that’s great It’s time to step up with stereo sound. While multi-speaker formats like Dolby Atmos are getting all the attention, you have more options than ever before when it comes to building an all-in-one stereo or 2.1 system that will improve everything from your turntable to your TV.
With so many stereo streaming amplifiers and receivers popping up in the audio world (and so are a ton of powered bookshelf speakers), it can be hard to know where to start. The R-N1000A easily solves that problem. One step below Yamaha’s flagship model, the R-N2000A, the R-N1000A is pricier but still affordable, offering versatile connectivity, great performance and solid ease of use.
In the streaming era, you might expect a traditional audio brand to deliver consistent performance across inputs, but as our extensive testing has demonstrated, juxtaposing traditional audiophile components with conveniences like Wi-Fi and HDMI ARC can be a challenge. The N1000A proves that it’s possible to have it all in one box, delivering exceptional consistency in a powerful and downright enjoyable package tailored for the modern stereo era.
Old school, new curriculum
When I pulled the big, sleek R-N1000A out of the packaging, my first thought was, where is the display on this thing? Don’t get me wrong, I love the shiny front face and tactile selector knob on this receiver, especially the silver model I reviewed. But even the coolest retro designs have to make modern compromises.
It wasn’t until I powered it up that I realized the unassuming black strip at the base was the display, a small but easy-to-read guide to sources, volume levels, and other settings. It’s not as useful or versatile as the larger screens on more expensive streaming amps like Rotel’s RA-5000 (7/10, WIRED Recommended) or Naim’s Uniti Atom (8/10, WIRED Recommended), but it gets the job done without ruining the vintage aesthetic. It also helps that Yamaha’s MusicCast app, required for Wi-Fi setup, displays useful information like album art and the resolution of your digital files.
Photo: Ryan Wanniata
Style aside, the R-N1000A is built for performance. It uses Yamaha’s TopART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Tech) design, with a “symmetrical circuit layout” and “special resin” to block vibrations. A double-bottom chassis with 1mm steel damping plates and anti-resonance feet further suppresses unwanted noise. The unit’s vented frame weighs 27 pounds and is over 6 inches tall, over 17 inches wide, and 15.5 inches deep, so you’ll need plenty of space on your console.
While the R-N1000A does not feature the massive toroidal transformer found in the R-N2000A (and other more expensive competitors), its high-performance custom transformers and blocking capacitors provide powerful A/B amplification with 100 watts of continuous power per channel at 8 ohms and 140 watts of peak power. Yamaha does not publish continuous power specs at 4 ohms, but claims 220 watts per channel at peak power. The 384 kHz/32-bit SABRE ES9090Q DAC supports WAV and FLAC files up to 384 kHz and DSD files up to 11.2 MHz, providing top-class high-resolution digital transfer of high-resolution sources.
Ready to go
Stereo network receivers and amplifiers seem to be popping up all the time, but you’d be hard pressed to find one with better connectivity than the R-N1000A. The rear panel features three dedicated digital inputs (two digital, one coaxial), a USB-B connection, AM and FM tuners, three RCA line inputs (one for a CD player), HDMI ARC for your TV, a subwoofer output, Ethernet, and a stereo pre-out for a second amplifier. There’s also a solid phono input, but I prefer Orbit Theory’s built-in preamp. On the front is a 1/4-inch headphone output.
A handy second speaker zone, located below the gold-plated A-zone stereo terminals, lets you connect two pairs of speakers designated for 8 ohms only at the same time. One other note about impedance: if, like me, you connect a pair of 4- or 6-ohm speakers, Yamaha recommends going into the advanced settings and changing the impedance. It’s a bit of a pain, but it only takes a few seconds.
If you have other MusicCast devices, the app lets you create additional playback zones from wirelessly connected sources. You’ll also find a host of built-in streaming services, including internet radio stations, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer, and Sirius XM. AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth 4.2 complete the wireless suite. Notable lack of Chromecast, Android users will also have no trouble using it, as many services are supported, including both Spotfy Connect and Tidal Connect. The receiver is “Roon Tested” for Roon’s dedicated server system.
