Yamaha hi-fi design team interview

[Loud & Clear]

After being startled - out went the tubes - by the performance of the Yamaha A-S500 solid state integrated amp, I began to look into their entire series of integrateds. I have since ordered the A-S2000 and eagerly await its arrival. Below is an interesting interview with their design team.

http://asia.yamaha.com/en/products/a...?mode=model#01

It won't directly link. You have to click "developer's story" once the page loads to read the material.

[cnh]

Those Yamahas are actually pretty good. Just don't get much press. I have the previous version (497) no ipod extras, no sub out, etc. But otherwise similar specs. Got it closeout from newegg for less than half price (an absolute) bargain at less than 200 new! And I sort of compared it to my NAD C325 on my LSi-7s. The NAD is a bit "darker" sounding whereas the Yamaha is more neutral and highlights the Vifa tweeter more, opens it up. It almost solves some of the crossover issues with the 7s without mods? I too was "surprised", never expected a mid-tier Yamaha integrated to compete with a NAD?

But I would not replace my tube amp with a Yamaha integrated?

cnh

[Loud & Clear]

A "brighter" amp with muscle is precisely what my system required to sound its best. The relatively inexpensive ($320 open box @ OneCall.com) A-S500 sounded worlds better in my system than did the Jolida 801 all-tube integrated. I suddenly had deep, tight, fast bass response. Just fantastic, pound you in the chest bass. Mids were in essence the same, only more dynamic. The speakers on the whole far more dynamic. Highs actually improved as well, with more bite and presence.

Of course it's all about system synergy. With a vinyl source and a very analog digital source (Jolida JD200 w/6 tubes), a pair of speakers professionally reviewed to work better with solid state, the Yamaha just happens to be a significantly better match than a tube design. It was a night and day change for the better. My hope for the A-S2000 is that it's very similar to the A-S500, only more of it and with the obviously superior build (50 lbs., wood paneling) quality. But if it's on the warm side, 'forgiving' on the top end, I will probably have to return it. This system needs a powerful, neutral amp, and it can even forgive a bit, just a bit, of top end sizzle; the top end, however, cannot go in the other direction. Of course these amps do come with useless and primitive tone controls. ;>}

[cnh]

I can understand what you're saying but what I'm running on my Jolida would not "like" a brighter sounding high end! On the other hand the LSi-7s like it a lot! And I "never" use the tone controls on the Yamaha, it's always running in the DIRECT mode--sounds best in that mode!

Give us a review when you get the new piece?

cnh

[Loud & Clear]

Understood. A tube amp is no doubt great for many, many a system.

Yeah, I run this A-S500 in direct mode. Never use tone control. But I would if it helped. Some people would rather change cables all of the time to fine tune their sound. Seems easier to use tone control if you have it.

If the A-S2000 is as good as I hope it will be, I'm sure I'll mention it. I know that it will be very heavy, and very attractive. I do miss the beauty of the Jolida 801. Looks matter. The Yamana won't have any pretty tubes, but it has some other things going for it looks-wise, with the wood paneling and retro styling - knobs, dials.

[DSkip]

Sounds like your system is an exception and not the rule. Its been a long time since I've been captivated by a system running off pure SS. There is also something to say for the statement piece that most tubed units are. It really is a conversation starter when someone sees it for the first time.

Congrats on finding some better synergy!

[Loud & Clear]

Tubes are beautiful. Hard to compete with the cosmetics of tubes.

But I'll find a way to find this attractive, too. Probably focus on the wood.

[mhardy6647]

I'd never bet against Yamaha - they made a good first impression on me a long time ago :-)
Best of the massmarket Japanese stuff (at least back then) as far as I am concerned.




half a dozen of 'em in the photo just above...

[Loud & Clear]

Looks like quite a treasure trove over there.

[pearsall001]

Reading the designer's story was very helpful in making my decision to purchase their flagship AVR...the AVENTAGE RX-A3010. There's a reason it performs so very, very well for music along with HT. The Yamaha designers take music extremely seriously & it shows in their product line. No qualms here with their AVR for "stellar" 2 channel performance.

[Keiko]

Scored a cherry AX-596 on fleabay for 60.00 bucks a few months ago and like it a lot. I mated it with a Yaqin CD2 tube buffer and it powers a pair of RTi4s.

[Keiko]

Yamaha CR-1040 and a pair of TL2 Blackstones for the bedroom rig.

[mantis]

I've always loved Yamaha gear. They for many years made some of the best sounding AVR's I've ever heard. Thanks for the link.

[mhardy6647]

"Natural Sound"... Yamaha's pitch has always been that they make musical instruments (some of them pretty good ones!) so they know what music sounds like. Of course, they also make motorcycles, so I am not quite sure what that portends for the sonic characteristics of their audio equipment ;-)