The Yamaha RN 803d has it all. 2x100 watt rms, tuner, airplay, smartphone app for remote control, Spotify Connect, dlna compatibility, mm phono input, 2 optical and 2 coax digital inputs, plus, and this is very attractive at this price level, room equalization. I am sure I am forgetting something. Oh yes, pretty classy looks, and good build quality from a reputable manufacturer that will be around in the future. I am planning to buy one for my daughter.
stereo receiver recommendations
Hi folks,
A friend recently got me interested in this hobby, but I'm definitely still a newbie without much real world listening experience. A colleague at work knows I'm interested in audio and came to me for advice to replace a broken stereo receiver. Problematically, she was fairly coy about budget, so a few recommendations would be greatly appreciated... Lets go with <$500, $500-600, & <$1000 as the 3 price ranges.
She definitely wants to have a phono input for a connected turntable and to have a FM tuner built in so unfortunately we're stuck with stereo receivers rather than integrated amps, which drastically limits the options. She also definitely wants to buy new. She didn't know the model of speakers so I'm not talking about a serious audiophile but rather someone who just enjoys having music playing in her home and doesnt want to give up local radio or her vinyl collection. For that reason I'm thinking ease of use, functionality, and reliability are probably just as important as sound quality (I hope that doesnt make too many of you cringe), but I still want it to sound good. Searching through musicdirect & crutchfield, I've come up with the following:
<$500: Cambridge SR10 or Yamaha R-N303
$500-600: Cambridge SR20 or Yamaha R-N602
<$1000: Outlaw RR2160 or Yamaha R-N803
Would love input from people with experience with any of these products or recommendations about something else that might be better. Any problems any of you have found with any of the above models? Anybody experienced both in a particular price range and found one to sound particularly better?
Thanks!
A friend recently got me interested in this hobby, but I'm definitely still a newbie without much real world listening experience. A colleague at work knows I'm interested in audio and came to me for advice to replace a broken stereo receiver. Problematically, she was fairly coy about budget, so a few recommendations would be greatly appreciated... Lets go with <$500, $500-600, & <$1000 as the 3 price ranges.
She definitely wants to have a phono input for a connected turntable and to have a FM tuner built in so unfortunately we're stuck with stereo receivers rather than integrated amps, which drastically limits the options. She also definitely wants to buy new. She didn't know the model of speakers so I'm not talking about a serious audiophile but rather someone who just enjoys having music playing in her home and doesnt want to give up local radio or her vinyl collection. For that reason I'm thinking ease of use, functionality, and reliability are probably just as important as sound quality (I hope that doesnt make too many of you cringe), but I still want it to sound good. Searching through musicdirect & crutchfield, I've come up with the following:
<$500: Cambridge SR10 or Yamaha R-N303
$500-600: Cambridge SR20 or Yamaha R-N602
<$1000: Outlaw RR2160 or Yamaha R-N803
Would love input from people with experience with any of these products or recommendations about something else that might be better. Any problems any of you have found with any of the above models? Anybody experienced both in a particular price range and found one to sound particularly better?
Thanks!
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- 36 posts total
HK receivers are legendary and priced amazingly. https://www.crutchfield.com/g_356350/Stereo-Receivers.html#&nvpair=FFBrand|Harman Here is a review WITH BENCHMARK TESTING of it's predecessor. http://www.audioholics.com/av-receiver-reviews/hk-3490 So if I had to buy a new receiver today on a budget, that's where I'd go. Yamaha receivers are always a very good choice. I had one for years and was quite happy. I upgraded to a Nakamichi Receiver 2 which I still have and love; but the best receiver I ever owned, by far, was a Rotel RX-1052. I had to go pretty far up the ladder of integrated amps to significantly outclass her. ($3,000 +) If you find one, it's a keeper. |
Yamaha R-N303B is a good amplifier...i have one so i could test it.
Unfortunately, the tests i did show that in fact the amp only drives ~65 W / channel on 8 ohm and not 100 as they said. Also, the amplifier frequency response curve in relation to power is quite non-linear: at lower frequency (20 - 100 HZ) the amp delivers only ~50 W / channel - while at 15-20 KHz the power goes to ~75W / channel (BTW: now i know why i burned 2 tweeter. Input signal was kept at such level that the output signal (on the load) was clear sin and not clipped. Also, the tone control on Yamaha was set to "0" - neutral. If that is being changed, depending on the input signal you use (especially if you use a computer or DVD optical output which has volume control) you may/will clip the output. |
- 36 posts total