I used BlueJeans speaker cables, some silver RCA interconnects, and a coax digital cable to tie it all together. There wasn’t much of the air around the instruments or recording space to be heard, however. But it weighs sixteen pounds, which lets you know that it has some decent metal under its skin. Receive news and offers from our other brands? We put the Yamaha R-N303 to the test to find out. If you want surround sound, though, you’ll probably need to shell out a bit more cash for a receiver that can connect to all your speakers. In high school in the mid-1980s he landed a job as a stockboy in a local Hi-Fi emporium, which is when his HiFi journey began. So Yamaha R-S202BL, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $512 Yamaha R-N303BL, as seen on the chart below. 6: November 2020, What We’re Listening To. My house is built within an Apple, Inc. ecosphere. RCA inputs for MM phono, CD, and two line sources, 100Base-TX/10Base-T Ethernet port For the price, the Yamaha R-N303 receiver is a very solid option. We found the unit delivered decent low-end through the speakers we were using, but the bass could certainly be boosted a little. You’ll want to make sure you have all the appropriate cables, but for speakers the unit supports both banana plugs and wire cables. Once you pull it out of the box, you’ll simply plug in cables connected to your speakers and sources. Not only can you not connect stereo speakers, but there’s also no support for a subwoofer – though that’s not entirely unusual for this price bracket. Product Review: Yamaha RN303D Stereo Receiver. There was a problem. Then any device you have that can recognize DLNA servers will see your stuff and you can play it over that device. You connect the same way you would any other Bluetooth device, after which you can play music from your phone, and use the remote to control playback. Regardless, the R-N303 worked just fine after logged in to the 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi network. Over the years Yamaha has manufactured everything from motorcycles to pianos. But as it stands, it did an admirable job. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/yamaha-r-n303-audio-receiver-review The Yamaha RN303D is part of Yamaha's hugely impressive network audio system, MusicCast. How Much Amplifier Power Does your Home Theater Need? Yamaha reviews & products With more than 40 years’ independent reviewing experience you can trust our recommendations and buy with confidence. If you only need an amplifier with analogue inputs, the Yamaha puts up a good fight but loses out to simpler and more dedicated models like the Rega Brio and Audiolab M-ONE. In an era of soundbars and built-in speakers, AV receivers seem to be getting less common. From motorcycles to grand pianos, Yamaha has had their fingers in a lot of pies since their creation in 1887. I intended to determine what kind of sound quality I could achieve with a system built around the R-N303 and budget components. I also set out to test its wireless capabilities. Of course, perhaps the most important thing about the receiver is how it sounds, and we found it perfectly capable. With that said, the absence of a dedicated subwoofer out and the unit's lack of more advanced setup tools like YPAO calibration, do limit some of its appeal. Black Friday deals: see all the best offers right now! On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Yamaha R-S202BL is a more popular home theater receiver, based on its 500+ reviews. So Yamaha R-S202BL, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $512 Yamaha R-N303BL, as seen on the chart below. New York, My Oppo BDP-105 and UDP-205 will see DLNA servers, and both of my Apple TVs can run Plex, so it’s pretty much set-it and forget-it. I connected my trusty Technics SL-1200MK2 turntable, Pioneer SP-BS41 speakers, which retailed for around $120US, and a Sony DVP-NS300 DVD player I bought at a garage sale for $10 about a decade ago. Here's how: The Yamaha MusiCast "master-app" for Android (and iPhones too) drives the R-N303 via your home Wi-Fi and includes many built-in "sub-app" buttons … You will receive a verification email shortly. The Yamaha made enough power to drive the Shure headphones, and I spent quite a few hours getting lost in the music with my cans on. NY 10036. Yamaha R-N803D Network Receiver Review Like a number of recent amplifier review conclusions, I have to start this one with a degree of context. Where to buy PS5: restock tracker to find PS5 on sale during Black Friday, With cyberattacks through the roof, endpoint protection is more important than ever, FIFA 21 on PS5 sounds way more fun than the Xbox Series X version, Sony WH-1000XM4, le migliori cuffie del mondo a un prezzo mai visto, Sony sold more PS5s during launch week than the Xbox Series X/S combined, 5 amazing Black Friday gaming accessory deals from Currys PC World. After all, in 2018 CDs are well and truly on their way out, as streaming services and wireless features become standard. This is a monster funk recording with Stanton’s drums right in front of the mix, and the Yamaha kept up with the rhythm. From the app you can turn the receiver on and off, and play music from some of the better-known music streaming services, or directly from your phone. Most of the computers and portables used for entertainment in my house are Apple products. Connecting through Bluetooth and using the receiver as a Bluetooth device is pretty straightforward. He earned degrees in Creative Writing and Journalism from LSU, which he somehow manages to use in his current career as an IT professional. I put all of those to the test with the R-N303 for this review. So you should, in theory, be able to play music from pretty much any source. Read honest and unbiased product reviews … You can choose either Bluetooth® or WiFi (or Ethernet, if you want to forgo wireless altogether), and from there choose which software and source you’ll use to play your music. Yamaha has tried to combine the classic AV receiver with modern functionality – and the result is the Yamaha R-N303. It’s titled “Party” and it’s the first of her recent multi-album deal with 4AD records. Yamaha R-N301 Review Great First-Time Stereo Receiver. BluetoothEthernetFeaturednetwork receiver review 2018remote controlWiFiyamaha. This, unfortunately, is a step that we had a lot of trouble with. The receiver supports CD players or any other line input, as well as two sets of stereo speakers here. While I strongly recommend against using a weak password with anything on the Internet nowadays, I gave up on trying to enter a complicated ten-character password into the Yamaha. The Yamaha R-N303 is a versatile, future-proof receiver that delivers more functionality than I’d expect for its $349 price. Near the top you’ll control power and sleep mode, below which you’ll have input selectors – allowing you to choose where your audio is coming from. YAMAHA NETWORK STEREO RECEIVER SPECIFICATIONS, © Copyright 2020 Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity /, Show Reports, Film Festivals and Concerts, MartinLogan Balanced Force 212 Subwoofer Review, Starke Sound A8.350 Multichannel Power Amplifier Review, STAX SR-007A Electrostatic Headphone Review, SR-L700 MKII Earspeaker Review and the SRM-D10 Portable Driver Unit for Earspeakers Review, ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 Loudspeaker System Review, What We Are Watching Vol. COVID-19. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Yamaha R-N303BL Stereo Receiver with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & Phono at Amazon.com. Once all your physical connections are set up, you can connect the device to your Wi-Fi network. We test every product as a team in our bespoke listening rooms – find out more about how we test on our About Us page. 3: “Is Your System 24-Bit Ready?” and Q&A with Bill Dudleston, Bryston SP4 16-channel Surround Processor Review, NAD M17 V2 Surround Sound Preamp Processor Review, Starke Sound A8.350 8-Channel Power Amplifier Preview, Bluesound Powernode 2i Wireless Streaming Amplifier and Pulse Flex 2i Wireless Streaming Speaker Preview, Introducing the DALI RUBICON 6 BLACK EDITION, Cambridge Audio doubles the power with new Edge M monoblock power amplifier, BLUESOUND ADDS NEW SURROUND MODE LISTENING OPTION, PreSonus Eris E3.5 Powered Speakers Review, Andover Audio Spinbase Turntable Speaker System Review, Network connectivity through most wired and wireless methods, Both digital and RCA inputs to connect to TVs and common audio sources, Difficult to configure advance settings with front panel, Extremely versatile with virtually any contemporary input source, Plenty of power to drive small speakers or headphones, The capability to completely turn off all of its lights, USB input in the front of the unit so it could play music from a thumb drive. Product Review: Yamaha RN303D Stereo Receiver. His current system is mostly vintage: McIntosh MC30s, MC2505 and C28, 1977 Klipsch Cornwalls, a cream Garrard 301 with two tonearms, an Audio Research Corporation SP-6B, with an Oppo BDP-105 for silver discs and digital streaming. It was fairly straightforward to get an iPhone or iPad to play music over the Yamaha via Bluetooth®. He also ended up sending cash-stuffed envelopes to Australia to addresses in the back of music magazines to get more AC/DC albums. After a chat with a Yamaha rep, we were able to reset the device and connect it to an iPhone – but still had trouble with an Android device. I use AirPlay®, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, Wi-Fi® in my house, and turntables. I mean it done brought the funk. The receiver also has an optical input, which is good news for those that want to connect their TV directly to the unit. Visit our corporate site. The Yamaha R-N303 did manage to not disintegrate under the challenge of Harding’s singing, which is no small feat. Perhaps the best thing about it, however, is how inexpensive it is – at $249/£299, you’d be hard-pressed to find another receiver that supports this many features. Before I tried to use the R-N303 via Bluetooth®, I ensured the unit’s wireless antenna on the back was pointed upward to get the best possible reception. And if I have to do it, it had better be easy and intuitive. And he still can’t believe he got paid to listen to records. At $249/£299 it could be a pretty great deal, especially if it delivers on its modern features. The sound through the coax was more open and sharp than the RCA cables. Thank You To All of Our SECRETS Fans and Supporters, RIAA Vinyl Sales Q&A with McIntosh Group CEO Jeff Poggi. Gene Hopstetter has been collecting records since 1981, when he walked into a record store and spent $36US on every AC/DC album he could find. The Yamaha did have enough power on tap to get the Pioneer speakers engaged; there was plenty enough volume and heft to fill my bedroom with music without it getting too boomy. While there are some downsides, like the lack of surround sound and the buggy wireless setup, in general the receiver is pretty easy to use and sounds great. I have been involved in computer support since 1989 and have held four Apple, Inc. certifications. And if you plan on using the unit for listening to the radio, you’ll want to connect the included antennas. The best two-channel stereo receivers deliver amazing sound across the audio spectrum (thumping lows, crystal clear mids and highs) and a bevy of inputs and outputs to let you get music in and out with minimal fuss. Switching between RCA and coax did reveal a difference. Gene was born and raised in New Orleans, where music and food were invented. Its big brother, the R-N803, sells for $799. I noticed that the Yamaha will disable its speakers if there are headphones plugged in, which is a nice touch. But that doesn’t mean they’re without use – allowing you to control multiple sources from one single remote, and control different sets of speakers for different uses. It’s broken down into a few different sections. But when it was attached it played music reliably. The sound was fun and engaging, and its build quality and software lead me to believe it’ll provide many years of enjoyment. Please refresh the page and try again. October 27, 2017; New products; Yamaha has been around for over a century in one form or another. Either way, the system was thankfully still able to connect through Bluetooth – so even if you can’t get the MusicCast app up and running, you’ll still be able to play music from your phone. So you should, in theory, be able to play music from pretty much any source. (We were told this is a rare occurrence.). The Yamaha R-N303 gives you quite a few ways to play music wirelessly. I then auditioned the Yamaha with my Shure SRH840 headphones. The R-N303 will only link to a WiFi network on the 2.4Ghz frequency, which is what it also uses for Bluetooth®. There’s just only so much clicking on a remote I want to do in order to play some music. 5: October 2020, Setting Up a Bryston BDA-3.14 Streaming DAC and Qobuz Streaming Service – A How-to Series, Part 2, Setting Up an AURALiC ARIES G1 Streamer and Qobuz Streaming Service – A How-to Series, Part 1, DCI-P3 Color – What It Means in Today’s Ultra HD World, AVR-Audio Video Reciever-Build Quality: Part V. Does Your Projector Display Accurate Color, and Why Is That Important? Several turntables and 1970s receivers are in varying states of refurbishment as well. Most of my audio hardware was built in the 1970s, back when the very idea of playing without wires, let alone holding a conversation over a telephone without a cord, was the stuff of science fiction. Full-range Speaker Systems vs. Satellite-subwoofer Combinations, Industry Insider Op-Ed Vol. Sign up to get breaking news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more, plus the hottest tech deals! Using the Yamaha R-N303 isn’t too difficult, but it’s not the easiest affair either. Signal strength was good and sound quality did not suffer as I walked the iPad around the house. The sound quality did not suffer when played that way. The Yamaha R-N303 BL Stereo Receiver CAN receive any streaming audio service that is on the internet. That doesn’t mean, however, that they shouldn’t be refreshed every now and then. But here we are on the 2010s, and the ever-expanding portion of the universe of music listening has moved away from copper wiring toward the air waves. Preview: Yamaha's R-N301 stereo receiver is priced at $349.95 and features a pair of digital inputs, multiple streaming options, a slick control app for iOS and Android, and 100W of power per channel. Again, I didn’t hear any of the imaging of the room and the air around the instruments that I know are in this recording, but this wasn’t a particularly fair challenge for this receiver. He continues to this very day to exhibit that same sort of behavior to find records. The volume dial has a satisfying heaviness to it when you adjust it, but the Select dial, which you can move left-to-right and push in, does feel somewhat flimsy. Yamaha R-N303 - network audio receiver overview and full product specs on CNET. For my listening with these tests I chose the latest album from New Zealander singer-songwriter Aldous Harding. The manual included with the receiver covers this well and I encourage you to download and read it from Yamaha’s web site. From motorcycles to grand pianos, Yamaha has had their fingers in a lot of pies since their creation in 1887. As an aside, using Plex to configure a computer to play music over the DLNA protocol couldn’t be easier: install Plex, point it at a directory or two where you store your music, or movie, or picture, files, and you’re on your way. Which is more than you could ask for from a receiver you’d put in an apartment or dorm room. Their R-N303 is the least expensive of their two Network Stereo Receivers, retailing for $349. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? The Yamaha R-N303 can support CD players and connect to two sets of stereo speakers.However, if surround sound is what you are after, you’re going to want to get a receiver that connects all your speakers. While the Yamaha did not reproduce much, if any, of the air and soundstage available in the recordings, it did put out enough power to make the reproduction sound engaging. So, at first, I set out to set up the Yamaha R-N303 in my bedroom with some entry-level components and get it playing nicely with my existing network infrastructure. But when I get home from work I’m not too keen on spending my precious free time trying to get computers and portable devices to work. It’s really not difficult to get used to, but it may take a few minutes to get your head around. Bluetooth® and WiFi connectivity via Apple AirPlay and MusicCast, 100W, with a frequency range of 40Hz to 20Hz at 0.2% THD into 8ohms, 5.6 MHz, FLAC, WAV, AIFF 192 kHz/24-bit, Apple® Lossless 96 kHz/24-bit playback, Voice control using your Alexa device like Echo or Echo Dot, S/PDIF and coax digital inputs support audio sample rates up to 192 kHz With an its all-black chassis, the R-N303 has a utilitarian look to it; of course, at this price point, you can’t expect too much. SoundVisionTeam Amplifiers & Receivers, Hi-Fi/Home Theater. Last but not least is the MusicCast app, and if you can get it to connect it’s really quite nice. I keep a library of FLAC files on my iMac which I play on my network with Plex through the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol. I have begun integrating the R-N303 into my home with a few budget source components to see how it delivers on these promises. Streaming over Bluetooth® and WiFi from my iPad, the music was portrayed with coherence and met the dynamic punch of Harding’s vocals. I straddle both sides of the HiFi fence. When you push in the Select dial, the receiver’s front metal skin flexes. Our magazine, which began with the publication of the SECRETS Primer, is available exclusively on-line and offers to our readers an extensive information resource about home theater and high-end audio. Even though the R-N303’s remote will let you dim its LED display, you cannot dim its amber power light. As mentioned, the receiver supports stereo speakers – and really that’s all it supports. With MusicCast you can control all your compatible Yamaha MusicCast products via your smartphone or tablet. A bit further down you’ll have radio controls, a directional pad and selection buttons, menu buttons, and so on. The Yamaha R-N303 features connectivity with AirPlay®, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, Wi-Fi®, Wireless Direct, and a phono stage. The receiver offers two stereo 100W outputs with support for 96kHz 24-bit playback, and it sounds great. The Yamaha R-N303 offers a ton of features at an excellent price. October 27, 2017; New products; Yamaha has been around for over a century in one form or another. This is where he first heard a Compact Disc, on a Sony CDP-101, but he resisted the temptation to sell all of his vinyl. But the system made me miss catching a funky brass band in the sweaty Maple Leaf Bar with an Abita beer in my hand in my native New Orleans, and there ain’t nothing wrong with that. Once you get used to how the remote works, you’ll be able to make your way around the interface pretty easily – and once everything is set up you’ll get into a routine of using the receiver. Vol.11 – November 2020, A Collection of New Vinyl for the Audiophile: November 2020, What We Are Watching Vol. So first, I did some listening the old-fashioned way, by connecting some old-school physical components to the Yamaha with wires. But I did manage to get the R-N303 configured to play music via Bluetooth® on my iPad Air 2. You can listen to your favorite radio stations by connecting the wire antenna. So in went a CD and the reviewing began. His insatiable thirst for new music led him to join the staffs of two university radio stations, where he got involved with local music promotion and album production. In order to get the unit to join a network you must interact with the unit’s software with the remote control with output displayed on that two-line LED readout. Are Expensive outboard DACs a waste of money? While it was occasionally difficult to get it logged into wireless networks, this is due mostly to the challenge presented by its two-line LED display. Bumping up the bass and treble just a hair added some extra energy to the music without it getting too tizzy, but bumping the bass and treble too high brought distortion to the volume. The speed with which Harding can swing between octaves when singing present a real challenge to a playback system, so “Party” has become one of my new reference recordings. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He has always had a record player and vinyl in his life. Running them with the tone controls defeated they kicked out the jams with Stanton Moore’s “Flying the Koop” on CD. First, I connected the Sony DVD player to the Yamaha with both RCA and coax digital cables; it’s nice that the Yamaha has that option. The Yamaha R-N303 is actually a very easy receiver to set up. As you can imagine, that presents a bit of a challenge. Saxophones and both acoustic and electric bass feature heavily in this music and the Yamaha did a pretty good job portraying timbre properly. Overview – Perfect for music enthusiasts looking for a simple yet feature-rich stereo receiver, the Yamaha R-N303 offers a nice array of wired and wireless connectivity options, along with great hi-res audio performance. I’ve heard my Harding recordings played back in a series of systems, ranging from the one I’m writing about to others in the mid-five-figure price range. The remote may look intimidating but, again, you probably won’t use all of the buttons. Tiny pet peeve: I often like to listen to music on headphones in total darkness. Future US, Inc. 11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, Shop By Price. USB 2.0 micro-B input port for service, 17-1/8” x 5-1/2” x 13-3/8” (with antenna up: 17-1/8” x 8” x 13-3/8”), Bluetooth®, WiFi, Ethernet, Yamaha, remote control, network receiver review 2018. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Yamaha R-S202BL is a more popular home theater receiver, based on its 500+ reviews. I actually renamed one of my WiFi networks to a single character, and gave it an extremely simple password, just to simplify the configuration of the Yamaha. Does it? Harding’s voice control and dynamic range are exceptional, as is the amount of emotional intimacy she portrays in her singing. He also two Playstation 1 consoles which are surprisingly good CD players, a fact he finds endlessly hilarious. As a Google Play Music user, it was pretty disappointing to find that some services weren’t supported, including Google Play Music and Apple Music, among others. The first time we tried to set up the device, it got stuck trying to connect and wouldn't link to the app. Known as one of the few manufacturers who constantly make high quality stereo receivers, Yamaha now offers new models, that not only feature great functionality but also added network capabilities. And now they’re selling a line of integrated amplifiers to meet the needs of those who want to listen to music wirelessly or with portable digital audio. When not unboxing Sony TVs he recorded MFSL albums to cassette on their Luxman components and AR turntables. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. The recording’s soundstage is very open and wide, with lots of air between instruments and very good timbre representation. It’s very much like some of Steve Albini’s quieter recordings for artists such as Low or Rachel’s. © If you’re willing to deal with a few quirks, it’s absolutely worth buying. AM and FM 75ohm antennae Play the same music on all the components or split the sound into different zones for different moods in each room; the choice is yours. The Yamaha R-N303 features connectivity with AirPlay®, Bluetooth®, Ethernet, Wi-Fi®, Wireless Direct, and a phono stage. That’s quite a list of promises, especially for an integrated amplifier selling for $349. You interact with it with two rotary dials and nine buttons. For true audiophiles, it may be worth investing in a slightly higher-power unit that supports both surround sound and a subwoofer. The face of the unit includes a two-line LED readout. I put all of those to the test with the R-N303 for this review. Holiday Gift Guide 2020. Gift Guide. Up next was getting it logged into one of the WiFi networks in my house. Blame it on cables, the time of day, or the recording, but the sound from the coax input was more fun than that from the RCA. I could not find mention of this in the Wi-Fi setup instructions, oddly enough, but only in the Bluetooth® section.