Yamaha just announced their most expensive stereo receiver, model R-N803. The $800 unit is the first network Hi-Fi receiver with YPAO (Yamaha Parametric room Acoustic Optimizer) technology. Previously reserved for high-performance home theater components, YPAO tunes speaker response to produce the best possible sound for the specific room in which the R-N803 will be enjoyed. YPAO delivers life-like studio-quality sound by automatically correcting for the effects of non-ideal speaker placement and a room’s less-than-ideal acoustic characteristics.
Additionally, YPAO-R.S.C. (YPAO – Reflected Sound Control) makes music sound clear and crisp by adjusting and compensating for unwanted sound that is reflected off nearby surfaces.
With pricing set at $800, the receiver is targeting a niche market of music enthusiasts who enjoy vinyl records, high-resolution music files, wireless streaming and MusicCast multi-room functionality. For only $300, Yamaha’s R-N303 stereo receiver may fit the bill for the less audiophile inclined.
Other advanced technologies in the R-N803 also help draw out nuances of music. Key technologies include Yamaha ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) circuitry, which preserves audio-signal purity, and a 192kHz/24-bit ESS Sabre DAC (digital-to-analog converter), which effortlessly handles the prodigious amounts of data in high-resolution files.
Compatible sources include networked PCs and network-attached storage devices with DLNA, mobile devices with wireless Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth, and multiple streaming services, including Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Napster, SiriusXM Internet Radio, TIDAL, and numerous free internet radio stations. The R-N803 also plays multiple high-res formats, including 192kHz/24-bit FLAC, WAV and AIFF and 2.8/5.6MHz DSD.
For use with legacy sources, the R-N803 features a dedicated phono input to add a turntable. Two optical and two coaxial digital inputs connect CD players, Blu-ray Disc players, and TVs.
Pricing and Availability
The Yamaha R-N803 network Hi-Fi stereo receiver will be available on September 22, 2017 for $799.95.
