Yamaha CR-800 Bluetooth entry is the AUX input (150 mV line level), with two tape monitor loops and a separable pre/main loop as backups. The 45 W/ch rating carries 130 W of dynamic headroom, so an LDAC or aptX HD adapter lets it breathe. No soldering, no internal modification.
Spec snapshot
| Item | Value | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Production run | 1974–1976 | Debuted 1974, still advertised into early 1977 | HW, CR |
| Power output | 45 W/ch @ 8 Ω | 0.1% THD; dynamic power 130 W/ch @ 8 Ω; some sheets list 55 W continuous | CR, HE, HW |
| AUX / Tape inputs | 150 mV / 45 kΩ | Line level, RCA | HW |
| Tape loops | 2 × monitor | Plus recording outputs | HW |
| Phono inputs | 2 × 3 mV / 50 kΩ | MM, suits high-output cartridges | HW |
| Pre / Main | Pre out · Main in | Separable pre/power section | HW |
| Weight | ≈ 14 kg | Silver face, made in Japan | HW |
| Original price | ≈ $580 | 1974 USD list | CR |
Source codes: CR classicreceivers.com · HE HiFi Engine · HW hifi-wiki.com. Data as of September 2026.
Where to connect
AUX input
RecommendedLine level at 150 mV, made for external sources. Select AUX and the CR-800 treats the Bluetooth receiver like any other component.
Tape monitor loops
Good alternativeTwo loops with recording outputs. Feed the play jacks, select the matching tape position to listen, and switch it back off for the other sources.
Phono or microphone input
Not for line-levelThe MM phono stages boost cartridge signals, and the front microphone input with its own level control expects a mic. A Bluetooth receiver will overload either.
Set up in three steps
- Pick AUX
The cleanest door, with both tape loops kept free for decks.
- Connect and power
Bluetooth receiver RCA out to AUX, USB power attached, pair once with your phone.
- Level check
Volume low, select AUX, then raise. Fixed/line output on the adapter if it offers the option.
Quirks and notes
- Conservative rating with real headroom (verified): the 45 W/ch continuous figure sits next to 130 W/ch dynamic power in the specifications. A 1975 magazine test relayed by classicreceivers.com recorded clipping above 60 W with distortion under 0.04 percent. Size speakers to the 45 W number.
- Separable pre/power loop (verified): the pre out and main in connectors let an equalizer or processor join the chain later. Keep the loop closed for everyday Bluetooth use.
- Microphone input with level control (verified): a period feature on Yamaha receivers of this line. Wrong gain and impedance for Bluetooth, so leave it to its intended use.
What you need
- Bluetooth receiver with RCA output, LDAC or aptX HD preferred
- 0.5–1 m RCA cable
- USB power for the receiver
FAQ
Plug a Bluetooth receiver with RCA output into the AUX input and select AUX. The two tape monitor loops serve the same purpose if AUX is taken, and the pre/main loop is a third entry.
Yamaha rated the CR-800 at 45 watts per channel into 8 ohms at 0.1 percent distortion, with 130 W of dynamic power per channel. Conservative ratings of this kind bench well above the number on the paper.
Yes. Two moving-magnet phono inputs at 3 mV leave room for a turntable and a high-output cartridge, so keep the Bluetooth receiver on AUX rather than sharing inputs.
Listen for selector scratch at low volume, which is the most common service item on receivers of this age, and expect conservative power ratings: the factory figure is 45 W per channel. Neither finding rules the receiver out.
blafili B3 Bluetooth Music Receiver
RCA and XLR outputs with LDAC and aptX HD, OLED status display. A source clean enough for the CR-800 dynamic headroom.
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Share a photo or correction- Specifications, input configuration and separable pre/power: hifi-wiki.com Yamaha CR-800 page
- Power rating, 1974 debut and $580 price: classicreceivers.com Yamaha CR-800 retrospective, with HiFi Engine in agreement
- Dynamic power: Yamaha CR-800 owner's manual specifications page and hifi-wiki.com, 130 W per channel (IHF)