CHF500.–
Yamaha R-N803d
network receiver
Product ratings
Pros
Cons
54 reviews
Very good radio and CD amplifier
+ Really good sound quality (depends on the speakers of course!).
+ Easy to connect to wifi with the Yamaha app.
+ Easy reception, selection and storage of DAB radio stations.
+ Good tuner sensitivity for which the supplied antenna is sufficient.
- It lacks a jack sound input on the front panel; many inputs on the rear panel with two male plugs.
- It is possible to store 40 DAB radio stations in memory. That's fine, but it's not possible to see them with a drop-down menu that would show them all. The display is small and only shows one station at a time. So, without having created a handwritten list, it is impossible to remember the contents of these memories. So you have to make do with the 4 or 5 most frequently listened to stations.
- Internet radio is almost useless. Factory presets are stored for major providers such as Spotify, but it is not possible to enter a radio URL, as the remote control does not have letters. So you have to get a specific mobile phone app and then switch the sound via Bluetooth to the tuner, and then it's fine.A perfect amp for a modern living room with excellent sound
A very good sound quality, a built-in phono amp to re-discover your vinyl turntable, a perfect integration in a modern network with AirPlay and a detection of NAS servers (e.g. Synology), a DAB+ radio, an efficient app. In short, everything you would expect from a serious and modern amp. On top of that, the finish is of very good quality.
Good compromise between oldschool hi-fi and modernity
I chose this unit because I didn't want to have to get up from the sofa and put another CD in the drive for every song I want to listen to. I also wanted a modern connection to the Internet - radio, as well as DAB+ - radio. The R-N 803D meets these requirements with flying colours.
The Yamaha's sound is exactly what I'm used to from this manufacturer in this price range. In combination with my Canton Chrono SL 590.2, it disappoints me neither in the bass, nor in the midrange, nor in the treble. The aforementioned combination sounds well-balanced, although of course not audiophile in this price range.
One star is deducted for the fiddly and convoluted operation of the network receiver. A single-line DOT matrix display is really not up to date. Vintage or not: if you buy a modern network receiver, you also want modern and intuitive navigation through the individual menus. However, I consciously accepted this toad, because I am a Yamaha fanboy :-)
Off topic, I would also like to review the Miracast app, which is almost absolutely necessary for using streaming services from the sofa in connection with the R-N 803D. Here, too, the operating concept is not intuitive. Instead, many, many "clicks" are necessary until you achieve what you want.
Conclusion:
All in all, the sound and elegance of this device beat its operating concept, which takes a lot of getting used to. We can hope for improvements in the Miracast app. And if the zombie apocalypse should paralyse the internet, this device can still be used as an oldschool amplifier - if there is still electricity available ;-)Pro
- Sound
- Design
- Connectivity
- Price
Contra
- Operating concept
- Operating concept of the Miracast app
Very good value for money
Great sound, very good DAB reception
I can highly recommend
Excellent! Price/performance super!
Good
Box tiptop for my requirements
This review was created for a different variant: R-N803d (network receiver)
6 out of 54 reviews
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