Yamaha just introduced the R-S202 stereo receiver which includes Bluetooth connectivity to stream music from smartphones and tablets. It replaces the R-S201 stereo receiver, which is identical but without Bluetooth.
The $180 entry-level receiver (and its predecessor) uses a discrete amplifier design, minimized signal lengths and a high-capacity power supply to produce the quality in dynamics and musicality for which Yamaha is renowned. The receiver boasts the Natural Sound profile that has been developed from the brand’s 129-year musical instrument craftsmanship roots, and delivers two 100 W channels (8 ohms, 40 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2% THD) of power.
“The R-S202 is designed to offer a rich and full Hi-Fi audio experience and adds Bluetooth connectivity for both the streaming music lover and the consumer looking to get serious about Hi-Fi,” said Bob Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America.
The R-S202 will support two sets of speakers and can be set to play just the A pair, the B pair or A+B to run music in the main listening room and another room in the house at the same time. Four sets of back-panel analog inputs accommodate a wide range of modern and legacy devices, including today’s very popular entry-level turntables with built-in preamps.
The front-panel layout sports an elegant brushed-metal cosmetic finish to harmonize perfectly with other products in the Yamaha Hi-Fi family. The R-S202 takes a less-is-more approach with operating buttons and knobs placed across the front panel for instant and intuitive access to bass, balance, treble and volume. A front-facing headphone terminal is available for those moments when private listening is required. In addition, the receiver can store up to 40 radio stations, includes a sleep timer, a user-friendly remote and even a standby setting for auto-power off.
Price and Availability
The Yamaha R-S202 is available now for $179.95.