Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

As of this writing (March 2018), I have owned this Yamaha R-N303BL Stereo Receiver for three months. UPs: Sound is very clear and powerful (worthy of 5 Stars). In other words, just what you would expect & demand from Yamaha. The digital optical Audio input link provided is both rare and essential to my home A/V setup, which is stereo only. All ROKU & DVD A/V streams go into the TV via HDMI cables, and the R-N303BL amps all sound coming from the TV via the optical cable (LG TV to R-N303BL). TV speakers are kept OFF. I believe "lightspeed" digital transfer of TV Audio to the R-N303BL via optical cable is necessary for proper sync of the Audio with the Video portions of TV programs (e.g., speech in perfect sync with lip movements, etc). DOWNs: The R-N303BL panel display is minimal, both in content, size, and brightness. I have 20/25 vision yet cannot read it sitting 15 feet away. Front panel controls are also minimal. The remote has 37 small buttons, none numeric, all labeled with even smaller print. An additional 5-button bulls-eye directional control is centered among them. Managing the AM/FM tuners without a tuning knob on the panel, or numeric controls of any kind anywhere is a super pain. Only worthy of 3 Stars here. SMARTs: Only 2 Stars here due because of the high futz factor during setup (DO NOT send a R-N303BL to your grandma 500 miles away). Setup of Wi-Fi & Bluetooth functions for the R-N303BL was slow & awkward and definitely fell into the reluctant-to-work category. Setup of the MusicCast app (free for my LG Android smart phone) was equally annoying, but in the end it all came together. So much so that the R-N303BL apparently was aware (via its Wi-Fi & internet connectivity) that it needed a firmware update. The clever R-N303BL so informed the MusicCast phone app, which in turn apprised me of its need on the app display. Upon my approval, MusicCast automatically engaged the software download, installation, and re-boot of the R-N303BL, all flawlessly and hands-free, in about 20 minutes. I was amazed. MUSICCAST: 4 Stars. The app is free & full featured. It claims to be able to control wireless speakers (must be MusicCast-capable) in multiple rooms (via the R-N303BL which feeds them audio streams via local Wi-Fi links). I did not test this feature, but I expect setting up the remote speaker links would be equally futz-ful. MusicCast does very well in organizing over-air AM/FM, and on-phone audio. Ditto Internet streaming radio such as Pandora. For superior frequency response, such streams go directly to the R-N303BL via Internet & Wi-Fi, not through the phones Bluetooth. MusicCast allows many custom audio feeds such as Favorites, Recent, Play Lists etc. One of the Questions sometimes asked is if the Yamaha R-N303 can 'stream amazon prime music unlimited.' I don't know by direct experience but If it can not, that is probably a decision of Amazon's rather than a shortcoming of the R-N303. The Yamaha R-N303 BL Stereo Receiver CAN receive any streaming audio service that is on the internet. Here's how: The Yamaha MusiCast "master-app" for Android (and iPhones too) drives the R-N303 via your home Wi-Fi and includes many built-in "sub-app" buttons for Napster, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer. There is also a "Net Radio" button that can find and play internet audio streams worldwide (you can choose by genre, auto, or manual search). All that said, I am an Amazon Prime Member and the cannot find an Amazon Prime Music stream anywhere with the MusicCast search function. But, wait, Amazon claims their Alexa device can control the Yamaha 'net receivers: MusicCast Bottom line is 4 Stars overall. I would buy the R-N303BL again. The longer I live with it, the more I love it. 20190917 Update: I AM A BELIEVER. When I fired up the Yamaha MusiCast app on my Android phone, it immediately informed me that the Yamaha R-N303BL Receiver needed a firmware update. I assented and 10 minutes later the fully automated process was done using my home WiFi. Not only did the amp come right up afterwards, but I noticed immediately that the Pandora sub-app on MusiCast had also been updated to full visual mode, including a live list of my personally curated Pandora stations. It is reassuring to know that, almost two years after my initial purchase, Yamaha was still actively supporting their excellent R-N303BL product. 20200423 Update: The MusiCast app has been updated again. On an Android tablet, MusiCast plays Pandora full screen and with full control including List of your own Pandora Stations, Thumbs Up & Down, and album cover. Good backup remote replacement for most amp functions. This makes my 4-Star rating go to almosr 5 !! You can buy the R-N303BL with my highest recommendation.