The magnetotelluric method (MT) is an effective means to detect the interior of the Earth. It is one of the research hotspots among geophysicists. The field observation system is the foundation of MT exploration. This method requires an observation system with some good characteristics, such as high reliability, high precision, multi-receiver synchronization and lightweight. The receiver integrates embedded computer, DTCXO, 24 Bits ADC, lithium batteries and other components. The typical dynamic range is 119 dB@ (f_s=2 400 Hz), and the power consumption is about 1 600 mW. The receiver is equipped with low-noise, lightweight inductive magnetic sensors, electric field sensors, and self-test box, thus ensuring the reliability of the instrument. It has improved the quality of field data acquisition, and the equipment is more portable. Several indoor and field tests have verified the reliability of the receiver. The performance and portability could meet the requirements of land MT exploration.