The Yamaha RX-V485 is one of Yamaha’s most affordable AV receivers that are packed with useful features, making it good for both music and home theater use. Providing great value to its users without compromising the sound quality. If you are currently planning to get speakers for your Yamaha RX-V485 AV receiver then look no further, as we will be sharing with you a list of the best speakers to go for.
We will first need to find out more about the Yamaha RX-V485 AVR, such as their sonic performance, characteristics, and limitations if any. These are important information required to find the right speakers that can match nicely with this Yamaha AV receiver. If we match Yamaha RX-V485 with incompatible speakers, this may affect the sound quality in a negative way.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Yamaha RX-V485
For a budget AV receiver, the Yamaha RX-V485 power ratings are quite good, it is rated at 80 Watts into 8 Ohms with (2 ch driven) and 115 Watts into 8 Ohms (1 ch driven), it does go a bit higher for a short period of time when it needs to. For an AVR with these power ratings, it will be more suited to drive bookshelf speakers and it is still possible to drive floor-standers but they need to be highly efficient and have high speaker sensitivity. It is a 5.1 channel AVR, so we can connect an active subwoofer which is highly recommended as it can help to provide a satisfying bass performance. Furthermore, by taking over the role of bass reproduction, the subwoofer is effectively removing some of the strain off the AVR, allowing it to focus on powering the speakers.
Yamaha RX-V485 also comes built-in with features such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2, enabling you to wirelessly stream your music. You can also connect a USB storage device to play high-res music files up to 32-bit/192kHz resolution. There are a total of three 32-bit/384kHz Burr-Brown D/A converters as well. Another important feature will be the capability of processing 4K UHD at 60FPS. The Yamaha RX-V485 also supports HDR, Dolby Vision, and Hybrid Log-Gamma, providing you with beautiful high definition cinematic visuals. There are other features such as MusicCast Surround, Compressed Music Enhancer, and more.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha RX-V485 5.1 Channel AV Network Receiver
The sound field generated is good for an AV receiver at this price point, there is accuracy as well where the Yamaha RX-V485 delivers the surround and cinematic sound effects with precision. The strong bass performance provides the weight and presence, making these effects sound meatier and fuller. For instance, when a helicopter flies past you in an action scene, you can feel it, and when it starts to rain down bullets, the intensity is there as well. The low-end reproduction of the Yamaha RX-V485 seems to be quite boosted but very entertaining though. We will suggest going for a powerful and high-performance active subwoofer that can really take advantage of the low-frequency capabilities of this Yamaha AVR.
The dialogues and vocals are clearly produced, but the subtle details are not as audible and can get overly bright when you cranked up the volume too much. The overall sound reproduction is detailed and has clarity, which makes the Yamaha RX-V485 good for music playbacks as well. It may not have the refinement and tonal balance when compared to Yamaha’s integrated amplifiers but it is still enjoyable to listen to. For home theater use, the Yamaha RX-V485 is better and is a punchy performer, with plenty of slams when paired with the right active subwoofer.
The Yamaha RX-V485 is a talented all-rounder with excellent HT performance and loads of useful features. If you are looking for 8K UHD and/or the latest 3D audio formats, you might want to look elsewhere though. But if you are looking for an affordable AV receiver, the Yamaha RX-V485 is one of the ideal choices. You will need matching speakers as well, and with this information, we can now share with you the best speakers to go with this AVR. The listed speakers will be as close to the price category of the Yamaha RX-V485 as there’s no point in getting high-end loudspeakers.
Yamaha RX-V485 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 80 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven, 115 Watts into 8 Ohms with 1 channel driven
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
- DAC: Burr-Brown
- Wireless: Bluetooth (SBC / AAC), Apple Airplay (Airplay 2 via firmware update), WiFi, MusicCast Surround
- Inputs: 4 HDMI inputs, 1 USB input, 4 Analog inputs, 1 Optical input, 2 Coaxial inputs, Network port
- Outputs: Headphone output, 1 Subwoofer output, 1 HDMI eARC (via firmware update)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 161mm x 327mm (17.1″ × 6.3″ × 12.9″)
- Weight: 7.8kg (17.2lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Yamaha RX-V485
If your budget is really tight, the Polk Audio Blackstone TL1600 compact home theater system will be an ideal choice for you. Since the Yamaha RX-V485 is a 5.1 channel AV receiver, the Polk Audio Blackstone TL1600 speaker pack will be just right. It consists of 4 Polk Audio TL1 Satellite speakers acting as the front right and left main channel as well as rear surround channel speakers. There is a matching compact-sized center channel speaker and an active Polk Audio TL1 subwoofer. There is a good level of clarity and pushing them at high volumes does not make them sound too harsh. At such an affordable price, they are worth your time to check them out.
More Details at Amazon – Polk Audio Blackstone TL1600 Compact Home Theater System
The Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 is another affordable surround sound system for listeners who have tight budgets and love the clarity of the Klipsch house sound. The Klipsch Black Reference has pretty high speaker sensitivity especially when comparing to other satellite speakers which makes them easier to be driven by your Yamaha RX-V485 AV receiver. Another cool feature will be the Klipsch wireless active subwoofer (150 Watts Peak Power). The small footprints of the satellite speakers and the wireless feature of the subwoofer allow us to fit them nicely in most listening rooms. It is recommended to hear them out first.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System
If you want high clarity and clean sounding quality but have a decent budget, the Klipsch speakers will still be a top choice in this situation. For the front main channels (L/R), you can go with the highly-rated Klipsch R-51M bookshelf speakers and you can pair them with a matching center channel speaker, the Klipsch R-52C. For the rear surround channel speakers, we will suggest going with Klipsch R-41M which is an affordable compact bookshelf speaker with impeccable ratings. These Klipsch loudspeakers can be driven by your Yamaha RX-V485 with ease, but we will still recommend integrating an active subwoofer. You can either go with Klipsch or other brands that specialize in making subwoofers.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-51M Bookshelf Speaker
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-41M Bookshelf Speaker
Finding your Yamaha RX-V485 a bit too bright and wants to tone it down a little? Perhaps you should check out the Wharfedale Diamond series speakers. The Wharfedale Diamond 225 is a pair of stand-mounters with warm and easy on the ears sound reproduction, they can be used as the front main speakers. For the rear surround channels, you can go with the awards winning Wharfedale Diamond 220 bookshelf speakers, and for the center channel, the matching Wharfedale Diamond 220C will be an ideal choice. The sonic characteristics of these Wharfedale loudspeakers also help to provide a fuller sound quality with a hint of warmth and their bass performance is quite amazing for speakers of their size.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 225 Speaker
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220 Speaker
The Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3010i) is an award-winning home theater speaker package and is one of the best speaker packs to match with your Yamaha RX-V485 AV receiver. The Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 consists of Q Acoustics 3010i bookshelf speakers which have garnered plenty of accolades over the years. The 3010i will be performing as the front main (L/R) and rear surround channel speakers. It will be matched with the Q Acoustics 3090ci center speaker and 3060s active subwoofer. The overall sound reproduction of the Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 is well-balanced and clear which complements the Yamaha RX-V485 really well.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics 3000i 5.1 (3010i) Home Theater Speaker Package
Since the Yamaha RX-V485 can only connect to one active subwoofer, it will be wise to invest a little more in a high-quality sub. Here are some of the top subwoofer makers that you can go for which have models that suit the price range of RX-V485. The first subwoofer brand we would like to introduce to you will be the coveted SVS and you might want to take a look at their powerful SVS PB-2000 Pro ported cabinet subwoofer. For a more all-rounded subwoofer, you should check out Rythmik Audio L12 which is ideal for both HT and music use. The Rythmik Audio LV12F will be another fantastic and affordable choice especially when watching movies is your main entertainment. For more power, you can check out HSU Research VTF-3 MK5 HP, it has a short-term burst of 2000 Watts, not to mention, it is sanely priced.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-2000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best speaker packs and loudspeakers to match with your Yamaha RX-V485, and they are mostly close to the AV receiver’s price range. It will be recommended to have an audition with them first so to hear them out and see if you like the sound quality. Your own ears will always be the best judge when it comes to sound quality. If possible, try to audition these speakers in your own listening room for a more accurate result and also include the subwoofer you are currently using or going to get.
