ATTAINABLE HIGH-END! Yamaha A-S2200 Amplifier Review

[@fvl089]

I have owned an A-S2200 for about two years, but sold it at the beginning of this year. This, after having purchased an Audio Note Cobra. I have loved every song it played. Especially hooked up to a Denafrips Pontus II DAC and Triangle Signature Delta speakers. I do agree on your review. Before purchasing the A-S2200 I have listened to it at home, together with the Musical Fidelity M6Si and a Hegel (I forgot which one). The Yamaha was the only one just to make me smile during listening and presenting a more neutral and realistic presentation. An amazing piece of equipement.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@love2spinvinyl]

I have a silver as2200 and love it. I wanted an analogue amp so it wont date like those with inbuilt dacs. I prefer to keep my dac as a seperate. The MM phono input is exceptional, i had a Clearaudio smart phono V2 (over $1000aud) with audioquest interconnects, I much preferred the Yamahas phono, so I sold my phono and interconnects. This is an exceptional Amp for its price point.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@MrJatzeq]

​@MrPetermc199thats why I bought 2nd hand as 2100 for 1600 euro

[@thor8334]

@@MrJatzeqand how is it man ?

[@bocrux]

I have been using this for over a year and love it. What attracted me to it was the balanced all analog design. I wish more integrated amps would follow suit and not include a DAC when the typical consumers already have a much better performing separate DAC. The killer feature that isn't mentioned enough is the MM phono stage which sounds great and has a dead silent background. I feel there's no need to upgrade to a separate phono stage component until I venture towards pricy MC cartridges.

[@daniannaci3258]

The phono stage in the A-S2200 is very, very good, particularly in MM mode. If you upgrade to an MC cartridge, try a MC step-up transformer. In my experience using the very low output Linn Troika MC, using a SUT into the MM input resulted in spacious, almost holographic soundstage, a relaxed yet extended demeanor, and dead quiet when compared to using the Troika straight into the MC stage, which in itself was no slouch.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

[@1Hiprascal]

I really like the features included and omitted. And, if your gonna do it, do it right kinda thinking. Thanks for the MM phono stage assessment. A high quality built-in phono stage will reduce upgrade costs, especially for those of us content with MM carts.

[@davidwald2938]

I'm so glad for the tip of using a step up transformer in the mm setting on the phono. I have a Denon 103R I'd been using in another system (vintage Marantz 3200 pre) that I used with a Hafler SUT but with noticeable hum. When my audioquest phono cable went bad I moved the turntable to my bedroom system built around my 2200 and since there was an mc setting had left it happily. I pulled the Hafler out of the closet after reading your comment and wow...it sounds amazing and with abosuletly no hum! All this time I just figured hum was an SUT drawback but the amazing Yamaha has far superior grounding capability than my old Marantz I suppose. Always liked the sound of the Hafler and so glad to have it back in a system. It already sounded good in mc but this gives it a little something extra in the soundstage.

[@GamingRevenant]

I too started the Yamaha path when a dealer demoed me the Yamaha A-S1100 (no longer available). It was at a discounted price of €1499 at the time about a year ago. The quality of the design and the materials, alongside its super-clean design, made me fall in love with it. However, what was most shocking is how clear and powerful the sound was compared to almost any of the other amplifiers in the same range. Nothing came close for the level of stereo imaging it gave, and this is a few steps 'under' the A-S2200. Also, these babies are about 40kg total and are so solid that you can just feel the craftmanship and construction quality just from touching or carrying it. Best is that it also allows you to connect them with a receiver and trigger to allow a complete set of both surround and stereo. All the features that were on it were baffling at the price tag, and I can't think of upgrading to anything else anytime soon. If you want to have more punch, however, you can even add subwoofers to the amp (or combine it with a receiver with a subwoofer).

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks for sharing 😊

[@Staybrown11]

As always, great review. What I’ve learned living with the AS200 is that the circuit really is amazing. Hooked up with a entry level DAC (Ares2) it gives the sense that the power is lacking in the bass. However, hook up a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE and quickly you learn that it’s dependent on your source. Powerful quick bass and holographic soundstage. It’s a fantastic match with KLH model 5. And I hope it’s good enough for the model 7

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you SB 😊

[@wa2368]

​@@abritishaudiophile7314 Did you let the 2200 burn-in for approx 120 hrs. There is a significant sonic change that occurs in this amp after burn-in.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@wa2368 I am aware of the long burn in reputation. My contact at Yamaha ran it in his home for four months and I also used it daily for three weeks before critical listening 😊

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Yeah many people say model 5 sound great with the Yammie ' hell of build quality with 2200' just read an article where lead Engeener Re-tuned the built in Preamp of the 2200 to give it a more balanced and transparent sound ' And yeah phono Eq is legit amp loaded up With Nichicon KZ Jewerly now you know where the Lost gold of my Mayans went 😆

[@davidwald2938]

Agreed. The dac and possibly burn in makes all the difference. I wanted to love this amp for its build quality, balanced inputs, and those meters. It was just too mid forward with the Klipsch speakers and tube dac in my main system. Now I have paired with JBL l-96s and a Gustard R26 in another system and am amazed. Balance so zero distortion and is so clear and coherent at even the lowest volumes. I read people saying this amp had an almost tubelike glow but never heard it cause the dacs I tried were too sharp. The fantastic JBL bass and midrange is really shining through and I love this amp now which is great because it is the highest end amp I own. A balanced R2R dac is definitly the ticket with the Yamaha!

[@olaniyi570]

I have the predecessor to the AS-1200, the AS-1100 I've had this Amp for going on 5 years. I won't go into much detail, but the sound changed significantly over time and this Amp at the end of year four sounds very different in terms of micro dynamics and midrange presence and bass control than it did at the end of year two for example. It no longer sounds lean at all (in my opinion). Not to completely discredit channels such as this, I think that conclusions drawn about gear that haven't had enough hours to burn in (mine literally took years) should be taken with a generous dose of salt.

[@craighoffman6876]

Same experience with my A-S1200. It was forward bright and a bit thin sounding when new. Probably 2 years on, now it's sound is wonderfully clean and smooth with a detailed soundstage. My amp was a return from Audio Accessories 4 Less and I got it for 1K off MSRP at the time. My amp clearly wasn't used much as it and it's remote were spotless. I suspect the prior owner unboxed it, didn't like the sound and returned it. I knew the amp needed break in, and was rewarded for my patience.

[@ralex3697]

I sold my AS-1200, just did not find very engaging. Different strokes for different folks.

[@marcgoldstein2957]

Couple of things to add to this - excellent as always - review. I have the model above, the A-S3200. Actually I have 2. And Yamaha amps are known for one quality above all others: neutrality. What sound comes out of them will depend largely on what you feed them. The "downstairs" is used mostly with a Denafrips Pontus II DAC and Gaia DDC, and the sound coming out of KEF Ref 1 speakers is the 3 Dimensional detailed soundstage we've come to expect from this brand. "Upstairs" powers Mission 770 speakers, and the sound is coming from an RME DAC Black Edition, which I love for its EQ'ing capabilities. But there's no comparison. Plenty of detail and UMPF, but super analytical, with vocals pushed waaaaay back, which surprised me. This is a temporary set up though, and ultimately the Pontus will move upstairs to be replaced by a Terminator +. The only thing WRONG with any Yamaha amp, is that they don't come with the beautiful furnace you have in your chimney mantle...what a beauty! Cheers from LA.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@sella7211]

what is your point? what are you claming, is it to analytical for you?

[@buckethead84]

I own this amp, and I'd say that at this point I've had a good amount of experience with different types of higher end gear. I understand the perception that it leans to the cool/analytical side but to me the "yamaha sound" is the absence of color and a truthful yet refined response across the frequency range. I believe they built this amp like a fine instrument not so much a hifi component meant to stir the senses with a signature sound.

[@ThatGuy-mn2gg]

Love that analogy. I owned A Yamaha trumpet, drum machine and synth back in the day. I will have the 2200 in a few months. I spent months contemplating receivers and realized that I did't want one. This amp is 2000 more than I would ever pay for any receiver, but judging by the reviews and that very strong tactile click when you cut the power on or off, or change an input, or actuate your mute toggle, it looks like money well spent. If music is your thang.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@RennieAsh]

I recently compared a somewhat "boutique" type of amplifier to by basic Yamaha (and other regular amps) The boutique amplifier definitely has a certain sound to it; I can see why some like that kind of sound, it can make things _sound_ less smeared, softer on the ears. But it also just sounds off in a way that's hard to define. Like there is less depth, less smooth and clean. It probably measures with poor sinad I guess. I had another amp with similar effects and that one was measured, with poor sinad compared to your run of the mill amp. It does look good and it built well otherwise.

[@buckethead84]

I should add that the amp befits from a full warm up

[@ralex3697]

@@RennieAsh Agree, it’s just a very boring amp. Never found it very musical. Limited soundstage. Did not get me toe tapping. Beautiful to look at and nice features but sound is compromised.

[@igork902]

Excellent review Tarun. Sharing my experience incase anyone is also considering similar setup. I got Chord Mojo 2 + Focal Clear MG headphone and really like the sound. It was "fast", resolving, dynamic, and very real sounding. Not much meat on the bones, no added body, etc. Not analytical. Best I can describe it -- not coloured sound. I wanted to replicate the experience with speakers. I had Hegel H95, Dinafrips Ares II, Buchardt S400 MK II. Great and "large" sounding system, but slow-ish and not nearly as resolving as the headphone setup. First to go was Ares, replaced with Chord Qutest. Resolution and timing improved. Soundstage and layering were similar. Still not sounding like Focal Clear MG. Next to go was the amp. I replaced Hegel H95 with Yamaha A-S2100 (previous generation to A-S2200). Wow. Bass became tighter, there was MORE bass, resolution improved, transience improved, and instruments became more defined. Hegel H95 sounded more grainy and slow in comparison (still great amp mind you). Sound was getting closer to Focal setup, but not quite there yet. Next to go were the speakers. I switched them out for Amphion Argon 3S. I thought Buchardts were the king of bass. Amphions have tighter bass, and more of it. Yamaha and Amphion speakers were a great mach. Fast transience, precise, everything well defined. Sound is holographic, with singers positioned centre stage between the speakers (left/right axis), and in-line with the speakers or slightly in-front (front/back axis). Like Tarun said, you won't get added "body", etc. But personally I like the sound, and it's a very close match to Mojo 2 + Focal Clear MG (or Meze Elite which I also have). I like to think that the sound I'm getting is more "correct" vs lacking body, etc. I should also mention that the headphone amp section and the phono pre-amp on the A-S2100/A-S2200 are very good. I sold my dedicated headphone amp after getting the Yamaha.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing Igor 😊

[@psysword]

Quite a journey but I would never buy Yamaha versus British amplifiers like Chord, or Naim.

[@heartofcinema3454]

I have an entry level yamaha amp with matching cassette desk. Had them hooked to living room projector for TV audio for 20+ years, not let me down once, built to last!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great 👍

[@etk4188]

Made in Japan?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@etk4188 yes 😊

[@tigertiger1699]

Nice…, unfortunately my AS3000…, was in for multiple month repairs with Yamaha service agent .. for each of the 6 times over 5 years I owned it… it kept dropping the RH channel.., the service agent spends weeks each time chasing the failures around the boards..

[@tigertiger1699]

Beautifully build.., but unreliable… and Yamaha refused to acknowledge it…

[@hookedonhifi2570]

Great review, I have the AS-1200 and I tell you, it’s just a beautiful machine. I didn’t want to pay extra $1000+ just for balanced internals.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 👍

[@sv1201]

It's not just balanced internals; the preamps are different in both units.

[@4leggedfurball]

The revealing "harshness" and lightness is only an issue in the first 50 hours from brand new on these Yamahas. I have the AS3200, and had to tweak the treble knob down a notch, snd the base up a notch on first listen. 50 hours later noticed all harsness was gone and bass more fuller, so was able to zero all tone controls.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

This amp had months of run-in 😊

[@4leggedfurball]

@A British Audiophile The weird thing is, and I know I am comparing an AS3200 to an AS2200 here which may be the difference, is that I heard everything you described your review in my first 50 hours. I don't consider myself an audiophile, although I probably am partially one, my wife definitely is not and she says what thinks of something straight out with no BS and we both agreed on what we thought of the sound. The treble was very very clear and bright to the - so much so the treble control HAD to be tweaked to 11 O'clock for any more than 10 minutes of listening. On the base side of things, it was there but a little light for my taste at the time depending on the source material. So everything was more in the mid to upper side of things. Come 50 hours, the extreme clarity had clearly reduced, and I am not one of these people that descibe a subtle change as "night and day" it was quite obvious. The tone controls could be now centered with no listening fatigue. After a couple of hundred hours the mids and base were certainly pumping very hard, to the point my wife could be hauled in from another room in the house to hear it. I love to see someone sit in front of my system and tell me it's lacking in mids, base - because I'd choke on my (whatever I'm drinking) in disbelief. The speakers are Monitor Audio gold 300's, so they should pump this hard. But the point is the amp break in was 100% real, coming from a non audiophile type of person.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@4leggedfurball great to learn about your experience. How it sounds to you (and your wife) is all that matters. All you need to be an audiophile is to love music and how it sounds in my books. That makes you both audiophiles in my book 👍

[@4leggedfurball]

@A British Audiophile Thanks mate. Always a pleasure to watch your reviews.

[@davidwald2938]

​​@@4leggedfurballMy 2200 is still a little bright but I'm expecting great things in the future. I have no doubt break in real on speakers qnd amps and it can take years. I recently noticed the Focals in my car sounding a little dull. When I got them several years ago they virtually unlistenable with a flat eq so I used smiley face. Now, I run them almost flat and they sound perfect. I don't think my hearing has changed as I've and enjoyed same model Focals in my car since 2005 but wore them out and replaced with same model about 4 yrs ago (weekend car)

[@JG259-io4yd]

Tarun, I bought my A-S2200 18 months ago, I found that the burn in cycle actually does cause an improvement in richness mid and high frequencies but doe's not elomimate the Yamaha house sound that I actually prefer. I have had 2 other Yamaha amp from the early 80's, R-700 and R-1000. the R-1000 was a great fully featured amp with bass, mid/ presence, and trebble controls as well as loudness control and a device called spatial expander that was for room tuning for room placement issues. I am driving 8 ohm speakers with no issues, however a loudness control would have made this unit the perfect item for fans of the Yamaha (Uncolored/House) sound at lower listening levels. My speakers are 3 way 10" bass, dome mids, ribbon tweeters and sound best at levels where the marker on the volume knob is between 10:00 and 11:30. Or if no one else is in the house, crank it to 12:00+ with no issues in sound quality. Thanks for another excellent review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@dingobiscuit]

I spent a lot of time choosing this amp and after a year am thrilled with it. I have it paired with a Denafrips DAC and the phono stage goes above and beyond. I've got it paired with a pair of Klipsch Forte IV speakers, which the AS2200 drives like a Formula 1 racer. The sound keeps me engaged and interested for hours on end, and is thrilling across jazz, classical, electronic music, and everything in between. Goes without saying, I do love a lively, warm and inviting presentation - hence my Klipsch inclination. I did try this amp with a pair of B&W bookshelf speakers, which left me a little cold. Anyway, thank you for another fantastic and well-balanced review :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly 😊👍

[@MrGeorgeMunroe]

I’m running the previous A-S2100 with the original Forte’s and your experience mimics mine. I have an acoustic Yamaha piano and also play guitar in our music room and the Klipsch heritage/Yamaha combo sounds the most realistic and lifelike of any systems I’ve owned. It is definitely a kind of sound that gets you listening for hours on end. Thoroughly enjoyable, I can only imagine the IV’s and 2200 would give you more of that.

[@tablameister]

Thanks for the review. Yamaha is known for their clean, analytical sound. Some call it cold, but their amps add/subtract NOTHING. I had an A500 amp and currently have an RX777. The power is clean and effortless.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@PhillioDoede]

Great review, love the technical insight addition to the subjective impression in your reviews. Personally I really like Yamaha's approach to their high-end integrateds not wasting resources on things like DACs and streamers which will be out dated in time, just a really solid amp and pre section that will last for decades. I also really dig the looks but personally I don't think the Yamaha house sound would be for me as someone that listens to mostly modern music. Not sure if that assessment is totally accurate or if the lean clinical sound of the Yamaha can be balanced out at the source DAC and TT selection?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Philip. The level of clarity, grip and control on the A-S2200 is top class stuff. I was able to temper the leanness in the midrange with my Denafrips Venus II DAC and warmer speakers to some extent but the traits to the amplifier still remain 😊

[@vicg5323]

Very good review. I have the AS2100. It’s balanced topology uses a cyclotron to reduce noise. Stereo Police did a superb review of its inner workings. I wondered how it would compare to the Accuphase. Thank you for the insight. My unit has almost 10000 hours of use without service. Very solid. Looking for 10k speakers to match.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@radimvavrecka3481]

Hi, my friend is praising combination with Sonus faber Olympica so give them try.

[@vicg5323]

@@radimvavrecka3481 thank you

[@RR-kb2ks]

Did toy with the idea of one of these Yamahas - S2100, 2220, 3000, 3200 amongst many other amps. Having read loads about the Plinius 9200 Integrated, 200 wpc @ 8ohms, I waited patiently and came across one I couldnt let pass, £1300 and it was mine. Absolutely love it!, power, dynamics, balance, neutrality, nuance, detail, depth with just a hint of what I'd call natural analogue warmth being AB, heavily biased to A. An excellent amp and I've had a few - Technics SU VX800, Sansui 919, Sansui alpha AU a707DR, was also loaned a Belles Aria integrated to try which was very nice, the Plinius is the best - love it, a thrill and sensation feeding my Spendor D7's - sources are Technics SP10Mkll turntable with re-tipped Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge (Fritz Gyger S profile), same as the Replicant on Ortofons best moving coils, Aurorasound Vida Prima phonostage, and Pioneer PD91 cdp. The Plinius brings the absolute best out of them, best replay I've ever realised in my home.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing your 😊

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Looks amazingly gorgeous piece of kit. Seems also to be a very innovative electronic circuitry with tonal bypass, etc. However at its current price level, it is a bit out of my range at the moment. Thank you as always for your excellent review and introduction to this beautiful Yamaha amplifier. Take care, and all the best, Sir.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Simon. Always a pleasure to hear from you 😊👍

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Always a pleasure for me to see and hear you too, Sir.

[@themastroiannis]

Tarun, just rewatched your whole review of the Yamaha. seems to be a formidable Amplifier! I just bought a Marantz Model 30 and its leagues above anything I ever had to power my speakers. Very powerful, beautiful, lush, dynamic, clear sound. layers of depth and an impressive soundstage! the phono stage is also impressive and I find myself enjoying my vinyl collection again. Wonder if any of your viewers has compared the Marantz to the Yamaha (very similar price) and their opinions on both.. as always, thanks for each and every review you put out there!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I haven’t heard the Model 30 but the 40 is on very different sounding to the Yamaha 😊

[@goodrap1]

I’m on the same boat. I also recently bought model 30 thinking I may not need a balanced input. Now now I used my model 30 a bit, i have a remorse if I should have gotten a balanced amp like this although spending >$1000 more may or may not be justified

[@berntcaspersson1429]

​@@abritishaudiophile7314 The model 40n is to warm for my taste. You can't recognize male voices when they are talking. There is a low register added (more base). I prefer Yamahas more natural sound.

[@tasteapiana]

I believe Yamaha tailors their amps to their own speakers, so, mix and matching them with other brands' speakers is a large potential rabbit hole that they likely would not advise. Speaker magnet materials play a large part in how they present a signal. For instance, in the world of musical instrument speakers, one can easily tell the difference between alnico and ceramic magnets while blindfolded. Celestion has made a fortune in the art of designing speakers specifically for various electric guitar amplifiers. I, myself, searched about two decades for a speaker that does exactly what I want one to do (honestly, it took me that long to understand what I wanted one to do) until I broke down and had Ted Weber build one for me from scratch (just months before he passed away) after we had fleshed out what I wanted and how to go about getting it. I've had great speakers break my heart in all applications, in live sound reinforcement, in studio monitors, in home listening rigs, in musical instrument speakers, in car audio, all of it. I wish it were as simple as the more money you throw at it the happier you will be, but that just isn't so. You have to find that perfect combination, for you. That combination might only cost $200 (might). It could also be $2,000 or $20,000 or $200,000. If there were a universal perfect match up of amp and speakers then we would all have the same ears, right? But, we don't. So, we all check in with guys like you, who seem fairly unbiased and pretty dedicated and we take notes in case we have some money left over after all of that other stuff that music helps us to forget about. Great video.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Great to learn about your experiences 👍

[@FreddysHamster]

Amen.

[@axelviarhilmarsson6317]

Just bought the A-S 2200 yesterday (silver one) ... and "wow" the sound from this amplifier. Previously I was using the Thule Audio IA75B (a Danish brand that has not existed for some years, but did produce highly recommended hifi components at the time; 11 kg amplifier, so it is only half of the Yamaha, but not an "empty one", it is well made). What I noticed right away about the Yamaha was the high frequency clarity and the control over all the fast things going on in the music. I also noticed and questioned the lack of bass in some way. Not that there is not a bass there, just the clarity is so ... "mind blowing" that one is perhaps gets the feeling that the bass is somewhat missing. For loudspeakers I'm using my old faithful Sonus Faber Grand Piano speakers (also in "heavy" black piano finish - matching the sides of the amplifier) with the Sonus Faber Gravis B subwoofer. I may have to look some what into the settings on the subwoofer to see if I can get the bass more "out". I have mostly been playing CDs to test it and I'm using the Thule Audio DVA150B for the job. But the clarity and the presentation of each instrument/vocal in the space is something I have never had before and each song I listen to is like I'm listening to it for the first time. Next steps in the testing will be to look into the bass (as stated before), use the XLR connections between the CD and the amplifier (currently using the RCA) and see if I notice any positive changes. Also I will connect my Technics SL-10 (with the original MC pickup, Technics EPC-310MC) and see how it performs. The price I got it for (brand new, un-opened box) was "only" £2075 (incl. the high 24% VAT) - which is a lot of money for me, but compared to the prices you state and I see advertised in the UK and the USA this is a "steal". Normally the price factor between Iceland and abroad is the other way around (x1,5) so this was a nice surprise for ones. At the store I was informed that I would be able to return it if I was not satisfied with the sound when hooking to my home equipment (or anything else). As you are buying an expensive item and you are not sure how it will sound at home - and if it actually will be a step up from the amplifier currently used. The verdict is that this amplifier is "a keeper" no question. I have been watching your channel for a long time, and I really like the way you approach your critics - not drowning one in numbers, just stating your personal opinion about the item you are reviewing - THANKS. Updata :) ...bought the Yamaha CD s2100, going to Sweden to pick it up (a heavy "beast", 15,6 kg) it was heavy transporting it walking around in Stockholm area I strapped/taped it to a scateboard I brought with me and then got it on board the AC (going back home to Iceland) as an carry-on item - this was an adventure ... but all the problems/sweat was worth it in my opinion, and I have a story to tell ...the sound of this par is so good the sound is just floating ....thanks again for the channel.

[@nasdkhan254]

Yr amp needs to break in

[@axelviarhilmarsson6317]

@@nasdkhan254 OK - so you are saying that I can expect better bass after "break in" after running the amp for some hours? Was that your experience - or the unit you got was already "broken in"? B.R. from Iceland

[@nasdkhan254]

@@axelviarhilmarsson6317 Hi. Leave your amp permanently on ( disengage the auto switch off ) and have a source ( Internet radio/ tuner ) playing & after 100 hours the sound will mellow out. For the first few days it had a thin sound but it blossomed out. All the best

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@MrJatzeq]

​@@axelviarhilmarsson6317yes bass will be much dipper and more meaty

[@bellrobert1978]

Yamaha amps are a safe buy at any price bracket.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I hope to find out 😉

[@billd9667]

Tarun, I couldn’t help but notice your less enthusiastic response to this amp in relation to the A-S1200 you reviewed two years ago. I know that it is hard to compare two units when they are not both available and that working from memory is fuzzy, but could you give your take on the differences between them?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@billd9667 The A-S2200 is more resolving of details but the A-S1200 is better value for money 😊

[@billd9667]

Thanks. I’d love to see you review the R-N2000 receiver (which appears to use the S1200 amp section(, but that might make you look like a Yamaha fanboy 😉

[@samlee2562]

Yamaha anything is a safe buy👍

[@trevorbartram5473]

From an electrical design POV, balanced preamplifier circuits offer power supply noise rejection and even order (2nd etc) harmonic distortion reduction compared with single ended. However there are simple ways to mitigate these effects in single ended circuits, without adding many extra parts. For balanced high power amplifiers, in addition to the previous advantages the voltage rating of the devices (transistors, capacitors etc) is halved in comparison with single ended, that can result in a significant cost savings.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

I have this amp. I run the tone controls flat. But perhaps your room or how you like your music requires a boost. Maybe use the supplied controls to tailor the music how you like to hear it. Excellent review. Im happy with this amp..I run it into Klipsch Cornwall 4s. I listen to classic rock Jazz and Indie ..with some electronica thrown in. I also use a PontusII dac for the digital side. Ive never felt that the mid range was thin, ever. It's very clear and weighty. Maybe it's the klipsch helping out but I have no complaints at all. Thanks for the review

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@sella7211]

same heare cornwall 4 and as-2200 once you heard the clarity and defenision of the yamaha thers no way back

[@adaboy4z]

I just found it's Grandfather the Yamaha B-2 from 1977 at an Estate sale for $250. It works and that Class A sound is awesome. It's in line for a full restoration.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great 👍

[@alkingborn]

I started my Yamaha path early 80's with a CA 2010 moving forward with an excellent AX-2000A (which btw to me is still their best ampli) and later on with an A-S3000. I've always loved their neutral and detailed sound, performances duration and construction quality. However I've always had a bit of concern about their lack of power and dynamic. Due to this fact I recently switched to a more muscular Hegel H390 that sounds extremely well

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks for sharing 😊

[@shughy1]

Another great review from my fave audiophile channel, so grateful for your input in this industry

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly. That is much appreciated 😊👍

[@idc7305]

Great review!. I owned the AS2200 for almost 2 years. Built like a tank and good looking amp. My experience mirrors yours. I found the AS2200 to be clinical and lean sounding, not my type of sound. Now I own a Sugden A21SE. This amp does a good job with placing instruments in the soundstage like the AS2200 but I find the A21SE way more engaging.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly 😊👍

[@tomwebb7091]

Perhaps theres something about Japanese amps being tuned to be cool, thin, lean etc. Their typical living spaces are much smaller and thinly constructed compared to homes of UK hifi heads. Perhaps they tune equipment to keep resonance possibilities down. Im still waiting to hear a single truly lovely sounding Japanese amp outside of the Marantz brand which to me at least comes closer to the typical British sounds of yore. For example having tried a Luxman class A AX550ii model after the descriptions of warmth mentioned in owner reviews i couldnt have found it less warm if it tried. Then again i like to enjoy my music and 90% of it isnt audiophile demo material so having a very HIFI amp isnt always a help. There are warmer and sometimes even tube like SS amps out there from Audia Flight, Audio Analogue, Sugden, Exposure, Electrocompaniet, McIntosh etc which will play everything with a beauty that cant be resisted and there are actual tube amps from Unison Research and Icon Audio which are just the real deal with minumum of histrionics, excellent UK support and sensible pricing!

[@kevinpreest3915]

May I ask what speakers you have paired with your A21SE please? Thank you.

[@idc7305]

@@kevinpreest3915 Hi, Klipsch Forte III and Harbeth P3esr.

[@kevinpreest3915]

@@idc7305 Thank you!

[@cameronrector178]

Great review Tarun. Lol I currently have had my AS2200 paired with the Elac Unifi Reference and Gustard R26 for the past 6months. It’s been a fantastic combination. But you are correct. I will retire these speakers once I finish building my very high end 3way speakers. Great to see Yamaha getting some love.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Cameron 😊

[@chrislj2890]

I would have gone for the A-S2200 if it had been available at the time, but supply chain issues had everything screwed up. So I bought the A-S3200 instead. That's a big jump in price, from $4,500 to $8,000. Luckily I had the money at the time and I didn't want to wait for who knows how long. Whether it's worth $3,500 more than the A-S2200 I can't really say, but sonically for me I highly doubt it. It does have balanced connectors for two components, so there's that, lol. The one thing I dislike on my silver version is that the VU meter needles are quite fine and very hard to see from any distance away, but the black version looks much more legible. Other than that I'm happy with mine.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Nice. Thank you for sharing Chris 👍

[@jazzabana]

And the second reson why I haven't bought my 2100 in grey is the side panels in gloss finish. Black on black is better than gloss black side panels on grey. Now I am having trouble seeing the volume level from distance because it is black on black. I know grey doesn't have that problem since I had 801 in grey b4 2100.

[@chrislj2890]

@@jazzabana Hmmm, that's something I forgot, as I can't tell on my silver version where the volume is. The big knob just has a machined line indicator without any color. They should have painted it or better yet have an LED, but bigger than the ones in the faceplate because they are too small. Wow, sounds like I have more complaints than I first mentioned.

[@joshsw6776]

Hi Chris, I'd bet you anything if you had an A-S2200 there to compare against your A-S3200 it just wouldn't compete. I've owned the A-S2100 and the A-S3000 and the A-S3000 wins hands down, it isn't even close. The A-S2100 was very good, but the A-S3000 is exceptional. The dynamics, sound stage and clarity is on another level. I love how airy and open the A-S3000 is and how the instruments just hang in space. The A-S2100 sounded much more closed in in comparison. I'd expect a similar performance between the A-S2200 and the A-S3200 as they didn't change a great deal in these amps. Also, I owned both the black and silver A-S3000 for a while. I sold the black. Looks sexy but it really showed up the dust, plus I think the silver looks so much better despite the VU metres being more difficult to read. It looks so retro and classy. I believe you made the right choice buying the A-S3200. It offers so much more than just another set of balanced connectors. I'd put very good money on it being in another league sound wise compared to the A-S2200. I believe you get what you pay for with these amps. I owned the A-S1100 and the A-S2100 bettered it. Likewise the A-S3000 bettering the A-S2100.

[@chrislj2890]

@@joshsw6776 Thanks Josh, it's reassuring to know that extra money was a good investment.

[@nishalp1747]

Thank you. I am a Yamaha fan and have an older Aventage range home theatre receiver. It is built like a tank and has exceptional sound quality. I can only imagine how good this amp sounds. Than you

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@rotaks1]

Great review. I own fully balanced monoblocks from emotiva. The one problem is when you hook up RELs with speaker level cables, you can fry the amp. There is a certain way of connecting the Rels. 😅

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@oldschoolaudioenthusiast]

Tarun, great review as always! I dig your channel as one of the best on KZbin! Back in the late 70's I worked as a Yamaha dealer here in the states and even then the equipment offered great sound and value while all being designed & made in Japan at the time. To this day I regret not purchasing a PX-2 linear tracking turntable, at that time around $700 USD. It was a beast and was really cool. Google it when you have a moment. There's something to be said for a musical instrument maker building affordable high performance audio gear. Take care.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Alan. Much appreciated. Yamaha certainly do know a thing or two about making instruments. The turntable sounds intriguing 😊👍

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

THANKS TARUN, FOR SHARING…I have a DSP -A1 in GOLD with the wood 🪵 side panels and my is son still using it MY FAVORITE 🤩 FOR MANY YEARS…NO PROBLEMS🤗😎💚💚💚

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

That is great 👍

[@ekiquantameki7701]

Yamaha as2200 is the first of the amplifiers for which I spent so much money. But I fell in love with its construction and the price of 2750 euros is already after a big discount.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@mikecampbell5856]

Great review as usual. I bought a Yamaha receiver a few years ago, (my second receiver from this century) and it sounds great. It's only 50 watts per channel but it can easily drive anything I have.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mike 👍

[@tombill2723]

to me I think you are probably the best reviewer, not many have the tech knowledges .Well done to you

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Tom. Very much appreciated 😊👍

[@johntrott9513]

I have the A-S1200, ordered it the moment it was available for general sale in the UK. I do sometimes wish I'd been a bit more patient till I could afford the A-S2200, especially now I have the NuVista phonostage which could make use of the balanced input. But it was a very different world back in 2020. I'd fallen in love with those VU meters and all it had to be is better than the 10 year old Onkyo AV receiver I had at the time.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@adamlitchfield3371]

How are you finding the A-S1200 John? I'm seriously considering it at the moment....

[@jeremylynnchagaspereira3926]

Excellent review. Interesting amplifier. Happy to hear that the DALI’s paired well. I may be ignorant and neurotic, but the image behind you on the right side was distracting and disturbing.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. It is of musician Seasick Steve 😊

[@HarmonicResearch]

As a BSEE and Acoustics Engineer/audio enthusiast, I believe a balanced topology is REQUIRED for the best sound and lowest distortion. It's refreshing to see a high quality ANALOG amplifier. After all, sound IS analog. There is no point in converting to digital and BACK to analog unless the design engineers FORGOT how to design anything in the domain that the ears operate in. DACs and CADs (dig to analog & vice versa converters) only ADD distortion to the system. Nice review. Good to see Yamaha making it beautiful inside as well. I would like to see a frequency and phase response curves to augment the listening test. Is that possible?

[@SignorZukini]

Nice review! To answer your question at the end I can't say I'm a fan of balanced amps. They can be nice and quiet but the inherent cancellation of even order distortion generally makes them sound cold and lifeless in my opinion. Give me single ended any day!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@ralex3697]

Completely agree

[@jamienaquin3918]

I almost bought the Yamaha 2200, but instead went with a Moon 330a. I've grown to really love the retro look. That said, I'm very happy with the Moon.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@hubert-williams3379]

Well I have changed my direction in amplifiers.. I was very much considering the Rotel 1572 and the preamp but now I know for sure it will be the As2200 Yamaha, Thanks for the tip in the "High End direction".

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@harleilam]

Another fantastic and informative review, thank you Tarun. Would be interested in your thoughts on the R-N2000A if you're looking for another Yamaha to review. It seems to combine specs from the A-S1200/2200 models with 'modern' digital/streaming capabilities. Keep up the great work, cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly. I believe the R-N2000A topology is based on the A-S1200 😊👍

[@nazaholicable]

Hi Tarun. I wanted an integrated amp with phono stage and no DAC. This was an intended upgrade from the Rega Elicit R. I auditioned the Naim £3700 integrated, and the Cyrus i9XR. I didn't want another Rega, (and the Aethos upgrade had no phono stage). I like the clarity and instrument separation of the Cyrus i9XR and bought it. My kit at that time was a Marantz TT 15s1 turntable, Roksan blak CD player and Spendor a7 floorstanding speakers. Cut a long story short. The Roksan CD player developed a fault under warranty and my dealer allowed me to swap it and pay more for a £4000 Luxman D-03X. I find the Cyrus too bright with my source components, and i want an amplified sound with more depth that's not boring or fatiguing. The Roksan CD player I swapped out was less clear and softer than the Luxman, but it tempered the brightness and lean sound of the Cyrus in a way that the Luxman doesn't. So I was keen to consider trading in rhe Cyrus for the Yamaha, but am put off by you saying it lacks a bit of oomph and excitement. In terms of balance, I want clarity, richness, preferably no DAC in a one box amp, to drive my source components for CD and vinyl. I don't want a Cyrus PSU XR, as I want to eradicate the Cyrus dryness which gets me down. From what you report in the video, the Yamaha and the Accuphase won't cut it for me. I don't want another dry, less rich presentation. What about the Luxman integrated at around £3700-£4000? I avoid pre and power amps due to aesthetics and shelf space issues.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@nazaholicable thx for sharing your experiences 😊

[@nazaholicable]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hi Tarun, do you think the new Hegel 190v might suit me, given it should be less dry than Cyrus and less cold than Yamaha?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@nazaholicable it is a great amp 😊

[@markcarrington8565]

Excellent as always, Tarun. I have two amplifier setups and noise through the speakers is inaudible. The moving coil phono stage contributes far more noise than the amps. I believe it’s better to spend money on higher quality parts as this will have a greater impact in most systems.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Mark. My favourite solid state amps are still single end at this price. That may change as and when I get into the £10k+ range 👍

[@daniannaci3258]

Try a MC step-up transformer into the MM input. Provided the SUT is sited correctly, no active MC stage is more quiet than the passive SUT.

[@markcarrington8565]

@@daniannaci3258 thanks for the suggestion, however, the problem of noise probably came across as more pronounced than I intended. The main amps are silent and the MC phono stage makes a slight hiss with my ear next to the speaker. Not an issue from my listening position. As I spent £1,000 on it, it’s staying put, particularly as I’ve now tuned the gain, impedance and capacitance to match my cartridge perfectly.

[@OzBlues21]

Another great review, I always look forward to your reviews and your take on HiFi, I have a silver A-S2200 and love it, I got the A-S1200 Black first but was left wanting so the HiFi shop took it back and I got the Silver 2200, glad they did as I love the balanced circuitry, I have had it paired with some good speakers like the Dynaudio.special 40s, Klipsch Cornwall 4 and even a set of Bose 601s Mk 1 to name a few with great results, I've alway liked the big Yamaha's and this one is a keeper

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Jim 👍

[@ukbij]

Tarun, another great review. I have this amp. One issue I have with this amp - Low level listening is flat. It takes atleast 9pm/10pm to come to life. And i have noticed it across speakers. Have you noticed this? Am I missing something I wonder. Its almost as if I miss that 'loudness' control. For the rest, it is a keeper and a fantastic amp. Silver yes.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. It’s lighter presentation makes it not the best choice at low levels but it wasn’t an issue with the ProAcs and Dalis which are great at low level listening 😊

[@ukbij]

@MrPetermc199 which speakers do you drive with that one. I had the same experience with the as1200 too.

[@kevinloy6435]

i have this amp for about a month now. I agree it sounds thin at low levels. This is why for low level listening I always crank those bass and treble knobs - bass knob to around 2 oclock and treble knob around 1 oclock... solves the problem immediately with beautifully balanced sound at low levels. Don't be afraid to touch those knobs.

[@Raymondey]

Now it’s time for Denon PMA A110 😎 (or at least the new PMA-1700NE)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The PMA 110 may be cool to review 😊

[@James-mb5jr]

How does the Denon 110 sound vs Marantz?

[@ChaiBearProductions]

A110 was okay but I sold it. Ultimately too warm and laidback for my taste. May look into the AS-2200 in the future. A better buy from Denon would be an SX11 or SX1 Limited although they are Japan only models and you’d need a step down transformer to run them on North American voltage.

[@WSS_the_OG]

Wonderful review of what seems to be quite a "sweet spot" amplifier. To answer the question, I have gone walked the balanced amplifier road. It's not something I would use to exclude one amplifier over another, but if two amps required a tie-breaker to make the final decision, one balanced and one not, both on my final list to buy, balanced would serve to break that tie.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I would do the same 😊

[@ffgraylw2]

Greetings from Montreal, Canada. I really enjoy your channel and how you tell things as they are without sugarcoating ;) I have this exact amplifier driving a pair of Vivid Oval 1.5 and it sounds great

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly 👍

[@kevinloy6435]

Nice review sir. I read somewhere that the 1200 is meant for smaller speakers and the 2200 is meant for larger speakers. But of course you may choose to use any speaker combo.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@SirMountainpass]

In combo with the AS2200, I would cover the low frequency range below 80 Hz with a decent active subwoofer - from my experience it lifts the listening experience to another level 😊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx for sharing 😊

[@jameschan2404]

Hi Tarun, another marvellous presentation. Hope you can review more Japanese equipment like Yamaha , Denon . Now you are my most trusted KZbin reviewer.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly James 😊👍

[@kenkoyamaentertainment5286]

Thank you for another impressive review Tarun! Your articulation of audio is authoritative - your knowledge, experience and technical insight is unmatched in sophistication. The British accent and your command of the language simply makes everything you review sound so upper echelon and creme de la creme! Am I sensing that the AJ Uni Fi References are perhaps starting to grow on you as they burn in?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Ken. It is great to get feedback like that and much appreciated. I really like what the UBR62s do but for me, personally, their strengths lie in the areas I pay less attention to 😊👍

[@kenkoyamaentertainment5286]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 In your expertise, would it be right to say that British hifi tone and sound signature generally focuses on a richer mid range? e.g. Tannoy, and your beloved proAcs. (Comparatively, American tone is more muscular bottom end and clean highs, more U shaped? e.g JBL) In the guitar amplification world it seems to be that way eg. Marshall, VOX when compared with Fender, Mesa Boogie.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@kenkoyamaentertainment5286 that is a good summary Ken 😊

[@mrpmj00]

Yep, today I ordered the Musical Fidelity M6s prx amplifier to work with my Parasound 2100 preamp for my mixed use music/home theater. As much as I love my Parasound 2125v2 amp (150 wpc, 35 amps peak/channel), I want to upgrade (to take further advantage of my new Cardas Parsec RCA cables) to hear anything better that's

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx for sharing 😊

[@mrpmj00]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I cancelled my order for the Musical Fidelity M6s PRX amplifier because it didn't have an input trigger. (I also disliked that it didn't have a gain knob) Instead, I've just ordered a NAD C298 for my front L/R in a mixed use music/movies (7.4.4 setup). In the last year, I've moved over to music 99% of the time, and heavily upgraded my music side (speakers, stereo preamp, audio components/dac/ddc/r2r streamer). I'll repurpose my Parasound 2125v2 (love it) from the front L/R speakers to the surround L/R speakers, and take the load off my Arcam AVR5 receiver (was powering the center channel, and surround L/R).

[@mrpmj00]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 My video of the NAD C298: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJTadKKmo619p6M

[@IrenESorius]

I sold my Arcam SA20 this week. I got what I once payed for it, so thats ok. I really like the Yamaha A-S2200, but its not love, not like I´m in love with Arcam,s sound signature, so the Arcam SA30 it will be. If it only had Yamaha,s face,, and not Quasimodo,s,, 😅. Thank you sooo much Tarun, for your time, work and the best HiFi-reviews out there. Cheers friend,, 🍻😎👍‍‍⭐👍‍‍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Lars. I wish more amps looked and were built like the A-S2200 too 😊👍

[@IrenESorius]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 💖💖💖💖

[@The51DD]

Thanks for this review Tarun. I’ve considered Roksan (caspian) to drive my MA Gold 100 4gen but ended up getting the Sugden a21 Sig. Currently using the original Altair but bought the Aurender A100 streamer. It’s not the latest one but I’m very excited to hook it up once I’ve got it! What’s important for me is not just the sound quality(detail, clarity, soundstage..) but also a proper interface which should be intuitive, fast and stable and I think that Auralic and Aurender did a good job. Anyways, keep up the good work, highly appreciated!! 👍🏻😃

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Peter 👍

[@TheDjcarlos67]

I've never listened to a balanced amp so no comment there, but I love high end Japanese amps generally, though I've never read a review of one that left the reviewer chomping at the bit to own one. I actually like amps with a bit of colouration, and hearing how the different design philosophies impact on the overall sound. I'd rather live with a compromised amp, as long as the unique balance each one has is sweet on my ears. Excellent review and an excellent channel 🎶

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Carlos. Much appreciated. I like a sweeter sound too 😊👍

[@baronofgreymatter14]

For a lark I decided to add a Kef KC62 sub into my system. Its crossed over at around 50hz. If you are missing that last bit of bass richness look no further

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@savagejabbit5929]

Roksan kandy k2 amp n CD mission mx5 speakers and for a lark paradigm sub 😳😀

[@savagejabbit5929]

Neighbours currently suffering 🎉😂

[@fredbloggs6080]

Recently acquired the Yamaha R-N2000A Wi-Fi network integrated amp/receiver which some reviewers compare very favorably, or even prefer, to the model you review. I use it with they also recently acquired Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers. I think the speakers and maybe the amplifier are still breaking in, but I listen mostly to vocals, and with the right placement and source material, this combo will put the performer right in your room.

[@Firebottleman]

Been there done that. It is built like a tank and should last a lifetime, but I just couldn't handle that upper midrange bump for more than 1/2 hour at a time. My speakers were too revealing for this amp, so it had to go. The 2200 would pair up very well to a speaker like the Wharfedale Lintons. The warmer the speakers, the better. Excellent review once more! Thanks Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@hammalammadingdong6244]

In my experience with the A-S1200, wharfedale is a great match.

[@mauricecanham687]

Thanks for the review. Good to see a review of Japanese amps. I have a Denon PMA 1600ne myself, with on board phono stage and DAC. Not balanced but otherwise 17.7kg of Japanese quality. Could be a good candidate to review as a sub £2000 that does it all. Take care 👍☺️

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@nasdkhan254]

I bought the as1200 . Its superb

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@brown-eyedman4040]

Thank you, Tarun for another interesting review. I owned a Yamaha "Natural Sound" amp years ago, and my recollection of the sound well matches your description of this unit. I prefer a slightly richer sound, but if one prefers cooler, I say that's great for you. This is such a fun hobby, with equipment for many tastes. As far as balanced design, I believe circuit topology to be just one factor among many. Imo, best to audition with an open mind and choose based on what one hears. That said, no Class D on my audition list!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Gerald 👍

[@jayroland9481]

Nice, no nonsense review, thanks for posting. I am however struggling to understand how speaker can sound "analytical" but hey ho, there's much I don't know.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@jayroland9481 thank you. Resolving speakers that have less harmonic richness in the midrange can impart an analytical type of sound 😊

[@jayroland9481]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I really really want this amp but at £3,650 that's really going to hurt so I might have to settle for the more pocket friendly 1200 model at £2,500.

[@gryphongryph]

Your findings are close to mine, it is a beautiful amp but I want more body on the notes, great review. Would love to see you review the Moonriver Reference.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 👍

[@bobb.9917]

Tarun…you put me on a bit of a quest to ascertain whether my Schiit Freya + Preamp and my McIntosh MC-152 Power Amp are truly balanced! It was not as simple as checking The Manufacturer’s Specs. My research tells me that they both are truly balanced components. Perhaps that is why I smile so much when listening to music. 95% of my listening is thru the tube stage of the Freya+…so…I am thinking that this Yamaha would sound too clinical for my sound preferences. …The innards look GREAT, though! Love when you take the lids off. 😁👍🏼

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bob. Very interesting. There is a lot of marketing nonsense from manufacturers claiming they have balanced designs when they are not. I would have to look into the Freya and MC-152 to find out 😊👍

[@bobb.9917]

@@abritishaudiophile7314I had to rely on what reviewers said about The MC152. I could find no info on The McIntosh website that stated if my Power Amp was actually fully balanced.

[@alextsibanoulis122]

Some amplifiers that may sound lean and analytical on bookshelf speakers may actually work best for appropriate priced floor standing speakers. A good control in the low section often results in weight loss of the lows that can be perceived as leanness. I would like to see how this Yamaha or similar voiced amplifiers pair with floor standing speakers if possible in the future Tarun

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Yes, I suspect the tuning is suited to some floorstanders with more bass emphasis 😊

[@piotrrzeczycki5257]

Dear Torun, thank you for this review! Regards from Warsaw!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Piotr 👍

[@gerrit-janslettenhaar4252]

Thank you for your research and excellent review! I own a Yamaha AS1100; I love the sound signature of this amp, and in general the Yamaha AS series; they sound better over time.... At this moment I have two Elac UniFi Reference bookshelf speakers, and two B&W ASW 610 subwoofers; the pairing with the Yamaha is very good. My favorite music is jazz, and I listen a lot to details in the music, and I love the dynamics. You really convinced me to have a look for a fully balanced amp, so the AS 2200 is just a matter of time (got to save some money). In the longer term I would love to go for some really excellent speakers for the Yamaha amp! Fortunately, the Yamaha amps keep value in time, so a trade in for an AS 2200 is within reach!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@smitushka]

What a pleasure to hear such a refined english speech, especially if you can catch every single word! Unfortunately I cannot. Although thank you kindly for such obstical and detailed review. As an owner of Yamaha A-S2100 and Denon PMA-S1 (also fully balanced) I can obviously reveal significant supremacy of the balanced circuit compared to unbalanced.

[@willbrink]

Good review, but sounds like the usual review on them, a light thin but clear presentation. I prefer more oomph.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Understood 😊

[@erikmartin63]

It’s the usual review because it is accurate. I have owned the AS-1200 paired with Klh model 5s for a few years and am ready to try an amp with some more “oomph” as well.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@erikmartin63 thank you Erik 👍

[@cameronrector178]

If you find the As2200 “lean” or “analytical” I would look else where in your system. The As2200 will expose your gear the same as a poor recording.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

My Denafrips Venus II DAC and ProAc speakers aren’t lean or analytical 😊

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Tarun, that is a very nice review, it provides good information about the nature of the A-S2200. I really like the looks of these modern Yamaha amps, who can resist a pair of nice VU meters? I am not so sure if balanced topology is the way to go. What if you spend the same on an asymmetric topology? I am not sure what will then sound better. It could just depend on the product, regardless if it is balanced or not. For that reason I have also nothing against it. But I will not make it a goal either.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Hugo. My view with people who use bi-wire cables was why not just spend twice as much on a better cable. A similar argument can be made for balanced amplifiers. It was fun to try out the A-S2200 but I would like to try out some more single ended designs at this price too 👍

[@slwjv6857]

Hi there, its a great review of the Yamaha, i would greatly appreciate if you can do a review on the new Rotel RA 1592 MK11 amplifier. There are lot of hype about this amplifier at the moment, but would love to see you review on this amp. Best, Wajira

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. I appreciate the suggestion 👍

[@sleepyf1]

Loving the focus on Japanese amplifiers. Luxman next, please! 😊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@citronski]

I have the A-S1200 and i am in general happy with it. I don't have flowery language about it's sound qualities, just that it's noise is low, distortion too, and power into harder to drive speakers is plenty. Apart from that it's totally linear, it doesn't add nore subtract, as can be seen in it's large bandwidth. I have used it with different speakers, cheaper ones like Focal Chora 806, Mission LX-3 MKII and ELAC DBR62. Also a bit pricier, like the ATC SCM19 v2 or the Wharfedale Linton. No problems at all in terms of amplification. However, there are three flaws. 1) The pre-out/main-in can't be looped, which means you can loop in a MiniDSP or EQ. 2) It doesn't have the variable loudness, which to me is important. 3) It lacks a record select. Well, it would have been nice. ;-)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@andreassouth1523]

Thank you for this excellent review and comparison!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly 👍

[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

I’ve invested pretty heavily in balanced topology, because noise rejection is a good thing, right? But I’m not sure it’s truly required for good sound. I was quite taken aback when I learned the Dartezeel amplifiers, made Switzerland and retail for gobs of money, don’t include balanced outputs or inputs. The designer of this world-class amplifier didn’t believe they sounded better or added any value to his product. I began to look at gear with different eyes: ‘balanced’ connections can be added quite cheaply, truly balanced construction can help reject the noise throughout the chain, but it does not, by itself, guarantee great sound quality, and it means the added expense of processing two signals instead of one, doubling the parts count, energy required to run the equipment, and possibly creating ever more noise, I suppose. There is a need for it where long cable runs are required, but we’re talking over 12 feet where RCA/phono can peter out. The connectors take up a lot of real estate on the back panel. All of that being said, I still prefer them, and I tend to look for them on gear I’m considering for purchase; but it is no longer a ‘must have’ for me. I would prefer to have balanced lines from analog and digital sources, especially analog; from pre-amp to amp, and from amp to speaker; but I have gotten good results from source to preamp with quality, shielded RCA/phono jacks too.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@scottbaylor6215]

Love these line of Yamaha amps. I’ve never heard them but maybe one day I will. In the meantime, it’s Cambridge for me. Great review as always. 🤘🏼🎸🤘🏼

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Scott. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@bryanherr1093]

Another excellent review Tarun. Yamaha has provided me with great value for the money with their AV Receivers. I have an all balanced desk system for my office by Schiit Audio. I feel like the all balanced setup cuts down on the electrical noise from the rats nest of computer cables, power cables, and computer noise. Thanks!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Bryan 👍

[@radimvavrecka3481]

Hi Tarun, great review. I was considering 3200 but went for MF Nu Vista 800 in silver. It will take me long years to replace it. 😉

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@nealcaffrey1251]

Thanks, great review as always, one of more interesting amp for me 🙂For me it would be interesting if you considering to try some more rare amps, for example you liked Atoll, there is another one French manufacter YBA which has killer perfomance for the price, I mentioned it in your Atoll review, unfortunately, there are practically no reviews about YBA on KZbin, it would be so interesting 🙌And now, let's all go watch one of the most non-audiophile events of the year - Eurovision😆

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Neal. I reached out to the U.K. distributor of YBA some time ago and didn’t get a response. It might be time to follow up 😊

[@san01yt]

Great review as always Tarun!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Sandeep 👍

[@GregorWegener]

I've been a regular viewer of your channel for quite some time now, and I've really come to appreciate your insightful and detailed reviews. I've always found your content engaging, informative, and unbiased, which makes your channel a go-to resource for me when it comes to audio gear. Recently, I've been intrigued by the SABAJ A30a Power Amplifier, especially since it represents the full digital amplifier category. The idea of maintaining a completely digital signal chain is captivating, and I think it could provide some interesting comparison points with traditional analogue systems. Given your expertise and understanding of both digital and analogue audio systems, I believe your perspective on this would be enlightening. I'm particularly interested in your analysis of the sound quality, dynamics, and the overall performance of this amplifier. Additionally, any comparison with other amps you've reviewed would be incredibly helpful. Please consider doing a review or a comparison piece on the SABAJ A30a Power Amplifier. I'm sure many of your other followers would also find it beneficial. Keep up the great work, and thank you for considering my request!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly. I appreciate the suggestion 😊👍

[@daniannaci3258]

Yes, the A-S2200 is pricey. How about it’s predecessor, the A-S2000, available on the used market for around $1200 USD? It, too, is fully balanced input to output and it’s specs are nearly identical to the A-S2200. Build quality between the two is identical as is the MM/MC section. You lose the meters, but you do get lovely polished honey oak wood side panels (black wood was available, too). The ‘2000 was my daily driver for years until it was displaced by a Luxman Class A integrated amplifier at four times the Yamaha’s original retail price. Hey, life is short 😉!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@david300m]

Great detailed review. Thanks for sharing.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@zefrog7482]

Great review as always.🙂 Makes you realise just how good of a deal the AS-1200 is really, £1000 extra for balanced internals, not really sold on that as worthy of the increase. Any news on trying the Technics SU-G700 M2 yet? Should be a really interesting one compared to the Yamaha AS-1200 that really impressed you. Apparently the top end details are especially impressive, although like the Yamaha, apparently not the last word in bass weight, but could actually be a good thing these days as more and more people like to use subwoofers for music listening.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. The review schedule is packed for a while but the SU-G700 Mk2 is on my radar 😊

[@zefrog7482]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 looking forward to it.🙂 Seen many influencer takes on it, I only trust two people on social media regarding the absurdity which is allegedly impartial reviewing these days, and that is yourself and Erin's Audio Corner. If you ever do a collaboration or sit-down thing like during lockdown with another reviewer I think that would be a great pairing, too many people in it that really aren't truly subjective in any sense and really not on the plain of enlightening the consumer. I'm not sure if you watch a lot of other reviewers, lol, but if you do/did I'm sure you'd be cringing as much as I do!😂

[@andreasmoller9798]

Would go with Hegel, i have the h390 its very good in both clarity and bass controll. Very meaty sound, had h190 to good amp to h390 is however still quite a big stepup from h190, glad i pick it up last year for under€5000. Great review as always

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

Question of the day…I would love to try balanced topography🤔 and I also love ❤️ VU METERS 🤗💚💚💚

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎 and thank you 👍

[@noelcostantino1308]

Hello. For the sound difference, i'ts better to buy the AS-1200 .

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

I usually see that Yamaha amplifier with a silver color. I rarely see the black ones on display here in the US.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is definitely more popular in Silver here too 😊

[@AT-wl9yq]

In your description of the pin configuration for the balanced connections, one thing was not correct. The pins are not hot, cold and ground. The + and - represents polarity. They're both hot. I only bring it up because it's very common to have issues when you make certain connections. There's more than one way a component can be balanced, and different design choices below that. What tends to happen, is when people start mixing balanced and SE pieces together in the same system, some type of adaptor in the form of connectors or cables is used. Quite often adaptors combine 2 of the pins because single ended operation requires only 2 conductors, not 3. The mistake is made when the - pin is thought to be cold, so its ok to combine it with the ground pin. In reality, the - is really a hot, so the moment you plug that adaptor/cables into a balanced component, it creates a short circuit, and the result is noise. It usually doesn't damage the equipment, but it has the potential to.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. In hindsight +/- was would have been a clearer description but Yamaha themselves use the hot and cold description to describe their balanced connections 😊

[@sandypaterson2910]

Hey Taron Just to add to the Balanced debate, I am running balanced from start to finish with Cambridge 815D DAC run from Roon Core, this runs into Advantage S2 fully balanced pre-amp into Advantage S150 fully balanced power amp (S 2 is class A, the power amp first 50Wpc in class A then class B) all cables decent quality XLR. Speakers are Proac DT8's run from bi-wired Chord Rumour X cables. I have tried running these on Line in-out but the balanced makes a huge difference on noise floor, imaging and treble/midrange clarity. BTW, have you ever tried or reviewed the DT8's? Love the channel.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Sandy. I have heard the DT8s quite a few times and always liked them 😊

[@fletchermunson6225]

Thanks Tarun. Excellent. I am fan of Yamaha electronics

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank Jim 😊

[@razza1970]

Great review! Thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 👍

[@harleyguy071]

I have a Hegel P20 preamp which many say is very close to the performance of their P30. I have it paired with a Pass Labs X150.5 and it is a great pairing. Both units are fully balanced which I really think ads to this pairing working so well.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@kirkaparty4143]

Nice Review, So looks like 70's vintage receiver but sounds like Class D?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊