There’s an ethernet port here too for connecting to the Internet-an important step for bringing in the Echo functionality. This means that you can easily feed your media into the receiver, and pass it through to another device if you choose. The I/O is pretty standard, giving you RCA, coaxial, and digital optical ins and outs. The Echo Link Amp here is a true standalone receiver, allowing you to power your passive speakers and drive a full AV system. There is a version of the Echo Link that does not feature an amp, which is a great option if you already have a stereo receiver that you love, but just want to bring smart functionality and voice controls to your setup. This essentially turns your stereo system into a smart stereo receiver. We’d have liked to see surround support for that price, but the digital and Internet-based options are a nice feature here.Īmazon’s Echo Link line of products aims to give you a bridge between your traditional audio-video equipment and Amazon’s tried-and-true Alexa voice control. For the price, it's a solid deal considering the quality of offering here. This makes the receiver a lot more versatile for streaming, and considering it supports FLAC and lossless audio, it’s great for those who have a Wi-Fi-playable, high-definition audio library. While you can connect your phone to the receiver using Bluetooth, you’ll find a lot more value using Yamaha’s MusicCast app, which allows Alexa voice control and Apple AirPlay. Other key additions are Wi-Fi and smart functionality. What’s different here is the presence of digital optical input from your TV, meaning it will assimilate more easily into a modern entertainment setup. And all the line-level analog RCA inputs are here (though there is the addition of a phono input for a vinyl-friendly system). The dual stereo speaker outputs will drive 100W of power at 8 ohms, just like the lower end model. The Yamaha R-N303BL offers a lot of the same features as the lower-end RS line of receivers, but folds in some extra functionality that might be worth the noticeably higher price tag. In short, the thing will look pretty classy in your setup. Finally, the look of the unit, while not exactly compact, manages to tread a fine line between substantial and sleek. Plus, Yamaha has included two interesting wildcard features: Bluetooth connectivity for easily connecting to your wireless-enabled devices and an eco-mode that aims to save power when you are playing media for longer hours. There’s a radio receiver on-board to allow for 40 stations of AM/FM tuning. There are 4 RCA-level inputs and 1 RCA output to extend your system to a separate receiver if you need more channels. It's a good fit for a record player setup as well as a basic TV entertainment setup. It is an amp that will power up to two pairs of passive speakers at 8 ohms for up to 100W of handling. To be clear, this unit is a true stereo receiver, not offering anything in the way of surround sound outputs or HDMI pass-through. The best thing about the 202BL is that you get a 100W/channel stereo receiver with just enough bells & whistles to feel premium at a very non-premium price, without any of the flashiness that can drive the price of your receiver way up. Yamaha provides consumers with a really nice middle-ground for stereo receivers-with enough power to drive your speaker setup and enough features to give you options-and the R-S202BL earns our top spot here because it does this all really well.
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