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Yamaha R-N803 one of the best values in high-end audio?

I’ve now lived with the Yamaha R-N803 STEREO receiver (it is not an audio/video receiver) for over 6 months. I believe it’s one of the best values in high-end audio. For $750, you get a preamp, amp, phono preamp, DAC, and Wi-Fi streamer (Tidal, Spotify, Pandora, etc) all controlled by Yamaha’s excellent Android/IPad MusicCast app. The amp is a discrete 100 wpc into 8 ohms with two pairs of binding posts for each channel. The DAC supports up to DSD 5.6 MHz and the internet connection can be wired or wireless. It has the YPAO (Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimizer) which is an automatic speaker calibration system. Its well engineered and made. I’ve read reviews of other All-In-One (AIO) units with various problems such as supposedly having Wi-Fi streaming but it never materializes or doesn’t work, or having insufficient power, or hum problems. The Yamaha has non of those problems.

The sound quality is excellent right-out-of-the-box but (as with a lot of gear) an upgraded power cord, footers and fuse (please don’t go off on "the fuse debate") substantially improved its sound quality. The soundstage width, depth and height is excellent. The midrange clarity is very, very good as well as the control of the bass. The treble improved the most with the upgrades but is now excellent.

I don’t know of any AIOs, or even systems, anywhere near $750 that does all of this so well. Have others tried this unit? What do you think? Are there better ones out there in this price range with the same or more functions?

sbayne

Showing 2 responses by kren0006

kren0006
1,859 posts
 
Marantz pm7000n at $999 is a worthy competitor, albeit at a slightly higher msrp.  One of the Brit mags reviewed the Marantz and declared it the best all-in-one under a grand, and specifically noted that it bested the Bluesound Powernode 2i.  I haven't compared it to the R-N803.

Anyway, this isn't to rain on the Yam's parade.  Glad you are enjoying it.  Great time to be into all-in-one's with the options available!
kren0006
1,859 posts
 
The biggest thing that tipped me toward the marantz was the superior dac vs the Yamaha. Marantz uses 32 bit AK 4490 dac, while the Yamaha uses a 24 bit ess 9006 dac. To me that alone was more than worth the extra $250, as I much prefer AK sound to ess sound, but that’s personal preference.

I also like the toroidal transformer that the marantz uses in its power supply vs the EI transformer the Yamaha uses (note the brand new Yamaha integrated amps at much higher msrps just went toroidal as well).

But again, no slight of the Yamaha and I agree it’s great deal for $750. Just explaining why the marantz was worth the extra cost to me.
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