Yamaha A-S701 Stereo Amplifier Review

[rank]

Much too high a price, you can find a DAC or phono input (if absolutely necessary in 2024) for less than $100 very easily. The various signal-to-noise ratios take us back to the 1970s.

 

[WDeranged]

I got a near mint A-S301 for peanuts a few years back. They've almost doubled in price since then. I've not once had any complaints about the amp and recently started using the internal DAC. A Wiim Mini stuck to the side of the amp makes for an invisible streaming solution. I compared the internal DAC to a few modern DACs and my ears couldn't hear a jot of difference so it's good enough for what it is.

 

[restorer-john]

Much too high a price, you can find a DAC or phono input (if absolutely necessary in 2024) for less than $100 very easily. The various signal-to-noise ratios take us back to the 1970s.

Yeah, OK, whatever...

 

[rank]

I voted for postman panther. For about half this price, you can have a home theater AM/FM receiver with Dolby Atmos. With rather close measurements I would say.

 

[GandalfTheAudiofool]

I voted for postman panther. For about half this price, you can have a home theater AM/FM receiver with Dolby Atmos. With rather close measurements I would say.

Which one? With a defeatable loudness control knob?

 

[rank]

No, of course not, if you need to change the sound, use any eq (I use a graphic Marantz and a parametris Sintron).

 

[Kobold]

Is it me or Toslink FFT looks better than CD direct 2V in FFT?
DAC+amp Sinad 84dB but F2 -90dB, F3 -92dB, seems good enough?

 

[restorer-john]

So the DAC measurement include the amp right? No directly comparable maybe to other DAC measurements on the forum.

Correct. The review is botched in a number of ways.

 

[tsfreo]

You can hear the lifted veils from the kitchen.

I've owned one for years and my wife thinks it sounds very good

 

[theREALdotnet]

I've owned one for years and my wife thinks it sounds very good

We’ve owned a kitchen for some years now, too, after my wife convinced me that we needed one. I finally gave in when I figured it might come in handy for audiophile testing…

 

[JSmith]

Correct. The review is botched in a number of ways.

How else is the internal DAC meant to be tested apart from using the analog pre-outs, like other integrated amps and AVR's?


JSmith

 

[amirm]

Correct. The review is botched in a number of ways.

No one is going to use this box to route its DAC externally. Testing it through the amp represents 100% the usage scenario.

 

[JSmith]

Unfortunately there is no pre-out so I can only test digital input when going through the amplifier. Then again, that is how you would use it.

It appears I missed this, no pre-outs.


JSmith

 

[theREALdotnet]

It appears I missed this, no pre-outs.

I think John pointed out that there are two Rec-outs, which are in fact pre-outs.

 

[JSmith]

I'd rather buy one of these than a dozen of these little *redacted* amps that are rated with some 90's cheap car audio standard. I just can't do disposable.

Hello, please amend your post accordingly as that is a term we try to avoid here. Thanks in advance and for your understanding

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Further, unsure if you're aware that most of the cheaper line Yamaha amps and AVR's are made in Malaysia and China? Best to focus on the product under review.

JSmith

 

[Zek]

I think John pointed out that there are two Rec-outs, which are in fact pre-outs.

It's not quite the same because the rec-out is a direct input signal without the influence of the tone control and volume pot that the pre-out has.

 

[theREALdotnet]

It's not quite the same because the rec-out is a direct input signal without the influence of the tone control and volume pot that the pre-out has.

So – perfect for measuring the pure DAC performance?

 

[ITguyAR]

Hello, please amend your post accordingly as that is a term we try to avoid here. Thanks in advance and for your understanding

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Further, unsure if you're aware that most of the cheaper line Yamaha amps and AVR's are made in Malaysia and China? Best to focus on the product under review.

View attachment 377238


JSmith

Funny. Yes, I'm aware of that as I spent 25 years in the industry with the last 8 years as a manufacturers rep. But since there is no real "presence" of these companies in the states, (store wise, warranty service, etc) and most are shipped direct from there, thus the phrase is coined. I can call up many, many Yamaha, Onkyo, Sony, Rote,, Cambridge, Parasound, etc., dealers and find info out.

But ok...

 

[AnalogSteph]

In fact, somewhere back a few weeks I posted some pics of a nice Yamaha RN-602 belonging to a good mate. He'd used it for years and then ~3 years ago, moved to a beachhouse 1 street back from the ocean at Nobbys Beach.

It's a write off. I can only bring it back from the dead as a normal amplifier- tuner/bluetooth/wireless/lan/streaming all dead from corrosion. All casework screws and panels have rusted. The big old through-hole components in the power amp stage survived and still work.

And his PCs need replacing every 2 or 3 years due to the fans pulling in salt air and destroying the boards from the inside out.

Yikes. This location sounds like a case for precautionary conformal coating if there ever was one. It may seem unorthodox to rip apart brand new electronics, but if it drastically prolongs their operating life it's worth it. Desperate times call for desparate measures and all.

 

[TonyJZX]

this product is probably a decade old (at least???) and that's part of the 'good/bad' and the charm

i'd lose the phono

i'd also lose the digital inputs

funny thing is the 801 does have type A usb in but they dont sell the 801 in some places

these amps need an upgrade right??? would the next gen slap in streaming?