Yamaha R-N803 Smart Receiver Review

[ex audiophile]

I’m using the RN803 in a 2.1 setup. I ran YPAO and finally found the crossover options in the Music cast app. Unfortunately the sound clearly degraded compared to Pure Direct. My only source is streaming Spotify or Tidal. Using Pure Direct my understanding is that the internal DAC of the RN 803 converts the digital files to analog and the signal proceeds unmolested to the amplifier and out to the mains. I assume the sub output sends a mono full range signal to the subwoofer and I need to use the low pass crossover in the sub. The mains get only full range.
I also recall that Amir did not test a digital input so do we know how the DAC measures?
If I’ve got this wrong please advise, the owner’s manual is useless.

 

[goldark]

For those who have used this device, how does using YPAO sound on it? If you have experience with other EQ systems, how does it compare?

 

[GXAlan]

For those who have used this device, how does using YPAO sound on it? If you have experience with other EQ systems, how does it compare?

There is no ability to set a target curve as far as I know. I am pretty curious myself as a Yamaha CX-A5100 owner. The R-N803 uses the 64-bit YPAO RSC and has the option of the YPAO loudness curve. This means it does room correction at 192kHz/24-bit.

 

[ex audiophile]

For those who have used this device, how does using YPAO sound on it? If you have experience with other EQ systems, how does it compare?

Read the post from Matthew Pose in this thread; YPAO is AWFUL. Yamaha provides you with a toy microphone and the process is primitive compared to DIRAC or Anthem ARC Genesis. The sound afterwards noticeably degrades; I have this Yamaha RN803 and even my wife preferred the "non YPAO" sound (Pure Direct) when tested blind. I've used DIRAC and ARC and they both provide significant improvements. DIRAC is much more complex and the learning curve is IMO tedious. Anthem ARC Genesis has been recently upgraded and is super easy to use, and clearly my favorite.

 

[GXAlan]

Read the post from Matthew Pose in this thread; YPAO is AWFUL. Yamaha provides you with a toy microphone and the process is primitive compared to DIRAC or Anthem ARC Genesis. The sound afterwards noticeably degrades; I have this Yamaha RN803 and even my wife preferred the "non YPAO" sound (Pure Direct) when tested blind. I've used DIRAC and ARC and they both provide significant improvements. DIRAC is much more complex and the learning curve is IMO tedious. Anthem ARC Genesis has been recently upgraded and is super easy to use, and clearly my favorite.

Have you run any measurements? It would be interesting to know how much is from poor correction of YPAO and how much is from poor THD+N with the DSP engaged.

The Anthem STR Integrated is clearly a step up in performance, but also at a higher price point.

 

[ex audiophile]

Have you run any measurements? It would be interesting to know how much is from poor correction of YPAO and how much is from poor THD+N with the DSP engaged.

The Anthem STR Integrated is clearly a step up in performance, but also at a higher price point.

great question, I don't have the ability to make measurements (outside of ARC) so I don't have any insight re YPAO vs poor DSP in the RN803. I'd have to re read Mathew's post but i believe his comments were more global and reflected experience with other implementations of YPAO.

 

[djigibao]

Here is my old measurements of YPAO OFF vs YPAO ON

 

[Robert C]

For those who have used this device, how does using YPAO sound on it? If you have experience with other EQ systems, how does it compare?

I think YPAO sounds good. It's evened out my frequency response (given me more bass) and has anchored the stereo image. I have not made any measurements (though the increase in bass in very obvious switching YPAO on/off) and have not used any other EQ systems. I think my system sounds better with YPAO on.

 

[amadeus2000]

If you do the correct measurement, YPAO really works: you must place the mic on a tripod, as close as possible at the listening position and height, but away from sofa or structures that absorb sound reflections (my first measuremnts were getting very strange and not usable correction only because i was not doing things right, as i said previous). I also agree that “pure direct” has a strange stereo image ( lacking in center image or focus), and YPAO seems to me more coherent. YPAO really works for me, corrects the problems in my room, and for sure my next amp will have such an option.

 

[bradyr]

YAMAHA R-N803D
[Polish] https://audio.com.pl/testy/stereo/amplitunery-stereo/2984-yamaha-r-n803d

• https://www.translatetheweb.com/?ref=TVert&from=&to=en&a=https://audio.com.pl/testy/stereo/amplitunery-stereo/2984-yamaha-r-n803d
• https://translate.google.es/translate?sl=pl&tl=en&u=https://audio.com.pl/testy/stereo/amplitunery-stereo/2984-yamaha-r-n803d

[ Yamaha R-N803D laboratory

Because most of the loudspeakers are 4 ohms (although half of them are declared as 8 ohms by manufacturers), so we did not consider 4 ohms to be "extremely difficult", and we performed all measurements, both at 8 and 4 ohms in exit mode ("non-exceptional").

It was a good choice. At 8 ohms, when controlling one channel, the power is up to 146 W, slightly less in two-channel mode (2x133 W), and at 4 ohms, the R-N803D "turns up" wonderfully, as befits a decent stereo amplifier - in one channel the power reaches up to 240 W, and with two simultaneously loaded - 2 x 207 W, which is clearly more than in the manufacturer's data, which promises 2 x 160 W (at 4 ohms).

When set for extremely difficult impedances, power probably decreases to limit the potentially larger current flow and temperature rise. One should not bother with this mode at all; well, unless the receiver turns off for an unknown reason ... but we don't expect such a situation here.

The sensitivity was set at the standard level of 0.24 V, the noise distance is good 84 dB, and the dynamics reaches 105 dB.

The transfer characteristics (Fig. 1) are excellent, the drop at 10 Hz is negligible, at 100 kHz in principle also, because only -0.6 dB for 8 ohms and -1.2 dB for 4 ohms.

The harmonic spectrum (Fig. 2) is clean, the strongest second harmonic does not exceed -90 dB. THD + N distortions (graph from Fig. 3) are lower than 0.1% for output power above 3 W at 8 ohms and 6.4 W at 4 ohms. Very neat in every way. ]

Any suggestions on how to connect this to my computer? I am using 16 and 24 bit streaming like Amazon HD. However this receiver doesn't have a DAC input. If I use the optical input, then I need to use a converter from my laptop's USB-C port, which I hope would bypass the laptop's DAC in favor of the receiver's DAC. If I use the RCA inputs on the receiver, then I am using the laptop's DAC which seems less optimal, right? My laptop has USB, USB-C, HDMI and headphone outputs. I am happy to purchase whatever conversion widget is needed to maintain the top streaming quality. Thanks!

 

[ZolaIII]

Any suggestions on how to connect this to my computer? I am using 16 and 24 bit streaming like Amazon HD. However this receiver doesn't have a DAC input. If I use the optical input, then I need to use a converter from my laptop's USB-C port, which I hope would bypass the laptop's DAC in favor of the receiver's DAC. If I use the RCA inputs on the receiver, then I am using the laptop's DAC which seems less optimal, right? My laptop has USB, USB-C, HDMI and headphone outputs. I am happy to purchase whatever conversion widget is needed to maintain the top streaming quality. Thanks!

You need USB DAC with optical out.
Actually buy a Wiim Mini if you intend to use in bilt DAC on Yamaha, connect it over Toslink to amplifier and don't use laptop. If that makes you happy of course. Please first read about Wiim mini's functionality (it's streamer, not a USB DAC)!

 

[Overseas]

Topping D10s for usb - optical conversion?

 

[Paspolc]

You can use smsl Sanskrit 10th mkii , which was reviewd by Amir here.

 

[jfort]

Greetings everyone, first post here on ASR!

Would like to thank everyone for their time in providing constructive input to this thread, be it supporting data, commentary or both. Happy to report that I have an RN803 on the way, partially as a result of reading through this thread and partially due to my experience with the Yamaha TSR-7850 AVR that I purchased on liquidation for $249 USD a few years back. Quite frankly I have been pretty amazed at the feature set at that price, which even included YPAO. I initially bought it to use with my TV and NVIDIA Shield as an entry point to my first surround sound setup...which has yet to develop, LOL. I have been using the 7850 in a 2 channel configuration and must say that the sound is more than acceptable.

I am quite pleased with the Yamaha experience overall so far...looking forward to experimenting with this amp and hopefully incorporating it into a decent casual listening room setup. Perhaps I might add some useful input to this thread eventually...Happy listening!

 

[Berkut]

Hi dear community.
I have been trying to investigate the quantity of YPAO PEQ bands in Yamaha 803, but I don't have it on my hands.
Whoever owns the device, could you please try to enter an advanced web setup page and make a screenshot of relative page?
I contacted one owner on other forum, he says that his Yamah 803 does not have advanced web setup page option.
That confuses me. because I believed that every Yamaha network capable AV device has such option.

Here is an example of such page from my Yamaha RX-A2030 AVR, which shows 7 PEQ band points.
View attachment 77550

To enter that advanced web setup page you need to add /setup after the IP address of the device in browser.
example: 192.168.1.55/setup
Example:

Thank you in advance!

Going back to this one, I'm actually considering repurposing an 402D for this 803D.

Has any R-N803D owner actually tried on his network to type 192.168.1.xy/setup since 2020 ? Could you post those snapshots ?

On my PC, by looking at the network, amongst other printers, NAS, etc, I can access any of my connected Yamaha equipment. I just need to add "/setup" to enter this web browser mode and browser through all those pages and options.

C'mon folks !

 

[Bernard23]

How does the design of the new R-N1000A compare to the 803D? I have an A-S501 but really crap room acoustics, so I quite like the idea of an A-S801 with YPAO, mostly because it can align the sub too presumably.

 

[Overseas]

Most likely, if you want YPAO and can grab 803d at decent price, way under the new models, go for it.

 

[sunao]

@Bernard23 I learnt a similar topic about YPAO etc at different thread: https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/yamaha-r-n1000-a-vs-r-n800a.45398/

 

[Bernard23]

Does this receiver come bundled with the mic and stand to run the YPAO correction process? I've found a couple used that don't have them....

 

[ehabheikal]

If you find original mics tell me