New Yamaha A-S3000 integrated amplifier?

[rbbert]

The fact that this coming from a company like Yamaha is encouraging to the health of the high-end audio industry, but I do wonder who is likely to buy it. 100 WPC @8 ohms but only 150 WPC @4 ohms, tone controls, phono preamp but no DAC, $8000 MSRP?

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/a-s3000_u/?mode=model

 

[mep]

Looks like a very nice amp and beautifully built.

 

[Audio_Karma]

They are coming out with the Yamaha a-s2100 soon here that is almost as good as these a-s3000's for a lot less money!

 

[JackD201]

Companies like Yamaha, Denon, Marantz and Luxman have continuously been making balls to the wall products for their domestic market. The pleasant surprise is that the US importers have finally begun taking them on.

 

[Audio_Karma]

The Yamaha a-s2100 will cost $3999, street price around $3000 to $3500. Both these amps have already been tested in Germany, the a-s3000 got 125 points and the a-s2100 got 115 points. The a-s2100's will be here in USA sometime in June 2014.

 

[TheMadMilkman]

The Yamaha a-s2100 will cost $3999, street price around $3000 to $3500. Both these amps have already been tested in Germany, the a-s3000 got 125 points and the a-s2100 got 115 points. The a-s2100's will be here in USA sometime in June 2014.

Is there a maximum value for the point system used in the reviews? Or, better yet, a link to the reviews?

 

[Audio_Karma]

Is there a maximum value for the point system used in the reviews? Or, better yet, a link to the reviews?

Do a Google Search for...(Yamaha a-s3000 Test) and look for www.audio.de and then click on (translate this page)

Do the same thing for the a-s2100 and look for www.testberichte.de and then click on.. translate this page.

I think anything at 120 points and above is Reference Grade...as good as it gets, for Integrated Amps made right now.

You might be able to change out the H Frame Transformer in the a-s2100 with the much better Toroidal Transformer that is in the a-s3000 to get you closer to that Reference Grade sound with the a-s2100.

 

[Audio_Karma]

Here's a review on the a-s3000.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/the-yamaha-a-s-3000-integrated-amp-review

 

[cjfrbw]

I am using a Yamaha B2 VFET amp from the day on my bass panels now. With a 300b tube preamp, it really sounds wonderful. I can use the bass panel of my Analysis Epsilon Speakers as a full range, crossover-less full range panel and listen to it all day without fatigue this way, when I don't want to fire up the whole system. This, from a hard core tube-o-phile.

I really think the B2's sound with the 300b driver is akin to what a DHT 2A3 OTL amp might sound like. And it runs cool to the touch, to boot. I hope it never breaks, but it is a 36 year old amp.

I am actually kind of curious to hear this new AS3000 integrated, though it uses the MOSFETS instead of VFETS.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi
The Yamaha amp is available from Amazon Prime (2-days free delivery if you're a member). I am intrigued by this amp to say the least.

Somewhat germane to this discussion of VFET. Pass and SONY recently (CES 2014 I believe) collaborated on a monoblock designed by Nelson Pass and using VFET, find it quite bizarre that this wasn't better publicized. Is it a sign of the big Japanese returning to their (Audio) roots?

 

[JackD201]

More like Japan looking to open up and export aggressively again methinks.

 

[Occam]

....
You might be able to change out the H Frame Transformer in the a-s2100 with the much better Toroidal Transformer that is in the a-s3000 to get you closer to that Reference Grade sound with the a-s2100.

I don't understand why a toroidal transformer would be an improvement. The only advantage a toroidal transformer offers is a smaller radiated magnetic field, and usually a smaller physical size. If the amp doesn't hum from the split bobbin transfomer's EMI, a toroidal transfomer offers no advantages, just negatives....

FWIW,
Paul