Although home theater receivers are used for movie and music listening in most homes, you may prefer a dedicated two-channel stereo receiver for serious music listening.

If you listen to digital and streaming music sources, check out the Yamaha R-N602 and R-N402. These two-channel stereo receivers provide all the traditional features you would expect, plus cutting-edge technology.

Yamaha R-N602

With balanced sound and lots of connectivity options, the R-N602 is a flexible receiver for serious two-channel stereo music listening and a potential core for a multi-room audio system.

Yamaha officially discontinued the R-N402. However, it may be available on clearance or used from third parties. Yamaha replaced the R-N402 with the R-N303.

  • Plenty of power: 80 WPC.

  • Continuously variable loudness control maintains low- and high-end response at low volumes.

  • Lots of digital connections—USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, MusicCast, Ethernet—but no video in/out.

  • Not enabled for Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround.

  • Hi-res audio isn’t available for streaming.

  • More powerful than the R-N602: 100 WPC with the same measurement standards.

  • Fewer audio input options—no dedicated phono/turntable input and no subwoofer output.

  • No continuously variable loudness control.

  • No video in/out.

Core Features

The Yamaha R-N602 has these core features:

  • Power and amplification: The Yamaha R-N602 is rated at 80 watts-per-channel (WPC) into two channels with a .04 THD (measured from 40 Hz to 20 kHz). This means the R-N602 provides more than enough power output to fill a small or medium-sized room.
  • Audio inputs: The R-N602 provides three sets of analog stereo inputs and two sets of line outputs (which can be used for audio recording). The R-N602 also includes a dedicated phono input for connecting a vinyl record turntable.
  • Digital audio inputs: Added audio inputs include two digital optical and two digital coaxial audio inputs. The digital optical/coaxial inputs accept only two-channel PCM. These inputs are not Dolby Digital or DTS Digital Surround enabled.
  • Speaker connections: The R-N602 provides two sets of left and right speaker terminals that allow for an A/B speaker configuration. It also has a preamp output to connect a powered subwoofer. For private listening, a front-panel headphone jack is provided.
  • Continuously variable loudness control: This control is different than the volume, bass, and treble controls. Its function is to compensate for the loss of bass and high-frequency response when lowering the volume control. In other words, you can get better bass and high-frequency response when listening to lower volume levels. Because it is continuously adjustable (rather than a simple on/off switch), it is more precise with your needs. The loudness control is also useful in bringing more out bass response, in relation to the mid-range and highs, when using small speakers.

Advanced Features

As is traditional with stereo and home theater receivers, the R-N602 includes a standard AM/FM tuner. However, in the digital age, this receiver provides some advanced features that support expanded music listening options beyond familiar sources.

  • USB: A front-mounted USB port for the direct connection of compatible USB devices (such as flash drives) is included.
  • Network and internet connectivity: An Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi provides access to internet radio (Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius/XM, Spotify, and Tidal) and audio content from DLNA compatible devices.
  • Bluetooth: For more content access flexibility, the R-N602 includes built-in bi-directional Bluetooth. This means that the R-N602 can wirelessly receive and playback content from Bluetooth-enabled source devices (smartphones and tablets) and transmit physically connected audio sources to Bluetooth-enabled wireless speakers and headsets. The R-N602 can also playback content using Apple Airplay.
  • High-resolution audio: The R-N602 is compatible with high-resolution audio files (audio files with higher audio resolution than MP3 or CD) if the files are downloaded to, and stored on, a compatible USB or network-connected device (not streamable in real time from the internet). Compatible file formats for playback include DSD (2.8 MHz/5.6 MHz), FLAC, WAV, AIFF (192 kHz/24-bit), and Apple Lossless (96 kHz/24-bit).
  • MusicCast: The R-N602 also features the Yamaha MusicCast multi-room audio system platform, enabling the receiver to send, receive, and share music content between compatible Yamaha components. In addition to the R-N602, this includes select Yamaha home theater receivers, wireless speakers, soundbars, and powered wireless speakers.
  • Alexa support: As part of MusicCast, Alexa Voice Control is supported through two Alexa Skills: The MusicCast Skill and MusicCast Smart Home Skill. You also need an Echo device (such as a Dot). The MusicCast Skill provides control of specific MusicCast features such as managing playlists and favorites and linking to other MusicCast products located throughout your house. The MusicCast Smart Home Skill provides voice commands for control functions, such as receiver power on/off, volume, and playback (play, pause, and skip).

Yamaha R-N402

The R-N402 is a network stereo receiver that has a lot in common with the R-N602. However, there are some key differences, such as:

  • More stated power output: 100 WPC using the same measurement standards as the R-N602.Fewer audio input options: one digital optical, one digital coaxial, and four analog stereo input pairs.No dedicated phono/turntable input.No subwoofer output.No continuously variable loudness control.USB input is only compatible with USB flash drives (no USB connection support for the iPhone, iPad, or iPod).

The Bottom Line

If you have an old, outdated stereo receiver, or are tired of listening to poor quality audio on your smartphone, and don’t need the surround sound audio and video processing capabilities offered by home theater receivers, the Yamaha R-N602 and R-N402 network stereo receivers are two options to consider.

You can plug in the audio outputs from video devices, such as TVs, Blu-ray Disc and DVD players, and cable and satellite boxes, to either receiver. However, the R-N602 and R-N402 do not provide any video input/output connections. These receivers are designed for audio-only listening in a two-channel environment.

These receivers provide the connectivity and audio quality you need for serious music listening from traditional analog audio sources, as well as expanding music listening options into the digital domain, with the added bonus of streaming and wireless multi-room audio capabilities.

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