Yamaha RX-A6A + PC Gaming Experience

[ChrisLoudon]

Hi guys,

 

I'm thinking of replacing my Yamaha RX-A2060 with an HDMI 2.1 upgrade and since I'm a Yamaha fan, the RX-A6A would be my go-to choice.

 

Just thought I'd ask if anyone here has one and can share their thoughts / experiences with it specifically when used as a 'middle-man' between a relatively high end gaming PC and and 120hz VRR TV.

 

TV - LGC2 65" OLED

PC - 3080ti Gaming PC

 

I would be happy to keep the RX-A2060 but as its not HDMI 2.1 compatible, I need to plumb the TV directly to the PC with its one and only HDMI output and use a 2nd GPU (don't have an iGPU) for audio to the Yamaha as I seem to have no end of problems trying to get audio using a DP to HDMI cable. As my 2nd GPU has recently died, I now have to rely on Arc but as the Yamaha doesn't support eARC, I'm stuck with only regular DD or 2ch with no lossless options.

 

My RX-A2060 also has some serious HDMI / EDID handshaking issues causing the screen to flicker until I power cycle the Yamaha again. Not a deal breaker but a bit of a pain that adds to the list of reasons to upgrade.

 

HDMI input bandwidth is also an issue or at least I think this is the case. When watching / Playing HDR content on the PC, I can see sparkles on the screen in dark scenes.

 

Speaker config is / will be 5.1.4

Most games played at 4k 120hz with HDR and VRR (G-Sync)

 

Cheers

 

C 

[Sanedish]

A good Surround staging and some good subs and you will have a blessed time with gaming.

 

My opinions though, i am not a professional.

[ChrisLoudon]

3 minutes ago, Sanedish said:

A good Surround staging and some good subs and you will have a blessed time with gaming.

 

My opinions though, i am not a professional.

Cheers,

 

Will be wiring in 2 x Monitor Audio FX Silver (rears) - 2 x B&W CM9s for the front, B&W CMC Centre - 4 x B&W CCM 665 for the heights and an SVS SB13 Ultra Sub.

 

Sounds pretty epic with the 2060 so hopefully will sound just as good with the A6A.

 

I'm really just wanting to know how it fairs with PC based HDMI 2.1 devices (GPUs).

[Sanedish]

7 minutes ago, ChrisLoudon said:

Will be wiring in 2 x Monitor Audio FX Silver (rears) - 2 x B&W CM9s for the front, B&W CMC Centre - 4 x B&W CCM 665 for the heights and an SVS SB13 Ultra Sub.

 

Sounds pretty epic with the 2060 so hopefully will sound just as good with the A6A.

I have no idea what any of these are lol

 

7 minutes ago, ChrisLoudon said:

I'm really just wanting to know how it fairs with PC based HDMI 2.1 devices (GPUs).

Should be fine, but please use either an USB Deck or in-build surround outputs for surround. if your board doesnt have build in surround outputs I'd go for an deck with an Optical out since it is simpler and makes less of a cable mess (1 instead of 5 audio cales)

 

 

This is what I mean with optical btw

 

 

 

 

 

Those are the surround Outputs on the mb

 

[ChrisLoudon]

2 minutes ago, Sanedish said:

Should be fine, but please use either an USB Deck or in-build surround outputs for surround. if your board doesnt have build in surround outputs I'd go for an deck with an Optical out since it is simpler and makes less of a cable mess (1 instead of 5 audio cales)

Need to use HDMI as I like lossless Audio such as TrueHD which optical doesn't support.

[Sanedish]

1 minute ago, ChrisLoudon said:

Need to use HDMI as I like lossless Audio such as TrueHD which optical doesn't support.

Well you will probably get the same with an good soundcard. But if your amp supports hdmi in, you'll be fine.

[MarkPol88]

@ChrisLoudon Actually, the new Yamaha would not need to be "middle man" - you can hook up your PC to TV and use eARC from TV to Yamaha.

I was using my Yamaha A1070 that way, since it do not have full HDMI 2.1 ports but have support for eARC.

Just thought I put this info here.

 

P.S. Also if you do not want to part with old AV Receiver, you can use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Splitter-HDCP2-3-Vision-Scaler-Monitors/dp/B0C996Q4YP/ref=sr_1_4

 

I am currently using this with my PS5 as Sony in their infinite wisdom put only two HDMI 2.1 ports on my TV, one of which is eARC so I can't hook up two 4K 120Hz devices AND use eARC at the same time.

 

One drawback of the Ezcoo splitter - mine would not output 4K 120 Hz with VRR at the same time, but it is probably edid getting wonky on the Yamaha side.

 

Edited January 28 by MarkPol88
Afterthought

[aggie113]

I'm running the Onkyo version of this receiver (RZ50).  Picked it over the Yamaha for the inclusion of some extra room processing abilities (Dirac).  The receiver should handle just about anything you throw it just fine.  And with 8ohm primaries it can drive them just fine (I'm using a pre-amp for my 4ohm setup).  eArc will handle the connectivity magic for you as stated.

[Omon_Ra]

On 1/28/2024 at 3:09 PM, MarkPol88 said:

@ChrisLoudon Actually, the new Yamaha would not need to be "middle man" - you can hook up your PC to TV and use eARC from TV to Yamaha.

I was using my Yamaha A1070 that way, since it do not have full HDMI 2.1 ports but have support for eARC.

Just thought I put this info here.

Do this. You don't want the Yamaha between your PC and display. Not that it typically does, but it will cut out any potential input lag. Audio is a lot less bandwidth to send back to the receiver over eARC. Aside from that, the newer Yamahas only really change the aesthetics versus the older models. Everything else is pretty much the same. Way less physical buttons on the fronts of them now. I like the new design style. The only issue I've really seen with Yamahas (the newer style and the older RX lines) is that the CEC doesn't always work quite right with Samsung TVs..but since you have an LG kind of a moot point.

[ChrisLoudon]

On 2/6/2024 at 4:03 AM, Omon_Ra said:

Do this. You don't want the Yamaha between your PC and display. Not that it typically does, but it will cut out any potential input lag. Audio is a lot less bandwidth to send back to the receiver over eARC. Aside from that, the newer Yamahas only really change the aesthetics versus the older models. Everything else is pretty much the same. Way less physical buttons on the fronts of them now. I like the new design style. The only issue I've really seen with Yamahas (the newer style and the older RX lines) is that the CEC doesn't always work quite right with Samsung TVs..but since you have an LG kind of a moot point.

Thanks for all the info guys, very useful.

 

Hadn't considered the extra latency if the AVR was in the middle of the chain so going eARC seems to be the ay to go.

 

Went on a bit of an eBay frenzy over the last week with spare tech in my loft so just about got enough to cover the A6A.