Bluetooth Bargain: Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver

If there is one thing I wish I would have gotten last time I purchased a stereo receiver, it's bluetooth connectivity.  With streaming services supplanting radio, records, and CDs, it seems like bluetooth is the minimum that a stereo system needs to keep up with the times.  The Yamaha R-S202BL offers bluetooth connectivity at a bargain price on Amazon.com.

Yamaha R-S202BL Stereo Receiver (Amazon photo)

While I'm content to use RCA Y-cables for connectivity for now, bluetooth is definitely something I would look for today.  It has 40 channel presets, 100 watts of power, and 10hz to 100kz frequency response.  According to reviews, it's definitely an entry-level receiver, but if you are looking for dirt cheap, it should fit the bill.  The next step up is a similar receiver from Sony.

[Post and link updated November 10, 2025.]

An Affordable Yamaha Stereo Receiver

When I was in college, my room mate had a nice Yamaha stereo. It sounded really good and was the highest quality stereo receiver in my circle of friends. Over the years, Yamaha musical instruments and studio mixers have been the choice of professional musicians.

By Housing Works Thrift Shops (Flickr: Yamaha Mini Grand Keyboard) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Today, Yamaha still makes high quality stereo components. The Yamaha Natural Sound line of stereos looks like a great choice for anyone who demands quality at a reasonable price. In particular, the Yamaha R-S201BL is available at an attractive entry-level price point.