Yamaha AS701 MK2….

[Ruediger]

It appears it is new mK2 version . Google and you’ll see some different layout inside of the amplifier…

Can you share a link to that A-S701 MK2?

First thought: the xx1 versions are kind of the MK2 versions of the xx0 amps from the same line. The xx1 all have digital in / a DAC whereas the xx0 are analogue only to my knowledge.

 

[ZolaIII]

Pro Wiim or plus model ?

My understanding is the plus has sub connector, but no bass management.

I can probably solve this with a DSP sub.

I know I have to adjust the Yamaha volume to fixed settings and never adjust .
Ultra streamer would be act like “pre amp with a volume dial .”

Reason; is of course I can run sub using the Wiim own bass management.

My main question is what /can use the bass management settings should I connect sub with the Yamaha (ultra (streamer ). And not use the DSP . Or is this combining combo ?

What ever you use to output to sub will have it's own XO to it and will treat it to its own DSP chain (PEQ's) it has if you use it.
However 10 banks per chenel I/0 PEQ or up to 2024 taps FIR and 4 or more chenel it bring makes MiniDSP more valid option if you want DSP. Regarding streamer then WiiM Mini (with Flex) is quite enough (Toslink I/O).

 

[early rejecter]

Can you share a link to that A-S701 MK2?

I suspect the confusion comes from a website in Sweden that lists the A-S701, 501, and 301 as MKII models. As you suggested, I think the site is trying to distinguish them from the earlier 700, 500, and 300 models rather than being actual updates of the xx1 series.

A-S701 MKII

 

[Hifi for life .]

Can someone please recommend me decent Minidsp which fits the AS701.

Minidsp flex is it good enough with the AS701 ?

I need to what /if it can connect to the Yamaha as an active crossover. What connections etc .

Thanks

 

[early rejecter]

A potential issue with the MiniDSP and A-S701 is that the newest Yamahas in this line don’t have the ability to pass a signal externally through a processor and back into the Yamaha — which means that all of your sources will need to be connected directly to the MiniDSP, instead of the Yamaha, to take advantage of the MiniDSP processing. So the best MiniDSP for you will depend on the type and number of sources you have.

 

[ZolaIII]

Flex has 106/114 dB SINAD analog I/O and 4 chenel output. Rest of the series Flex HT, studio... Have more inputs and more output analog chenels but I don't believe you will need that. You do analog outputs to speakers and sub's from it and digital/analog inputs to it use it as DSP and preamp. Even Yamaha can handle 2.2 V input actually it will reach full output feed from 500~700 mV, keep it in pure direct mode and let digital DSP do the processing (Flex). Consumer unbalanced sub's need even less input, typically 250~500 mV. You use gain pot on sub and volume controls on integrated amplifier as hard limiters to calibration SPL to listening area that you rest assured you won't brick anything.

 

[ZolaIII]

A potential issue with the MiniDSP and A-S701 is that the newest Yamahas in this line don’t have the ability to pass a signal externally through a processor and back into the Yamaha — which means that all of your sources will need to be connected directly to the MiniDSP, instead of the Yamaha, to take advantage of the MiniDSP processing. So the best MiniDSP for you will depend on the type and number of sources you have.

Loop is loop and you can't use self/pass filters with it as it brakes the loop.

 

[early rejecter]

Loop is loop and you can't use self/pass filters with it as it brakes the loop.

Perhaps a language or translation issue, but I’m not sure what that means — loop is loop? Can’t quite tell if you’re agreeing, disagreeing, or just providing additional context.

But yes, A-S701 has no tape or processor loop, so all sources will need direct connection to the MiniDSP.

 

[Hifi for life .]

Flex has 106/114 dB SINAD analog I/O and 4 chenel output. Rest of the series Flex HT, studio... Have more inputs and more output analog chenels but I don't believe you will need that. You do analog outputs to speakers and sub's from it and digital/analog inputs to it use it as DSP and preamp. Even Yamaha can handle 2.2 V input actually it will reach full output feed from 500~700 mV, keep it in pure direct mode and let digital DSP do the processing (Flex). Consumer unbalanced sub's need even less input, typically 250~500 mV. You use gain pot on sub and volume controls on integrated amplifier as hard limiters to calibration SPL to listening area that you rest assured you won't brick anything.

Can you please share a link to the Flex you are referring too ? Much appreciated!

 

[Ruediger]

miniDSP Flex

Pocket size processor with flexible Input/Output configuration, Audiophile converters, 400MHz Sharc DSP processor, BT connectivity, DSP toolbox for subwoofer and multiway crossover, Dirac Live optional upgrade

www.minidsp.com

Put in front of the Yamaha and it will use it as an analogue / pure direct poweramp. Pretty nice combo.

 

[ZolaIII]

@Hifi for life .

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

@early rejecter if you cut and re direct part of frequency spectrum it can't work as a loop and such are those we use to make XO the pass (high and low) along with self filters. You need separate chenels to do it. I have A-S 700 and R-N402D, 700 has old electro mechanical input switcher and loop, R-N has a new transistor one (worse in every way but it works including loop). Do to mention limitations now described A-S700 works as solo power amplifier with output limiter for mains.

 

[Ruediger]

Hold on the the good ol' A-S700. Great amp. The digital inputs of the xx1 line get interesting from the 801 on (ES9010K2M).

 

[Hifi for life .]

@Hifi for life .

Minidsp Flex Review (Audio DSP)

This is a review and detailed measurement of the Minidsp Flex audio signal processor. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $475 for unbalanced and $550 for balanced that I tested. Flex borrows the interface from SHD and puts it in a compact package. Seeing how I really liked that...

www.audiosciencereview.com

@early rejecter if you cut and re direct part of frequency spectrum it can't work as a loop and such are those we use to make XO the pass (high and low) along with self filters. You need separate chenels to do it. I have A-S 700 and R-N402D, 700 has old electro mechanical input switcher and loop, R-N has a new transistor one (worse in every way but it works including loop). Do to mention limitations now described A-S700 works as solo power amplifier with output limiter for mains.

Not following you …

Are you claiming there is no way of connecting the correct Minidsp to the AS701?

 

[ZolaIII]

Not following you …

Are you claiming there is no way of connecting the correct Minidsp to the AS701?

Nope, telling it neads to be central input point for all sources you might use so that it can do it's job. You connect it easy with RCA cable. What I told is you can't have a loop if you cut it because well then it's not a loop is it. I got A-S 700 new less than two years ago only problem is that it's not in silver colour and digital input over Toslink is valid option from R-N402D that had old Burr Brown 1701 with DSD suport, fall whose with switching to low end old Burr's in Ti flavor series 5xx (arguably even those DAC's where good enough). Switch to ESS 32 family whose necessity, Yamaha historically ain't known for outstanding good DAC integration designs, burr is dead, Ti isn't investing in it, AKM burned, they didn't work with CS and that leaves ESS.

 

[rolfrander]

Not following you …

Are you claiming there is no way of connecting the correct Minidsp to the AS701?

It is really not clear what you are trying to achieve here.

• do you have the A-S701 already or are you considering getting one?
• what are your (future) sources and how do you expect them connected (digital or analog)?
• what are you missing in your current setup?
• what are you hoping to achieve?

I am just guessing here based on your messages so far:

• if you have the A-S701 and want to add streaming: add a streamer with digital out and connect to the amp using TOSLINK or Coax. The Wiim Mini is really the most obvious choice here, has optical out you can connect directly to the amp
• Do you want to add a subwoofer? The A-S701 has a sub out. The crossover is set at 100 Hz and there is no bass management, so you would need some functionality in the sub to be able to integrate it
• Do you want better bass management and possibly room correction? Then you need a pre-amp with DSP-abilities between your source and your poweramp. Now, this is a bit tricky with the A-S701, because it has no way of bypassing the preamp, so you end up with two preamps and will have to be very careful with volume settings, as you already have realized earlier in the thread. Several MiniDSP-products can help you here, but also several Wiim-products. The point is, however, that the setup and integration will be easier with pure poweramps.

 

[Ruediger]

Gotta disagree there a bit. While digital-in with A-S701 is OK I think it will perform better with analogue in / pure direct (which skips it's DAC). And being fed by a WiiM pro plus or Ultra with their way better DAC. They also handle the subwoofer.

Same with any MiniDSP in front of the Yamaha.

Not following you …

Are you claiming there is no way of connecting the correct Minidsp to the AS701?

I think you guys are lost in translastion. You can put any MiniDSP, DAC or pre-amp in front of the Yamaha. What to chose depends on your needs.

 

[rolfrander]

While digital-in with A-S701 is OK I think it will perform better with analogue in / pure direct (which skips it's DAC)

Yes, you are correct, the test actually shows quite bad DAC-performance (6dB below pure direct):

Yamaha A-S701 Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha A-S701 stereo integrated amplifier with included DAC and Phono stage. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $800. The A-S701 is one of the best looking amplifiers I have tested. Yes the controls are plastic unlike the glory days...

www.audiosciencereview.com

However, I still think OP is overcomplicating by adding devices with significant functional overlaps. For example, attaching a subwoofer to a separate preamp (wiim or minidsp) and using A-S701 for amplification sounds like a very complicated setup.

 

[Ruediger]

However, I still think OP is overcomplicating by adding devices with significant functional overlaps. For example, attaching a subwoofer to a separate preamp (wiim or minidsp) and using A-S701 for amplification sounds like a very complicated setup.

The Yamaha has a very basic subwoofer out. Rolling off at ~90Hz, adds this to the bass still also send out to front L+R. I think it's good in some setups, basically when you have nothing else. But the WiiM streamers or a MiniDSP can do a lot more for/with the sub. Especially everything room correction. With a sub on the Yamaha there is only altering the stereo signal to change anything and live with the Yamaha sending that to front L+R and the sub line-out. Very limited options, stripping those better DACs in front of it of their better capabilities.

It's a bit strange demoting the Yamaha to play dumb L+R analogue poweramp behind a WiiM or MiniDSP. But I think that's what it will do the very best.

 

[ZolaIII]

Gotta disagree there a bit. While digital-in with A-S701 is OK I think it will perform better with analogue in / pure direct (which skips it's DAC). And being fed by a WiiM pro plus or Ultra with their way better DAC. They also handle the subwoofer.

Same with any MiniDSP in front of the Yamaha.

I think you guys are lost in translastion. You can put any MiniDSP, DAC or pre-amp in front of the Yamaha. What to chose depends on your needs.

Let me put this direct, two chenel DAC is only two chenel and you need more chenels if you want digital XO. Even degraded modern analog input stage on S-A 701 stil has better SNR then DAC in it if you don't introduce additional noise of course. I don't think S-A line has preamp (R-N does ±10 dB [it's a cheap one and works best at - 6~7]) and it manages inputs up to 2.2 V (unbalanced of course) just fine.
I don't know what he wants, I know I have what I need and want. I don't take crossovers vogue and I use 2.2 system desktop PC being central input and processing point (AV as its a beemer room also). To me even Flex is bare minimum (10 PEQ's per I/O bank and gain adjustment or FIR up to 2048 taps) regarding DSP and still lacking major futures as ELC and I am not a huge fan of automatic room corrections as Dirac Live (as it is at least).

 

[Ruediger]

Let me put this direct, two chenel DAC is only two chenel and you need more chenels if you want digital XO.

Yes. I assumed MiniDSP Flex (4 channels out). Or a WiiM with sub-out, so F+R+sub. Or both maybe. A MiniDSP would be good with as little as a WiiM Mini to do what it can.