Inside Yamaha amps

[nick779]

Just over a year ago I bought an AS501 for my daughter, and it is absolutely fine. It was only 359 euros in the Netherlands, and at that time a lot less than the AS701 that is only just a bit more powerful. In this day and age of internet radio I see no point in buying receivers anymore.

That's what I was thinking too. I can always add a streaming receiver if something comes out, otherwise I just use an old iPhone 6S and Spotify connect/Sirius.

 

[Willem]

My daughter uses the digital output of a Chromecast Audio for radio and Spotify. In fact, we do the same, with a Chromecast Audio's digital output into our bedroom amplifier's digital input or into the RME ADI-2 in our living room. The FM tuner has been retired and will soon be sold.

 

[TheBatsEar]

Does anyone know if the transformer and primary capacitor bank are the same between the A-S501 and A-S701?

The main capacitors are a bit smaller, the power supply itself seems to be the same. I would say the 501 is the sweet spot in the line, but since you got the 701, enjoy it. Maybe one day you get speakers that need a smidge more power, than you might thank yourself.

Just over a year ago I bought an AS501 for my daughter, and it is absolutely fine. It was only 359 euros in the Netherlands

They are starting to appear on the used markets now, Ebay, Ebay classifieds and so on. I dropped 200€ for the 501 and 250€ for the 701.

For anyone looking for a 501 or 701, consider the 500 or 700, they are exactly the same, except they don't have digital inputs. They even measure half a dB better (no noise from the digital section).

The weather is still foul and i don't have good light to make pictures with my mobile (i have a foldable table on the balcony, only there the pictures have enough detail for some reason).

 

[TheBatsEar]

What do you think about smallest brother 202D? I am thinking to replace my really old Sony receiver with something affordable but with good for money quality sound?

Did you open 202D ..any pics ?

Damn, had it but didn't make pics before i sold it on. So sorry, i'm an idiot.

@TheBatsEar can we see some AX-10 pics for a bit of a change in form factor? Looks quite good on the outside.

Yes!

Here is the Yamaha AX-10, from the "Classic" midi line. It's basically a A-S500 in a smaller box and with rec select as well as pre-out/main-in, perfect for a MiniDSP! Sadly, there is no variable loudness.

The AX-10 can be had for 80€ alone or 250€ with the rest of the Classic line, the CDX-10 CD player (with digital out), KX-10 three head tape deck with Dolby B/C/MPX, Bias trim and automatic tape calibration and TC10 FM/AM tuner. I also have the rare and pricey MDX-9 minidisk deck. The price back then for the complete stack was 2500DM, about 3500€ today.

The front. The knobs are off for cleaning, they are thick metal.
I like the LEDs behind the source selector and volume knob:

Freshly opened, still dusty:

Somewhat cleaned, i use nothing but a brush to wipe around:

Overview. Seems some liquid entered this one at some point:

Power 10000µF caps:

The usual Yamaha setup. Even back then they used thermal pads instead of goo:

Standby power supply (behind the heatsink) and fuses, visible liquid residue:

The backside of the front:

Power knob and input selector motors:

The back.

It needs some more cleaning obviously. But i think it's a great amp in a tiny box.

 

[TheBatsEar]

And here is the Yamaha R-S700 receiver.

It shares it's power amplifier with the A-S700, 701 and 801. The R-S700 has variable loudness, a FM/AM tuner, pre-out/main as well as rec select and subwoofer out.

This is the used device i recommend to anyone with less than 250€ but in need for really solid amplification and a rich feature set.

Usually i go for silver (i have a silver one too), but why not show the black one:

I find black hard to keep clean, so i try to go for silver when i can. This one came with something else and will be sold:

Overview:

12000µF caps.

Phono section:

Tuner section:

Sanken transistors:

Front left:

Front middle:

Front right:

Time to close up:

The backside:

 

[killdozzer]

Nice pics. I really like Yamaha. Never had any problems with any of their gear and I had plenty.
Current:

 

[TheBatsEar]

Current:

Yamaha AX-890, in case someone couldn't read it. That's a smooth criminal right there.

 

[killdozzer]

I'm very happy with it. Powerful, no coloring at least to my ear, all the bits and bobs I like; I can use MM and MC, headphones sound good, I really appreciate the loudness - it's not just a switch, it's a knob you can turn as much as you like and the starting point is variable, it has a subsonic for the TT... Couldn't ask for more.

 

[My adventures in stereo]

Nice collection of knowledge about Yamaha amps
I have had the 701/801 & the AS 2000
The AS 2000 was my main stereo amp for nearly 3 years
Solidly constructed, very similar to the AS 1000 you posted
Still have my CDS 1000 for SACD, stereo playback

 

[TheBatsEar]

Nice collection of knowledge about Yamaha amps
I have had the 701/801 & the AS 2000
The AS 2000 was my main stereo amp for nearly 3 years
Solidly constructed, very similar to the AS 1000 you posted
Still have my CDS 1000 for SACD, stereo playback

View attachment 200379

I see you are a man of culture as well. Caved B&W tweeters are the best. It was a pair of CDM1 in my case.

 

[usersky]

@TheBatsEar thanks for all the pics, love that ground star from AX-10, reminds me of one I have in one of my Sony amps

Yammy:

Sony:

 

[TheBatsEar]

@TheBatsEar thanks for all the pics, love that ground star from AX-10, reminds me of one I have in one of my Sony amps

Yammy:
View attachment 200736

Sony:
View attachment 200737

Never noticed this.

 

[Multicore]

The first Yamaha amp that I owned was a G100 212. Not very reliable. You can see inside a little bit here...

It was loud. And heavy.

 

[TheBatsEar]

I bought a used A-S501 and am happy with it. [..] That's fine with me, but it would be nice to have a Pre-in input so I could compare a pre-amplifier with the Yamaha pre-amp stage.

If you aren't afraid of a soldering iron, you can add a pre-out/main-in loop in the 301/501/701 and 801. Pretty useful to loop in a MiniDSP 2x4HD too.

The USB jack on the rear is supposed to provide charging power, but it does nothing when I connect a phone, a tablet, or other chargeable device.

I think it's just there for the Bluetooth receiver sold as an accessory. It's probably to weak to register?

View attachment 200379

I have a pair of LS50 shipped to me right now ... can't wait. The first version, black edition. So cool

What do you think about smallest brother 202D? I am thinking to replace my really old Sony receiver with something affordable but with good for money quality sound ?

Did you open 202D ..any pics ?

Thought i had lost the pics, but i found them!


Here you go, the Yamaha R-S202D.
A few front pics, check out the scratches near the speaker selectors:

Ouch! Children, amirite?

Not much to see on the back:

Except for this port, maybe for diagnostics? Firmware upgrades?

That same port from the inside:

Inside, overview:

The bluetooth board. You can connect up to 8 bluetooth devices at any time. The next one will replace the one in slot 1. Enough for a large family:

This microcontroller controls the display and almost all the functionality:

Amplification transistors:

Caps:

The DAB/DAB+ and FM module:

That's it

 

[mhardy6647]

Now... mind you.. I am not saying I'm proud of this... but this is in my basement.
Not one of Yamaha's finest moments.

From the freebie table @ NEARC (now NEVEC):
www.nearc.net

The knob and broken (plastic) VC control shaft are... umm... in that cream cheese container atop the receiver.

It does work, and -- if I gather up the gumption some time -- I will "fix"the broken volume control knob.
Fortunately a generic remote adjusts the volume just fine.

PS I love this thread. I believe most folks here know that I still have this irrational thing, a vestige left over from my undergrad years, for Yamaha stereo equipment.

 

[sq225917]

I have an s2000 amp on the bench waiting for attention this weekend, thank christ I have the schematic.

 

[killdozzer]

This set brought much joy before I could afford to move on.

 

[killdozzer]

It was so well kept and worked like a charm, I got a real good price when I sold it:

Shining like the first day...

 

[TheBatsEar]

PS I love this thread. I believe most folks here know that I still have this irrational thing, a vestige left over from my undergrad years, for Yamaha stereo equipment.

I don't have many Yamaha amps left. I guess we will have to move to the tape decks soon, but that would be a new thread. I also have a good bunch of tuners in my collection.

I love these. Big difference between the 1000 and the 2000 is the balanced input i think.

It was so well kept and worked like a charm, I got a real good price when I sold it:

You sound a bit sad ;-)


Next one i'll take care of will probably be a A-550. Poor thing is caked in something sticky, looks like cola maybe, left channel is dead too.

 

[mhardy6647]

I don't have many Yamaha amps left. I guess we will have to move to the tape decks soon, but that would be a new thread. I also have a good bunch of tuners in my collection.

You want to start it, or should I?