Review! The Yamaha A-S1200 Integrated Amplifier!

[@duken4evr]

Finally replaced my trusty 38 year old Yamaha A700 amp (also 100 watts) that I have used since 1982 with the A-S1200 when the old amp finally expired. Have listened to the new amp now for a few weeks from quiet to peak power volumes and have a good feel for the amp's personality. First off, my old amp was a beast, able to peak at 250 watts per channel into a 4 ohm load. The A-1200 runs out of power and will clip well before my A700. This is at chest thumping house shaking volume levels of course. The vintage A700 was no fooling around in the power department without a doubt, even after 30 years. Run within it's power envelope, the A-S1200 has a muscular effortless and amazingly clean sound. My old amp could have a tiniest bit of "grit" or "edge" to it and it was even more "forward" than the A-S1200, while the A-S1200 is simply incapable of making anything remotely harsh or bad sounding. It simply sounds great until it runs out of juice at stupid high volume levels. Bass is notably crisper and more controlled than my old amp, and the highs are unbelievably light, transparent and clean, as the video described. The old Yammie was great and that is why I kept using it so long. The A-S1200 takes "clarity" across the frequency range to a whole new level. It works fantastic with my speakers which are warmish sounding power hungry things. It is not remotely "harsh" just "present". The breadth and depth of the imaging is amazing and the amp is dead silent during quiet sections at high volume levels. My large tower speakers (which I designed and built myself) never sounded so good, floating like a butterfly and hitting like a sledgehammer. Mmm - Good stuff... I am not as young as I used to be and don't need to pound out the wattage like I used to, but I still like full bodied sound at a healthy volume now and then. The A-S1200 is the right amp for this stage in my life. My departing A-700 was the right amp for the party years. I took care of my old friend, gave it to a local vintage audio repair guy. He was quite stoked. This amp does run amazingly cool vs. my old A700, and it sure is a heavy and deep sucker. The word I would use to summarize the A-S1200 is "clean". I am very pleased with it.

[@khalid969]

The problem with most amp manufacturers is that they make you buy bigger and bigger amps if you want to get better sound, but what if you don't need a 400 watt amp? What if all you need is a good 100 watt amp? The thing I like most about the Yamaha high-end series is that it addresses this issue. Yamaha offers 3 amps, each about 100 watts, at prices ranging from $2500 to $7000. All you pay for is the quality of the sound, and not any extra wattage.

[@musiconvinylisbetter.1449]

@Jingle Nuts you have to play really loud before an amp start to distort. Who does that at home?

[@olaniyi570]

The sound of my 1100 changed significantly over the course of a year. It also sounded forward initially (not anymore) i would expect the same to be true of the 1200. Your comments (especially on the headphone output) suggests to me that your unit is probably far from broken in. The headphone input on my 1100 is excellent without any traces of harshness. i know you don't have a year to wait to do a review but i would recommended listening again once it has more time on it.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

I'm writting Yamaha again 😆 I want to see Sean revisit the AS-1200 with long term break in who's with me ?

[@ZeroFidelity]

You just want to see me with more heavy stuff in my house.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

@@ZeroFidelity 😆

[@billd9667]

@@ZeroFidelity Jack up that floor!

[@markwasilow2757]

@@ZeroFidelity How would this amp sound with Some Elac Uni-fi UB52's?

[@fatheroblivion5930]

Glad to see that Yamaha still produce quality products 👌 i am using a almost 40 year old yamaha power amp the M-4 and A Yamaha pre C-65. They are built like a tank.

[@kerbyfab]

I’ve always loved Yamaha’s style & aesthetic designs.

[@trekjudas]

They kept their vintage look just like McIntosh did. Now if we can just get Marantz on board!

[@mandeephara2467]

Technics too

[@motorradmike]

Great Review of the Yammy, Sean. As a prior owner of the AS1100, I cannot help but think your how-it-sounds assessment of the new model may have been influenced by the lack of hours on the review amp. I concur the build quality of this series of Yamaha integrateds is nothing short of amazing.

[@broadhurst5000]

Owned the A-S2100 for 6 months paired with the Buchardt S400s and it Kicks. Needs 30mins-1hr warming up time to for really shine. The mid range is crazy good and vocals are a sweet spot. Listen to a lot of electronic also and the presence really trips me out, so much authority and control with a fluidity to the sound that sounds just right. Excellent tone controls also.

[@abelfonseca]

Why did you get rid of it James?

[@jarodreddig63]

Yamaha is such an amazing company. They are great in so many fields of engineering. Personally I’m a big fan of their motocross dirt bikes and their acoustic drums and related percussion gear, as well as their electronics.

[@tigerbalm666]

Yamaha is a brand that makes very high quality products. You won't get ripped off! I even rode a Yamaha Virago years ago. Musical instruments are also high quality yet affordable. I has the R-N602 and love the features and styling.

[@mmdusa]

Nobody does it better. Keep those fantastic reviews coming. Thanks Sean!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Additional Information: LF tone control @ 350Hz HF tone control @ 3.5kHz Power to headphone jack is: 25mw @ 32 ohms. A special shoutout goes to The Audiophiliac for helping to make this review possible! Thanks Steve!

[@svalbard01]

But when are you going to start reviewing Steve's shirts?

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@svalbard01 That would be awful! We have two different body types. Let me paint you a clear picture as to how this would play out: First, I'd try on one of the shirts. Soon after, you'll find me appearing on one of those sea-creature rescue videos. You know, the type where a couple dudes rush up to free a seal from a fishing line... only I'd be the seal in distress. A not at all cute seal.

[@dannywoods3928]

@@ZeroFidelity hahaha

[@oleksiifilippov68]

you seem to like Steave's shirts :-)

[@NickP333]

Zero Fidelity LOL! Oh man, now that’s funny AF!

[@masterchef6694]

That Yamaha is so well built. That's just beautiful thing to see. They have taken no compromises. Really amazing.

[@kvrhifi]

100% accurate review . I am owner of as3200 .... blindly take this review as reference and just go for best model of this line ..what ever you can effort. After 2 to 3 months of experience.. the sound , build quality , look and feel makes me think proud .. actually these amps are real thing for our money. Not hype train amps ...do not get into those.. and do not bother about inbuilt dac or streamer or any other options . Best approach to build hifi system .. get analog integrated amp like Yamaha AS series and have separate high quality dac and streamer.

[@ZeroFidelity]

You have the 3200? Dang boi! Enjoy!!!

[@SUde-vd1qo]

My A-S1100 took ~couple hundred hours to settle the forward presentation when new. Now, it's hard to go back to lower resolution gear. - good stuff. Thanks Sean.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks! You know, I was wondering if the sound would calm down over time. If Yamaha is cool with me keeping the unit, then I'll be able to follow up with an "After the Hype" video sometime later this year.

[@autocrossstar17]

Zero Fidelity I have an 1100 and I concur. It has warmed up quite a bit since I’ve had it.

[@andreassouth1523]

What speakers you play with?

[@SUde-vd1qo]

@@andreassouth1523 Primarily; Audio Physic VirgoII, Snell E-3, Ryan Acoustics MC1 (older bookshelf) + DIY JBL horn/ 15in. 2way (current daily drivers)

[@matthewchrist9082]

That's a beautiful amp. Probably not for me because I like a more laid back presentation, but I can appreciate quality.

[@jordantewari]

Jony Ross so aggressive. Lol

[@Z22-m5o]

Great review, Yamaha really makes some well built equipment!

[@zorankalina6100]

All Yamaha integrated amps/one old...20 years and As 701/....and CD-S1000 cd player.They all sound...full...a bit on a sweet side/in a good wey/...sparkeling...big sound picture...full of details/maybe dinamics can be a bit faster/...easy and nice to listen.Realy worth the money....and last forewer...even 20 years does not damage the first one.Such a good products , for the money.Sure...as ussual....taste and space makes all products , good ore less.Yamaha...by my experiance...is realy good.For some exelent......and for some others, not as good.For Yamaha, from me...big like Allso...big like for your reviews... All the best from Croatia Yust keep doing on youtube Thank you...once more👍🌞🏅🍀🎉🎶

[@dropthehammer1360]

This amp would look lovely in silver.

[@trekjudas]

Yeah, i grew up when everything was black. I kinda hate black gear now.

[@jimshaw899]

@@trekjudas You should be tuned into Andrew Robinson. ;)

[@redstarwraith]

@@trekjudas if you lived through the 70s, everything was silver. Then everything became black. This Yammie comes in silver or black and both of them look pretty sweet even if silver and black has been done to death.

[@trekjudas]

@@redstarwraith I was a baby in the 70s. That shit was GORGEOUS! By the time I was old enough to buy my own gear it all became this ugly, shoddy, black plastic shit.

[@trekjudas]

@@redstarwraith I used to think that surround sound killed home audio but now I think the overall aesthetics did too. the stuff just got ugly and unappealing.

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

Newer receiver with the vintage look, I love it!

[@davelaidlaw3795]

Another excellent review Sean. I own the Yamaha AS3000 and at times it amazes me with its full natural sound, a great range of amplifiers.

[@davelaidlaw3795]

Jingle Nuts I’ve had it a year so plenty hours on it 👍

[@thisisnev]

"Overbuilt" - or, as those of us of more... ah... advanced years would say, "built properly"! :D

[@autocrossstar17]

Awesome review Sean (Shawn?)! I was so excited when I saw you were reviewing the A-S1200 as I have an A-S1100 and absolutely love it! It’s too bad you weren’t familiar enough with the 1100 to make a comparison, I am curious about the differences. These amps are great and it’s a shame they don’t get more attention. Thanks for putting one on the channel, it was good to see. Love the channel!

[@Phoenix_1991]

@@autocrossstar17 Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3-xm3trdreFoJY

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

Agreed, PROPERLY built !

[@omgwtfpwnd]

Overbuilt? It's garbage.

[@dfknyc78]

@@omgwtfpwnd On what grounds are you saying this Yamaha is garbage? Is it because it doesn't have a boutique brand name? Or is it because the amp doesn't have an exotic name like Alpha Orion Mark II? I own the A-S2200, and I have compared it with a McIntosh MA5300, and I thought it sounded better than the McIntosh. For reference, Yamaha is a multi billion dollar company, they have more resources then all boutique brands put together, if they wanted to build a high end unit, it's hard to imagine it being garbage. Now that doesn't mean their lower end can't have "garbage" quality but it's the lower end and it's low end by design for the mass market. Thought I still feel that their low end equipments are still relatively good.

[@bugpack6]

I have the Yamaha AS1100. Best Integrated amp I’ve ever listened to. Would love to have the higher end versions. Maybe one day.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Gratz!

[@bugpack6]

Zero Fidelity Thanks. Took me a while to get it.

[@bmpk4954]

I have a A-S1100 too. It sounds amazing and I have zero intentions of ever upgrading or getting rid of it. It just checks all the boxes for me.

[@1st2mind]

I also have the 1100. Bought it a few months ago, and I expect it will last and stay with me for the rest of my life🥰

[@kurtzcol]

ya i have the 1100 too and its a keeper for me

[@abelfonseca]

Great review Sean. The best of this amp on youtube by far. I bought the a-s501 after seeing your review of the 801. I feel in music heaven when listening to it on my RP 8000s. Its just so effortless and controlled. Thought these big boys were gonna be like the 501-801 on steriods, sounds like they are a totally different breed from your review.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Glad you're loving the 501! Yep, their high-end integrated amps are aiming for something else entirely.

[@Bob.martens]

I went from 501 to 1100 recently. Though the 501 is great, but I'm not going back. Ever.

[@abelfonseca]

@@Bob.martens Can you describe how the sound is different?

[@Bob.martens]

@@abelfonseca In short: the 1100 (1200) has a LOT more power. That solves the greatest 'problem' of the 501, slow bass response. Things can really get muddy down there. On the 1100 bass is superfast at any volume, but still 'airy'. Some people consider the 1100 lacking in bass attack and body, and they have a point. A Hegel it is not... The 501 is at its core a very old design, using modern components. Upside: it's simple and indestructible. These are the amps audiophiles will be using long after a nuclear holocaust. Downside: not too keen on 4 Ohms. The 501 will oblige when asked, it's just not all that comfortable driving the low resistance. It's still waay better at it than 90% of multichannel AV recievers. A lot of modern 8 Ohm rated speakers dive below 4 Ohms, especially at lower frequancies. Main point: the imaging is really a LOT wider and deeper on the 1100, almost regardless of your speakers. This amp will teach you what reviewers actually mean when they use those terms. The 501 is already quite an 'invisible amp', tirelessly neutral, but at times boring. The 1100 is as neutral as they come, but adds next-level detail and an overall sweetness the 501 just has not. The 1100 is so kind to your audio, it's the Tom Hanks of amps. It just NEVER loses it. It's your friend that goes anywhere you want to, and then along the way says: 'Hey, did you notice this? And That? Look there!' Like all Yammies it plays nice with a mean Klipsch. That is what you pay for. But the 501 is all the stereo amp 99% of people will ever need. My biggest 501 gripe: the sub out with its non-bypassable low pass filter. Who does that? It doesn't even play nice with Yamaha's own products. The 501 runs as cool as amps get. The 1100 isn't hot like some high-power vintage 'boiler plate' amps, but it gets warm. I guess it is biased to run in class A mode over a wider power range. I think Yamaha recently killed off the 801 (more power, baby) because it came too close to the 1000-and-up range. That's just my conspiratorial mind. The 1100 reportedly has a killer phono pre-amp stage like-they-don't make-em-anymore, and I believe the rave rewiews. It's just that I only do digital. Topping E30 on permanent duty. Beats all DACs i tried up to three times the price. The 1100 will reveal the quality, or lack thereof of all your other components. I'll have to treat my room before upping my DAC game. I used both these amps on Klipsch rp6000 and rp150 (the greatest compact party-animal out there, better than rp500), B&W dm601s3 and vintage DM2a (still magical). The rp6000 are my main set. At night I use Mission M70 for tv. The rp8000's are just too big for my place:)

[@abelfonseca]

@@Bob.martens Thank you for that detailed reply! Very insightful.

[@67spankadelik]

Just what I'm looking for. Something simple without a dac that will be obsolete in 6 months. And she is beautiful!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Holy sh*t! Somebody who actually gets it! :D

[@autocrossstar17]

Now if they’d just lose the dac from their matching high-end CD players, we’d all be set 😀

[@amb3cog]

Nice I've been waiting for a review of one of these. 👍

[@hushpuppykl]

Awesome! Thanks for the review. Can’t wait to listen to this new series.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Hope you'll enjoy it!

[@trekjudas]

Thank you for the educational video. Its something you just can't get from print media.

[@aristidesmontesinos3058]

THIS YAMAHA AMPLIFIER IS FIVE STAR. THANKYOU FOR THIS REVIEW.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Nice Job Sean ! 'Pure Analog' 'Pitbull' Love My AS-1100 after I put a 100 plus hours on those high end 'Mosphetes' the amp did warm up a tiny tiny bit Espically the midrange gave me that somewhat tubbish sound charcter ! Your channel overtime has taught me well bro 😆 The AS-1100 A somewhat netutal sound with a forward or bump to the mid-range crazy bass and dynamics to scare the shit out of ya with 'Muscle' or good weight to the sound 😆 . 30 years of expierence with Audiogear didn't help me much at all when it comes to actually reviewing gear, I will admit , its watching dam good reviewers for a couple of years that helped me to really tune in more , Thanks Sean ! I'm trying hard buddy to up my game but theirs only one way to do that and thats putting in my dues , I know I have alot more work to do but its the journey that's the fun part ! My Polk Audio Lsim 703s paired up really good with Yammy hell of combo 😆 I didn't know they voiced the AS-1200 Differently ? Sean did you not get that impression of somewhat of a Tubbish sound character in the midrange ? Maybe Yammy changed this on the AS- 1200. This is what i love about the AS-1100 thanks Sean and Thanks Steve the Audiophilliac for helping my Audio Guru out ! 😆 or my GoTo Guy espically when in a jam , thats right pays off to be a ZF 'PATREON' 😊

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Dang it ! I edited that essay down also !

[@ZeroFidelity]

Hey man - Thanks for the enthusiasm, as always! Naw, I got more of an open and clear sound from the 1200. Not a tube-ish character. Having said that, I never put hundreds of hours on the unit either. Now... another (possible) contributing factor to the sound could be the transformer. In my experience, EI transformers tend to come with gear that take on a 'warm' sound, particularly in the mids, whereas Toroidals tend to be more clear and linear. Of course, I'm broad brushing things, as its the rest of the circuit that will have the most impact on the voicing/performance of the product. But.... with all things being equal, which in the 1100/1200's case, that's mostly true, I wouldn't be surprised if the Toroidal gives the newer 1200 a cleaner, more open, and even more dynamic sound.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

@@ZeroFidelity I still can't figure out why the AS -1100 weighs 4.5 lbs more ? I have searched and researched the AS-1100 has a 630va El-Transformer vs AS 1200-Toridal 625va idk probly closer to equal weight than that posted i know theirs less leakage with a toridal and its nice seeing Yamaha moving forward ! 😆 and Yamaha told me the AS-1100 was the Basic mid level intergrated well high level to me lol Thanks for quick reply Sean ! Appricate ya alot man ! I didn't know that about El-Transformers 😆 but yeah I would take a 1200 quickly ! 'Atleast i'm earning some Stripes Lmao' Ohh that was a good 1 Sean ! Inside joke yall !

[@nebulusnebulus6503]

@@ZeroFidelity If you want a little Tube-ish touch you must listening the Yamaha A-S3000

[@nathanjones4039]

Tee-Jay The Stereo-Bargain-File seen your breakdown of the 1100, great video and like your passion. I’ve got an A-S2200, only about 17 hours on it currently, I coming from an A-S801. So far my assessments are, theres an immediate auditable difference in the mid range, 2200 is way fuller in the mid range than the 801 is, way more control over the sound too. 2200 seems more holographic and 3 dimensional than the 801 as you can clearly hear the separation of all the instruments with a more robust clarity and detail. 801 is a powerhouse @ 100 WPC, AudioHolics benched it and it way north of 100 WPC, having said that, the 2200 @ 90 WPC seems even more powerful yet than the 801.

[@hi-fihaven2257]

First off, I love meters! I really like the minimalist look of the front panel. Great back panel layout, plenty of inputs. Love that under the hood look. First off that brace bar is awesome, makes the whole chassis more rigid. Love those big heat sinks, that toroidal rocks! Big ole caps. Great thorough review as always. Have a great one man!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Cheers!

[@jimshaw899]

My observation: If you put a set of meters on an amp, it will sell for 100% more. That despite the fact that they're not very useful. But if you give them *blue lights,* make that 300% more. ;)

[@jackprick9797]

Sean, thanks for the great review. I think a lot of people will miss a big compliment you gave this amp. You said, “yeah, i could be happy with this for a while”. I think that says a lot.

[@dfknyc78]

I own the A-S2200 for about 3 weeks. Even before the break in period as I hear all the time from the A-Sxx00 owners, my experience so far is that the A-S2200 needs a bit of a warm up time . Maybe 20-30 mins or so, then the thing comes even more to life. Sometimes I'm just sitting there listening to music and browsing on my tablet, after 20-30 mins of initial playing, I begin to here details I never heard on a track before and I would stop what I'm doing and put my head up to listen more tentatively and really appreciate the music; the overall sound becomes smoother and warmer and it also appears that the soundstage slightly opens up a bit too. So far I love it and I'm not even playing on a good set of speakers (yet), stilling running on a pair of Mission speakers.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Thanks for the feedback. You're not imagining things. As per the engineer of this series, it takes the integrated's roughly 30-40 minutes for the heatsinks and other components to warm up / operate fully to spec. When that happens, the sound calms down and warms up a little. I don't think its enough to alter my overall impression of the 1200 in particular, but its worth noting for sure.

[@dfknyc78]

@@ZeroFidelity great review on the A-S1200 btw. If you can get your hands on the A-S2200 and A-S3200 for review, I would love to hear about it. Curious to know how consistent my personal taste and hearing of HiFi equipment is with a pro. . .probably no where close 😂

[@kvrhifi]

@dfknyc78 : yes for my Yamaha 3200 , warm up time even more . Simply I can say The more it's warm up, more it chunks out mid range with smoothness. Actually I plan listening time at 9 pm at Just over 9 clock volumes. Omg .. it made me to pay attention to music

[@dfknyc78]

@@kvrhifi I envy you with the A-S3200. I can only imagine how great it sounds 😀. Enjoy it.

[@kvrhifi]

@dfknyc78 : listen this Grateful Dead album from "Music Never stop" song on words . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_of_the_Grateful_Dead_Live improvisation in these albums top notch ..multiple guitars, cymbals with dynamic .. vocals all sounds amazing

[@Lifeistooshort200]

Definitely it's a good amplifier. Please don't let it down. You can spit out anything comes to your mind, that doesn't mean all correct.

[@noco-pf3vj]

I have Yamaha AS1100, OMG, bass drum sound is incredible, double pedal, blast beat drum sound is amazing, cymbals sound more detail. Guitar riff, dynamics, wow, just wow. The best thing I'd ever buy.

[@harrybaque5502]

Hearing the intro music I expected to see Molly Ringwald in the review!

[@ZeroFidelity]

I really, really wanted to rock a neon headband for this review.

[@Another_Audiophile]

I have the AS3000 and at first I found the sound a bit congested and muffled in the female vocals area. Few weeks down the line and the change was striking. The vocals got body and weight which was a pleasant change.

[@adaboy4z]

I have the Yamaha R-N303 its a nice entry level amp. I wanted this amp but at almost 3k.... keep that 80's retro music coming!

[@TorToroPorco]

I love the retro looking switch gear and dials. My first system had a Nikko pre and power amp which I loved for the way it looked with all the dials, up/down switches and the white on black lettering.

[@Redonepunch]

I had an A-S2100 and while I’m not a fan Of it’s sound Signature, I do miss the bass slam. It’s a very dynamic amplifier

[@amirjubran1845]

Me too! I had one and I was super impressed with the bass slam it could deliver. Better in that regard than any other amp I've had. But... I found it to be too extended in the highs for my liking. I think if the room was extremely well damped that it could solve that perhaps.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Chris and Amir - Thanks for sharing. Yeah, it's rather aggressive. Almost like old-school Yamahas. This is one of those instances when I'm happy there's a tone control.

[@dennispanganiban8789]

So far no luck finding one in Yamaha dealers or audio outlets in my country. Hope to find one in the near future. Thanks for the excellent review.

[@jackprick9797]

Sean, any more Yamaha or any Rotel reviews in the pipeline? Was wondering about the A-S2200. I've read it has a different sound than the 1200. And Rotel amps, how good is the rb1582? I would like to hear your thoughts on some of the current Rotel amps.

[@nathanjones4039]

I’ve got an 801, I’m shooting for a 2200 or a 3000 on close out from somewhere. Shawn you’re spot on as always, especially with; you either like the sound signature or you don’t, I’m in the camp of the neutral but robust sonic signature of the upper topology.

[@RunsCool1]

Nathan Jones check out amazon right now, the A-S2200 is priced at $2400... probably a pricing error on their part, so it probably won’t last...

[@nathanjones4039]

RunsCool1 I don’t think Amazon is an authorized dealer? I need a warranty. I went with Accessories 4 Less and got a smoking deal on a new A-S2200.

[@edwardheins2930]

i have a yamaha d s p 1 from 1993 incredible effects processor i bought thinking i was getting a preamp for the two yamaha m35 amps from the same year i was upset with myself until i got a preamp and put it all together with my jamo towers and klipch 2/15 350 watt subwoofer . long story short people if this equipment sounds this dynamic this full warm and just perfect i can only imagine what this sweetheart is capable of go yamaha

[@petenamlook18]

I have the A-S801 and am very happy with it. However, if I'm going to pay triple the price for the 1100/1200 I expect that it should have balanced inputs and more power. It has neither. VU meters are not worth the extra $2000.

[@ZeroFidelity]

The A-S801 is a killer value. While I respect every persons expectations when it comes to perceived worthwhile investments, all it takes is a few seconds to realize that the 1200 is on a whole other level in terms of internal component quality. It's not even close. Now, whether that 'does it' for you or amounts to performance that you think is worth the extra cash - that's a whole other matter entirely. Personally, I don't give one F about balanced inputs unless the circuit itself is natively balanced. Ditto with the source.

[@1st2mind]

I’m sure the A-S801 is super nice for the money, but it’s far from the same build as A-S1200. Just open it and look inside😄 It’s two completely different levels. Not just VU meters😄

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@1st2mind But why does it have less power for such a price

[@WayneKnight_Rider]

@@ArthaxtaDaVince777 clean low power is better than dirty high power.

[@ArthaxtaDaVince777]

@@WayneKnight_Rider There is hardly anything dirty about the A-S801s power. The Peachtree integrated amp at 2k slam dunks these overpriced yamaha amps. I love Yamaha but not of fan of the 1100/1200 models.

[@mikeday62]

Yamaha makes outstanding musical instruments, motorcycles, audio products, etc.. And for $2800 I would like to see them add one pair of balanced inputs to connect a high quality DAC.

[@AudioKwandoKwando]

Very nice review. I own a yamaha a s1200 since the beginning of may. Maybe in the netherlands (europe) it is voiced different, I don't know. Ja it sounds neutral, but for me more leaning to warm, can't really explain, if they say it had some kind of tubes inside, I would believe it. It is an amazing amplifier and suprises me everyday with any kind of music, Rock, pop, Jazz, gospel etc. And you know what? My speakers are elac debut b6.2 which I bought 2 years ago. I know the low price for the speakers related to the expensive amp sounds silly, but man, I'm glad I choose for a new amplifier and not for so called better speakers. Those 90watts really get these speakers going, instead of my amplifier before with also 75watts, on paper not much differnt. The black color is better in real than on picture/youtube and of course it has those nice lighted meters... I did not try headphones, but I do have a recordplayer and the phono preamp is also excelent!

[@ZeroFidelity]

Congrats dude! So you bring up something interesting: I don't know if Yamaha does this, but there are a number of hi-fi companies that will voice their products in accordance to the market that the product is sold in. These companies believe that each market has a different taste in sound, which is why they will break-up the production into into slightly different batches of product - to cater specifically to each market. As you could imagine, that makes searching for consistency in reviews to be rather... troublesome!

[@Vinylbop]

Thanks Dan! This persuaded me to buy the 1200 too. One amp was available in Rotterdam. It sounds amazing already just out of the box. High, mid and low sound great! Topversterker voor de komende 10 jaar.

[@Phoenix_1991]

@@Vinylbop @Dan dG Jongens, zouden jullie mij alsjeblieft wat meer kunnen vertellen over de A-S1100/1200. Ik ben in de markt voor eentje in combinatie met mijn KEF R3 (die ik had vervangen voor mijn Monitor Audio Gold 100 4g speakers). Ik hoor ook hele afwisselende reviews voor deze versterker. De ene zegt dat het warm klinkt en volgens de andere heel klinisch/bright. Wat vind jij van jouw 1200 en wat voor een speaker gebruik je er mee?

[@AudioKwandoKwando]

@@Phoenix_1991 Hoi Ustaleone, in addition to Sean's review, there is also a very nice positive review in the German hifi magazin "Audio" of august. The new 1200 has a toroidal transformer and sounds therefore slightly different than the 1100, for me the 1200 sounds hefty and neutral (very little on warm side). The 1200 certainly sounds not harsh to me. At the time I bought it, it was a bit if a gamble, because it was brand new and not unpacked/reviewed yet. I'm glad I bought it anyway. I am very, very happy with my class amp, very nice build and weights like a little big Bertha with its necessary vu/peak meters ;-) I don't know about the Kef R 3, but those audio monitors, with it's metalic sound, in combination with the 1200 would be interresting with certain kinds of music. Maybe you should take you're Kef's to the shop and hear/listen for yourself.

[@cgreenfield6655]

I absolutely love Yamaha, great company.

[@christopherdoolan925]

My brand. I have the older A-S2000.

[@andreassouth1523]

You are the man for this job.Well done!!

[@Yatri234]

Like the VU meters, sound is amazing.

[@barrykrakovsky756]

Nicely done review. Quick question: Despite having the ability to switch between mm and mc, realistically, is this amp best paired with a mm cartridge?

[@roberte.andrews4621]

For $50 extra, Yamaha could make a nice brushed, gold-anodized front panel like Vintage gear. This would transform this black box to something special. Yes. I'm an industrial designer.

[@andreiaudio]

Excellent review! I've owned the yamaha as2000 for a few years and I totally agree with your impression on the forward and slight coloration on the high frequencies. I always wondered if the newer models sounded diferent, but your review help me ease my mind. Thank you! I find the comparison at the end really usefull. Best regards! I really like your channel.

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

Your Yamaha 2000, can you hear the bass and treble changes you make with the tone controls through the headphones?

[@trekjudas]

Yamaha is one of those companies where you get pride of ownership from having it. Like McIntosh, you just feel proud to own one.

[@trekjudas]

@Jony Ross GASP!!!! Ok, they are a little pricey.

[@trekjudas]

Jony Ross it may not be for everyone but I personally love the McIntosh sound. It really does come down to individual taste.

[@trekjudas]

@Jony Ross Ok, they make quality stuff but ...yeah, they're sound is kinda dull. I like smooth butthe MA252 crosses over into boring.

[@munim00000]

Hi there... Beautiful review. Can you pl suggest.. would this AS1200 be able to drive B&w 702 s2 floorstandes?? They r quite a power hungry and I am a bit short in budget at the moment.

[@marcfoss7687]

Hi Sean, great review and sorry for the rather late question, but do you think the A-S1200 would pair ok with the Harbeth P3ESRs? A quick comment would be really appreciated and very helpful...thank you!

[@karelsteiner9878]

Thanks for the review. What do you think about the combination of Yamaha A-S1200 and Wharfedale LINTON Heritage?

[@nasdkhan254]

Not exciting enough . I own both but use them in different systems

[@HiFiBrothers]

Yamaha at it's best! Love it!

[@theblackone667]

grear review! i know I'm a little late with my comment but… i am thinking about upgrade denon amp to yamaha 1200, on metas/kc62 system… unfortunately i don't have a chance to audition combo… what do you think about yamaha/kef pairing? some say its not a good match…

[@suzigti92]

I own the A-S2100. From my experience these amps need a long break-in period. 500+ Hours to really show the final sound signature. In fact mine is more on the warm side of neutral. Now this being a newer model maybe that has changed?

[@subcoded]

suzigti92 EXACTLY! My A-S1100 changed it's signature after many hours... The hi-mid/low-treble bump is gone and now it sounds EXCELLENT!

[@williamwong4529]

Suzigti92. I like the AS2100, do you think it will match to my B&W 702 S2? Thanks!

[@suzigti92]

@@williamwong4529 I would think that may be a good match. B&W are usually more on the brighter side of Neutral. The A-S2100 has a tonal warmth to the sound.

[@williamwong4529]

@@suzigti92 Thanks!

[@agarinos]

Hello from Greece. Can you help me? I have a 2-year old pair of Dali Zenzor 5. They sound amazing with my Technics A-SU900. Now, I have ordered the 1200. These speakers are enough? Otherwise what do you think about B&W 603 S2 floor speakers? Note, that this system works on a 10 m2 office. I like the foor standing speakers and do not want to buy self ones. My Dalli Zenzor 5 have paired exaclty in this room. So I wait for your answer. Thank you all!

[@johnfredmurray]

Great review! Been looking forward to more on this amp. Think I may go out and get one soon. My old Sansui may be ready for retirement. But does the Yamaha have a mono switch?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Don't believe it has a mono switch. Haven't seen one of those in ages. I'm familiar with some old Sansui gear. I think you'll find a comfy home with the 1200.

[@johnfredmurray]

@@ZeroFidelity Thanks! Think I got spoiled with the older amps. I've got the AU 9500. I was considering getting a Rogue Cronos amp but this may be the better buy for myself.

[@johnfredmurray]

@Jingle Nuts good to know that these Yamaha's are well made and put out some great sound. I'm still not ready to let go of the Sansui. Sounds like you have some of the totl amps. I've heard nothing but good things on the 3000

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@johnfredmurray 1200 or Cronos? Yeah. Get the 1200.

[@gtric1466]

Shawn as always excellent analogy. I've had Yamaha integrated amps and yes they have excellent build quality but i cant get passed that they miss out on the warmth of the mid-range which doesn't always come through depending on how accurate your speaker are. Hence why they have that accurate sound. For me, Upvote Parasound.

[@noodlejohnson]

I just purchased the a-s2200 and first thing that I noticed was that bass and I was pleasantly surprised. Now I'm thinking my speakers need to be replaced especially because they are older Klipsch. I got my eyes on tekton speakers not sure which ones but wondering how the Yamaha would pair up with the tekton sound.

[@Romerosays]

Congrats! That's how it started out for me, one thing lead to replace another, over 100k later I have my system.....oops!

[@noodlejohnson]

@Jingle Nuts well specifically they are the forte II and for the most part I do like them however they can get too fatiguing on the ears when I want to do a listening session for longer than 30 min and the cabinet doesn't have good bracing you can detect resonance at certain frequencies. I guess that's the main reason for wanting to replace speakers next. I guess I could refurbish them and do tweaking. IDK still undecided.

[@noodlejohnson]

@Jingle Nuts thanks for the info. As far as crossovers go I was just going to try the crites stuff and possibly the titanium tweeter but was lost when it came to getting that cabinet quiet I thought about lining the inside with dynomat but I'm just afraid of doing more harm than good

[@JEG6919]

The best thing is you can get a receiver, motorbike, generator, go kart engine, and a piano..all under one roof. ;)

[@ZeroFidelity]

Just used mah lawnmower with a Yamaha engine. Now THAT..is utility!

[@saquibhussain6000]

Awesome review Shawn. Now the question is when will you compare Hegel H190 and Schiit Aegir to these two! :)

[@garyjones5947]

I’ve just ordered this amp...running iotavx stack at the moment...keeping my fingers crossed it’s a step up...

[@JoshStephens24]

Would love to hear an update on this.

[@garyjones5947]

@@JoshStephens24 I’ve had the as1200 for a month now and I love it. Super detailed but not fatiguing somehow. Extended sweet crystalline treble. Mids are prominent yet very realistic. Bass is well disciplined, extensive where the recording demands and powerful. Soundstage is wide and deep, real sense of scale here. Uncanny instrumental separation, yet cohesive overall. Timing is fast and the bass doesn’t lag behind the treble as much as I’ve noticed with many amps. Compared with the iota vx stack, out simply, it’s more refined, detailed and powerful. Just gorgeous sound.

[@garyjones5947]

Put

[@JosefTreiber]

That bonus section rap: YOU are the new Eminem : )

[@adamrou12345]

Have the 2100 and probably is the last amp I will buy pairs great with my DeVore Gibbons.

[@jamesindrihovic7247]

Great job I enjoy all your work

[@Fatdogrecords]

Enjoy your channel, the amp has been on my radar for a while. I was hoping to pair them with a pair of JBL 4425's or Harbeth HL5 plus. Unfortuantely I cannot demo any of these, do you think both will be a decent match?

[@ZeroFidelity]

For Harbeths, you'll want to go with the M30.2's. The Supers will be too bright with this combo and tend to sound better with a more refined solution. The JBLS on the other hand, will do just fine! Two ready to rock combos.

[@Fatdogrecords]

Zero Fidelity 🙏🏼

[@texasjohn7511]

Alright then which would you choose? Yamaha or the Parasound? aaaaand I just saw the end.

[@rand9994]

Hi Sean. Great video as usual. I know you get a lot of "please review X unit" but just wanted to throw out looking at the Audio Nirvana EL84 Ultra Linear tube amp. I just received one and am seriously impressed.

[@roquesoprano913]

Thanks Sean !

[@amirjubran1845]

Great review Sean! Just wondering if you could also touch on the noise floor. You mention higher sensitivity is better suited for the Yamaha, whereas with the Parasound you suggest avoiding high sensitivity speakers if noise floor is a concern. Just wondering, how is the noise floor on the Yamaha? I.e. is the hiss under control on a 90+ dB speaker?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Noise floor is pretty low (thought I mentioned that)? And yep, hiss is perfectly under control with 90+dB speakers. In fact, I wish the Heresey IV's were here just so I could laugh at how ridiculously huge (and awesome) the music will sound from such a relatively small package.

[@nathanjones4039]

Hiss at idle on my A-S2200 is non existent with 96 dB rated speakers.

[@margix1172]

I like it.....but I would love even more resemblance with the 70's models!!!!

[@charliemathews5210]

Sean a wonderful follow up review. It was so informative....thank you so much for taking the time to do a follow up. I know it is hard work. ! In the back of my mind I kept hearing the "little voice" asking HUUUuuummm Sean is pretty honest, I wonder what speaker he would really like in a medium sized room? I Already know that you like the Harbeth 3's in a small room. BUT given your choice of speakers and amplification (I am going to let you off the hook) would it be a stat, planar or dynamic speaker and maybe my question is so lame it makes no sense at all? Anyway thankyou so much for all that you do for our community!! All the best! Charlie

[@amrikmahal7380]

Hello Sean. Since you have reviewed Yamaha, luxman and Accuphase just recently, wich one you like the best? Thanks

[@Toogoodtobetrue458]

sweet lookin amp

[@LarsonChristopher]

Awesome amps!

[@RonKraa]

Good start. And now digital inputs, so that you can compete with other brands.

[@cabelooo21]

How does it compare to the Technics Su-G700?

[@mvaldebejohns]

I was ready to ask about the same, I know Technics is another type of amp. none class-AB, but considering the price and style I was wondering if there is any chance for @ZeroFidelity to review on the SU-G700

[@tw9668]

Not mentioned or highlighted, the amp is a pure analog design. No DAC, no digital controls. Pure analog (at least from the functional design perspective) down to display and controls.

[@ZeroFidelity]

Mentioned in the video. I simply didn't hold everyones hands on that point in the beginning because it should be rather obvious.

[@olaniyi570]

If you turn the dimmer off before it dimms completely, it will stay at that particular level of illumination.

[@spiritualarchitect4276]

How does your Yamaha A-S1200 sound through headphones? Do you hear enough bass on older recordings?

[@erickallage]

i wonder how this compares to some of the hegel stuff?

[@ZeroFidelity]

Hegel usually has a well rounded, safe sound. This particular Yammy is on the other end of the spectrum. Will boil down to taste.

[@ufarkingicehole]

I may be wrong but do you like warm or neutral amps?

[@redstarwraith]

Loved this review, Sean.

[@questor62]

I am tossing up between this amp and the Rotel rotel 1572 mkii. Features are not an issue because I run a separate DAC. On looks and build quality alone, the Yamaha is a clear winner BUT the "unique" tone that is commented on has me worried. Is it a permanent feature or does it diminish with burn in? FYI I am pairing with Buchardt s400 II.

[@ionutplesea5693]

Sean, as far as I know the headphone section in the AS 2100 is quite remarkable..

[@barrybrennan2135]

Average I'd say. I own one.

[@pythonflying]

I have a pair of KEF R300s, will this amp be a good match for those speakers?

[@peterwood2633]

Only as3000has iron core transformer. Are you reading all the right spec sheets?! The caps in As1200 are slightly higher than the ones in the 1100

[@antoniosuarez3109]

Excelente amplificador.!

[@donleamon8653]

Its funny, I grew up with consumer electronics in our family business in the late '70's into the late 80's. We sold both Yamaha and Para at various stages, and the same description of the products today is accurate for back then as well. Para always gave more on paper, but you could tell some corners were cut to achieve that in the price. Yamaha stuff was always bright. Can't remember if Para was made in Japan back then, maybe that was their price advantage...

[@jimshaw899]

Well, I've been around Yamaha high end stuff for decades. It can be very good, but it is always pricey. Twenty-five years ago, I used to love their upscale speakers. *"Now, hear that? That sounds like a symphony orchestra."*

[@roberthart9886]

try playing it without the top and the brace, although the brace might still serve a purpose for overall vibration

[@-jellybeansoup-]

Hi, I've been watching a lot of your reviews lately and I really appreciate your straight forward approach to talking about gear. I recently ordered a pair of Polk R700s (backordered) and I'll need to upgrade my amp to be able to power them. They're rated at 8 ohms with an 88 db sensitivity but I've seen & read reviews that say they routinely dip below 4 ohms and need fairly high power to perform their best. This amp was high on my list but based on your comments in this video about needing to be matched with high sensitivity speakers, I'm guessing maybe this wouldn't be a good fit for the R700s? I also watched your reviews of the Marantz model 30 and Parasound Halo. I really like the Marantz but it's not super high powered either, whereas the Parasound doesn't really appeal to me for some reason. I guess the search continues.

[@Nix_sound]

LOVE the music bro

[@shemaya4979]

Do you think Yamaha a-s2200 and Focal Kanta2 is a good combination ???

[@MALAKASAM]

Will Yamaha upgrade their A-S X01 line?

[@rokodrago]

I wish you could review the HEGEL H390 and compare its sound vs Hint 6, JC5, Kinki and this beauty....

[@ZeroFidelity]

haha At some point I will be saying goodbye to almost all of my hi-fi gear, so comparisons may become a thing of the past. But yep, the Hegel 390 would be fun to check out.