Yamaha R-S202
The Yamaha R-S202 brings a warm, full-bodied stereo sound with smooth treble, punchy yet controlled bass and an inviting, fatigue-free character. What Hi-Fi? highlights its musical detail and Bluetooth convenience, while HomeTheaterHifi found a convincing soundstage and effortless everyday usability. A richly satisfying foundation for an affordable two-channel system.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
87/100
Build Quality
85/100
Features Connectivity
86/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Warm, smooth and full-bodied voicing delivers relaxed, non-fatiguing listening with satisfying bass weight.
Believable soundstage, natural tonal balance and controlled bass make it engaging across varied music.
Built-in Bluetooth is convenient and was found to sound close to CD for casual streaming.
Cons
Timing, large dynamic swings and organisation lag behind stronger budget rivals.
No built-in phono stage, DAC or subwoofer output limits system flexibility.
Spring-clip speaker terminals accept only bare wire and restrict cable choice.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 87/100
Reviewers consistently describe a smooth, warm and easy-going sound that remains detailed enough to be engaging. Its strongest suit is fatigue-free musicality and satisfying bass weight, while timing and large-scale dynamic contrasts are less assured than the best similarly priced alternatives.
Transparency Resolution
87/100
HomeTheaterHifi heard a detailed, natural presentation with no frequency range pushed forward, while What Hi-Fi found enough detail to hold its interest. Analogholic also reports decent retrieval and smooth, silky treble, though the overall voicing prioritises ease over forensic analysis.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The R-S202's warm, full-bodied and mildly laid-back balance is a recurring theme across the reviews. Reviewers praise its sweet, non-harsh treble, full midrange, warm vocals and forgiving nature with bright systems or less-than-perfect recordings.
Dynamics
83/100
It can drive suitable speakers loudly, with HomeTheaterHifi finding no trouble reaching very high levels and Nemo Propaganda calling it surprisingly dynamic. However, What Hi-Fi says it loses ground in timing and dynamic expression to the Onkyo A-9010, while Analogholic finds big swings somewhat restricted.
Soundstage Imaging
87/100
HomeTheaterHifi heard believable width and depth, including convincing room reverberation and decay on acoustic recordings. Nemo Propaganda likewise enjoyed a notably large presentation, although the available reviews offer less detailed discussion of image precision and layering.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
85/100
What Hi-Fi found more care than expected in the weighted volume control and brushed-aluminium fascia, describing the receiver as far from cheaply assembled. Other reviewers call the construction decent for the price and note a reasonably substantial transformer, without claiming luxury-level execution.
Features Connectivity
86/100
The R-S202 combines analogue stereo operation with AM/FM radio, SBC/AAC Bluetooth, a full-size remote, bass and treble controls, and A/B speaker switching for two pairs of speakers. Bluetooth is repeatedly described as convenient and reliable, but there is no onboard DAC, phono stage, headphone socket, network streaming or digital input provision.
Value for Money
94/100
At the roughly $149-$169 street prices cited by Zero Fidelity, Analogholic and Nemo Propaganda, reviewers see the Yamaha as unusually affordable and easy to recommend. Nemo Propaganda calls value a major strength, especially given the tuner, Bluetooth, tone controls and competent all-round sound; the supplied current price of $249.95 still leaves it as a sensibly positioned entry-level receiver.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Bluetooth
- Yes (SBC / AAC)
- Maximum Power(8 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD)
- 140 W + 140 W
- High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms)
- 125 W / 150 W / 165 W / 180 W
- Frequency Response
- 10 Hz – 100 kHz (0 ± 0.5 dB / 0 ± 3.0 dB)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (CD to Sp Out, 20 Hz-20 kHz)
- 0.2%
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (CD)
- 100 dB (S: 500 mV)
- Input Sensitivity (CD)
- 500 mV / 47 k-ohms
- FM 50dB Quieting Sensitivity (IHF, 1 kHz, 100% Mod., Mono)
- 3 μV (20.8 dBf)
- FM Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Mono/Stereo)
- 71 dB / 70 dB
- Standby Power Consumption
- 0.5 W
- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 17-1/8” x 5-1/2” x 12-5/8”
- Weight
- 14.8 lbs.
Manufacturer's Description — Yamaha
R-S202 Natural Sound Stereo Receiver
Yamaha, the most trusted brand in home audio, adds Bluetooth® compatibility in this Hi-Fi receiver for easy wireless access to streaming music services and music on your smartphone or other devices. Enjoy the connectivity and the outstanding and legendary quality of Yamaha natural sound.
- Advanced circuitry design
- Bluetooth® to your favorite streaming music services
- 40 station FM/AM preset tuning
- Brushed aluminum finish and simplistic design
- Speaker selector for two systems
- Simple remote control layout
- Headphone terminal
Heritage of Technical Expertise
Rooted in technology and expertise. The R-S202 was created from years of experience and technological expertise in receiver design. With a music heritage that runs over 125 years deep, our passion and reputation for Hi-Fi was born from the music side and extended into electronics. The concept of natural sound is based on reproducing music as it would be experienced live. Built with scrupulous care from the circuit design to basic sound reproduction, the R-S202 reproduces high-quality, musically-rich sound for the entry level consumer.
High-Power Output
Never peak. The R-S202, with two channels of 100 W high-power output* that are above its class, has a high-quality sound design that minimizes the length of signal routes and optimizes the circuit layout. Positioning the power transformer near the amp circuit reduces power loss while improving peak power supply capacity to enable high volume output. The signal ground and power supply ground connect at one point, eliminating mutual interference to achieve a higher S/N ratio. The result is sound clarity stripped of noise and other signals.
* 8 ohms, 40 Hz - 20 kHz, 0.2% THD
Bluetooth® to Streaming Music Services
Connect wirelessly. The R-S202 provides Bluetooth functionality to let you enjoy streaming music from smart phones and other devices. Use your device to select the songs from your library and hear them with the legendary quality of Yamaha sound.
40 Station AM/FM Preset Tuning
All your stations. Register up to 40 favorite FM and AM stations, then conveniently select them from either the receiver or the remote control. Auto preset lets you automatically search for and register FM stations. Frequencies appear on the display, so when you want to listen to a new station, you can quickly and easily dial it in.
Simple and Sophisticated Design
Less is more. The R-S202 inherits the simple, sophisticated design style for which Yamaha Hi-Fi audio is famous. With an elegant brushed finish, it harmonizes beautifully with other audio equipment. The Yamaha commitment to beauty and sophistication are demonstrated in the finish and ease of control, giving the user a premium audio experience.
Speaker Selector
Check one, two. Equipped with speaker terminals for two systems, this receiver lets you connect two sets of speakers. The speaker selector makes it easy to switch between outputs, allowing you to hear the sound from one speaker system (A or B) or both (A+B). Try the Yamaha NS-6490 bookshelf speakers and the YST-SW216 powered subwoofer with the R-S202 for an ultimate stereo system.
Power Saving
Go Green. A power management function automatically switches to standby mode. It can be set to two, four, eight or 12 hours or turned off. Power consumption during standby is only 0.5 W, achieving good energy saving performance.
Other Notable Features
• Simple remote control layout
• Headphone terminal
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Yamaha R-S202
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 138 Quaiduson — online and in-store — Lille, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
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