Inside Yamaha amps

[TheBatsEar]

This is a thread about how the devices look inside, not what you dream of or want to buy.

True, but also remember that we are here to have fun.

I've heard that for the price, the A-S301/501/701 offers great value for money and that it's a real surprise that Yamaha were able to build it and put them on the store shelves.

I wouldn't say it's a surprise, the cheaper Yamaha amps had almost always a good value. Now that the A-S line has been on the market for some time, you can get them extremely cheap used, which i think makes them even more attractive. I have seen 701 for 400€ and 301 for 200€. Not regularly, but it happens.

We bought R-S201 and just a few days ago R-S202D for our workshops.

Waiting for @amirm to measure the R-S202 he should have waiting in his lab ... then we know!

 

[croseiv]

Everything considered, Yamaha makes excellent amplifiers for audio. Your listening space is the primary factor regarding power demand. I always noticed the superior sound quality of Yamaha's equipment. Great attention to detail when it comes to the internal layout of their amplifiers.

 

[TheBatsEar]

I got a nice offer for a A-S 2100 and CD-S 2100 pair, which i think could be an upgrade to my A-S1200 and CD-S1000. The CD player adds XLR out and can be used as a DAC, as it has digital inputs like optical and USB. The A-S2100 has XLR in adds.

I searched Google for technical differences and they sent me to a forum:

They go on about voicing and burn in and interconnects and all that. The way i see it, frequency response is flat, distortion and noise low, and that is that.

Does any of you know of any more technical differences between the A-S1200 and A-S2100 except for XLR?

Edit: deal fell through, a shame.
But i found another gem, in terms of prose, on that same forum which lifted my mood: "One other recent system upgrade that I recently installed that might benefit others here... I finally replaced my stock subwoofer power cables with a pair of AudioQuest Monsoon cables. The difference in dynamics has been very significant... and not just in the low end. The midrange and treble are also carrying much greater weight."

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I got a nice offer for a A-S 2100 and CD-S 2100 pair, which i think could be an upgrade to my A-S1200 and CD-S1000. The CD player adds XLR out and can be used as a DAC, as it has digital inputs like optical and USB. The A-S2100 has XLR in adds.

I searched Google for technical differences and they sent me to a forum:
View attachment 332505
They go on about voicing and burn in and interconnects and all that. The way i see it, frequency response is flat, distortion and noise low, and that is that.

Does any of you know of any more technical differences between the A-S1200 and A-S2100 except for XLR?

The 2100 has an EI trafo and 4x22.000 uF cap.
The 1200 has a toroidal trafo and 4x18.000 uF cap.

Other than that I don't recall any difference. They both use mosfets and have a great phono stage and bypasses opamps when set flat on the tone controls.

 

[dualazmak]

Does any of you know of any more technical differences between the A-S1200 and A-S2100 except for XLR?

I assume you are already well aware of the specs and photos, but let me share these for sure!

https://jp.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/a-s2100/index.html
https://jp.yamaha.com/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/a-s1200/index.html

 

[Bernard23]

I got a nice offer for a A-S 2100 and CD-S 2100 pair, which i think could be an upgrade to my A-S1200 and CD-S1000. The CD player adds XLR out and can be used as a DAC, as it has digital inputs like optical and USB. The A-S2100 has XLR in adds.

I searched Google for technical differences and they sent me to a forum:
View attachment 332505
They go on about voicing and burn in and interconnects and all that. The way i see it, frequency response is flat, distortion and noise low, and that is that.

Does any of you know of any more technical differences between the A-S1200 and A-S2100 except for XLR?

Edit: deal fell through, a shame.
But i found another gem, in terms of prose, on that same forum which lifted my mood: "One other recent system upgrade that I recently installed that might benefit others here... I finally replaced my stock subwoofer power cables with a pair of AudioQuest Monsoon cables. The difference in dynamics has been very significant... and not just in the low end. The midrange and treble are also carrying much greater weight."
View attachment 332522

Haha, I found the same thread and posted a question. The answer was unintelligible.

Some of these Yamahas do produce a slight V-curve response into reactive loads, relative to other amps that also measure flat into a simulated load. It’s not very subtle when switching back and forth between them. Part of it is actually due to the Yamahas having a narrower wide-band response, either in their amp or preamp sections (most likely the preamp portion), which can result in phase anomalies at the ends of the audible extremes, thus resulting in slight boosts. Ask some legit amp designers about the importance of wide-band performance and its effect on audible bandwidth and they could probably explain it better.

Though tbf, my question had a mistake in it which didn't help (me).

Anyway, I need to stop looking, I'm almost convincing myself that I should replace my 501 with a used 500 or 700. Time to head over to Whathifi and start some flat earther rumour for the hell of it.

 

[Mance's Harmony Sovereign]

I got a nice offer for a A-S 2100 and CD-S 2100 pair, which i think could be an upgrade to my A-S1200 and CD-S1000. The CD player adds XLR out and can be used as a DAC, as it has digital inputs like optical and USB. The A-S2100 has XLR in adds.

I searched Google for technical differences and they sent me to a forum:
View attachment 332505
They go on about voicing and burn in and interconnects and all that. The way i see it, frequency response is flat, distortion and noise low, and that is that.

Does any of you know of any more technical differences between the A-S1200 and A-S2100 except for XLR?

Edit: deal fell through, a shame.
But i found another gem, in terms of prose, on that same forum which lifted my mood: "One other recent system upgrade that I recently installed that might benefit others here... I finally replaced my stock subwoofer power cables with a pair of AudioQuest Monsoon cables. The difference in dynamics has been very significant... and not just in the low end. The midrange and treble are also carrying much greater weight."
View attachment 332522

Yamaha A-S801 amp HUMMING problem...HELP !!! I am at my wits end with this problem...

My Yamaha A-S801 amp has a serious HUM/Feedback issue. When turning the volume up above 4, an increasingly loud HUM occurs which sounds like feedback such as from a guitar amp. Also, there is significant static/crackling during vinyl playback which does not occur with the same LPs played on another hi-fi system (not in the home). This seems to occur only with the phono stage, an Apple Ipod connected via usb to the amp sounds fine, just as it did with previous Onkyo receiver.
The issue did not occur with my previous hi-fi system: Onkyo TX-8260 with Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo with Ortofon red. But - the problem did occur with the A-S801 connected to the ProJect TT with Ortofon red mm cart.. Is it the Yamaha transformer causing this? Too power hungry?? Help me solve this please!!

Gear:

Yamaha A-S801 amp / Dual CS618Q TT w/ Ortofon Blue MM cart / KEF Q100 speakers / Klipsch RP 500M speakers.
Building: 1890s row house (yes, wiring is suspect inside walls but inaccessible [as tenant]). Location: Massachusetts, USA


Remedies attempted:
Brought A-S801 back to dealer, hooked it up to in-house turntable and speakers - hum / crackling did not reoccur -- and sounded GORGEOUS connected to Klipsch Heresy IV speakers!! :-(
Showed the tech at the shop photos of all connections (pure copper wire between amp and speakers, Dual TT cables to amp (used ground).
Bought new power strip/surge suppressor - no change.
Bought an Emotiva CMX2+ (DC offset strip), did not help - no change.
Moved speakers away from amp/TT - no change.
Moved entire system across room, different power socket - no change.
Tested both Dual and ProJect TTs with A-S801 - both TTs have humming problem when connected to the Yamaha.

 

[Rick63]

You didn't say much about the Dual TT, and given all you've done so far I'm wondering if it or the cartridge could be the culprit?

 

[Mance's Harmony Sovereign]

You didn't say much about the Dual TT, and given all you've done so far I'm wondering if it or the cartridge could be the culprit?

Thanks for replying Rick!

Dual TT with Ortofon Blue mm cart. I think I neglected to say the problem did occur with the A-S801 connected to the ProJect TT with Ortofon red mm cart. Do you know of any cases of carts causing this issue?

 

[Rick63]

Thanks for replying Rick!

Dual TT with Ortofon Blue mm cart. I think I neglected to say the problem did occur with the A-S801 connected to the ProJect TT with Ortofon red mm cart. Do you know of any cases of carts causing this issue?

I'm confused.

So have you or have you not tried the Dual TT with the BLUE cartridge with the Yamaha or any other amp?

 

[Mance's Harmony Sovereign]

Sorry. Yes, the Dual is the new TT that replaced the ProJect. The hum occurred with both TTs when connected to the Yamaha. The issue did not occur with the Project connected to the old Onkyo receiver (did not test the Onkyo with the Dual).

 

[TheBatsEar]

Let's start simple. Disconnect everything, then connect headphones and a high level signal, say from a mobile phone, portable CD player or walkman. Something that brings its own power.

If that works without humm, you connect the speakers.
If that works without humm, you connect a CD player, TV or something else high level.
If that works without humm, only the record player is left. Take the record player to your dealer and let them connect it to something, ideally to your amp you brought with you.

If that works without humm, i'm out of clever ideas.
You could ask if one of the people from the dealership would, for a fee, set up the stuff at your place, i guess?

 

[Mance's Harmony Sovereign]

T

Let's start simple. Disconnect everything, then connect headphones and a high level signal, say from a mobile phone, portable CD player or walkman. Something that brings its own power.

If that works without humm, you connect the speakers.
If that works without humm, you connect a CD player, TV or something else high level.
If that works without humm, only the record player is left. Take the record player to your dealer and let them connect it to something, ideally to your amp you brought with you.

If that works without humm, i'm out of clever ideas.
You could ask if one of the people from the dealership would, for a fee, set up the stuff at your place, i guess?

Thank you, I will try out your recommendations.

 

[Golf]

So did Yamaha stop production of their HiFi gear in Japan altogether? And if so – when was that?

 

[SacreDro]

Yes they did.

 

[Overseas]

Factory in Malaysia.

 

[croseiv]

Seems like turntable may be causing the issue. The A-S801 has a MM phono pre-amp section. Make sure the TT is using a Moving Magnet cartridge with correct impedance.

 

[Barry_Sound]

Let's start simple. Disconnect everything, then connect headphones and a high level signal, say from a mobile phone, portable CD player or walkman. Something that brings its own power.

If that works without humm, you connect the speakers.
If that works without humm, you connect a CD player, TV or something else high level.
If that works without humm, only the record player is left. Take the record player to your dealer and let them connect it to something, ideally to your amp you brought with you.

If that works without humm, i'm out of clever ideas.
You could ask if one of the people from the dealership would, for a fee, set up the stuff at your place, i guess?

Hey there BatsEar... great thread. Is there something like a Yamaha sound signature or do you just like the way they look?

 

[TheBatsEar]

Hey there BatsEar... great thread. Is there something like a Yamaha sound signature or do you just like the way they look?

I don't think there is such a thing as a sound signature in Yamaha devices.

Yes, i like how they look. But i guess the real reason why i prefer Yamaha stuff is that my father had a very cool Yamaha receiver back when i was a child.

I'm sure other manufacturers have equally great gear, but it doesn't say Yamaha on the front.

 

[mhardy6647]

Yes, i like how they look.

You aren't alone.