Home > Consumer Reviews > Yamaha RX-397 100 Watt Natural Sound AM/FM Stereo Receiver

This is one receiver that will except the old style turn tables. Everything went great with this, the set up was easy, programing the tuner was great. Just a nice product.

If you're looking for an inexpensive slice o' stereo heaven that is happy producing all types of music, read no further, this is your baby. The Pure Direct mode is incredible, especially with a turntable.

I needed to replace a 25 year old Denon that had given up the ghost. I didn't want surround sound and didn't need a huge amount of power... I just wanted good sound, reliability, and stereo. This receiver provides all of the above and more at a very reasonable price. I'm happy.

For many years I have had an Apt Holman Amp and Pre amp which are beautifully designed. I use these in connection with a PSAudio 600 Power Plant. The Holman amp and pre amp needed repair, so I purchased the Yamaha RX-397 after reading so many glowing reviews to replace the Holmans while being repaired. I also need a receiver for a second location. How did it compare? Note: I plugged the Yamaha into the PS Audio Power Plant which will make a difference to any audio or visual source. The Yamaha was very enjoyable (emphasize enjoyable). It doesn't have the tonal richness and imaging of the Holmans but it is musical and very easy to listen to because of its excellent highs, quick transients, and immediacy. While to my ear I realize the Holman set-up is "better" sound I can't help but feel that, despite that, I will miss the very real and simple pleasure of the Yamaha. There is something to be said for ease of use and ease of listening. For what it costs and for what it does it merits five stars.

I purchased my first Yamaha receiver in 1979, a CR-640 model. I spent the next 30 years with the best sound quality i have ever heard! It was still preforming like new except for a little static in the volume knob, until I lost my mind and hooked my new TV to it and forgot to turn the power off. OH NO! After checking on repairs, i discovered it would be far cheaper to buy new. UPGRADE, they call it. I had doubts that anything on the market today could compare with the quality of my old 640, and I was right. Although i can't say i regret the purchase, it just doesn't come close to the sound quality and richness of tone that my old model had. It is a excellent receiver at a good price, and anyone who had never heard a 1979 model 640 would be very pleased with the new model. Needless to say my old model will be going in for repairs, who knows it my last another 30 years! That says alot for Yamaha, I think. The old 640 would have probally lasted a life time, if not for my error! This new model is very simalier in design, and very easy to operate. It just goes to show they don't make quality like they use to. But never the less, I will always own a Yamaha!!