Yamaha R-N2000A Bench Test Results!

[gene]

The Yamaha R-N2000A is a premium 2-channel network receiver blending modern technology with a vintage-inspired design. It features a floating, balanced, MOSFET-based high-current amplifier, symmetrical construction, and is rated at 90 watts per channel into 8 ohms with both channels driven. However, my bench tests reveal the R-N2000A has some serious current drive which we pushed to the limits by testing per the new FTC standard and beyond. This is one of the ONLY receivers I've actually bench tested with 2 ohm loads and the R-N2000A happily delivered the power without excessive heat build up or mechanical stress,

Check out our grueling bench test results to see if it lives up to its high end claims.

Read: Yamaha R-N2000A Hi-Fi Receiver Bench Test Results

Listening Tests
Stay tuned for our listening comparisons between the R-N2000A and R-N1000A models to see how much of the bench tests translate to real-world audio testing. I will be testing these units with the new Arendal 1528 8-inch bookshelf speakers and Revel F328BE towers. Both loudspeakers have their inherent strengths and weaknesses and should really push the limits of these amplifiers. I suspect the low impedance drive capabilities of the R-N2000A will really benefit when paired with the Arendal 1528 bookshelf speakers, which trade sensitivity for deep bass extension.

 

[gene]

 

[Bobby Bass]

Thanks for the review and test measurements. Will be interested to see your sound comparisons with the N1000A which I’ve been considering for a second system setup. I’ve had a great experience with Yamaha receivers over the years. Happy holidays!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

@PENG and I have talked about that one 3rd party measurement that measured a Denon 3000-series AVR down to 1-ohm.

I think some people have said many times over the years that amps inside AVRs are NOT "real" amps and can't power some speakers that have "low impedance and weird phase angles".

So would this Yamaha amp be considered a real amp that could power speakers with "low impedance and weird phase angles" ?

 

[ski2xblack]

@AcuDefTechGuy , it looks good according to Genes tests, but to know for sure would require testing into such "wierd phase angles" at each tested load, a la Aczel's Power Cube measurements. This Yamaha at least has the robust build/high current capability for difficult loads.

Also, one must consider their own use case. If you have speakers with low impedance and/or wierd phase angles, lets call it 2 Ohms effective load, but your most boisterous jam out spls only require, say, 50 watts at those frequencies and load conditions, I would guess most 100w rated AVRs could do it, even those not rated into such conditions (well, at least until some thermal protection or nanny circuit kicks in).

 

[PENG]

@PENG and I have talked about that one 3rd party measurement that measured a Denon 3000-series AVR down to 1-ohm.

I think some people have said many times over the years that amps inside AVRs are NOT "real" amps and can't power some speakers that have "low impedance and weird phase angles".

So would this Yamaha amp be considered a real amp that could power speakers with "low impedance and weird phase angles" ?

We can't change the mind of people who are fixated on a few hearsay that only apply to certain use cases, such as torture tests, listening to highly compressed contents at near reference level etc. Reality is, also as we discussed before, while few amps (power, integrated, receivers) could pass the 1 ohm tests without tripping the protection circuits, most can handle speakers that dip to below 2 ohms for probably 99% of music contents people listen to. Yes, there are specific use cases, such as our member @dlaloum who has speakers that has very usual impedance/phase angle characteristics, but even in his case, he was able to use a low power Quad amp with those speakers so that defies logic because that Quad amps don't (base on specs and measurements of other Quad amps) offer anything special that could explain it's seeming superb low impedance/high phase angle performance. I still have doubt about his case, but not being there, I could only take his words for it. His posts on the so called high current requirements are always informative but I also would caution others who might be mislead to believe in something that is not true, at least not universally true. Sorry if he's reading this post, but I am not being critical, just using it as an example, that people need to dig deeper, being taking forum talks, even factual ones, as something that would apply to their own applications.

Never mind 100 W receivers, I have been using a $$59.99 (on sale) Fosi bluetooth integrated amp for months driving my so called hard to drive LS50 and to me it sounds just like all the other "real" separate power amps I have owned/or still own, including Bryston and Parasound Halo amps! So, it is important to those who just jump to tell others what they need to understand it really depend on specific applications. If one listen to some giant towers with multiple >8" woofers, nominal impedance 4ohms dip to 2 ohms, listening from 5 meters and desire reference level, they should go for something like McIntosh's 1,000-2,000 W Monoblocks, but if those speakers are in my living room, I could probably drive them with any of the AVRs I owned before, or even the tiny Fosi amp that will max out at about 40 W 8 ohm, 60 W 4 ohms.

So, separate amps don't really offer much more than receiver amps for real world use, but for bench tests and certain real world use they do, and there is nothing wrong preferring them as I do, for other benefits, just not audible benefits in most use cases.

Trust Ohm's law and the power formula, not myths spread on the internet!

For non EEs, if they want to do their own calculations instead of believing in internet talks and end up spending too little or too much and may still not meet their actual needs, the following site has all the needed formula, a great place to start anyway.

Voltage current resistance and electric power general basic electrical formulas mathematical calculations calculator formula for power calculating energy work equation power law watts understandimg general electrical pie chart electricity calculation electrical emf voltage power formula equation two different equations to calculate power general ohms law audio physics electricity electronics formula wheel formulas amps watts volts ohms cosine equation audio engineering pie chart charge physics power sound recording calc electrical engineering formula power math pi physics relation relationship - sengpielaudio Sengpiel Berlin

 

[PENG]

@AcuDefTechGuy , it looks good according to Genes tests, but to know for sure would require testing into such "wierd phase angles" at each tested load, a la Aczel's Power Cube measurements. This Yamaha at least has the robust build/high current capability for difficult loads.

Also, one must consider their own use case. If you have speakers with low impedance and/or wierd phase angles, lets call it 2 Ohms effective load, but your most boisterous jam out spls only require, say, 50 watts at those frequencies and load conditions, I would guess most 100w rated AVRs could do it, even those not rated into such conditions (well, at least until some thermal protection or nanny circuit kicks in).

Didn't see yours when typing to post mine. ASR has been doing those so called power cube tests, not exactly the same but very similar in principle. No surprise there, that the results have been surprisingly good, based on many forum claims about the likes of the amps, receivers, AVRs he tested, that would have people believe they would not survive the tough low impedance/high phase angle combination.

And, back to Yamaha amps, may be drum roll, please!

The entry level A-S701, expect the same for the R-S700 for the receiver version, that is 3 level below the model Gene measured:

The reviewer's (Amir, obviously) comments:
Yamaha A-S701 Stereo Amplifier Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

"It doesn't quite double down on each impedance half but it still produces a ton of power"
"I should note that the amplifier handled overloads during this test as if they were not there. No protection. No powering down. No nothing."

I can end this with the following, test on an AVR, expect the Denon AVR-X4800H to perform similarly:
As Amir called it "For desert, we have some stress testing by varying the phase from -60 to +60 with resistance of 8 down to 2 ohm":

Marantz Cinema 40 AVR Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

His comments:
"I should note that the amplifier never shut down even though it was pushed hard and into clipping. Very happy about that!"

But, since the topic is about a Yamaha receiver, so let's end this post with another reactive load test on a receiver, a tiny one in this case:

Didn't end too well, but for a $200 receiver, 14.8 lb soak and wet, one can still use it on 4 ohm speakers reasonably safe, just have understand it's limit and that for a light weight conventional class AB amp, one can't expect it to do much better than specs anyway and one has to be silly to think it can handle 2 ohm loads, when many heavy weight so called high current separate amps can't do either.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Yeah, just like some of us have known for years - many AVR amps and inexpensive amps can power 2 ohms and most speakers just fine.

There are always “exceptions”, but they are rare cases, not for most people.

 

[Mikado463]

Gene, nice review, but given its apparent stellar performance I for one would NOT consider it 'pricey'. In today's crazy inflationary world it might even be called a bargain !