Yamaha A-S3000 Integrated Amplifier- Review

[Joe P]

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/yamaha-a-s3000-integrated-amplifier/

 

[Randy Myers]

I read the article a while back. Looks like Yamaha of old (which is a good thing). Seems like a very nice piece, although at $7000 seems a bit pricey....

 

[joeinid]

I still want this integrated very much. Even though I've read some had problems with reliability, many never had any issues. I had a big Yamaha receiver after my first year in college and loved it at the time. I only recently gave it to a friend who absolutely loves it too.

Marantz has a new Reference 10 integrated and SACD player but I get the feeling that the integrated is some sort of Class D hybrid. I'm not sure so if anyone knows, please tell me.

I may not be able to resist the Yamaha much longer.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Randy Myers]

I always liked Yamaha and sold so much back when I worked in Stereo stores!!!!

I bought a Yamaha music only SA-CD player before I got the Marantz. It was defective out of the box and everyone was out of them ... so I bought the Marantz... I was rather disappointed since I really loved the look and feel of the Yamaha....

I have been drooling over the new Marantz Reference spinner ....

 

[Mike]

Perdy! Good to see Yamaha back in the game.

But like Randy, I would take Marantz over Yamaha.

 

[jdandy]

Despite all the press hoopla, I think Yamaha, as well as Technics, are a bit late to the high-end arena. My feelings are they need to break away from their old traditional styling and engineering. Both companies should start brand new divisions with fresh new product names and pull out all the stops. Pioneer created TAD and TEAC created Esoteric to great success. I understand that Technics was created to be the high-end for Panasonic but that was in 1965 and never really produced anything more than fancy upscale receivers of any substantial merit, a few successful reel to reel tape recorder models, and a DJ turntable. That market vaporized 20+ years ago. It was a similar scenario for Yamaha, although they did produce some decent separates in the typical mass market 1980's fare. In my opinion, the new Yamaha A-S3000 integrated amplifier is just more of the same mass market thinking, design, and engineering. A fresh look at cost no object designs, a new product name, and sayounara to the 1970's rectangle knobs may just put Yamaha on the high-end radar. Technics should begin with a blank sheet of paper, too. Both parent companies have tremendously deep pockets. If they want to be high-end players they need to get serious on all levels and sever the ties with their not so glorious mass market reputations. There is no exclusivity to their present offerings. That is part of the problem as well.

 

[Joe P]

Despite all the press hoopla, I think Yamaha, as well as Technics, are a bit late to the high-end arena. My feelings are they need to break away from their old traditional styling and engineering. Both companies should start brand new divisions with fresh new product names and pull out all the stops. Pioneer created TAD and TEAC created Esoteric to great success. I understand that Technics was created to be the high-end for Panasonic but that was in 1965 and never really produced anything more than fancy upscale receivers of any substantial merit, a few successful reel to reel tape recorder models, and a DJ turntable. That market vaporized 20+ years ago. It was a similar scenario for Yamaha, although they did produce some decent separates in the typical mass market 1980's fare. In my opinion, the new Yamaha A-S3000 integrated amplifier is just more of the same mass market thinking, design, and engineering. A fresh look at cost no object designs, a new product name, and sayounara to the 1970's rectangle knobs may just put Yamaha on the high-end radar. Technics should begin with a blank sheet of paper, too. Both parent companies have tremendously deep pockets. If they want to be high-end players they need to get serious on all levels and sever the ties with their not so glorious mass market reputations. There is no exclusivity to their present offerings. That is part of the problem as well.

I feel the same way about McIntosh gear.

 

[a.wayne]

I still want this integrated very much. Even though I've read some had problems with reliability, many never had any issues. I had a big Yamaha receiver after my first year in college and loved it at the time.

I may not be able to resist the Yamaha much longer.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Ohhh the torture Joe .....

 

[jdandy]

I feel the same way about McIntosh gear.

:facepalm:

 

[a.wayne]

My 2c ,

I disagree regarding Mcintosh and Yamaha , Technics yes ...


Technics is making a return with a table, IMO , was never really hi-end , it was not hi-End in 1978 and its not Hi-End special today so it looks dated as oppose to moving forward .

This Yamaha unit is geogeous and interesting , its retro looking without looking dated , the rectangular knobs say Yamaha , the facia say accuphase , it looks the part unlike the technics which looks like you never left your youthful disco days behind ...

McIntosh ,

What can i say , the look never left so it never ever looks dated , what Mac needs to do is stop over playing the look , every piece of audio equipment dont need to have blue meters , a full Mac line looks as gaudy as 22" spinners on a 2017 caddy , way over played. Aside , I'm still moved when I see the amplifiers, more so the vintage versions , as they are less done up.

Regards

 

[sheltie1]

I like the look and would love to hear one. Like mentioned above, the $7k price point does seem a tad high....wonder how many Yamaha has sold?

 

[AJ Soundfield]

Looks pretty nice to me, definitely retro, but also understated elegance.
In their 130yrs of existence Yamaha might have picked a thing or two about amplification and music reproduction, conservative or not.
Actually, their conservative nature results in products that tend to be very reliable. I know someone who ran a regional service center for several manufacturers, said Yamaha had the lowest failure rate vs Denon, Marantz, Pioneer, etc. AVRs.
Most bench tests show their amp protection schemes to be amongst the most conservative.
They are in a damned if they don't/do situation. Price it $14k and everyone balks way too much for a Yamaha (regardless of sound). $3k and no audiophile takes seriously, too cheap (regardless of sound). Ah well...

 

[jdandy]

They are in a damned if they don't/do situation. Price it $14k and everyone balks way too much for a Yamaha (regardless of sound). $3k and no audiophile takes seriously, too cheap (regardless of sound). Ah well...

AJ Soundfield......Precisely the point I was making. A new corporate name and face for high-end components and speakers that capture and employ the best of their long standing knowledge base could launch Yamaha into serious competition with other high-end offerings. Create a fresh name, a new substantially bold look that does not harken back to anything in Yamaha's past, and build said components at engineering levels that represents modern state of the art in design and bill of materials. In other words, completely remove the new high-end offerings from being associated with the Yamaha name. Generate exclusivity, panache, and a strong desire in the audio community to own such products that compete on the same level as the best of the best. I believe a genuine high-end product line can come from corporate Yamaha, I just don't think it can be achieved clinging to the rectangle knobs and Yamaha logo on the face plate.

 

[Randy Myers]

The one thing they offer, and a huge reason to use their name and none of the other companies have is that Yamaha is music since 1887. The logo is three tuning forks.... their name quite literally means music... that tradition is not something I would want to give up... being one of the oldest musical instrument manufactures is a huge advantage for their brand.

 

[jdandy]

The one thing they offer, and a huge reason to use their name and none of the other companies have is that Yamaha is music since 1887. The logo is three tuning forks.... their name quite literally means music... that tradition is not something I would want to give up... being one of the oldest musical instrument manufactures is a huge advantage for their brand.

Randy.......Pioneer didn't give up their name to start TAD. TEAC didn't give up their name to start Esoteric. We all know who the parent companies are, but we have an elevated expectation from the high-end divisions. Yamaha could capitalize on their expertise without losing anything with a fresh entry into the high-end arena. That's all I am suggesting. I don't really have a dog in this hunt because I don't own, nor have I ever owned Yamaha gear. I sold a bunch of it but never brought any of it home. I am merely suggesting an alternative approach that I think could have a huge positive impact on Yamaha's quest to be taken seriously as a true high-end audio manufacturer.

 

[Randy Myers]

Hey Dan, I don't disagree. I do have a couple Yamaha pieces, but nothing of significance. A receiver with the TV and a spinner for movies and as a backup SA-CD player. And I do not disagree with your thoughts, I just know when selling their equipment talking about their music heritage made a huge difference.

 

[CPP]

Heck I wish Yamaha would bring back their oldies. I missed a purchase by 3 hours in Miami on this classic amp., the MX10000. class A.

Minimum RMS power output :

[TD="class: speci_left"][/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 250W (8 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"](20Hz...20Khz, 0,001% THD)[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 300W (6 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]2x 400W (4 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]Dynamic power output :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 350W (8 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"](1Khz, 0,001% THD)[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 450W (6 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 600W (4 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_right"]2x 900W (2 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]2x 1200W (1 Ohm)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]Damping factor :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]1000 (6 Ohm, 1Khz)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left speci_marg_bottom"]Through-rate of pre-driver voltage amp :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]500V / µs[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left speci_marg_bottom"]Frequency response :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]2Hz...300Khz (+0 / -2dB)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]IHF-A S/N ratio :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]132dB[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]IHF-A residual noise :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]10µV[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]Channel separation :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]90dB (20Hz...20Khz)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left speci_marg_bottom"]THD :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]0,0005% (20Hz...20Khz ; 6 Ohm ; 1/2 rated power)[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left speci_marg_bottom"]Inputs :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right speci_marg_bottom"]1,5V / 25kOhm[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]Dimensions :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]47,5 x 22 x 54,3cm[/TD]

[TD="class: speci_left"]Weight :[/TD]
[TD="class: speci_right"]43kg.[/TD]

 

[jdandy]

Chris.......The Yamaha 10000 series was beginning to touch on real high-end, then it just disappeared.

Here's apeek inside the Yamaha MX-10000 you posted.

This was the Yamaha CDX-10000.

The Yamaha CX-10000 preamplifier.

Bring this level back with modern close tolerance parts and they will have something to brag about.

 

[Jozua]

I am keen to read about the 2100 amp impressions by 2100 owners...

I bought the Yamaha CD S3000 SACD player and to my ears it is good enough. A Yammie CD and Amp combo looks very enticing ....and will most likely last a lifetime...?

 

[CPP]

Chris.......The Yamaha 10000 series was beginning to touch on real high-end, then it just disappeared.

Here's apeek inside the Yamaha MX-10000 you posted.

This was the Yamaha CDX-10000.

The Yamaha CX-10000 preamplifier.

Bring this level back with modern close tolerance parts and they will have something to brag about.

From what I have read on those items. They were designed and built in 1987 to honor 100 years of Yamaha. Most likely a limited run of each.