Yamaha R-S500BL 75W x 2 High Power Output A/V Receiver, 40 AM/FM Station Presets

2018-07-14T20:00:00

Last year my old receiver expired and I chose the R-S 500 to replace it; after almost one year of use I am delighted with the product. It sounds much better than a 30 year old receiver. I have two sets of speakers in two different rooms and am happy with the quality of the sound in both sets of speakers. Mostly used to listen to KCSM radio, but tried out the CD player and the LP turntable as well.

juliana

Originally posted at

2017-02-17T19:00:00

Love the receiver so far.

shiftydoc

Originally posted at

2017-01-30T19:00:00

A very good stereo receiver. Has great sound quality. Very glad that Yamaha stills makes a good 2.1 channel stereo receiver for music enthusiasts.

Bob

Originally posted at

2017-01-07T19:00:00

Great unit. Many input connects, easy controls, good remote. You need the r-s700 though if you want an equalizer. I missed that. Not sure why it's not on this unit/model.

Mike s.

Originally posted at

2016-12-01T19:00:00

This replaces a still fully working and excellent Yamaha RX-497 that I moved from our living room to an office/work space I have. I've now owned three Yamaha stereo receivers and can't say enough about them. The r-s500 continues what I've found with this line...refinements that make controls smoother, improved FM reception and superb sound quality.

MC

Originally posted at

2016-09-06T20:00:00

I am currently using the R-S500 in my home office to power my turntable. It is paired with Klipsch bookshelf speakers and the sound it great. It was so easy to setup and use. I'm glad I decided on the R-S500 instead of the competitor's receiver that I also considered. No problems so far.

Don

Originally posted at

2016-03-15T20:00:00

I made the mistake some years ago of replacing a dying receiver with a "Home Theater 5.1" receiver. If you use your system exclusively for "stereo music" listening, don't make that mistake yourself. Get a "stereo receiver" like the R-500. I've owned five receivers, a 1980's Yamaha (LOVED it), a so-so Technics, a "5.1" receiver (name withheld) and an Onkyo (excellent), but my first love was Yamaha, and for the most part, they are as good as they ever were, based on this unit. Yamaha has always billed their receivers as "Natural Sound". They are entitled to - and this receiver is possibly a new high in that area. Excellent sound, case closed on that. I fell in love with Yamaha's wonderful "continuously variable loudness control" in 1983, and that has not waned. GREAT to have that back again! Though the plastic paddles and "squishable" rotary knobs are a disappointment. They are not elegant. METAL is elegant in this usage. Display, if a bit retro, is well done, and a big plus for the 3-level dimmer switch! But the rotary "Select" knob has just enough "detente" for each function to make it easy, and I was very glad to see that it is not continuous! When you reach the end of the "Function" line, it goes no further - you have to reverse direction, and that is as it should be. But I'm less than enthusiastic about the volume control. The arbitrary "decibels" (+/-) are fairly meaningless to most people, and I make no claim to understanding it fully myself. I do not use Bluetooth, SiriusXM, "trigger" or any other of the "nowadays" features, hence cannot comment on them. I do not use the "Pure Direct" switch, so cannot comment on that, either. The biggest "thumbs down" for this receiver (to me) is the absence of a "Tape Monitor" loop. As Charlie Brown would say: "AUUUUGGGHHH!" The only thing that still made me buy this receiver is that a quick study of other manufacturers similar receivers showed that NONE OF THEM are including a "Tape Monitor" loop nowadays. Enough negativity. What else besides the overall sound is great? The tuners! One more ding: The enclosed FM antenna is marginal. My extant FM antenna setup (NOT high-tech by any means!)worked much better. But given that, the FM tuner is wonderful! Mild "hissy" stations now come in clear as a bell! AND to my astonishment, the AM tuner is great! It is probably the best AM tuner I have ever heard in a receiver. Three available line-level inputs over and above the Phono, Tape and CD is a nice touch. But like others, I wonder: Why can't you tape "Line 3"? But add up all the pros and cons, this is a truly excellent receiver, as is. Aside from my carefully considered gripes, you get your money's worth in spades.

Melos A.

Originally posted at

2016-01-28T19:00:00

It does what it was meant to do. It' as if it wasn't thee. As far as I am concerned it couldn' be any better. KK

KK

Originally posted at

2015-12-17T19:00:00

Few stereo receivers have proper tape monitor loop to handle an outboard equalizer. I put Bose Eq on Tape and use selectable record out to select source. I put cassette tape on Line 1 which has inputs and outputs. Downside is can't select source via remote but use manual record out selector. R-S700 has pre out and main in, so Eq hookup is easy but not switchable for headphones, etc. Great receiver for the money.

Brad W.

Originally posted at

2015-08-10T20:00:00

I am very pleased with the unit. Nice and simple for me who has no need for home theater with speakers all over the room. Sound is excellent and power more than adequate for the size of my living room

Citrus G.

Originally posted at

2015-01-18T19:00:00

Drives 4 speakers, 2 each in 2 different rooms, use 2 CD players, a tape deck and phono only issue was getting the speaker wire onto the posts but this was not too hard

Charlie

Originally posted at

2014-12-08T19:00:00

Old School easy to use good power and sound.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Originally posted at

2014-06-21T20:00:00

The receiver I have been looking for. Easy to set up. Easy controls especially the remote. If I can figure this out anyone can.

Big M.

Originally posted at

2014-06-11T20:00:00

I used this to replace a 20 year old Yamaha that was failing badly. Until I set this one up I did not realize how badly the older unit was failing. The sound is crisp and clean. I haven't even begun to push the volume as even at low volume settings the room is filled with sound. I am currently running four sets of speakers using an external switch to choose those speakers I want to use. Even when all four are being used there is no diminution of power. I am very pleased with the sound, with the ease of set up, and power output.

LastOstrogoth

Originally posted at

2013-12-21T19:00:00

Bought online from retailer. Very happy with my purchase. Easy set up and great sound.

Jr

Originally posted at

2013-11-20T19:00:00

out of the box set up was easy even for me and adding to it is very simple and self explanatory

jdriver

Originally posted at

2013-07-24T20:00:00

Very easy to unpack, set up and install even in home made wood cabinets. This was installed into a black walnut dry sink with speakers on both sides of cabinet, and the Yamaha CD s300 cd player was added to it. Gives a great sound to an 18th century English dining room. No one knows where the music flows from behind the closed doors! Perfect size, and the control design are easy to use for people with neuropathy. Power output is excellent, and being able to save as many station settings is a positive plus! I bought this after studying other models and made the right choice.

TattooLeather

Originally posted at

2013-05-15T20:00:00

From the "record out selector" to the many analog inputs (including phono) this receiver is the perfect match of design and build quality. Yes, the digital display only turns off with the "pure direct" switch turned on...not a big deal. Yamaha has remained a great source of quality audio gear and the RS 500 reflects that.

jrj

Originally posted at

2013-05-03T20:00:00

This is a great choice in a small field of 2 channel receivers. Sound is very clean, no background noise whatsoever. An excellent value. Seems to be well made.

geedee

Originally posted at

2013-01-18T19:00:00

This is to replace my beloved Sansui 800 circa 1969. I thought I would lose some of the analog "warmth" to which I was accustomed, but no. Excellent sound with a mix of old Marantz and new Polk speakers.

Paul

Originally posted at

2012-12-13T19:00:00

I love it! Call me old school but this is how music should sound! I have floor speakers (Pioneer 12" woofer 4 way) This amp makes those speakers sound better than ever. I was planning on new speakers after another pay check but no need!

Yamaha f.

Originally posted at

2012-09-30T20:00:00

I purchased the R-S500 to replace my 30 year old Yamaha receiver that finally died. It was easy to set up and I found the iPod connection easy to make and easy to control.

The K.

Originally posted at

2012-09-02T20:00:00

I would buy it again in a heartbeat!

Vinyl D.

Originally posted at

2012-07-26T20:00:00

The sound produced is amazingly spacious, airy and clean, with unusual channel separation. It did take a while to learn the loudness control, which is different in operation from the Yamaha receiver I had in the '80s and 90s. And the sound is a little bass-light and bright for my taste. FM is very sensitive but required a directional antenna to cope with multipath. All the switchable inputs one could ask for, and including a real phono input. A great basic 2-channel receiver with exceptional sound quality.

Phil

Originally posted at

2012-07-26T20:00:00

This unit is powering a pair of Sony 200W speaker towers. I use it as a old style stereo. 1 pair of speakers and no sub anything. The clarity even at highest vol. is amazing! When I first got it going I wa splaying with it and kept cranking the vol. up. To my suprise it only seemed to get so loud and then level off. Found out how wrong I was when I went outside and the music was still CLEAR. Overall I would definately reccomend to anyone.

J G.

Originally posted at

2012-03-01T19:00:00

Superb sound. I have been a Yamaha customer since 1979. Have numerous components wired into the receiver and no problem with Bluray, phono, dvd player and tape deck.Excellent costruction and hope to get same length of use out of it that my earlier versions had.

Madjack

Originally posted at

2012-02-07T19:00:00

This R-S500 is a replacement for a 43 year old receiver. Love the channel presets and remote (as compared to the old manual operation). I was a bit confused about the loudness control as my old unit had a simple button marked loudness that gave the low end a boost a low volume levels. The continuous loudness control seemed to just lower the overall volume but I finally realized I needed to compensate buy increasing the volume after setting it. Once understood it works nicely.

Larry

Originally posted at

2012-02-04T19:00:00

This is a replacement for 3 separate pieces (power amp, preamp, receiver) of tube gear over 4 decades old. Like the clean power & sound and basic connectivity. Would have liked to have had digital audio inputs and per source volume preferences. Loudness control less than intuitive and doesn't work like the same control on older stereo equipment. Typical solid Yamaha build (have several of their pro audio pieces) and would recommend this to someone else.

Jack

Originally posted at

2012-01-24T19:00:00

This is the 2nd Yamaha receiver I've owned. The first was back in the 80's. Once it finally died I made do with lesser products. I-pod computer speakers playing files from the PC etc . I determined to own a REAL receiver again . So I turned to Yamaha. I am completely blown away by this receiver. Clarity thru all ranges from Bass to treble. I would recommend this item to all poeple looking for quality and good price

J G.

Originally posted at

2012-01-15T19:00:00

This is my fourth Yamaha amplifier, and it was purchased on a special trip to a major city at an incredible bargain. This amp is used to test out home studio recordings put to CD for sound quality, and with this you hear every detail. The first Yamaha amplifier sadly has ceased to work, but the other two are still being used daily in home theatre applications. The R-S500 has classic good looks and performance that makes it easy to smile. Whether you are connecting good headphones or good speakers, this is one amp you will appreciate.

Sean D.

Originally posted at