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Yamaha R-S202
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
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Yamaha R-S202 — compact, musical stereo receiver
The R-S202 delivers a surprisingly full, musical presentation and modern convenience in a compact chassis. Both Jim Milton (HomeTheaterHifi) and What Hi‑Fi? praise its even‑handed, smooth tonality and built‑in Bluetooth, making it an effortless entry point to two‑channel hi‑fi. Smooth, musical presentation is a consistent theme.
Sonically it offers controlled, punchy bass, a warm midrange and sweet treble, plus a believable soundstage with depth and imaging. With 140W per channel the receiver provides real headroom and drive for larger speakers.
Finished with a brushed‑aluminium faceplate and weighty controls, the R-S202 suits listeners who want simple, engaging music playback from phones, tuners or CD sources; at about $220 it represents strong value for a well‑built, feature‑focused stereo receiver.
Pros
- Even‑handed, musical sound with good detail and balanced tonality.
- Solid build and finish — brushed‑aluminium faceplate and weighty controls that feel above the price class.
- Built‑in Bluetooth streaming makes setup simple and delivers usable everyday streaming quality.
- Generous power and headroom (140W/ch) — can drive larger towers to loud, controlled levels.
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Cons
- Not as crisp in timing and ultimate dynamics as some rivals.
- Lacks some modern hi‑fi conveniences (no aptX, no built‑in phono stage, limited digital features).
- FM reception was described as mediocre in at least one review.
Sound Quality
89/100
Dynamics
89/100
With 140Wpc power and reviewers noting it can drive large towers to loud levels, the R-S202 shows strong dynamic capability and headroom for its class. HomeTheaterHifi reported it drove F12 towers to very loud levels without trouble, while What Hi‑Fi observed it lacked a little snap and ultimate timing versus some rivals. That mix points to very good dynamics for a mid-priced solid-state receiver, though not reference-class.
Soundstage Imaging
88/100
HomeTheaterHifi praised a believable, wide and deep soundstage with convincing decay and space; imaging was described as capturing the recorded acoustic. What Hi‑Fi's comments focus more on tonal balance than imaging, but their positive notes on presentation support competent staging. The unit delivers a convincing, well-spread soundstage for music listening at this price.
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Build Quality
90/100
What Hi‑Fi explicitly praised Yamaha's build care, citing the weighty volume dial and brushed aluminium fascia as evidence it isn't cheaply made. The receiver appears solidly constructed and feels like a step above bargain components. Construction and finish are impressive for the price band.
Features Connectivity
84/100
The R-S202 offers Bluetooth (SBC/AAC) and an FM tuner; reviewers emphasize Bluetooth streaming as a key convenience. It lacks advanced networking, high-end DACs, phono, or extensive digital inputs mentioned in the reviews, so features are better than bare minimum but still modest. Score reflects baseline capability plus built-in Bluetooth.
Value for Money
90/100
At about $220 reviewers present the R-S202 as a strong value — What Hi‑Fi calls it a capable, comparably-priced partner for speakers and highlights its worthiness for loud, enjoyable listening. No reviewer called it a bargain-basher but sentiment is clearly positive: good performance and build for the price.
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