Yamaha MCR-N560 Review

The all-in-1, or ‘Mini System’, isn’t a topic we often discuss here on Audio Appraisal. Such words usually hold memories of cheap, plastic budget audio systems, that are as far from hi-fi as it is possible to get.

However, thanks to recent technical advancements, and an increasing lack of space in the modern living environment, all-in-1 systems are gaining in popularity even among audiophiles and music lovers. And, needing a small system for an area where a full-size separates system wasn’t  viable option, I decided to investigate the offerings on the market.

I reached out to the awesome folks at Yamaha – and, a day later, the subject of this review – the MCR-N560 all-in-1 networked mini system arrived. A feature-packed, versatile and powerful system, the MCR-N560 comes in 2 flavours. You can purchase the receiver (the CRX-560D) as a separate unit, or as a complete package with the NS-BP182 speakers. For this review, I chose the MCR-N560 – the name Yamaha uses to refer to the complete package.

The CRX-560D

Features

A feature-packed yet still tiny receiver, the CRX-560D can play back media from almost any imaginable source. CD, DAB, FM and USB playback are all covered, as are a hole host of networking features including AirPlay, Spotify Connect, internet radio and DLNA streaming.

2 digital inputs (1 optical and 1 coaxial) allow you to connect external devices such as a TV or blu-ray player. 2 analogue inputs (1 RCA and 1 3.5”) allow you to connect devices such as a phono stage, older portable audio device, etc.

The 36W per channel (6 ohms, 10% THD) efficient digital amplifier feeds the 2 speaker outputs, which feature high quality binding posts rather than the usual spring clips found on most mini systems. And if you need more bass, a mono subwoofer output allows you to connect an active sub to boost your low end response. Yamaha’s digital amplifier technology means that amplification from source to speakers is done without a dedicated DAC chip, further enhancing sound quality. The headphone stage uses a BurrBrown PCM1781 24-bit, 192KHZ DAC. Volume control is also digital domain to guarantee accurate channel separation and stereo imaging.

Networking facilities are limited out-of-the-box to a 10/100 RJ-45 ethernet jack on the back – if you want wifi, you can purchase Yamaha’s YWA-10 wireless network adapter. Optional bluetooth compatibility comes in the form of Yamaha’s YBA-11 bluetooth adapter. I’d like to see Yamaha building wifi technology into their products – especially on a system like this, which is designed primarily to utilise a network. Built-in bluetooth would be nice, too.

Design

As you would expect for a PianoCraft series system, the design of the CRX-N560D is simple and beautiful. Rounded, shaped corners, piano-finish panels and shaped aluminium volume and input selection controls give the yamaha the look and feel of a system costing far more than the £499 SRP.

The sleek, aluminium front panel features the aforementioned volume and input selection controls, and buttons for power, play, pause, stop, next and previous. There’s also a 3.5” headphone jack, a slim CD tray, a USB jack and an IR receiver for the remote.

Just as much thought has gone into the rear panel. High quality binding posts allow you to connect your speakers – and they even support banana plugs thanks to the removable end caps. There are optical and coaxial digital inputs, as well as the all important ethernet jack.

2 Analogue inputs, both RCA and 3.5” are joined by a mono subwoofer output – there’s no stereo analogue output which would’ve been a nice feature. A usb port allows you to power yamaha accessories, such as the YWA-10 or EBA-11 adapters.

My only gripe with the rear panel design is the attached power cable – a plug-in cable would’ve been far easier and nicer to work with. Detachable cables also have the advantage that, should the cable become damaged, you won’t have to open up the unit or send it off for repair.

The NS-BP182

Features

The NS-BP182 speakers benefit from Yamaha’s expertise in speaker and musical instrument design, and incorporate technologies taken directly from Yamaha’s high end Sovo speaker line. A 2-way design, the NS-BP182 speakers feature a 12CM, APMD (Advanced Polymer-injected Mica Diaphragm) woofer and a 3CM soft dome tweeter. 

To minimise cabinet vibration, Yamaha developed VCCS (Vibration Control Cabinet Structure), which uses strategically placed pieces of a composite material that provides excellent vibration isolation thereby improving performance.

Sensitivity is a rather low 83DB – meaning they’re harder to drive than, for example, Tannoy’s Mercury V1Is. With that in mind, I was surprised at the rather low power rating of the receiver unit – but numbers can be deceiving.

Design

The front panels feature the same shaped corners as the CRX-560D. There are some screw fixings in sight – though these double up as fixings for the magnetic speaker grilles. Fixings for the drivers themselves are, however, hidden behind plastic trims.

The rear panels feature a bass port and the speaker terminals, recessed in a  plastic compartment. As with the CRX-560D, only a single set of terminals is provided – there’s no bi-wiring facilities here, though it’s unlikely you’ll need them.

Build Quality

As you would expect from yamaha, build quality of both the system and the speakers it sop notch. The casing of the CRX-N560D is well damped – meaning it doesn’t ring when tapped like many cheaper all-in-1 systems. It’s solid, too – with no flexing or rattling when lifted or moved.

The controls have a high end, accurate feel to them – the volume control glideing smoothly with no resistance as the sound level gently raises or lowers. The few buttons are perfectly proportioned and easy to press, with a nice tactile click to them.

The speakers are built to the same high standards. Their solid, wooden cabinets offer up very little resonance when tapped. The solid speaker binding posts, recessed in plastic compartments on the rear panels, are arguably more solid than those found on some hi-fi speakers costing as much as this complete system.

That said, There are a couple of rough edges here and there on the speaker cabinets, particularly towards the back. As with many speakers, the high gloss finish is a magnet for fingermarks and dirt – so keep a soft cloth handy for cleaning.

The grilles are cloth-covered plastic, and fairly solid. They’re magnetic, too – snapping neatly into place over the exposed fixings in each corner of the front panel. They’re more than adequate  for protecting the cones  from prying fingers or accidental bumps and scrapes. If you’re an audiophile, chances are you won’t be using them, and will leave them in the box as I did throughout this review.

Packaging.

As with all Yamaha products, the system comes well packed to insure it arrives with you in one piece. Here, however, ‘well packed’ is a huge understatement.

A large main box contains 2 further boxes – 1 for the speakers and 1 for the system itself. A cardboard insert ensures things don’t move where they’re not supposed too – if I were being critical, I’d perhaps have added some handles to aid in lifting the boxes out, as they’re packed tightly.

Inside each box, you’ll find the respective products wrapped in a cloth-like foam material, held in place by blocks of polystyrene. The packaging is similar to that supplied with Yamaha’s separates – it’s simple, effective, and neat, a great first impression.

With the CRX-N560D receiver, you get a remote, some batteries, a radio antenna and some documentation. The NS-BP182 speakers come with some starter cables (with pre-stripped ends – a nice touch), and their grilles, lying rather haphazardly underneath the polystyrene protection. Cardboard rectangles cover the tweeters, and self-adhesive wrapping protects the high gloss finish of the front plastics.

The remote

Let’s take a second to talk about that remote. Usually, the remotes supplied with all-in-1 systems are cheap, flimsy, and useless – but not here. The remote supplied with the CXR-N560D is similar to that supplied with many of the components in Yamaha’s hi-fi separates lineup. It’s thick and chunky, with a decent weight to it and excellent build quality all round. The buttons, if a little small, are easy to press and are very tactile – and the range is also excellent, even when it’s not being aimed directly at the receiver.

You’ll need the remote to access the CRX-560D’s menu system, as well as the equaliser – both things that cannot be accessed from the mobile app. I’d like to see the app able to control every aspect of the system, making the remote an optional extra for those who wish to use it.

Operation

The CRX-N560D can be operated either from its front panel (for basic controls), the aforementioned remote, or Yamaha’s NP controller app for iOS or android. I used the NP controller iOS app to operate the unit for this review – and would suggest you do too, as it’s by far the easiest, most convenient way to operate the device. It also has the added advantage of allowing you to stream content directly from your phone or tablet to the device with the best sound quality.

Playing CDS

Playing CDs is as easy as you would expect. UpOn inserting  a compatible CD, the unit begins playback automatically. CD text is supported, and CD playback can also be controlled using the mobile app which is a nice touch. The player offers the usual programming modes including shuffle and repeat, and supports direct track access to jump directly to tracks on a disc.

AirPlay

Being an Apple user, By far my favourite feature of the CRX-N560D is the support for Apple’s AirPlay technology – a wireless streaming technology that allows you to stream content from any apple device, or iTunes on your PC or mac, directly to an AirPlay compatible receiver. The CRX-N560D is one such receiver – and throughout my time with the review sample, I spent countless hours streaming both music and podcasts via AirPlay from iTunes on my mac. Not once did I encounter a single dropout, and sound quality was flawless.

One major downside to airplay is volume control. When in AirPlay mode, the volume of the unit can be controlled by the AirPlay device – in this case, the volume of iTunes on my mac. On a couple of occasions, when adjusting the volume using the slider in iTunes, my finger would slip slightly on the trackpad and i’d send the volume rocketing up to maximum. It’s an issue inherent in many AirPlay devices – but it would be nice to be able to set a volume limit.

Dab/FM

Playback of DAB/FM stations is, as you would expect, easy. The tuner too can be controlled via the mobile app, and the app is able to display the RDS station information and frequency. It also displays the bitrate of DAB stations, which is a nice touch.

There are 30 presets to store your favourite stations. Sound quality of DAB/FM broadcasts is great across the board – with very little background noise on the FM side and none on the DAB side as you would expect. AM is notable only by its absence- a shame, though not surprising.

USB

Via its front USB port, the CRX-N560D enables you to play content from USB flash drives or apple iDevices such as the iPod, iPhone or iPad. The unit supports all common file formats, including WAV, MP3, WMA, FLAC and AAC. The unit supports sampling rates of up to 192KHZ WAV and FLAC files, and 48KHZ for all other file types.

By far the easiest way to control playback of content from a USB device is via the NP Controller app. connecting a USB device and tapping the USB source icon reveals a list of folders, from which you can select your files. During playback, the artist, title, and album are displayed, as well as the elapsed time.

When connecting an apple device, playback is controlled on the device itself – and the unit will charge the device while it’s plugged in.

It’s worth noting that the CRX-N560 doesn’t appear to support gapless playback from USB devices – however, it does from all other sources including CD, AirPlay and the app. It’s worth noting also that this could be due to the speed of the drive, which will affect the time the unit takes to load the track into its buffer memory.

Streaming From The Network

The CRX-N560D can stream from DLNA-compliant network devices, as well as PCs configured to act as media servers. The unit had no problem streaming MP3, FLAC and WAV files from an external hard drive connected to my Asus RT-AC66U router, using the router’s built-in DLNA media server. 

Music can be browsed by artist, album, genre or playlist – and there’s the ability to browse the folder structure too, in case the unit missed some files while searching your device. Interestingly, the app gives you the option to display pictures – a function that I find somewhat unnecessary on a  hi-fi system. Not having any pictures on the NAS drive, I have no idea what this function is intended for – and whether or not it works.

Internet Radio

With the onboard vTuner internet radio service, the CRX-N560D gives you access to thousands of internet radio stations, covering almost every imaginable genre. Stations can be browsed by location, genre, New or Popular, and there’s a section for podcasts too. You can bookmark your favourite stations to return to them later, and there’s a handy help function if you should get stuck.

Quality varies from station to station, with some being lower resolution streams than others – most, however, are perfectly acceptable and the Yamaha’s digital processing hardware means they sound, for the most part, better than DAB. Station information, such as the current track, is displayed if supported by the station you’re listening too.

Streaming From The App

As with most streamers, the CRX-N560D allows you to stream content directly from your portable device via the NP Controller app. Streaming is faultless – with no dropouts. As all data is sent over the network in digital form, there is no degradation in sound quality, and the digital music benefits from the processing technology inside the yamaha to achieve the best sound possible.

Content can be browsed album, artist, songs, genres or composers, all presented (on iOS at least) in an interface reminiscent of the native Music app.

Spotify

As with most network-capable components, the Yamaha supports Spotify connect – not being a Spotify user, I didn’t use this function. However – playback can be controlled by the mobile app as with every other function, and given that the digital tracks will be processed by the CRX-N560d’s digital hardware, it should sound no different to the other digital sources.

The sound

All-in-1 systems aren’t renowned for their sound quality – in fact, the tiny, mesh-fronted speakers, cheap chip-based amps, and thin speaker cables for which all-in-1 systems are known are enough to send most audiophiles running in the opposite direction. In the case of the MCR-N560, though, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Straight out of the box, the system presents a warm, luscious sound that only gets sweeter as the system is allowed time to break in. Yamaha recommend at least 72 hours for the system, in particular the speakers, to loosen up and achieve optimal sound quality. I definitely found that to be accurate – after this time, the sound stage had opened up considerably, the bass was tighter, and the system displayed a sweeter, more laid back presentation.

Unusually given its networking capabilities, the first thing I did was to hook up my phono stage, and a Pro-ject Debut carbon to the aux inputs – and, within minutes, Roger Taylor’s Fun On Earth album was flowing from the speakers. By far one of my favourite test albums of the moment – the song ‘Say It’s Not True’, in particular, contains an amazing Guitar solo, extensive use of reverb, and a fantastic bass line. And it wouldn’t be a Roger Taylor album without hard-hitting, powerful drums that will bring all but the most controlled of systems to their knees.

The MCR-N560, however, put in a staggering, unruffled performance. The music flowed every which way from the speakers, spreading around my listening room paining a beautiful musical picture. The bass was delivered with precision, the deepest notes defying the size of the speaker drivers with their rich warmth and tone. Highs are silky smooth, but never bright – and the sound stage is deep and totally 3-dimensional, allowing you to hear right into the heart of the music.

So, a great first impression, then – and as I delved deeper into my vinyl collection, my smile became wider. Next was Queen’s ‘A Day At The Races’ – ‘you take my breath away’, a song featuring only piano and Queen’s legendary harmonised vocals was beautiful to behold. Tape hiss and all – the yamaha delivered the track with all the sparkle and grace with which Freddie had intended.

Load up a USB flash drive containing some Eric Clapton, and the Yamaha continues to impress. ‘Next Time You See Her’ is rhythmic, those sharp hi-hat strikes brought to the forefront of the mix. Instrument placement is faultless, and the individual instruments, particularly the left-panned acoustic guitar, are easy to discern. It’s the Yamaha’s attention to detail that impresses me the most here – it even managed to portray the slight distortion present in the recording during  the final floor tom hit.

While it’s no power house, the MCR-N560 can certainly deliver the goods when the party gets started. Sure, if played wide open there is some distortion – but that is to be expected, and no amplifier should ever be pushed that hard. That said, even driving the 83DB sensitivity NS-BP180 speakers, the CRX-N560 powered through Meat Loaf’s ‘Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back’ with gusto. The chest-pounding rhythm, awesome harmonies, and the Yamaha’s impeccable agility and sense of timing added up to an immensely  enjoyable performance that had me hooked from beginning to end.

It was with high expectations that I reached for a pair of headphones. And, if the CRX-N560 didn’t meet those expectations, it exceeded them by a million miles. Sure, there is some noticeable background hiss – but crank up the tunes and it soon becomes inaudible. Plus, you’ll be so lost in the music, you won’t care.

Summary

I honestly can’t recommend this system enough. For a suggested retail price of £499, you’re getting a streamer, CD player, an awesome DAC, and a sweet stereo amp – all crammed into 1 tiny box that’s barely bigger than a DVD box set. You also get one of the best pairs of budget bookshelf speakers on the market. If you’re feeling up to some system matching, you can purchase the CRX-N560D receiver as a separate unit – but why would you want too? The synergy between these components has to be heard to be believed.

The MCR-N560 does what any good system should – lets you focus on the music. I’m summarising this review, with Norah Jones playing in the background. But not on my reference system… no, on the little Yamaha MCR-N560. If that’s not praise enough, I don’t know what is.

I’m not saying it’s as good as my reference system – a 36W per channel digital amplifier is no match for a 200W per channel class XD amplifier that, despite its huge heatsinks, becomes hotter than the sun after a half hour’s use. But the MCR-N560 brings something to the table that only the best hi-fi systems can match – and that’s sheer musical enjoyment. Add the fact that it’s easy to setup, great to look at, a pleasure to use, and so versatile in its features… and ask yourself. what more could you want?

By Ashley

I founded Audio Appraisal a few years ago and continue to regularly update it with fresh content. An avid vinyl collector and coffee addict, I can often be found at a workbench tinkering with a faulty electronic device, tweaking a turntable to extract the last bit of detail from those tiny grooves in the plastic stuff, or relaxing in front of the hi-fi with a good album. A musician, occasional producer and sound engineer, other hobbies include software programming, web development, long walks and occasional DIY. Follow @ashleycox2

66 comments

  1. What do you advice for classical music ? Yamaha n560 or Denon m40 ?
    I saw that the Yamaha N560 won the Diapason d’or in 2013 (a famous classical review)…
    Thanks !

      1. Thanks ! What about the Panasonic PMX70 if we are somewhat limited in budget ?
        Or another one you think about it ? Thanks 🙂

  2. I have the Yamaha CRX-N560D and most of the time love it. However, every now and again it does not read a CD when I load it – I get the No Disc message. I am loading them correctly and have wiped them with a clean cloth and they are discs that have the correct marking on them. I have had a look at the “Troubleshoot” section of the Users Manual but no clues. Very frustrating. Any idea as to what would be causing this? I have owned the player for approx 18 months.

    I am a senior citizen so not as tech savvy as some!!

    Thanks

    1. Very strange. As your discs are clean and correctly loaded, I’d probably suggest it’s either a dirty laser or a fault with the laser or CD mechanism. I’d probably ask the store who sold it for their advice, or take it to a competent repair tech. Avoid commercial CD player cleaning products as they often do more harm than good.

  3. Dear Ashley,
    I have connect the Q acoustics 2010i to this system but i think the original speakers NS BP182 giving more Natural Bass and more warmth sound instead of the 5 stars 2010i. I should almost say that NS Bp182 are really not bad at all and i consider to go back to this original setup and Sell the 2010i,s.
    I,m a guy who likes warm and bass sound and i think the 2010i are beter in combibation with a subwoofer, if not, you better stick with the NS-BP182 in my opinion. But sound is a very subjective thing.

    1. Thanks Marc for sharing your feedback. As you rightly say sound is subjective, though I’d agree that the Yamaha speakers are very good and of course they’re designed to be a great match for the system. Take star ratings with a pinch of salt.

      1. i consider the Q acoustics concept 20 because they seem to have more bass then the 2010i’s. For now i stick to the yamaha’s

  4. great review.i have crx-n560 and paired it with monitor audio bx1 and monster cables and dayo banana plugs.
    and baught a pair of speaker stand quiklok.
    i put this mini system in my bedroom and listen to music before sleep.
    very pleasant and warm sounding system.
    and i baught a dlink dir 505 or something like that for wireless wifi conection.
    at first my internet radio worked but after a while i couldnt connect to it ,however the internet conection is correct.(maybe needs accounts!)
    the mobile app works great and is very helpfull at night that the control buttons can not be seen.
    (excuse me for bad writing)

  5. Yes,I thought on qm4.Well,I am looking for some hi-fi system for my room.The internet conections are not so important to me.I would like to have great sound with bluetooth option.I still didn t decide what to buy-some solid micro system like this yamaha mcr560,Denon D-M-40,Panasonic sc-pmy100,or to buy some good speakers like Q Acoustic 3020(Tannoy is not available in my country)and to match it with some other system,player,receiver…What would you recommend?Thanks.

  6. Hello,Ashley!Great review.I enjoyed.Please,tell me,what would you rather buy,this Yamaha n560 or Acoustic Audio Media 4?Also,if I decide to make my own music system,what speakers woud you recommend(up to 500eur)?

    1. Assuming you mean the Q-Acoustics Media 4, the 2 systems are actually quite different. The M4 is a soundbar whereas this is a more traditional system. That said either will work well, the M4 is a much neater solution for smaller setups whereas this provides more networking options so it really depends what you need. If you went with this, I’d probably pair the CRX-N560D with some Tannoys as they sound great and are easy to drive.

  7. Hi Ashley,

    Thanks for your review. It helped me lock-in the MCR-N560 as an option.

    I’ve narrowed my choice down to this vs. the Denon D-M40 (which also reviews very well).

    I was just wondering if you’ve had any experience with the D-M40, or have any knowledge of how the two systems might compare in terms of sound quality.

    Whathifi.com give the older version, the MCR-N550, a rating of 4/5, where as the D-M40 gets a rating of 5/5. I figure they may have narrowed this gap with the MCR-N560 though.

    Any insight you’re able to offer would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!

    1. I haven’t heard the Denon myself, though it is quite different from the Yamaha in that it offers no networking features. If you need networking support (internet radio, AirPlay, DLNA etc), the 560 is the best option. The 560 also has a coaxial digital input as well as an optical which the Denon doesn’t appear to have. Sound wise the Denon may have a slight edge as it is a simpler system, though I suspect there’s no major difference in all honesty. The system you choose will ultimately come down to the features you need.

      1. Thanks for the reply!

        Yeah I’d definitely appreciate the networking functionality, although it wouldn’t be enough to sway me if there was a noticeable sound quality difference between the two units.

        I saw the coaxial input on the Yamaha, although I’m only planning on using the optical input.

        Unfortunately there aren’t any bricks and mortar stores in my area that stock both units, or even many that stock one of them, so I’ll most likely be ordering online.

        Thanks again for your help!

  8. Hi Ashley
    Just bought one of these after reading your great review so far I’m loving it ! I wonder if you could advise me on what cables I need to connect my Sony Bravia kdl50w800 and a Panasonic dvd -s53 player to it ?
    Many thanks in anticipation !

    1. Thanks! Unfortunately I’m not familiar with your TV or dvd player, but can tell you how to find out. Look on the back of either unit for a socket labeled something like ‘digital audio out’. It’ll be either a coaxial connection (similar to a standard RCA plug) or an optical connection. The user manuals for both components should tell you where those connections are located and where to find them. The CRX-N560D has 1 of each connection type, so assuming your devices have the required connections you’ll need 1 coaxial and 1 optical audio cable.

  9. I agree with most findings. Nice functionality, nice sound. And while the remote is certainly better than many others, it’s a pain to see how many buttons are never employed for anything. The same for the few (I think too few) buttons on the front panel. A few examples: why not use the number buttons 0-9 in each and every mode, in radio for channel, in CD for tracks, in DAB for preset, etc. ? why not use the return button for return at all times, same for home, display, etc. – in an intuitive way ? Most of the times, in all modes, most buttons have no function assigned to them. This is calling for improvement. It feels as if the remote belongs to another unit. Let’s hope for a firmware update.

    1. Totally agree. I used the iPhone app as opposed to the remote when I had the review sample, but that’s beginning to show its age now too. The inability to search the internet radio station list and the inability to store a radio preset without accessing the VTuner website are both inexcusable problems that I was hoping would be fixed, but alas it has yet to happen. I wouldn’t hold out hope for a firmware update, as this model has effectively been superseded by the MCR-N670 and N870 units.

  10. Tank you Ashley for this review. I hope you can give me some advice. I’m looking for an amplifier to play music and TV sound also with network functionalities on my small living room so the CRX-560 looks perfect. My main concern is that the R-N301 is about the same price offering same functionalities. So why not buy the 301 instead?
    Thank you in advance

    1. I would buy the R-N301. The only thing the R-N301 lacks is a CD player, but it sounds like you don’t need CD playback functionality. And of course the R-N301 is physically larger, but if you can accommodate the size it’s the better component.

  11. Hello Ashley,

    great review, I enjoyed reading it. I’m an owner of Yamaha MCR-N560 system for some time now, and I can’t be happier for buying it. Now I’m thinking to buy a sub woofer and am considering the Dali Sub P-10 DSS or Dali Sub M-10 D. What do you think, is it too much for this system?

    Best regards
    Miha

    1. Either of those subs should work well. Both give you the option of upgrading the main speakers later should you decide to do so, as the CRX-N560D is more than capable of running a better pair of speakers. Take a look at the Tannoy Mercury sub also.

  12. Hello,

    I own Yamaha RX-V577 in combination with NS-B700 and NS-C700 + Yamaha SW and I absolutely love the sound they produce. Nevertheless, I would like to make the sound more ‘volumetric’ and plan to add presence speakers above the TV. From reviews I read I understand that B700 are still way better than BP182 – so will adding BP182 as presence speakers make any harm to my existing setup (i.e. B700 produce clear balanced treble while BP182 produces more accented treble)?

    Will these BP182 complement the marvellous sound of B700 – or rather will spoil it instead? Should I use B700 also for presence speakers?
    Thanks in advance!

    1. I’m afraid I’ve never heard the 700s – so I can’t give you a definite yes or no answer. What I can tell you is that the treble response of the 182s is very clean and crisp, so I would imagine they’d work well. That said, with that level of receiver I’d probably be looking at a better speaker system from the likes of KEF or Tannoy.

  13. Hi. Thanks for your great review about this mini system!! Ashley, I’d like to ask you some questions.
    Have you tried this unit with another pair of speakers?
    Do you think this Yamaha would be one of the best options at this price range in terms of Sound Quality?

    1. I’ve used it with Tannoy V1is which makes for a great combination. As for it being the best option at the price – it’s certainly one of them. Other options include Cambridge Audio’s Minx XI (if you don’t need CD playback) which has a better app and probably sounds a little better. Yamaha also have a couple of new models out which I have yet to hear but which look interesting.

  14. Great review, just a concern. You mentioned that comes in a huge box, could you specified the packaging dimensions, just to calculate the delivery cost.

    Best regards,
    Nicolas

    1. I’m afraid I can’t give you the exact dimensions but from memory I would estimate it being around 60CM x 50CM x 50CM (W x H x D) and weighing around 15KG.

  15. Thank you for your detailed review! Really useful for me to consider a mini HiFi System. Hi Ashley, If I am trouble in the MCR-N560 and MCR 550, which one do you recommend?

    1. I’d probably go with the MCR-N560 because of the streaming features and better connectivity. That said yamaha do have some new models out now that may be worth considering, the MCR_N670 and N870 from memory.

  16. Hello,
    I am a student from Germany and I am looking for a decent stereo system on budget. I listen to all kinds of music and I prefer a neutral sound with clarity and soundstage. I consider YAMAHA MCR N560 with the speakers or separate speakers like B&W685. Here in my place Yamaha or Marantz are easily available. How about RN500 from Yamaha? I would mostly play from USB, Spotify (via network or AUX port). Include option for playing FLAC files as well. Having a CD player is not essential. I would like to have a system which I do not have to throw away later. It would be really good if I can use my speakers with different system later. Could you provide some suggestions? My budget is like 600-1000 Euros, the lesser the better. Thanks in advance.

    Regards
    Max

  17. Thanks for the review! Finally I got one! After listening what Onkyo and Denon had in the price range, I loved the Yamaha sound.

    However, to add a point that really bothers me. Yamaha didn’t put any line out. Onkyo CS-N755 has a line out and it works simultaneously outputting the same music on speakers, one feature I was looking but forgot at the moment of buying. Yamaha also mute speakers when using the headphone jack, common! This would be a normal behaviour but would be nice to add the feature to enable simultaneous playback on both.

  18. Thanks for a great review, i was looking for a usb flac music player as i like my music backed up on pen drives. Your review had me heading out to our yamaha centre here to audition. I was going to buy the base only and purchase Qacoustics 2020i speakers but your right the speakers are great, fantastic sounding setup.

  19. Dear ashley,
    Thanks for the good review. I feel i had used the device myself
    Im seeking quality sound. Something supporting 24bit-192khz . preferably dsd(dff, dfs,…)
    By the way, with vynil packs and original 5.1 sound tracks, providing 5.1 is a good thing. But not necessarily.
    I found csr n560 and rx v479 quite interesting on the paper.
    Do you have any suggestions for me?

    All the best

  20. Ahhley: I heard the Yamaha CRX N560 in a store with Wharfdale speakers and was impressed. I have a small apartment but appreciate clear crisp sounds clean lows clean highs and mid range. What brand of book stand speakers would you recommend. Thanks for the great review

    1. I’d probably go with a pair of Tannoy’s Mercury V1is – fantastic speakers for the price and sound great with this system. The Yamaha NS-BP182 speakers really aren’t bad, and are certainly an option to consider. And if you wanted to go a little more upmarket, this system will power the Tannoy Revolution XT6s quite well – though at that price you’re approaching hi-fi separates level. Monitor Audio and Wharfedale are also both options worth considering.

    2. Dave, check out the Q acoustics 2020i, I heard them with the crx 560 and the system sounded amazing. Tannoy isn’t bad either but the 2020i can be had very cheap and well recommended. Just thought I give you my 2 cents… 🙂

      good luck.

  21. I heard this system with Wharfdale speakers in a store very nice but nevertheless it was not my apartment. What would you recommend for a small apartment where clear crisp sound clean high, clean lows is required with out disturbing the neighbours. I live in a quiet building but love to heart my music classical jazz practically everything.

  22. hi Ashley, thanks for the useful review! could you name some similarly priced alternatives to this system, having the same features like network player, integrated amp, cd-player, id3 tag compatible display, preferably metal body, and maybe an added usb dac function? the yamaha is pretty hard to find in local stores (i live in east-europe), and i’d like to have a listen before i buy. thanks, peter

    1. Glad you liked the review. The Marantz MCR-610 is probably the closest match to this system; though if I were choosing I’d probably go with the yamaha. You could also look at the offerings from Cambridge Audio (the Minx XI) or Denon.

      1. thanks for the quick reply, Ashley! an other quickie: this, or the rn500 for rock/metal? thanks, peter

  23. I purchased this unit on line through Amazon.com Canada as a gift for my son based on the excellent review by Ashley. My son received it yesterday morning in Vancouver.
    He says sound is very good & looks nice.
    I have also placed order for wireless adapter.
    Not yet received. Hope it will also work fine.
    My son is taking up his first regular job with Deloitte in Vancouver after his masters in SFU Vancouver.
    Thanks.

    1. That’s great news! I’m sure it will continue to provide reliable service for many years to come. The wireless adapter (YWA-10) is an excellent product, there is a review on here for that too. Pass on my congratulations to your son on his first job. 🙂

  24. Great review. I am currently considering this little amp for some outdoor speakers and I am wondering if that system is powerful enough to drive two B&W AM 1 speakers. They are rated for 20 to 100 watt. The cable run is roughly 15 meters as well which doesn’t help. Any idea if that would be too much to ask for the little Yamaha?

    Thanks again for the review.

    H.

    1. Thanks, glad you like the review! To answer your question, It really depends on what your intended use of the system is. I’m sure this system would have no problems powering those speakers, but whether it would be loud enough is another question.

      Personally, for an outdoor application, I’d go for Yamaha’s R-n301. It’s a separate-sized network receiver with all of the functions of this system, minus CD playback. If you wanted CD playback, grab an A-S201 amp and the matching CD-N301 CD / Network player.

      That said – if you’re aim is to provide a bit of background music, and you won’t be driving the system hard, the CRX-N560D should be fine.

      1. Thanks Ashley. I tried to keep it as compact as possible as the amp will be tucked away in a closest (I Know what a shame) for such a beautiful system. I have a Yamaha 2067 amp already and thought I would stick with Yamaha as so far it has been outstanding kit. The 301 is great however he size might be a bit too big. I looked at the Denon Ceol N9 system as well but not sure how this would compare. That said I might just bite the bullet and test a 560n out on a weekend. I have a terraced house so neighbours might not be too happy if I would create a rather large concert in my backyard. 🙂

        Have you had any dealing with the Denon or Marantz AIO units yet?

        Thanks again.
        H.

        1. I’ve not personally had any dealings with the Denon or Marantz AIO units. I probably would steal clear of the Denon as I’ve seen many of their older units (the DM31 in particular) fail, and they’re a nightmare to repair. I’d advise maybe speaking to your local dealer if you have one and see if they’ll allow you to trial the Yamaha, and if that doesn’t work maybe give the Marantz a shot.

          That said, if there’s any way you can accommodate the size, I’d definitely lean towards the 301 for an outdoor application.

  25. Thanks Ashley. I thought it’s just a CD player rather than a receiver. Do you think it is powerful enough to drive an additional subwoofer? Would it be better to add a decent amp to the system or not necessary at all?

    1. The answer to that really depends on which speakers you intend to drive. The unit does not have stereo outputs for an external amp, however it’s got plenty of power onboard to drive most price-appropriate speakers to acceptable levels. If you buy the MCR system with the yamaha speakers, you’ll have a great match and will probably find you don’t need a sub.

      The subwoofer output is a single mono preamp output, so you’ll need an active subwoofer (which most are). These subs have a built-in amplifier, so as long as you match the subwoofer to your speakers, power isn’t an issue.

      1. Thanks Ashley. I’m thinking to get a Paradigm Mini Monitor speaker and a Paradigm PDR-80 sub to work with this MCR N560. Are they match?

        1. That should be a great system. If you don’t intend to use the Yamaha speakers, you could save a bit by purchasing the CRX-N560D on its own – this is the exact same receiver that is included with the MCR system.

  26. Yet again, another review by an Apple centric reviewer so not surprising that it fails to mention that there is no app for Windows phones.

  27. Thank you for the review! I have question about wireless function, do I need another wireless accessory in order to use airplay and internet radio?

    1. The MCR-N560 has these functions built in. If you intend to connect to a network using a LAN or Ethernet cable, you don’t need any other accessories. However, if you intend to connect the unit to a wireless network via WiFi, you’ll need the YWA-10 wireless adapter or any other wireless network bridge.

        1. AirPlay works over your local network. So as long as the machine is connected to the internet, no other adapter is needed for AirPlay.

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