Yamaha Audio A-S301BL Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Black)

After many years with surround sound, a move has forced me to simplify to two channels to fit the available space. I chose the Yamaha A-S801 integrated amplifier because it reminds me of the stereo amplifiers I admired in the 1970s, except that it includes optical and coaxial digital inputs and a USB DAC. Yamaha A-S801 provides old school class AB power that sounds smooth, clean, and powerful, and effortlessly drives my speakers to high volume. It is flexible enough to provide all the inputs and outputs I need. It is easy to configure and control. It is not permanently limited to an internal tuner, surround decoders, DSP, center and surround amplifier channels, complex menus and on-screen displays, or streaming device interface and services. I chose an external HD radio tuner. Optical digital input allows connecting my TV for PCM digital audio and my TV provides HDMI switching for Blu-ray player and digital video devices. The internal USB DAC allows me to choose any computer Operating System and streaming services. I connect a turntable and an external Bluetooth receiver. The variable loudness control is useful. A fixed loudness button would be useless. I wish it had tape monitor / signal processor loops and preamplifier outputs. I let my wife pick the color. This will likely be the last amplifier I will ever need.

What a great piece of gear this is, I retired a long in the tooth Jolida tube amp in desperate need of a full recap for this. No hum or distortion out of this unit, just puer smooth power. Pushes the Polk XT70s beautifully. Also rear B+W bookshelf speakers and never breaks a sweat. No cooling fan required. Im Running it through a Yamaha EQ70 equalizer. And it just pushes clean quiet power. The amp functions flawlessly, with a soft mute feature. When a LP is done press mute, the volume lowers to a just audable level, push it again when your ready and it slowly ramps up to the previous preset level. There is no blutooth but thats an easy fix for 20 to 30 dollars buy a add on box and plug it in. Overall value is very good on this. You get a lot of head space for your buck. Im Running Polk XT70s and B and W 603s all 8ohms ,the rear swith set to high power, and this amp is 100% clean, powerfull and dosent even flinch or get warm.

The Yamaha A-S801SL is a fantastic integrated stereo amplifier. I am not exaggerating when I say that you will need to spend 2-3x more to get something better due to Hi-Fi diminishing returns. Clean, powerful, pretty linear/neutral, excellent sound-stage and separation, with good detail retrieval. Plenty of input options, the silver unit looks great, and has a nice build quality. The real gem here is the USB connection for a PC or streamer. I've read some of the other reviews about low loudness/SPL and lack of bass. I can assure you that the A-S801 has plenty of power (the power ratings are conservative, it's actually about 105 watts/channel into 8-ohms, and 150+ into 4-ohms) and it has tight/punchy bass, so I have a few thoughts... 1. Make sure that your streamer or source device is at 100% output volume. 2. Double-check your speaker wire/connection polarities and subwoofer phase if you're using a sub. 3. Many people are used to compressed music and over-emphasized, bloated bass. Use CD-quality or higher music and then allow some time to get used to how music should sound. Overall, I'm extremely happy that I got this unit for $799 during Black Friday, it's a steal at that price. I'm going back and playing my CD collection as well as streaming hi-res music from Qobuz via my Wiim Ultra, which is a superb combination. Curiously, USPS was chosen for the last mile of delivery, and that was a disaster. The package was dropped off by Amazon on-time with USPS in my city and was to be delivered later that day. But it was not delivered. Three days elapsed and USPS sent it to another city, then they sent it back to Denver (from which it had already transited), at which point it seemed like it was lost, before it found its way back to my city a second time. I cannot say anything positive for USPS. Amazon customer service was great though.

This Yamaha A-S501 amplifier replaced an Onkyo AV receiver I’ve had since the mid-90’s. This amp doesn’t “sound” different per se, as sonic differences between properly functioning solid state amps are virtually nonexistent, but it blows the old receiver out of the water with regard to technical performance and aesthetics. Its noise and distortion levels are inaudible, including the noise floor of the phono input. I listen to a lot of records and can attest to the quality of this amp’s phono section. I have to turn the volume up a bit higher on this input even though I use a standard MM cartridge with 5mV output, which leads me to conclude that there’s not a ton of gain in the circuit. That doesn’t bother me, but people with fussy cartridge requirements are likely using standalone phono preamps anyway. If you’re running a “standard” turntable setup, this amp’s phono stage will treat you very well. The digital inputs are a nice touch on a classic-minded amp like this. DAC chips don’t really sound different from each other, so I won’t entertain subjective analysis of these inputs’ “sound,” but the inputs function like they should and let me connect my TV and Airport Express digitally, which is nice. Everything sounds crystal clear and problem-free. There are a host of analog inputs and outputs, as well as a decent headphone output. I say “decent” because it does have high output impedance, which means it will cause some frequency response issues with certain headphones. It gives my Sennheiser 58x headphones a bit of a bass boost as a result, which I don’t mind, but people who fuss over headphones will want to use a standalone headphone amp via the amp’s analog outs. I find it odd that plugging headphones into the port shuts off audio to the speakers, and I wish I could leave my headphones connected to the amp at all times. Oh well. The amp has plenty of power and current, driving my relatively inefficient C-Note bookshelf speakers to very loud levels with ease and without distorting. In a time where many integrated amps are forgoing tone controls in the name of passing an audiophile purity test, Yamaha have gracefully included them here, along with an adjustable loudness contour. This knob is a godsend, allowing the user to compensate for the shortcomings of the human ear’s natural frequency response at lower listening levels by filling out the low and high end, so that even if you’re keeping things quiet, you’ll hear a full, pleasing balance of sound that’s adjustable to your needs. And, should you want to take all of those nasty enjoyment-enhancing impurities out of the signal path, just press the “Pure Direct” button. Aesthetically, the amp is very handsome, especially in the silver finish. It was a major factor in my purchasing decision, as I find so many amps and receivers to be hideous black boxes. The remote is very functional, though I just use my Fire TV remote to control the amp’s power and volume, and select input by hand. The lack of a screen and menus is perfect, as I’d much rather control things with knobs and buttons. The knobs and buttons do feel a tad cheap, which is my only minor gripe with this amp. I wish the tone knobs had a bit more weight behind their movement. Since that has no impact on performance, it doesn’t really bother me. Overall, if 85wpc is enough for your speakers and you like this style of amp, it’s a great buy!

I preface this review letting everyone know to give this amplifier a week to open up from a sound perspective. That has been my experience before making an assessment: Aesthetics: 4/5. I like the minimalistic look of this amplifier. However, I dislike Yamaha's decision to make tone controls rectangular. That decision baffles me actually, because many people who are critical of their audio sources tend to have OCD, like myself. Round tone controls would have made more sense. I purchased a black amplifier in order to avoid the asymmetrical look of the tone controls while in use. Build Quality: 5/5. At this price point, considering it is the 21st century, I find the build quality acceptable. It's on par with the Technics sl-100c. This means that even though this Yamaha may not be built as sturdy as in the past, it's still pretty good considering the price point and the century we live in. If one is looking for build quality from the days of yore, one will have to pay many times as much for a new amplifier. Note that if one is expecting an fm radio/tuner, they will have to buy it separately. Sound Quality: 4/5. This portion of a review will always be subjective. Normally, I have always enjoyed an open, lively sound. This amplifier doesn't meet that criteria. However, it has it's own unique sound, which when paired with the right equipment, can become addictive. This amplifier may not present all the sound details that one may be used to, but it manages to accentuate the details that matter. The sound is very clean, and I have heard details on occasion that I haven't noticed before. I must note that I don't use this amplifier for digital music. I only use it for vinyl playback and optical on occasion. The internal phono preamp is not that bad. Vocals sound fantastic. It definitely is not noisy, and records in worse condition can sound better through this unit. Perhaps that is why it may not sound lively at times; in order to produce less static and noise, Yamaha may have done this on purpose. I think Yamaha could have produced this amplifier without a phono preamp, and let folks decide on which one to purchase in order to better suit their tastes. In conclusion, I think this amplifier may appeal to those who are interested in a good, but different sound. I think Yamaha could have hit it out of the park with this product, if for a lower price the tone controls were round, and an internal phono preamp was not included. Still, I am enjoying the different sound that this amplifier produces.

This review is for Yamaha A-S801 model. Got it yesterday, and LOVE it. What a difference! This Yamaha is meant to replace my old TEAC AH-300, which was purchased 15 years ago as part of the TEAC mini-system. Came highly recommended by What Hi-Fi magazine at the time, and considered entry-level audiophile quality. I used it with Mission 700 speakers, also highly recommended by What Hi-Fi. Speakers are still the same, but the difference is stunning! Now, TEAC was much less powerful, at 35W per channel at 8Ohms, whereis Yamaha produces 100W at the same level. But if you would assume it got "louder" you would be wrong. The difference is not in loudness, it is in the detail. Yamaha opened a whole new sound-stage, several new dimensions in the music field. Everything sounds different now! Music got volume, and same old speakers produce quality I did not know they were capable of. To say I am "please" is not to say anything. Night and day. Highly recommended for all true music lovers! UPDATE: After a month of use I love this amp even more. In fact, I have updated my entire system, and tried different connections, so there is some new info I wanted to share. First of all, in addition to my good old Mission 700s I got two new floorstanding speakers, Dali Zensor 7, and a sub, B&W ASW610. Missions now serve as a back speakers, Dalis are in the front. Second, I have tried three types of sources for music: CD player (Marantz CD 6005, which has raving reviews), internet stream from Tidal (comes via USB cable from my computer) and playing CD's on the computer drive (also connected via the same USB cable). Here are the results: 1) Best sound by FAR comes from using computer drive for CDs via USB cable. 2.) Almost as good, but not quite, is streaming from Tidal (FLAC files, lossless quality) using Yamaha Steinberg USB driver and USB cable. 3) CD player, when connected via analogue cables, is inferior to the above. Why? Simple answer is - DA conversion. Not only Yamaha has a great DA converter (what they say here is true - SABRE Premier Audio DAC from ESS Technology, Inc is one of the best on the market today), but when you transfer data via USB cable it virtually eliminates jitter. And jitter is the MAJOR source of problems. Simply put, when you send raw data via USB it makes no difference what the source is - as long as data is not compressed, it is all the same. Problems begin when DA begins the conversion from Digital to Analogue. Most cheap CD players to poor job; computers do even worse job. SO when you get analogue out, it carries crappy signal and amp simply amplifies it. Amp itself cannot "clean up" the analogue signal; it can make it worse, but not better. The best it can do is to preserve it. For internal converter situation is different. Yamaha uses internal master clock, which "times" data correctly for the DA, and then DA transfers data from digital to analogue with beauty and clarity which is truly amazing. Can it be done by the CD player? Perhaps, if you spend 10000 dollars on the machine, it will have the same result. Do you want to? Its not that signal coming from a CD player via analogue connection is "bad", its just that it is not as good, not for a true audiophile. For anyone who wants to experience truly amazing sound, I would highly advise to AVOID analogue connections (RCA) at all costs. Simply forget about them. What about digital coax and optical? Well, it is better, but still there is a problem. If you use them, you do take advantage of Yamaha's SABRE DA converter, which is, again, great. BUT, you do not have advantage of using the internal master clock. Digital signal transferred via optical or digital coax has its own timing, which may be jittery. Now here it depends on the source: if you are using high quality CD player, timing may be precise and quality just as good. If not, - you will have problems. Question is - why bother, if your computer can work better and most likely will not cost you extra? In conclusion, I will highly recommend not just any model, but Yamaha A-S 801. This is the only model with built in USB DA converter, and the value of this small addition is ENORMOUS: when connected via USB it truly gives you the quality of 10 000 dollar CD player. I am not even mentioning the advantages of streaming, with its instant access to millions of CDs at a click of a mouse. Good job, Yamaha!

I chose this amp for my PC-desktop. Paired with a HIFIMAN EF400 DAC, HIFIMAN Ayer Stealth headphones, NHT Super-zero bookshelf speakers and an SVS SB-1000 subwoofer, I accidentally wound up with an audiophile setup for my PC. It replaced a Logitech 5.1 THX DAC/speaker system I'd been listening to for 15 years. I was also listening to Sennheiser RS-180 wireless headphones at night. It was time to explore wired headphones, and so began the DAC and the Yamaha amplifier. The clarity and detail was a big improvement and the overall listening experience was more than I imagined it could be. I thought my hearing was getting bad. It turns out my tastes have changed somewhat over the years and now my "old music" began to sound much better with the new hardware. I found notes that were previously hidden by my old hardware. I like the layout of the controls, and although the Yamaha is kind of large for my desktop, it is conveniently placed right behind my keyboard. I play my music through Plex and Foobar2000 and get accurate playback on all musical selections. Windows feeds usb-audio to the DAC which then feeds line out to the Yamaha amp which then powers the 2.1 speaker configuration. The sound is extraordinary at any volume level. The NHT speakers sit an arm's-length away but the sound comes from the center of my keyboard. Lots of remaining headroom as the amp never reaches 50 percent of maximum power. Best of all is the clear, powerful and accurate pleasure from this popular amplifier. This is the best change I have ever made to my lifelong PC listening experiences.

I purchased the Yamaha A-S801SL for my office music system and it has exceeded my expectations. The build quality is excellent with a beautiful classic silver finish that looks fantastic with vintage-style gear. It feels solid, well engineered, and exactly what you expect from Yamaha. Sound quality is outstanding. The amplifier delivers clean, detailed audio with plenty of power and excellent bass control. The built-in DAC is a big bonus and makes digital sources sound incredibly clear and dynamic. Overall, this is a superb integrated amplifier for anyone who values high-quality stereo music listening. Yamaha really nailed the combination of classic design, modern features, and exceptional sound.

Not bad

I just love it I have used it for two weeks so glad I got it in silver. I’ve got a project tube phono box I use for vinyl and my cheap cd player has never sounded this good. I plug my iPad into the usb and I think it has a cleaner sound than my cd player. It shipped the same day I bought it & it came double boxed. Great price and great seller. Thanks

Me tomé mi tiempo para probar este amplificador. Llevo más de 2 meses con él, y puedo decir que es una excelente opción para un sistema HI-RES, suena excelente, y la nitidez del sonido es maravillosa. Lo uso con unas bocinas de torre Polk XT70 y las "llena" completamente. Para una habitación de 4x8 metros sinceramente nunca paso más de la mitad del volumen que da el amplificador, por lo que después de algunas horas de uso apenas y se calienta, usandolo a 8 ohms, aún así opte por comprarle un extractor de aire para disipar el calor. Me encanta el hecho de que se pueda conectar un segundo par de bocinas, y hacer sonar las 4 bocinas al mismo tiempo, o elegir a qué canal mandar el audio. Cómo tip, para sacarle el mayor provecho a este amplificador es muy importante que todo el sistema sea de alta fidelidad: audio lossless, DAC externo, cableado y bocinas. También recomiendo comprar un regulador de voltaje de alta capacidad, ya que acá en México existen muchas variaciones de voltaje que pueden afectar al equipo. Sinceramente, estoy muy feliz con esta compra, ya que por primera vez puedo escuchar música en alta fidelidad, es como pasar del blanco y negro a un mundo lleno de colores. YAMAHA es sinónimo de calidad, por lo que lo recomiendo 100%, sin ninguna duda.

Excelente amplificador. Recomendo-o a todos.

Excellent, Thank you.