Amplifier Review CD Player review Streaming & Digital Review

Yamaha’s MCRN870D mini system: HIDDEN DEPTHS

Part of the larger Yamaha MCRN870D mini system, Paul Rigby unplugs the AU670 amplifier and CDN670D Network CD Player and reviews them as separate items

What is the point of a mini system? After all, I’m here to talk about an amp with another box of digital sources that costs around £750 in total. You could buy yourself a perfectly respectable Cambridge Topaz amp and CD player for under £400, after all. Well, the reason has got a lot to do with convenience, a larger feature count and integration. As you will see, the Yamaha system is packed with facilities, is designed to work together as a single unit, has a nicely finished and matched look that is slightly nostalgic in its fascia design and is sized to fit into most small spaces.

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The 70W amp, on its own, has enough facilities to be usable as a single entity. Apart from the power button and tone controls (very 70s), it also offers a Pure Direct button to bypass these tone controls in sonic terms, a volume knob, a headphone port for the built in headphone amp plus PCM and DSD lights for digital play (although, they come with a twist, which I’ll address in a second). The rear offers a single set of analogue inputs, a USB port (Type B), a port for a possible subwoofer, ‘proper’ speaker terminals plus the built in power cable. There is also a System port in which you plug in an umbilical cable that also connects to the Network CD Player: the other main bit of this mini system. This allows the remote control, that arrives with the Network CD Player (NCP), to control both boxes. It also allows certain controls present on the NCP to change features on the amp.

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For example, although the amp has those digital playback alert lights that I mentioned above, the input selector for them is present on the NCP, not on the amp as you might expect. An odd choice but, on reflection, one that may just benefit sound quality. This does mean, though, that your listening options are restricted if you wanted to use the amp on its own. That is, on the amp alone, you can hear music from an external CD player or a third-party turntable but not via that built-in USB port, you need the input selector for that and, as we now know, that sits on the NCP.

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The NCP, meanwhile, bristles with features. Yamaha might call it a Network CD Player but this box is more of an ‘Entertainment System’ or ‘Hub’. It includes Sabre 32 DAC support of DSD files to 5.6MHz (DSD128) format or 32bit/384kHz PCM playback, DAB radio, Internet radio, USB port for portable USB drive sticks, Bluetooth/AirPlay/MusicCast (Yamaha’s own Bluetooth system) support, NAS external storage and an Ethernet port.

The front of the NCP includes that external USB drive slot, power button, disc tray for CDs, indicators for Bluetooth/Wi-Fi, the usual CD transport buttons and that essential input knob.

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The rear sees a radio antenna port, Aux In, Analogue Out, a System jack umbilical cord socket to connect to the amp, Ethernet, Wireless antenna and Digital In. Like the amp, the power cable is fixed to the chassis.

To dwell on the Yamaha design decision here, you would think that an integrated amp on a mini system would be the unit that would hold all of the facilities and the NCP would, well, play CDs only. That’s not so and, if you wonder about that design quirk, there’s a good reason for it. The less amplified electrical imposition on delicate features such as radio, digital sources and the like, then the lower the overall noise interferance. Stripping away most of the features from the integrated amp and placing them elsewhere can only be a ‘good thing’ for the mini system as a whole in terms of final sound quality. That is, Yamaha has performed a measure of isolation here, distancing most of the audio features from the power supply.

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Hence, the amplifier can be utilised as an integrated amp but it’s more of a basic pre-amp with an added power amp combo. Most of the interesting stuff is resident on the NCP.

That’s the essence of mini system then but I couldn’t help but be awkward.

Yes, it’s a mini system and mini systems are traditionally seen as single entities and I will review it as such, never fear. Some mini systems, of course, will only work at all if you have all of the components fitted together and plugged in. This one gives you a bit of leeway because you can, if you want, buy the amp and then upgrade it later by adding the Network CD player. You’re not really supposed to but I’m telling you that you can. Ideal if you are short of cash.

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What I’d like to do, then, is to look at the amplifier first during the sound tests then add the NCP later. You can already find another review HERE where I address the matching speakers that also fit into this mini system but they also can be bought seperately. The NSBP401 speakers cost an extra £350. If you buy these speakers plus these two boxes (the NCP and the amp) at the same time, then you get a discount and can buy the lot for just under £1,000.

So, the amplifier was first up for a sound test. Showing proper respect, I decided to compare the amp section to another seriously budget audiophile amp, blowing the dust off my trusty, veteran Cambridge Azur 651A integrated. A quite superb budget design that initially hit the shelves for around £350-£400. So, a realistic comparison with this dinky Yamaha.

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SOUND QUALITY

I started the sound tests with the amp as a stand-alone unit and, with the Pure Direct button ‘on’ (very important that) plugged my turntable into it while linking up a pair of Acoustic Research speakers. Playing a slice of Depeche Mode and the track, Enjoy The Silence from the album, Violator, I was struck, not by any stark differences between the Cambridge but the similarities. One of the big giveaway issues with amplifiers at this low price point is a temptation to push a hard, harsh bass into your face to [cough] ‘impress you’. This effect tends to up the stridency of the midrange to give you overly clinical detail. The problem with this is that, after 20 minutes listening, you can’t take any more as listening fatigue sets in. You suddenly realise that the garden needs attention or you really must go and buy that bottle of milk.

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The Yamaha, like the Cambridge, doesn’t suffer from this classic budget mini-system issue. Instead, you are provided with a broad soundstage and a slightly increased midrange precision. There’s no brightness here but there is an extra element of focus. This is not a bad thing because the Azur offers quite a soft focus presentation that is sweet and pleasant and cuddly. The Azur has a big, cloudy, floating soundstage whereas the Yamaha’s is more well-defined and crisp. The Yamaha gets down to business with its forceful and powerful lower frequency response that offers enough beneficial low noise response to extract quite subtle details, sitting at the back of the master. On this track, the subtle percussive details, as the track rolls along, are impressive and easily targeted by the ear. The latter results in quite a rich and involved presentation that has the ear bouncing from one instrument to the next.

Playing Bing Crosby’s Swanee on CD, via my Leema CD player, complete with a jazz quartet fronted by the piano of Buddy Cole, I was impressed by the intimate nature of the Crosby vocal which, because of the precise nature of the Yamaha’s presentation, focused on the close mic approach to the Crosby delivery. Such, indeed, was the attention to detail that you could easily discern Crosby’s intake of breath before he delivered each line which enhanced the intimate nature of the song. The percussion, via Nick Fatool, was clear, detailed and surprisingly characterful while Cole’s own keys never infused the rest of the soundstage with the sort of bloom that you often hear via lesser amplifiers, such is the often chaotic nature of the dynamics from the piano.

I then plugged in the Network CD Player and continued with the Crosby tracks. As you might expect, the Yamaha CD player didn’t have the same sonic qualities as the Leema. No surprise, the Leema is twice the price of the entire Yamaha two-box product and the Network CD Player is only partly a CD source, don’t forget. Hence, the actual budget assigned to the Yamaha CD player section alone will only be a fraction of the overall £350 price, if you think about it.

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Hence, the CD output didn’t quite have the dynamic reach or the expansive soundstage or even the detailed insight that the Leema could offer but, that said, the Yamaha CD player offered a good solid playback for the price. Vocals were relatively emotive, bass was strong and punchy while the midrange, enhanced and accentuated the precision of the presentation.

Plugging in my SSD-powered MacBook via the NCP’s USB port and playing Harry “Big Daddy’ Hypolite’s Big Bad Girl at 24bit/96kHz I was happy to hear how the focus and precision of the Yamaha took control of this big, bold, guitar playing blues shouter. There was a slight hardening of the vocals at a higher pitch but, in the main, the focused detail was a joy to experience. Actually, I don’t really blame the Yamaha for this hardening because my MacBook was busy ‘being a computer’ which adds unwanted noise to the source. The guitar was satisfyingly metallic and cut through the vocals like a grammatical knife while the Hypolite performance provided plenty of space and air for expression and emotion.

To introduce a purer, higher quality source, I plugged in my Astell & Kern AK120 into the Yamaha via the optical port but still challenged it by playing a relatively bright master of Money For Nothing from Dire Straits at 88.2kHz. The AK120 itself naturally curbs this track’s brightness because the high quality guts of the player can handle the cutting dynamics. You still hear the essence of the strident master but it no longer bothers you as much. The Yamaha proved, on this track, just how transparent it is to sources because it sounded wonderful. Full, rich, detailed and powerful in the lower frequencies. Via the Yamaha, the bright master is still there, you can hear it during Mark Knopfler’s vocal and guitar crescendos but the high resolution source is handled superbly for a system of this price point.

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Proof of the pudding was playing Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff at 24bit/96kHz. A beautiful render of a great song featuring a wide soundstage, with all instruments clearly visible to the ear, tight and characterful bass with even subtle textures from the Hammond organ a particular highlight.

CONCLUSION

This pair of boxes should really be seen as a mini system only (that’s how Yamaha would prefer you look at the twin boxes) but I have had many queries from users who are either just getting back into vinyl or are new on the scene. The question I often hear is, “If I get Turntable X and Speakers Y can you recommend Amplifier Z?”

Well, this Yamaha mini system now extends the choice. It’s a choice that is not for everyone out there, I’m fully aware of that. That said, if you wanted to, you could do this. Buy yourself your new turntable and speakers (maybe the Yamaha speakers mentioned elsewhere) then buy the amp portion of this mini system. Use it as a very basic amp first and then later, when you have the cash, add the Network CD Player box. The CD player will use the amp’s only set of RCA inputs but the Network Player chassis also arrives with a spare set of RCA ports. So you can plug your phono amp into the Network Player instead and run your deck from there. At that point, you will then be able to retain your turntable set up but also extend your facilities to include CD, radio, external storage and more in one fell swoop and using one single and quite elegant looking box.

What happens, though, if you’re not interested in vinyl? For CD-based users who might use the amp as a part of an external CD-based hi-fi chain, the additional Network CD Player box is bristling with so many extra digital facilities that you could easily ignore Yamaha’s CD section, use your own superior CD player and just utilise the gamut of additional  Yamaha digital facilities on offer.

That’s the feature bit. In terms of sound quality? I can’t fault it, for the price: with Pure Direct engaged, that is. With Pure Direct set to ‘off’, the system sounds veiled and harsh. With Pure Direct ‘on’, the amplifier as a single entity still sounds solid state in its musical presentation but is never hard or nasty. Instead, it utilises solid state’s best aspects by giving you precision and focus. The low noise aspect of its design prevents even a hint of stridency or brightness.

Joined by the Network CD Player, this Yamaha mini-system shows just how transparent and honest it can be. That is, give it a poor quality source and second rate hardware and it’ll give that quality back to you in spades. Feed it with a top quality source and you have to work out how to smile wide enough.

Bottom line? I hate mini-systems. I love the Yamaha mini system.


YAMAHA AU670 AMPLIFIER/CDN670D NETWORK CD PLAYER

Price: (AU670 amp) £359.95 ; (CDN670D CD player) £399.95

Web: uk.yamaha.com/en

Tel: 01908 366700


 GOOD: pure direct feature, innovative design, feature count, focused midrange, transparency

BAD: nothing at the price

RATING: 8


REFERENCE SYSTEM

Rega RP3 turntable

Cambridge Azur 651A integrated amplifier

Apple MacBook

Astell & Kern AK120 digital player

Acoustic Research Radiance One Speakers

Black Rhodium cables

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85 Comments

  • Reply
    Jamie
    2nd June 2017 at 4:40 pm

    Just read article, and was wondering if the A-U670 would be a good starting amp for my Q acoustics 3010s… I am very new to the whole Audiophile scene, and have done a lot of research into amps, with the option to expand set up.
    Any info or help in making my decision would greatly appreciated.
    Kindest regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      3rd June 2017 at 10:42 am

      The Yamaha is a capable amplifier and, yes, can be recommended but what is your budget, what do you want to use it for and what are the other components in your system?

  • Reply
    Jan Eriksson
    30th August 2017 at 9:23 pm

    Thank you Paul for a great review. I am now more or less convinced to buy this system. My primary use would be vinyl, secondary would be streaming (Spotify) and lastly CD and/or radio.
    Therefore I am thinking of adding a Rega Planar 1 to this system. Do you think the amp is good enough to handle that, i.e not suppressing the fine dynamics that the Rega has?
    Best regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      31st August 2017 at 11:01 am

      Great question Jan. I would say this: if you’re going to utilise all of the features available on the Yamaha (and there’s a fair few) then go for the Yamaha. If you’re looking at nothing else but a straight analogue chain then look at the Rega Brio, Heed Elixir or Cyrus ONE.

  • Reply
    Jan Eriksson
    31st August 2017 at 1:11 pm

    Thank you Paul for your quick response and a very valid point. SInce my main priority would be vinyl, maybe it is better look for a system that really can utilize the listening experience fully. The Rega Planar, Rega Brio (maybe with a bluetooth DAC for streaming services) and a pair of Monitor Bronze 2 might be awesome for a newbie audiophile like me.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      31st August 2017 at 1:36 pm

      Sounds good to me Jan 🙂

  • Reply
    Paulo Amaro
    13th May 2018 at 12:42 pm

    Hi Paul
    Just bought and setup my N870. I plan to use it mostly for Deezer, CD’s and Radio (incl internet radio). My question is if it is worthwhile to upgrade any of the cables that come in the box.
    Thanks.
    Paulo

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      13th May 2018 at 1:59 pm

      Hi Paulo – yes, QED provide some nice value for money cables which should serve you well. Amazon sell many of them. Grab the best you can afford.

      • Reply
        Paulo Amaro
        14th May 2018 at 10:07 pm

        Thank you for the reply. I suppose you are referring to the speaker cables, right ? Woud you like to suggest a specifc model in QED range ?
        The system and RCA cables connecting both units are do not need to be upgraded, or do you see otherwise ?

        Taking the opportunity here, while using the system for a few hours I notice that the sound coming from one of the speakers is not exactly at the same level as the other. Can not yet be precise in what I mean with this statement, but somehow they do not seem to be producing the same. Do you “guess” it is just a question of letting them burn in or could one of them actually have a problem (or maybe is it due to be cables) ?

  • Reply
    William Whawell
    3rd June 2018 at 1:10 pm

    Hi Paul, am just reading this thread with interest – we already have the little brother of in this line up and my handed down but loved B&O Beomaster 7000 is reaching its last legs I have thought of this an an option . However , while the Beogram 7000 has a phono amp built in , if I was to go for the Yamaha and a new turntable could I ask for a recommendation of phono amp. I couldn’t see in the review any mention of which phono stage you used.
    Best Will

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      3rd June 2018 at 3:15 pm

      Thanks for your question, William – what’s your budget for the phono amp?

      • Reply
        William Whawell
        3rd June 2018 at 8:56 pm

        Hi Paul, I am allowing £300 to £500 or alternatively just get the new Rega Plus with built in phono stage
        Best
        Will

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          3rd June 2018 at 10:19 pm

          Hi Will – I would advise against a Plus. I’ll be publishing a review of the turntable soon and so you’ll know why 🙂 If you can push towards £500 then a Trichord Dino is highly recommended and comes with a structured upgrade path if you so wish, for later on: https://theaudiophileman.com/trichord-researchdino-mk-3-phono-stage-upgrades-stay-path/

          • William Whawell
            4th June 2018 at 8:41 pm

            Hi Paul, that’s great . I read the review and it does appeal. Best Will

          • Paul Rigby
            4th June 2018 at 9:30 pm

            Thanks for your comments Will

  • Reply
    Francois Lagrange
    11th August 2018 at 10:27 pm

    Paul,

    I just bought the CD-NT670D (very similar to the 870). You seem to hint at using them as individual components, and that was also my goal: connect it to my amp, and I’ve basically all I need… Except that Yamaha apparently made the very stupid (or bad-commercial?) decision to not have any way to adjust the volume in the CD player (as opposed to their other Musiccast components).

    This would mean that I’d have to connect the output of the NCP’s preamp to (yet another) preamp for the sole purpose of adjusting the volume, and connect that preamp to my amp. I think I’ll have no other option than to return the unit to my vendor here, because it’s basically unusable. As I see it, the remote *of the NCP* does have volume knobs, but they only work if another Yamaha preamp is connected to it ! More weird is that there seems to be no remote for the preamp itself… meaning there’s no way to remotely adjust the volume with one single component.

    Serious disappointment that leaves me with no practical solution. I just wanted your readers to be aware of this.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      12th August 2018 at 2:00 pm

      Thanks for the info Francois.

  • Reply
    Dieter
    29th October 2018 at 5:03 pm

    Quick question: How does it’s little brother, the mcrn670 (with the A-670 amp), hold up against the 870?
    Only difference seems 5w more output, pure direct button and usb DAC on the back.
    Do these 3 really justify the price difference?
    For me personally, I won’t be using DAC, 65W seems more than enough,
    and isn’t pure direct achieved by merely keeping bass and treble at 0?

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      30th October 2018 at 10:16 am

      Only you can decide on that justification, Dieter. The Pure Direct should bypass the tone control entirely, thus removing an element of noise from the sound and improving quality.

  • Reply
    Dennis
    12th November 2018 at 6:19 pm

    Hello Paul!

    Thank you very much for your reviews! I’ve just got a Yamaha MCR N870, and I’m very glad I did. I wanted to ask for your advice though. I quite agree that the “pure direct” sound is cleaner and more satisfying. I would like to have more bass though. So, I was thinking about getting a subwoofer. But this is my first hi-fi system, and I know almost nothing about subwoofers (yet). Could you please advise me on picking a subwoofer that fits well with this model? What type / power / other characteristics should I be looking for?
    Could you tell anything about YAMAHA YST-SW215?

    Appreciate your work! Thanks again,
    Dennis

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      13th November 2018 at 11:32 am

      Glad I could be of help Dennis 🙂 Subwoofers…hmmm. Make sure you really want a sub and not different speakers. The reason I say this is because I find that most subs don’t time so well with their attendant speakers. There’s a sonic detachment to them and they sound stuck on, if you see what I mean. Lots of people love them, though so I would encourage you to demo a pair, any pair attached to any system, just to get a feel of them. Otherwise, you might want to consider a pair of floor standing speakers which will, at least, provide an integrated sound for you. Have your demo, have a think and then get back to me.

  • Reply
    Anthony Campbbell
    7th February 2019 at 10:32 am

    Hi Paul,
    I have the Yamaha CRX-N470D, which is a great little system, but it does lack a little punch, and can sound a wee bit thin at times. Would using the MCR-N870D with its extra power help with these issues, whilst not loosing anything else?
    Regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      7th February 2019 at 10:39 am

      Thanks for the question, Anthony. What do you use the Yamaha for, primarily? Do you use all of the features or just the amplifier bit or something else?

  • Reply
    Anthony Campbell
    7th February 2019 at 1:39 pm

    Hi Paul,
    I use DAB, CD, Bluetooth, then internet radio in that order of importance.
    Regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      7th February 2019 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks for that – what’s your budget, Anthony?

  • Reply
    Anthony Campbell
    7th February 2019 at 1:50 pm

    Hi Paul,
    Around £550. I have mission LX2 speakers, and I really like the sound, so intend to keep them.
    Regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      7th February 2019 at 4:23 pm

      OK, looking at your budget and what you have already, what concerns me is that your proposed upgrade might be more of a sideways step with minor improvements here and there but nothing to provide real value for money. I would advise hanging onto your cash, in this case. You’ve got good speakers there. I think that you’re best best and most obvious improvement would be to go separate, as long as the larger footprint would not be a problem. I’d look at an amp, possibly featuring Bluetooth. To that you could stream radio to it from a phone or tablet or even buy a separate streamer to plug directly into the amplifier to improve sound further. A separate CD player too. This direction would provide a series of real sonic improvements. Hence, I would save your cash and increase the budget further.

  • Reply
    Anthony Campbell
    8th February 2019 at 7:22 am

    Hi Paul,
    Thank you for your help, and advice, it’s very much appreciated.
    Regards

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      8th February 2019 at 9:52 am

      No problem, Anthony.

  • Reply
    Darren
    11th March 2019 at 5:02 pm

    Hi Paul,.
    Thanks for the review. I’ve got a Yamaha A-S1100 amplifier and I’m considering the Yamaha CD-NT670D to use as a streamer with it. Do you have any idea what DAC this uses? Can’t seem to find it anywhere. Also, could I plug a laptop, with the Yamaha Steinberg driver installed, into the USB port? Or is it the wrong kind of USB for this use?

    Much obliged

    Darren

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      11th March 2019 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks for the question, Darren. Let me ask – I’ll get back ASAP.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      12th March 2019 at 4:41 pm

      This from Yamaha, Darren – hope it helps, “I can confirm that the CD-NT670D uses a Burr Brown PCM5101 DAC. The USB connection is only for USB sticks.The matching amplifier, AU-670 uses a Sabre (ES9010K2M) DAC. The USB B connection is for use with a computer. These 2 components make up the MCR-N870D system. To enable computer connectivity within a CD player, the CD-S2100 would be an alternative, obviously with much higher performance.”

      • Reply
        Darren
        13th March 2019 at 11:16 pm

        Thanks. That suggests the amp does the main DAC work then, a far superior chip. Not sure how the two connect as a complete rig but I’d guess that most of the magic happens once the amp takes over the material.

        I think I’ll go for the Arcam on this occasion. Thanks all the same. Btw, have you tried Yamaha’s WXC50? Does all the musiccast things but with a Sabre 9XXX chip. For £200 it’s a bit of a steal just now.

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          14th March 2019 at 11:18 am

          Not a problem Darren – I hope the Arcam works for you. And, yes I have. In fact…https://theaudiophileman.com/wxc-wxa/

          • Darren
            14th March 2019 at 1:06 pm

            Ah, yes. I have read that.

            “.. there was a slight spotlight shining on the upper mids during vocal crescendo”

            Spot on. The glare cloud be painful at times and then perfectly listenable the next. But overall a decent unit for its current price. Hoping the rplay brings a touch more refinement. Arriving tomorrow.

  • Reply
    Elaine
    7th August 2019 at 4:43 pm

    Hi Paul – I have purchased the MusicCast MCR-N870D, but would like some additional wireless speakers to go downstairs in my conservatory. Can you recommend some? Don’t want to spend the earth, but they need (obviously) to be compatible and the best sound quality possible

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      7th August 2019 at 4:49 pm

      Hi Elaine – thanks for your question. Can you let me know your budget on the speakers please?

  • Reply
    Jason Dickinson
    25th October 2019 at 7:42 pm

    Hi Paul I’m interested in the Yamaha mini system but have also seen the Marantz melody x mcr612 I prefer the looks of the Yamaha but I have herd neither which one of the 2 is the best sounding and which one would you recommend thanks jay

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      26th October 2019 at 3:39 pm

      I’ve yet to test the Marantz but have heard from colleagues that the sound is…fine. Not amazing but ok. If you like the look of the Yamaha, go for that. You’re not missing out, in comparative performance terms, in what the Marantz brings sonically.

  • Reply
    Jason Dickinson
    27th October 2019 at 8:08 pm

    Thanks Paul Yamaha it is then👍

  • Reply
    Joao Canas
    21st November 2019 at 3:28 pm

    Hi Paul. I want to connect my TV to this system but am not sure if I should use the optical or the RCA connection. Also, which cable would you recommend for each?
    Thank you

  • Reply
    Daniel Cederberg
    1st December 2019 at 1:55 pm

    Nice review. I have bought only the CD-NT670D actually. To be used as a media player and bluetooth the sound to my Marshall speaker (and maybe some MusicCast ones later). It is a fantastic piece of equipment. Many devices in one.

  • Reply
    Nicholas
    4th January 2020 at 12:52 am

    Hi Paul, nice review. Quick question on CD Playback on just the NT670 alone. How would you describe the presentation? Neutral? Edgy on the highs? Forward mids?

    I need a replacement CDP with network streaming capabilities. The Yammy thinks all the boxes but is missing digital out to an external DAC. So, was hoping you could lend more insights into the CD playback, strength and weakness if any.

    If you can think of alternatives to the 670, let me know?

    Thanks in advance.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      4th January 2020 at 4:33 pm

      What’s your budget, Nicholas?

      • Reply
        Nicholas
        4th January 2020 at 11:07 pm

        Let’s say if it was at the same price range of the 670?

        If you feel by me putting in a bit more coin, how much more and what options open up?

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          6th January 2020 at 12:53 pm

          Hi Nicholas – the Yamaha is ideal if you really need to combine network capabilities with CD. In pure sound terms, it would be better to separate the tools/tasks but the Yamaha is great if you need everything in one bo. A lot of these AV items are good for the feature count/price combo balance thing.

  • Reply
    Sebastian
    2nd February 2020 at 10:16 pm

    Hi Paul, thank you for your review, it has been very helpful to me. On the occasion of my best friend’s 40th birthday I intend to give him a present in form of this mini system. He is currently using an old Aiwa mini-tower from 2005 (Aiwa CX-JN3 + SX-JN3). He listens to music from CDs and the radio (purely classical music radiostation), maybe I can convince him to use Spotify. The room where the equipment will be located is a living room with a kitchenette, about 20 m2. My friend listens mainly to classical and ethnic music, pop (Elton John), film music (soundtrack from the Lord of the Rings), soft rock and songs where female vocals lead the way. Certainly rap, hard rock, metal, techno and strictly electronic music can be ruled out. A store in my area has the N870D on offer with the following columns:

    – N870D + NS-BP401
    – N870D + B&W 685 S2
    – N870D + B&W 606
    – N870D + Imagine XB
    – N870D + Mission QX-2
    – N870D + DIVA 262
    – N870D + ELAC Uni-Fi BS U5

    Which of the above sets would you recommend for this type of music? I will be grateful for advice in this matter.

  • Reply
    Brian
    17th February 2020 at 7:45 pm

    Hello Paul, thank for the review.
    What mini system in the yamaha 870’s range of price could you suggest for pure CD listening ?
    I also like dedicated trebble and bass buttons.
    BR

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      18th February 2020 at 11:53 am

      Hi Bian – for that combo price which is, what, around £700? I’d look at a Ruark R4, if you already have speakers the Marantz Melody is worth a look, the Cambridge One is a budget option.

  • Reply
    Brian
    18th February 2020 at 12:49 pm

    Hello Paul,
    sorry I forget: “what alternative to mini system”: so an amplifier, a CD/Flac/WAV/MP3 palyer and speakers. I do not use streaming or other online music. For the price: let’s say £800-900. Thanks for your reply, but I’m not kind with the look of Ruark R4, Melody or Cambridge One. I would prefer a kind of separate box with “huge” volume button.
    BR

  • Reply
    Brian
    18th February 2020 at 4:14 pm

    I will have a look at your proposal.
    Thanks a lot
    BR

  • Reply
    Justin
    7th December 2020 at 3:20 pm

    Hi Paul, I hope you are well. I’m Justin from Hong Kong. I like your articles very much, but I’m a layman of these audio machines. I’m planning to buy my mom the Yamaha mini hifi system for Christmas. I’m aware that there’s another option by Onkyo CX-N1075QX2. May I have your advice on this please? Or you have other suggestion? Many thanks.

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      7th December 2020 at 5:13 pm

      Hi Justin – well that’s a tough one because both systems are pretty similar in terms of spec, if memory serves… Also, I’ve never heard the Onkyo up close so can’t vouch for its sound quality. That said, Onkyo is known for its good quality amplifier modules so there is that and the networking system is different I believe. But when it comes down to it, I would look for the best deal on this one. Sorry I can’t help any more.

  • Reply
    Daniel Cederberg
    8th December 2020 at 7:00 am

    Hi, anyone had this “Not Connected” displaying when using it as USB DAC with computer as source?

    It shows for me every time, even though everything works. Music playing, connected through WiFi (WiFi led light green). It works, but shuts down after a while, because it thinks I am not connected even though I’m listening to music. Very annoying, must be a bug.

    • Reply
      Torsten Dittel
      6th December 2021 at 11:50 pm

      That is something I see on my 870D too. The weird thing is I remember it used to display the frequency i.e. 44.100 kHz when I first tried it. Not sure what has changed that behavior and since when.

  • Reply
    George
    14th December 2020 at 7:43 am

    Hi, Paul! Thank you for your review on this system! I plan to buy some audio gear for this Christmas and after a long research the finalists are here: This Yamaha 870D and Naim Mu-so2! I know, I know they are enough different systems to consider this comparison almost absurd, but…since I do not have a chance to listen to them prior purchase, musicality, sound stage and clarity wise which one would you consider sounding …better! (and you may disregard the difference in price and design)
    Thanks,
    George

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      14th December 2020 at 11:26 am

      Hi George – in sonic terms? The Naim. For a low foot print? The Naim. The Yamaha does offer excellent flexibility though and can be found at a much cheaper price.

  • Reply
    George
    14th December 2020 at 4:44 pm

    Thank you Paul for the swift reply! This will help me in taking the right decision…or not! :))) I am torn between the two! Naim was my first choice, I also took a peek at B&Wțs Wedge and then given a second thought on separate speakers, flexibility, classic appearance / design most suitable for me and my wife… ( we are in our sixties almost!)
    This wireless craziness…I don’t like it! Wired is always better, always will be!

  • Reply
    Sylvain
    13th October 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Hi Paul – great review, thank you for the write up!
    Given we’re approaching the end of 2021, would you still recommend this system?
    I have a Yamaha Musiccast 50 and wanted to upgrade my home setup by buying this system for my living room and moving the 50 to the kitchen…
    Knowing that I listen mainly to Spotify and vinyls, would you have another, more up-to-date recommendation for a system costing below 1500? To be honest I’m a bit lost making this step from “all-in-one-box” to an actual hifi system…

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      14th October 2021 at 3:32 pm

      Are you looking for a compact system? Would you like to go for separates? Do you need an all-in-one perhaps or a half-way house between all-in-one and a separates system? And is that 1500 pounds or dollars or something else?

      • Reply
        Sylvain
        14th October 2021 at 3:46 pm

        Not necessarily a compact system, just the best I can get with my budget! I already have a turntable, and actually like the idea of separates that can be slowly upgraded with time.
        My starting point was this Musiccast 50 that I already have and would ideally like to keep in the same network if possible, hence my preference for staying with Yamaha (except if you tell me it’s not a good idea).
        I checked other options and now consider as an alternative the Yamaha R-N803D coupled with a reasonable pair of speakers (I’m thinking of the Klipsch RP-500M but any recommendations are more than welcomed). Then later I can buy a separate CD player.
        As for my budget it’s about 1500 USD (sorry for forgetting the unit), so not much for audiophile level but I would expect to get something reasonably satisfying for an amateur such as myself.

        So what would you suggest?

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          14th October 2021 at 3:49 pm

          What turntable are you currently using, Sylvain? What sort of music do you like and do you look for bass-heavy sound signatures, do your ears search out fine detail…what are your preference?

          • Sylvain
            14th October 2021 at 5:12 pm

            Nothing fancy, the Marley Stir it Up (wired) turntable.
            As for music I rather enjoy fine details, I listen to jazz, classical music or things with atmosphere like Trip-Hop. So no exaggerated bass, but still something that sounds full and present when needed.

          • Paul Rigby
            15th October 2021 at 1:29 pm

            If you’re going to $1,500 then I would recommend a turntable upgrade. So, a turntable, external phono amp, integrated with streaming included, speakers and stands plus cabling. How does that sound as a basic framework? Or were you looking at another type of set up?

          • Sylvain
            18th October 2021 at 12:37 pm

            Hi Paul,
            Given my answers to your questions do you have any specific recommendations then? Integrated Amp with streaming capabilities (Yamaha R-N602?), speakers and turntable?

          • Paul Rigby
            18th October 2021 at 2:39 pm

            Yes but please be patient while I try and find the time to dedicate to your issue. There’s no need to send multiple questions on the same subject.

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          21st October 2021 at 11:46 am

          You may look at the Rega Planar 1 for around £275 or so or the Pro-Ject Debut for a similar price (the Audio-Technica LP5x is also recommended but slightly dearer at around £369), Rega Mini Fono phono amp or Pro-Ject MM Phono Box for under £100 each, the Cambridge AXA35 offers a good amp while the IOTAVX SA3 also includes Bluetooth for streaming. The Q Acoustic 3020i speakers for under £200 are highly recommended. I would look to secure your vinyl system first by adding speaker stands and, if possible, hifi shelving and decent cabling (QED are good value via Amazon) before you dive into streaming. A separate streamer from the likes of Bluesound – the 2i perhaps? – would be a good move in the future and the separate chassis would help to lower the noise floor.

          • Sylvain
            25th October 2021 at 2:52 pm

            Hi Paul,
            Great, thank you for the custom advice! Now I need to find a retailer and do some more research but you put me on the right track, highly appreciated 🙂

  • Reply
    Chris
    3rd March 2022 at 10:50 am

    Hey Paul,
    I’ve stumbled over you review while doing some research in trying to replace my (not so) old stereo in the office.

    As of now I am using a Yamaha PianoCraft 810 (Receiver is the RX-E810 together with the original speakers) in my office at home. Unfortunately this thing died and cannot be turned on anymore. So I was looking into my options: Either repair the old fella or get a more modern upgrade. My first stop of course was the Yamaha Website checking out the current PianoCraft models, as I always was pretty happy with the current system. I was a bit surprised that they are currently not offering a single system in the PianoCraft line. And after some research on the net I found the MCR-Nx70D models and their corresponding pages on the Yamaha website — all saying: “is not sold anymore”. My local shops and online retailers still have them.
    Facing this situation I thought maybe there’s a completely other option I haven’t seen, yet.
    Although, for my use case the stereo reviewed here sounds very promising: I use 2 computers (not at the same time) connected to a USB switch box, which would make it easy to route the audio of the currently active computer to the USB DAC and have much better sound quality compared to using their analog outputs. Furthermore I am using iPad and iPhones to send audio either via Airplay2 to an Airport Express I connected to my current stereo. This little box only serves as a Airplay2 Endpoint. So I could get rid of this extra device after upgrading to the system reviewed here. And I could directly use Spotify with it without having to go the extra round Spotify -> Airplay.
    The Yamaha multi room functions are not of too much interest, in fact. I have small Sonos speakers for kitchen, bathrooms, which gives me sufficient audio quality and flexibility for these rooms. And if I really want so synch these rooms with my office, which is very rarely, I simply use Airplay, which is also supported by the Sonos.

    What do you think? Should I still go with the MCS-N870D, although Yamaha officially is not selling it anymore and obviously currently does not have any successor or is there any other option I should consider?

    Thanks a lot.
    Cheers,
    Chris

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      4th March 2022 at 12:55 pm

      I need to get my head around your request here, Chris. If Sonos is providing your streaming needs, are you thus looking for a basic amplifier, then? And if so, is Yamaha your only option or are you willing to look elsewhere too?

      • Reply
        Chris
        4th March 2022 at 5:35 pm

        Hey Paul,

        I already expected my long posting might be a bit confusing … 🙂 Let my try to sort things a bit.
        I have some small Sonos ONE SL speakers in kitchen and bathrooms. For these rooms their sound quality is sufficient. It was more to mention, that I have a small leg in this ecosystem already, and therefore do not care too much about the Yamaha multiroom stuff.
        The main goal is replacing my old Yamaha RX-E810 amp in the office, which died. What I need in this room is following:
        – size matters: I cannot fit a full size amp into that shelf (max width about 40cm) (that was one reason I was looking for a later PianoCraft model)
        – Airplay for iOS streaming (very high on the wish list to get rid of that extra AirportExpress)
        – digital input for the computer(s)
        – integrated USB DAC (would be a very convenient plus)
        – Spotify Connect (would be a plus)
        – other ways to stream audio from mobile devices (e.g. Laptop) are welcome, but not strictly needed
        – reuse of my old speakers optionally
        – budget: let’s say around 1,500GBP
        – if built-in radio, then DAB(+), but radio is totally optional

        The MCS-N870D looked like a nice integrated package to replace the current stuff and save some external devices (AirportExpress, USB Audio interface). But I am open for other directions to look into. That’s why I decided to post here.

        I hope it’s a bit less confusing now. 🙂

        Cheers,
        Chris

        • Reply
          Paul Rigby
          5th March 2022 at 10:45 am

          Hi Chris – how about this one: https://theaudiophileman.com/one-cast-streaming-amplifier-review-cyrus/

          • Chris
            7th March 2022 at 3:17 pm

            Hey Paul,
            I’m somehow not really sold to it. I checked out your review and some other info I could find on the net. While the audio part seems to be pretty nice, there are some downsides:
            – no Ethernet connection? really?! 🙁 I’d really prefer having it. The ethernet switch is not even 1m away.
            – overall usability doesn’t sound to inviting and the guy is not really a beauty.
            – depth: I didn’t think this could be an issue, but 39cm is a bit deep. The shelf board is about 34.5cm. While I have some distance to the wall for cables etc. the device itself should at least be able to put its feet onto the board.
            Well, not so sure.
            Cheers,
            Chris

          • Paul Rigby
            7th March 2022 at 3:22 pm

            Off the top of my head (haven’t checked the specs) you might want to look at Bel Canto and NuForce too. There’s also the Naim Unit Atom of course.

  • Reply
    Chris TJ
    21st April 2023 at 10:04 am

    Hello,
    Thanks for the review ! It’s been some time, but I have a question in case you still follow this .
    I would like to get this system and extend it to a second room. As my other speakers are not musiccast compatible, I would have to connect those by wire to the system and use the included NSBP401 speakers wireless to play simultaneously. Is that setup possible?

    • Reply
      Paul Rigby
      21st April 2023 at 1:29 pm

      Let me talk to Yamaha, Chris – be back ASAP.

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