RX-A550
More Channels	7.2	vs	5.1
Bi-amp capability		vs
More Channel Processing	7.1	vs	5.1
Dolby Atmos	up to 5.1.2	vs
Dolby Surround Upmixer		vs
DTS:X	up to 5.1.2	vs
DTS Neural:X		vs
DTS Dialog Control		vs
Dialog Level Adjustment		vs
Dialogue Lift	no presence speakers required	vs
HDR10		vs
BT.2020 color space		vs
Zone B Video Output		vs
More Speaker Terminals	7	vs	5
More Large Speaker Terminals	7	vs	5
Higher Power Output (6 Ω, 1 kHz, 1 channel driven, JEITA)	145 W (10% THD)	vs	[a]
Higher Dynamic Power per Channel, 2 Ω, Front)	190 W	vs	180 W
Higher Dynamic Power per Channel, 4 Ω, Front)	170 W	vs	160 W
Higher Dynamic Power per Channel, 6 Ω, Front)	140 W	vs	130 W
Higher Dynamic Power per Channel, 8 Ω, Front)	120 W	vs	110 W

DOWNGRADES	Yamaha Aventage RX-A660	vs	Yamaha Aventage RX-A550
Dolby Pro Logic		vs	PLII
Video Signal Upscaling		vs	up to 1080p
Less HDMI Inputs	4	vs	6
Less Component Video Inputs		vs	2
Less Component Video Outputs		vs	1

For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Yamaha Aventage RX-A660 vs Yamaha Aventage RX-A550.