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

• Great Device - Confounding Instructions

  
  By A2JW4AO0840FPL on 2007-02-21
  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!
  
  
  
  

• Works beautifully!

  
  By A21M1SHXG8WAFS on 2006-12-07
  If you own a Yamaha receive that can accept this dock, I would highly recommend it. To be able to control my iPod with my remote on my 46" Sony LCD is like a dream come true. Just plug it into the receiver and follow the simple steps in the manual and there it is. It also recharges the iPod. I don't own a video iPod, but you can even play back video through this dock! An amazing little addition!
  
  

• Functional but flawed

  
  By ACCEHERJHX4C4 on 2007-06-15
  I've had about 6 months to try out the YDS-10 and mostly it's OK. There are a few nagging problems though.
  
  Positive:
  - Sound is good (enough for me!)
  - Song titles, album and artist are (mostly) displayed on screen
  - Song timer showing duration and current position within song
  
  Negative:
  - Setup was a pain. See notes in other posts about setting switch on remote from "AMP" to "SOURCE" which wasn't documented anywhere in the manual.
  - Primitive user interface, ugly font and limited screen real estate for album and artist info. Album and artist info are cut off and don't scroll if they don't fit the allotted space. However, song titles will scroll if they are too big.
  - Doesn't charge Ipod as fast as I would like. Also doesn't charge Ipod at all when Yamaha receiver unit is in "standby" (off) mode. Receiver must be left on to charge Ipod. This was a real letdown as I had previously been using a Marware Ipod dock for connection to my home stereo system which always charged the Ipod quickly even when turned off (but didn't have on screen display of course).
  - Would have been nice to have album art, or music visualization (synchronized "screen saver") display options instead of just track info and timer.
  - To display video from the Ipod on your TV, I've found you cannot use the remote functions, but you must stand up, walk across the room and select video and start video directly from the Ipod, which is another undocumented "feature".
  
  I may eventually invest in one of the other (more expensive) on-screen-display Ipod docks that I think have most of these neglected features. Until then, this is a functional, but flawed solution.
  
  
  
  

• Response from Yamaha on how to get the video function to work

  
  By A3SV25PS17T71D on 2007-08-28
  I recently purchased this & couldn't get the video to work on my television...I'm including an emailed response that I received from Yamaha...it works great, but you need to set the Video Setting on your IPOD to ASK.
  
  Note from Yamaha...
  
  Please make sure you set up your remote to control the Ipod. Please see
  your receiver's owners manual for the instructions. (Using the Ipod.) Insert the Ipod into the dock and turn it on so you can see the menu in the Ipod's screen. (The remote should control the Ipod at this point.)
  
  ****Under the video settings on your Ipod you will need to set the TV out to on or ask. (If plan to view videos on the Ipod and via the receiver we recommend you set it to ask.) Navigate to the desired video
  clip and play it. It should now display the video on your TV.***
  
  When you are done watching videos and want to listen to music just press the display button on the Yamaha remote control and it will load the menu onto your TV
  
  If you have any more questions please contact are toll free customer service line for assistance. 1(800)292-2982 Hours: Monday Thru Friday 8 AM to 4 PM pacific time.
  
  
  

• Works a treat

  
  By A18XLUEUZB4AIB on 2007-02-18
  There is not a lot to this device. Simply plug the wire that comes with it into your yamaha amplifier and receiver and away you go. The ipod gets charged, and on my receiver I can even select the song to play via the on-screen GUI on the TV.
  
  
• Great concept, basic (and kludgy) functionality at best
  By A3HYJOD3YI368I on 2007-11-12
  I was really excited to get this product, as it billed itself as a one-step integration method of bringing your ipod into your home theatre. For the record, i've got the Yamaha RX-V2700.
  
  The reality is that the manual is lacking at best, and the functionality is rather quite limited.
  
  There are two ways of controlling your ipod when it is in the dock. From the iPod itself, and from the Yamaha remote.
  
  If you want to use the remote, plug the ipod in, switch the input to v-aux, and change the remote's method from "amp" to "source" by the little sliding button on the right hand side of the remote. Hitting the "display" button will bring up Yamaha's onscreen display, allowing you to access most of the ipod's goodness. Controlling the iPod in this manner, you will only be able to hear the sound from your movies / music videos / tv episodes. If you actually want to watch those, you need to control the iPod from the device itself.
  
  Furthermore, if you control your iPod from the Yamaha remote, you will need to have your TV on to see the on-screen display to select your playlists/etc, as the iPod's screen goes away and is replaced with the Yamaha logo.
  
  I have a Logitech Harmony 880 universal remote, and was able to get the remote to "learn" the commands to fully integrate it into my system, which was a plus -- but overall, the basic functionality seems to be lacking -- and the manual (if you even want to call it that) is a joke at best. Depending on your needs, the Apple Universal Dock that comes with its own little remote might be a better deal.
  
  
• Nice product bridging portability and access to music from your home A/V system
  By A34M9E4LS5KICZ on 2007-12-04
  This is a nice, inexpensive addition to your home A/V system if you own an iPod. Being able to instantly access the 1000's of songs on your iPod and having them playback on REAL speakers instead of those portable speaker systems is awesome.
  
  I have a Touch and everything works as advertised, except you apparently can't play back video from your iPod to your TV like you can with earlier generation iPods. But I knew that going in, and I bought this just for the music aspect.
  
  Once you know the few key points required to get this going (programming VAUX code for iPod, switching remote switch to SOURCE to control iPod), everything is easy.
  
  I have the RX-V659 and the Music Enhancer feature makes the music sound fuller, which is a nice option.
  
  All in all a great little product. The only reason for not getting 5 stars are nits: Display font on OSD is pretty primitive, continuing to press a directional button and having the menus scroll faster would be nice, and full support including video out for the newer units like iPhone and Touch would be the only things I can think of that could be improved. Highly recommended product and well worth the current selling price!
  
  
• Must have if you have the reciever and an ipod
  By A2F48KO19EV21H on 2007-03-27
  If you have an ipod and a compatible receiver this is a must have at a great price. The retail shops are selling this for about $100. It is easy to control and the video quality is awesome. The only reason i did not give it 5 starts is because you cannot control the entire ipod items from the remote. Only the music menu is present. If you want to watch a video you will have to choose the video on unit and make sure TV out is selected.
  
  
• It doesn't provide any Video Out on iPOD Nano 3G !!!
  By A8JET244INGCW on 2007-11-05
  I bought this dock together with an iPOD Nano. As per on-site descriptions (Apple and Yamaha), both would fully integrate, as the dock is "Made for iPOD" certified logo. However, I realized it doesn't provide VIDEO OUT for the iPOD Nano 3G (Aluminum - lastest version sept 07). Seems to be a change on Video Out interface from Apple - and Yamaha wasn't aware of it in advance. After several messages to Yamaha Customer Support, they included a note on the online product URL.
  Remaining funtionalities are ok, I'm able to control remotely (Yamaha RC) most features with an OSD (Monitor Output of Receiver), and music tiles appear also on Receiver display. Product has the Yahama Hardware quality, with strong cables and connectors.
  
  
  
• Good Stuff!
  By A2JMAC2OEIVLWR on 2007-07-06
  Dock works as advertised. For me it was basically plug and play with my RX V661 reciever.
  
  
• Ipod Docking Station
  By A3Q0MFR93P22T8 on 2007-09-03
  It a plug and play item no problem. I would add that I would have like to have seen the docking station come in black.
  
  
• Excelent, it works as expected.
  By A3KPCV76LYMSE6 on 2007-12-24
  The YDS-10 works very well, It has two ways to work, both with the Yamaha remote control. In the first one, the remote control works directly with the ipod without TV menu. In this option you can see the ipod videos in the TV.
  In the second one, you have to press the DISPLAY button in the remote control and you enjoy the TV navigation menu, similar to see the ipod in the TV screen. It allow you to control de ipod with the same remote control and from your seat. In this case there is not option to see video in TV.
  
  I have an RX-V861, in this receiver Yamaha share the iPOD port with the AUX (in front) port, it is a very good option, because I can exchange iPOD or a Video camera in the same selection point without problem. The iPod has precedence, then you need to unplug the ipod in order to use the AUX port. It is a good option to has six video devices connected to five input options in this receiver.
  
  
• Yamaha Ipod Dock
  By A3JL2Z35632OGJ on 2007-12-25
  Good purchase. Work great as it allows us to easily listen to our Ipod and not have to work about the battery running down.
  
  
• YDS-10 Ipod dock
  By A3MO7WMXHMUBW9 on 2006-11-09
  with the Yamaha receiver this unit was easy to hook up and works great.
  
  
• Great product.
  By A1QQLAVGQXS13 on 2007-01-16
  This product works excellent. I was going o buy an audio cable to connect my Ipod to my reciever. Iseen this product at a stereo dealer and decided to go this route. The price locally was $109.00. I was searching the net and found the same identical item on Amazon.com for half price. Could'nt be happier.
  
  
• Plug and play and play and play and ....
  By ATKOO742GPVNV on 2007-07-26
  Bought this for my Yamaha RX-V2700 home theater system. Reviews here note some of the issues with this product and how it works with receivers. Be aware that some of these issues are not a fault of this product, but of the receiver / remote / iPod.
  
  For example, how the Yamaha remote works with the iPod and the dock is a function of the remote - not the dock. Yamaha uses a slider to switch between the various components. The iPod is no different, it's just another component to manage.
  
  And yes, the menu system could be better, but it's a result of communication with the iPod. That is, the iPod limits this. The iPod menu system design is good for iPods, but bad for a larger display.
  
  By the way, as a tip, to get a Logitech Harmony remote to work with the iPod dock, you need to record the RAW codes from the Yamaha remote. That did the trick.
  
  But the YDS-10 dock itself? Well, I plugged it into my Yamaha receiver, plugged my iPod into the dock and played and played and played ... With the RX-V2700 ability to enhance MP3 sound, the results were very sweet.
  
  
• Works fine but...
  By A2RRWGS5XEJVCC on 2007-08-20
  It could've been better,like other reviewers had pointed out.I got mine today,hooked it up while i followed the extra instructions that some of you have provided,thanks.
  
  
• Tricky Dock
  By A1EEJ9UDFR8SX0 on 2007-08-23
  This dock gets the job done but it is not all that pretty. 1. Make sure you have your video cable plugged in correctly (that would have saved me a lot of time...like making sure your lawnmower has gas in it before taking it to the mechanic because it won't start). 2. The tuner manual says nothing about having to put it on "source" instead of "amp" like is says in the user guide. I spent about an hour reading instructions and this website before I got it to work properly and even after that I wasnt blown away. Looks like some font from the eighty's or something. But like I said I have owned three different Ipod docks and if you have a yamaha tuner I think once you get it to work this is the way to go. Sound quality is great. Good luck with setting it up...just make sure you set aside an hour of your day to get it working.....
  
  
  
• Guys Help!
  By A3E3M3AEL25HXR on 2007-08-24
  I'll write my review later, but right now I have a question for those who got this to work. First of all, I got the audio working just fine, sounds great coming through my speakers. However, how do you guys get the song/menu to display on your tv? I've been screwing around for a half hour w/o success. How does the receiver take the ipod data and send it to your tv? I just don't get it. What's happening now is my tv is on but there is no picture, or, if I have my PS3 on, the PS3 menus are up. How do I see the Ipod stuff ?
  
  Here's my setup:
  Yamaha V661 receiver
  Sony PS3
  Ipod Video (30 gig)
  Sony SXRD Projection TV
  
  
• Yamaha ipod docking station delivers
  By A3CDWW1WYL594B on 2007-09-06
  I have been pleased with my Yahama ipod dock. I downloaded all our CDs onto our ipod and now play them on our stereo system by using the dock. It's really nice to not have all those CDs taking up storage space. However, I think all ipod docking stations are a bit over priced.
  
  
• Don't know if it's any good, because Amazon shipped it via ParcelPool, which takes 3 weeks!!!!!
  By A3VOHTJCVDY3KY on 2007-09-20
  Boooo Amazon! I spend $499 on the stereo, $50 on the ipod dock. You 2 -day air the stereo, and then ship the dock ordered at the same time via ParcelPool, which says it should be here in 2-3 weeks. Nice! Good planning!
  
  
• Couldn't be easier
  By A20JDF6OUO0G2N on 2007-10-21
  The way you want your on-line ordered product. Review, order, receive, plug in -> works. Graphical interface is a little simple and we're looking forward to future generations featuring a full color OSD including the album covers. Other minus may be the price.
  
  
• iPod on Big Screen and Great Sound too!
  By A35NG4J8THXZKF on 2008-01-08
  I am actually using this Yamaha / IPOD dock with my iPhone and
  it works perfectly. Even though nowhere does it say that it
  actually works with the iPhone, it does.
  I am able to watch the latest and greatest YouTube! videos,
  my personal videos, look at photos and play any music loaded
  on my iPhone without a problem. I also like the fact that
  my phone is charging while in the base.
  Great product and fairly easy to set up.
  
  
• Pretty good device
  By A19ZP5Q6W5KQQ6 on 2008-01-21
  I got this dock for a couple of reasons: One, so I could lie in bed and use the remote control to scroll through music, and two, so that I could watch TV shows and/or movies from my iPod on my LCD monitor in my bedroom (which is where my RX-V559 receiver is hooked up). For music, it is perfect. I can be as lazy as I want, lying in bed reading and changing songs via remote. You have to use your owners manual for the receiver to set it up, but it's not difficult. Some other reviewers go into more detail on how to do it. The interface on-screen is primitive (it looks like MS-DOS!) but it gets the job done. After fiddling around with my video settings and changing it to "TV on," I can watch TV shows through my iPod, although unfortunately, I have to get up and select the video using the iPod wheel and cannot access it via remote control. This curtails my absolute desire for laziness and therefore caused me to remove 1 star. Otherwise, this thing is very nice, it charges while it's docked and the sound and video quality are exceptional.
  
  
• YDS-10
  By A1EHO70OSQ48TG on 2007-01-03
  The YDS-10 allows me to use my iPod very nicely on my Yamaha receiver. So far I've used it only with the iPod in manual mode where I control the iPod from the controls of the iPod itself. In this mode everything has worked flawlessly - playing, charging, sound quality has been excellent. Can't comment on the remote control operation however as i haven't had a need to try it.
  
  
• Not quite there
  By A2VNZBMZ1QDMXL on 2007-01-30
  While the YDS-10 performs all audio functions as expected, and the on screen menus are a big plus, it misses with video. You still have to use the click wheel to play music videos, and pictures. I like to play a slideshow of my pictures while listening to music, and music videos are why I bought the video IPod. I have to use the the click wheel for anything concerning pictures. That's not exactly what I'd hoped for. I wanted to use the on screen menus and make selections from a distance rather than going back and forth from the TV and stereo. If you're looking for audio only, this is it. If you have a video IPod, the YDS-10 will leave you disappointed.
  
  
• Performs as advertised
  By ACELRT22L8EDR on 2007-02-20
  Easy installation and adequate instructions. 5th star would have been $20 cheaper and the ability to page through the listings rather than having to lean on the forward search button.
  
  
• Yamaha YDS-10
  By A1YGC6GTGPACVR on 2007-03-08
  Works great with Yamaha remote. Took a little reading with the manual to work all the functions on the iPOD. This unit replaced my DLO Home Dock Deluxe. The Yamaha does all the same things as the DLO only you use the remote with your home theater unit.
  
  
• YDS-10 IPOD Doc
  By A2LQSLZ12C8CKL on 2007-03-14
  I ordered this so that I could play my iPOD music on my new Yamaha AV receiver. It was easy to install and the receiver remote allow me to do the same control as I do as at the iPOD itself. Great product!!!
  
  
• Works well; Better OSD
  By A1HOF9JVNK8J7X on 2007-03-22
  The product worked right away when I plugged it in. The on screen display is functional but not the prettiest. It also doesn't show all of the same categories as are on my iPod such as Podcasts. They are in with all the rest of my music.
  
  

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