Yamaha YDS-10 Universal iPod Dock for Select Yamaha Home Theater Receivers Review

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(More customer reviews)I just got this iPod dock for my RX-V659. Popped it open. Plugged it in. And spent the next hour trying to figure out how to make it work! The instructions that come with it are really terse. All they say is to plug it in and put your iPod in it. Perhaps I'm the only on who struggled with this set up. . but in the event that there are others, I thought I'd give some additional instructons. Here are a few things you should know (that could save you an hour!).
1. You have to program your Yamaha receiver's remote with a code in order to control the iPod. Instructions for this operation are in the way-back of your receiver's owner's manual. Which has 3 separate sections on how to use an iPod. The first section for me was on p.24. The second somewhere around p. 100 and the third p. on 108. You need all three section to make it work!
2. After you program the code. . .here's the tricky part. .and I didn't see this in either the YDS-10 manual or the RX-V659 manual. . .here goes: The receiver's remote has a little switch on the right side that switches between "Amp", "Source" and "TV". If you just got your receiver, you may not even notice this switch. But here's the tricky part. The receiver won't control the iPod at all if this switch is in it's default position ("Amp"). You have to switch it to "Source". . and then low and behold. . .the amp says "Loading". . the iPod screen changes to a Yamaha logo. . .and you can see your song list on the TV screen!
The sound quality is top notch! Hope this helps someone else!


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There are several iPod docking stations on the market, but few are as convenient as the YDS-10, which is custom designed to work with Yamaha's HTR-5960, HTR-5950, RX-V659, and RX-V559 home theater receivers. Connection is easy--simply plug the dock into the Yamaha receiver's rear-panel port. Once connected, the dock not only charges your iPod and plays your favorite playlists through the receiver's stereo or surround speakers, but it also shows iPod images and movies through an attached monitor. It's the perfect setup for people who regularly download TV shows from iTunes but want to watch them on a big TV. The rest of the time, you can rock out to all your favorite songs with style.
Just as impressively, the YDS-10 lets you operate your iPod from across the room using the receiver's remote control and onscreen display, so you don't need to rise off the sofa each time you want to change selections. Connecting your iPod to a home theater system has never been easier or sounded so good. The YDS-10 is compatible with 4th and 5th generation iPods (with click wheels), the iPod mini, and the iPod nano.
What's in the Box Dock, connection cable, iPod adapters, user's manual.

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Yamaha YDS-12BL iPod Dock (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this for my Yamaha RX-V567. I did not fully understand from the other reviews the features and limitations of this dock, so I will try to explain it clearly here. You can find the "User Guide" on-line, but it is utterly useless - in 11 different languages.
The YDS-12 connects to your Yamaha receiver through a proprietary connector. This connector has upwards of 60 pins, yet the device has very few features. These receivers are capable of firmware updates, so it is entirely possible that future enhancements may one day be available. Other Yamaha receivers have gotten enhancements for their docks in the past.
Once connected, you can plug your Apple device into the dock - and here is the first big negative about the YDS-12. Like most Apple docks, your iPod/iPhone stands nearly vertical on its own (it actually leans back about 20 degrees). It is expected to stay in that position while it is docked, putting a good deal of pressure on the Apple connector. It is far to easy for someone to accidentally hit the iPhone/iPod and snap the connector off (or worse, break the mating connector in your expensive phone). I really wish Yamaha would have provided the option of a corded cnnector and a cradle to rest your phone in. This product is an accident waiting to happen - but even the Apple Universal Dock has this issue. Repairs to Apple connectors cost $50-$100.
Once you insert your Apple device into the Dock and put the Yamaha in Dock mode, the Receiver Display will say "Ipod Connected" (even if you are connecting an iPhone). Pressing the "Display" button on your Yamaha remote brings up the control menu. There are two control menus available for commanding the iPhone/iPod: one is on the Yamaha Receiver display and the other is an On-Screen-Display (OSD) if you have the Yamaha hooked up to your TV. Some Yamahas have a dot-matrix display and the higher ends have an LCD display - both show you the same general menus. The nice thing about the menus is that they allow you to control play of your Apple device using the Yamaha remote.
Your menu choices are:
1) Play Video
2) Play Music
This brings me to another BIG limitation of this device: "Play Video" only refers to video from iTunes (i.e. movies that you have purchased or uploaded). It does NOT include video you recorded through your camera, nor does it include photos you took with your camera. Basically, it does not give you access to your Camera Roll.
You DO have the ability to play slideshows or recorded video, but NOT using the remote control. While your device is docked, you need to open your Camera Roll and start a slideshow manually. You then need to hit the "Display" button on your remote again to turn off your OSD on your TV. Only then will the pictures and recorded video appear on your TV. You can ONLY see pictures/video when it is playing as a slideshow. Because you need to do this while the device is docked, it means you are pressing on the screen, putting even more pressure on the poor little dock connector. I'm telling you, this is a bad mechanical design.
Yamaha REALLY needs to update the firmware to allow Camera Roll access through the menu. This limitation is truly a deal-breaker for a device that costs over $50. Read on for a cheaper solution.
Video playback quality is awful - as expected considering it is optimized for a tiny display. Even video recorded on a 4th gen iPod Touch (which is supposed to have the latest HD-quality video recording) looks blocky when played on a big TV. Video quality on a big screen TV is about the equivalent of watching SD video on the SlingPlayer App over 3G. Mediocre at best.
Movie playback of iTunes movies was quite a bit better, but still don't expect this to replace Netflix. Speaking of Netflix, be aware that almost no apps support playback of video through cables, so don't expect to be able to play Angry Birds on a 55" plasma. It's not going to happen. Given the two big cons I found with this device, I offer a less expensive alternative to it: Buy an Apple A/V Component (or Composite) Cable for about $40 (from the Apple store). You can get non-Apple ones even cheaper - but the Apple version is guaranteed to be compatible with just about all Apple devices. These cables have an Apple connector at one end and several RCA connectors at the other. You can connect the RCA cables to the back of the Yamaha Receiver and have the same quality picture and audio as you will with the YDS-12. Your device will be connected through a cable rather than perching on a tiny connector at a dangerous angle. About the only negative is that you won't be able to play back anything using the remote control - there will be no menus at all. You will need to directly handle the Apple device, but you need to do that anyway on the YDS-12 in order to watch recorded videos or see pictures. You still won't be able to play games on the big screen, though. And, the Apple cable includes an extra line to allow charging of your device while watching on your TV.Regarding a couple of confusing reviews:
* Several people mentioned that once a device is fully charged, the YDS-12 stops charging, so you wake up the next morning to a dead device. This did not happen to me with my 3GS, but since it's happened to others there may be defective units. Mine shows it is at 100% and still charging.
* Someone suggested that the YDS-12 is "easily portable". Yeah, it is....but so what? If you take it to a party, there had better be a new model Yamaha there to plug it into. This is not compatible with any other brand (nor is it compatible with most other Yamaha receivers). Another reason to choose the Apple cable over this - the Apple cable IS truly portable. You can take it to a party and plug it onto any component-ready device.
So, I'm not trying to knock this product unfairly. It's worth about $25 at most because of the very limited menu system. Unless Yamaha updates it in a big way, I would opt for the Apple A/V cable, knowing there will be no remote control. By the way, Apple DOES have a fancy dock that includes a remote, but it has even more limitations than the YDS-12, so stay away from the very expensive Apple Universal Dock.
In summary, YDS-12 vs Apple A/V cable:
* Both charge your device
* Both play back iTunes videos on your TV (but YDS-12 allows remote control)
* Both play back music through your TV or Yamaha (but YDS-12 allows remote control)
* Both play photo slide shows - NO REMOTE CONTROL
* Both play recorded video - NO REMOTE CONTROL
* Neither allows games or apps to be played on TV
* YDS-12 is menu-driven (Apple A/V is manually driven by you)
* YDS-12 is potentially dangerous to your connector (Apple A/V uses safer cable connection)
* YDS-12 won't work with iPad; Apple A/V Cable will
* YDS-12 is more expensive and only usable on specific Yamaha Receivers
* Apple A/V cable is cheaper and connects to most new TVs and almost all receivers
Unless you REALLY need to use the remote (with all its limitations), go with the Apple A/V cable.

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Yamaha YDS-12BL iPod Dock; Only compatiable with Yamaha RX-Vx67 series AV receivers.

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