Yamaha R-N803 Smart Receiver Review

[bdvan]

SPDIF optical input from PC (X64) and nice player with extensive processing chain and you get goodies for life (regarding DSP) like VTS plugin's.

I have a spare desktop sitting idle, I will have to check if it has SPDIF if not add a suitable PCIE based sound card. Would it be possible to connect my desktop to A-S701 and apply room corrections using DIRAC, cross overs etc. Which means A-S701 is used just as a power amp.

 

[ZolaIII]

I have a spare desktop sitting idle, I will have to check if it has SPDIF if not add a suitable PCIE based sound card. Would it be possible to connect my desktop to A-S701 and apply room corrections using DIRAC, cross overs etc. Which means A-S701 is used just as a power amp.

Something like Creative AE-5 Plus will do fine for up to 6 analog chenels (as long as you don't really need analog inputs as ADC is far from great) and then you don't really need Toslink/SPDIF you use analog outputs with deacent cables and that's it. Play with EQ-APO and REW if or when you get microphone and don't hesitate to ask for help.
Don't know about Dirac on PC as I don't use it, settled out with JRiver. But as long it's VTS or other type of plugin and suported as such in player that you use it should work.

 

[popej]

Major feature I want now is to be able to do room correction which YAPO can handle.

IMO you should look at AVRs. I think you can get Pioneer/Onkyo with Dirac Live for comparable price as N800A. Or you can look at Yamaha AVRs, which have YPAO with multiple point measurements, multiple house curves and possibility for manual EQ.

 

[bdvan]

IMO you should look at AVRs. I think you can get Pioneer/Onkyo with Dirac Live for comparable price as N800A. Or you can look at Yamaha AVRs, which have YPAO with multiple point measurements, multiple house curves and possibility for manual EQ.

Thanks I have considered AVR's, I have my HT 5.1 powered by Denon X3400H and KEF T series speakers, with Audyssey calibration this setup works fine for HT nothing remarkable and certainly not for music. Hence I was looking for a real musical amplifier/speaker setup to experience good audio. Are there any AVR's in $1.5K range that can be great for music?

 

[popej]

Are there any AVR's in $1.5K range that can be great for music?

The division into video and music audio equipment is illusory. What's more, modern electronics is simply good enough for audio reproduction. Just look for features you need.

 

[bdvan]

if you reed R-N803 review you see you get 60 W clean and same goes for R-N800A (I am speculating hire) on other hand A-S 70x & 80x give about 110 clean W (@8 Ohms of course) while max output is about the same (but with different THD).

From what I understand even though N800a uses same circuits as A-S701 the quality of audio is not as good. Is this due to design issues?

A-S701 has loop but only on input line 2 & 3. In order to do DSP correction to the let's say line of speakers with sub's you need multichannel DAC (each speaker and sub use its own chenel) and I believe you will want sub's. Even if amplifier has variable high pass sub out it's different when you really can shape the slopes as you won't and to the math model precisely.

Are there any good DSP's besides MiniDSP which is user friendly and works with S701. Or some other Yamaha model which has DSP friendly I/O's? I agree on having modular options like Wiim is good for longterm reliability. I might look into hooking up my PC as a DSP processor, I see that DIRAC supports PC and it might work.

 

[ZolaIII]

@bdvan no one said its the same pair of amplifier boards or the same transistors pairs. You don't need I/O, you plug DSP to analog input and that's it, use amplifier as amplifier only. Nothing that whose so far measured hire other than MiniDSP's so I can't really recommend them.
Seriously you only need a 3.5 mm to RCA cable to plug the PC in (or laptop) even with integrated sound card and play on with REW and EQ-APO and it exports the EQ in friendly manner to it, you load it in EQ-APO and enable it and that's it. Chipmunk can do it and figure out REW basics from cuple of videos and playing with it. Of course you preferably need UMIK-1 (for calibration file and to serve also as SPL meter). It's recommended to go with sound card which gives 2V max output (integrated ones don't). When you have stereo + sub/sub's you need more chenels on sound card (one for each sub/speaker) and learn how to do crossovers which again isn't that much complicated (but more chenels you have it's more work). More you play with it and learn results will be better (and better than Dirac). That's how it goes.

 

[Bernard23]

From what I understand even though N800a uses same circuits as A-S701 the quality of audio is not as good. Is this due to design issues?


Are there any good DSP's besides MiniDSP which is user friendly and works with S701. Or some other Yamaha model which has DSP friendly I/O's? I agree on having modular options like Wiim is good for longterm reliability. I might look into hooking up my PC as a DSP processor, I see that DIRAC supports PC and it might work.

This is going to be my approach, it's not super accurate but it's cheap as anything and will help because I have some really big spikes (large room, suspended floor, stud walls, minimal furnishings) so anything is better than nothing. I'm going to use housecurve on my wife's iPhone, and an app called Room Acoustics on android with a cheap plug in USB mic, and run some LF sweeps to get an indication of where the nodes are. I'll then manually set up corresponding PEQ filters in Roon and re test until it's removed the worst of the problems. I'm loathe to invest in a measurement system that is both expensive and only needed once.

 

[scjet13]

Sry if this is a long boring read.

I decided on purchasing a (Demo model) Yamaha R-N803 (Stereo/Network) Receiver, partially because of the @amirm review, and partially because of the fair price I got for it, but mostly because of a sadly limited choice of local features in all of these (so-called) "NEWER" AVR/Stereo/Network Receivers, to replace our Onkyo TX-8050 Receiver.
Being able to play our several hundred mix of (44khz/48khz-16bit/24bit/96khz-24bit) flac files from our (portable) USB flash drives was a must, AND, to be able to play them in a random/shuffle mode, was also a MUST.

Our Present System (is nothing fancy):
-Onkyo TX-8050 stereo/network Receiver (limited to 96khz/24-bit USB playback).
-(2) Klipsch Synergy F-30 Tower speakers, + Klipsch SW-112 subwoofer.
-Marantz CD6004 CD/usb/mp3 player (using the rca analog out of the Marantz CD player -> to CD rca-analog-inputs of Receiver).

Our 10-year-old Onkyo TX-8050 Receiver had served that function fairly well, until, (over the last year or so), the Volume knob started to inaccurately volumize all over the place, and the left-channel would randomly drop out.? -dirty micro-relay switch, cheap Volume knob electronics, dust build-up, ...? -probably a mix of all three.
Oddly enough, The usb-dac in the Marantz CD-player actually played all of our mp3 files far better than going thru' the Onkyo's usb-dac.?
Unfortunately, the Marantz CD6004 is limited to 44/48khz mp3/m4a/wav files, and it can NOT play any flac files, ...
---------------------------
I'm a physics guy, (from a family of doctors and nurses), and 2 human ears with 2 separate-widely-dispersed-channel Speakers is all we need for wonderful 3D sound (when mixed properly). -anatomically/biologically anymore than that is just dissipated like info-overload to the brain, but go ahead and waste money and electricity on a dozen more speaker connections, lol.
However, and I must admit, a Sub-woofer really does help to carry the low bass in a comfortable way. -so ya, make that 2.1 channel Receivers is all that we really need.
So, I'm NOT interested in AVR's with multiple HDMI noisy circuit-board connections, and 13.2 channel speakers, ..., nor Assmos -sry, I meant Atmos, ... or whatever.

A lot has changed over the years, since 2012-ish, and it seems like the R-N803 is the last of a dead breed of (non-network-required-non-spyware-required) stereo/network receivers that offer the (local) media player features, and power, that we need.
In fact, almost all AVR/Stereo Branded Receivers these days only play (Hi-res) audio media files via PC/Server/NAS/Paid Subscription over the Internet/Network, and they're all heading in that direction.
'member Neil Young's Ponomusic/Ponoplayer Hi-Rez endevour? -that all sold out to the Hi-rez subscription-based streaming industry. -and a sad day that was.
Even the Denon DRA-800H/900H do NOT offer random/shuffle mode when playing back audio files via USB or Network.?, or so Denon support had told me. -need I ask why ?! (but, please correct me if I'm wrong).
-------------------------------------
The options were:
-Purchase a newer Marantz CD6007, (to fulfill all our USB Hi-Res playback needs, including random local playback, ...), and fix the old Onkyo TX-8050, Or, just purchase the Yamaha R-N803 for the same price as that Marantz CD6007.?

Did we want to purchase a separate DAC/Media player (smart-network) unit instead, just to have yet another remote and or control it with some cellphone/PC/laptop app crap?, or need a TV connected via HDMI just to fine tune settings? -ugh.
-Resoundingly NO.

As a partnered man, my better half, wants as little wiring, and extra components, ..., as possible, but she also distrusts these (so-called) SMART/Spyware devices even less.
This R-N803 seems to be the best of both shared worlds, pleasing our whole household, except for our odd cellphone/bluetooth little grand-scampers.

That said, I kinda miss, in the late 70's, as a kid, my SAE 2200 pwr amp, Phase Linear pre-amp, Pioneer Tuner, dual 12" woofer/midrange/weeter (3-way-Xover homemade-sealed-cabinets) Philip's speaker cones, Akai reel-to-reel, Sony cassette deck, Dual/Noresco Turntale, ..., with wires everywhere, and tripping the SAE's protection circuit in the heat of those summers.

And yes, I've only found a very, very few (new) excellent quality high powered Stereo-based Receivers that offer our combined USB-storage playback features, but at a cost of +$3000 CDN.

Maybe direct-connected (portable-non-networked) USB-local-storage is going the same way as the CD/DVD/Blu-ray Audio discs? -the way of the Dodo.

Today, if you want great Audio (Stereo) quality and performance, and with great quality audio features but with privacy and autonomy, then they're gonna make us all pay unfairly thru' the nose matey's.
But psst, they'll all practically give away a noisy bells-n-whistles-smart AVR just to get to know ya'.

 

[Tovarich007]

The division into video and music audio equipment is illusory. What's more, modern electronics is simply good enough for audio reproduction. Just look for features you need.

I definitely agree. Some AVR are pretty good (I don't write "perfect") with a lot of functionnalities and enough power in the sub 1,5/2K € or $. The Yamaha R-n803D is a good connected stereo receiver anyway, and its successors the new 800, 1000 or more expensive 2000 stereo connected receivers are pretty good too (the last one is cleraly overpriced in my opnio.

But, unless for a strict budget issue (discounted 803 can be found sometimes at low prices), I would preferably go for an AVR (Yam, Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer) including a good room corection system and use it mainly as my stereo amplifier : the more can do the least, the contrary isn't possible.

And I would complete this set up by a very good headphone amp, the ones offered by AVRs or stereo integrated amps are too often rather poor for specs and sound.

 

[Bernard23]

My questions are:
Is YPAO effective?
Are there alternative AV devices with better built in room correction systems?

 

[scjet13]

I definitely agree. Some AVR are pretty good (I don't write "perfect") with a lot of functionnalities and enough power in the sub 1,5/2K € or $. The Yamaha R-n803D is a good connected stereo receiver anyway, and its successors the new 800, 1000 or more expensive 2000 stereo connected receivers are pretty good too (the last one is cleraly overpriced in my opnio.

But, unless for a strict budget issue (discounted 803 can be found sometimes at low prices), I would preferably go for an AVR (Yam, Denon, Onkyo, Pioneer) including a good room corection system and use it mainly as my stereo amplifier : the more can do the least, the contrary isn't possible.

And I would complete this set up by a very good headphone amp, the ones offered by AVRs or stereo integrated amps are too often rather poor for specs and sound.

Agreed, and as @popej previously said: ...Just look for features you need.

and there we go.
But as far as the newer Yamaha "...800, 1000 or more expensive 2000 stereo connected receivers..." as @Tovarich007 forgot to mention, -they do NOT offer a local USB-flash-drive/USB-HD/SSD drive playability, let alone NO random/shuffle order.?
If those are not feartures you need then fine.
But the fact that Yamaha, and many other AVR/Stereo/Network Receiver manufactuers simnply forgot to include those important little features, in their NEW Receivers, is a deal-breaker for me, and one of the reasons why I'll stay away from these newish Stereo/AVR's.

I guess the question is:
Why are they limiting all these local audio "features" these days when, in fact, this same technology and progress can easily include it all, with anonymity and privacy, and, without needing a network, and with better quality? -so, drm anyone.?

But ya I agree, spend as much time as possible researching to find the Hi-Fi Audio system, and/or. component(s) that will give you all the features that you need.!
...bu, but Video advice? - I got none, sry.

 

[popej]

But as far as the newer Yamaha "...800, 1000 or more expensive 2000 stereo connected receivers..." as @Tovarich007 forgot to mention, -they do NOT offer a local USB-flash-drive/USB-HD/SSD drive playability, let alone NO random/shuffle order.?

No playback from USB drive but USB DAC. There is shuffle for playback form server.

But the fact that Yamaha, and many other AVR/Stereo/Network Receiver manufactuers simnply forgot to include those important little features, in their NEW Receivers

My old Yamaha AVR offers USB playback, but it is too slow to use with bigger library. No problem with DLNA server, shuffle too. I'm considering buying a new AVR. Every model I have looked at provided USB playback. According to Yamaha manuals for current AVRs, shuffle is supported for USB and server.

 

[scjet13]

No playback from USB drive but USB DAC. There is shuffle for playback form server.


My old Yamaha AVR offers USB playback, but it is too slow to use with bigger library. No problem with DLNA server, shuffle too. I'm considering buying a new AVR. Every model I have looked at provided USB playback. According to Yamaha manuals for current AVRs, shuffle is supported for USB and server.

My portable 1TB (USB3) drive, uses less than ~3 watts, it's cheap on power, and has ~20k of music files in a simple folder-structured artist->album(s)->...track/filename, from A-Z.
And my 2.1 (Stereo) N-R803 Receiver, although a bit old, loads it no problem, and my scrolling is fast and responsive, with no lag via the ir Remote, whereas a dedicated NAS SMB/NFS server is definitely gonna eat up +30 Watts at the very least, continuoulsy 24/7, unless wake-on lan ...?
Also, my Remote and Reciever buttons can do it all, like shuffle, ..., without the need for mobile/cellphone/tablets apps to control it.
(my older Onkyo TX-8050 took forever to scroll thru' anything).

If someones requires more than 2.1 channels, then fine, an AVR is the only way to go, plus AVR offers the benefit of hdmi, ...
But I don't need multichannel, I also don't bother with the endless number of (paid or otherwise) streaming services. I listen to headphones or my 2.1 speakers, and that seems to be what this R-N803 review was all about.
That said, many "newer" AVRs and newer Networked (Stereo) Receivers require networked connectivity and control, and not just via mobile/cellphone/tablet apps, but also via NAS/DLNA servers ..., (manufacturers are quietly killing the ir Remote by limiting its functions), but again, each to their own whims, and needs.

imho, ALL (newer) Receivers, (be they AVR or 2ch, ...) are heading towards a networked-only environment, as mentioned above, the ir Remote is becoming as obsolete as the Audio-CDs/DVDs/Blu-rays. -and look what happened to them.?!
But of course, there will always be extremely expensive niche (seperate) Hi-Fi Audio components for those that can afford it.

I'm actually thinking of finally dumping our Audio-CD/DVD-A/BD-A Player(s), (once I convert our discs to lossless flac, ...), and going for a DMP-A6, or a used CXN V2, (or newer), to suit ALL of my storage and media-player/audio flac/semi-pre-amp DAC needs.?
Sadly, this also may mean investing in a small (android) Tablet to control them, depending on which one, but that's yet another gamblin' story.

 

[popej]

whereas a dedicated NAS SMB/NFS server is definitely gonna eat up +30 Watts at the very least, continuoulsy 24/7,

My router takes about 5W and works 24/7. I have connected a SSD drive to it, which is used for Samba, DLNA and FTP. No need for dedicated NAS.

manufacturers are quietly killing the ir Remote by limiting its functions

I would rather not browse 1TB drive with IR remote and single line display

 

[ZolaIII]

@popej phone app not embedded display but I don't see purpose over DLNA server.

 

[popej]

DLNA is what is called by Yamaha "server". You can find "server" as a source in phone app. It is a way to share music files over LAN.

 

[scjet13]

Well, here's a Quick and sad verified fact-check regarding my Yamaha R-N803 stereo (network) receiver:

Any local (USB/fat32 drive) is sadly limited to ONLY a maximum of 499 playable files, (per folder), on the Yamaha R-N803. !?
(and yes, I have the latest firmware for my Yamaha R-N803).
The Remote for my Yamaha is a dog's breakfast at best, -yes, it's that bad.
Even my much older Onkyo TX-8050, or Marantz CD-6004 via (local) USB, could play well over +500 song files easily in either alpha-numeric or shuffle mode, (in just one root folder), Remote and all.

But, thankfully, my Yamaha R-N803 does have a much better sound quality, (highs and lows) driving my Klipsh's, than the Onkyo ever had, but it's definitely a false positive, or a true negative on Yamaha's ridiculous inability to play a very small and limited number of local (song) files, be they flac, mp3,...
But maybe that's why ALL Receiver manufacturers, (especially today), are onboard for everyone to dish out even more $1000's for specialized Media Network/USB/pre-amp components. ?
...jus sayin'

And, in fact, these days, they ALL could easily make a decent Network/Stereo 2.1 Receiver with built-in functional playability galore, including a quality built-in DAC, decent local USB storage playabilities, ..., but hey, the Consumer knows least eh.?

I very much appreciate the detailed audio tests of audio components here, but we also need to test ALL (claimed, and unclaimed) features, no matter how small, and many can be easily and quickly verified, and all without the need for a DLNA/NAS server, no. ?

 

[popej]

ONLY a maximum of 499 playable files, (per folder), on the Yamaha R-N803. !?

It should be like 24h continuous playback. Yamaha probably didn't expect complaints. Onkyo/Pioneer should support 20000 files. One month?
Anyway, it is rather lack of good algorithm for random playback than folder limit problem. I currently listen to $40 streamer, which doesn't have folder limits and can randomly play music from multiple folders (well, I haven't tried yet). But it is a solution that you have already rejected.

 

[scjet13]

... I currently listen to $40 streamer, which doesn't have folder limits and can randomly play music from multiple folders (well, I haven't tried yet). But it is a solution that you have already rejected.

As I've explicitly mentioned in my previous posts I'm interested in a (stereo-only) Receiver, with a decent internal DAC, that can play my usb flash-drives and small storage drives "locally" from the Receiver itself (USB-A) port. I'm not interested in (payable) network streamers such as amazon, spotify, ..., or whoever, nor building a networked/NAS/Samba server just to play my music files.
You mentioned your "$40 streamer, which doesn't have folder limits and can randomly play music from multiple folders (well, I haven't tried yet)" , ok great. so this $40 streamer, -can I control random/shuffle playback from it and do it from a local usb-flash-drive storage connected to my (Yamaha) Receiver via a Remote, or do I need a cell-phone app, ..., and if so, then can you please tell me more about the make/model of your $40 streamer.?
thanks.