View Full Version : Yamaha A-S1100 Amp
Forkbeard
01-03-2016, 18:19
Hi All, does anybody have any views on Yamaha amps and in particular the A-S1100 as I am thinking of buying one, I have a Yamaha engine in my car and that is the dogs wotsits so I figure if their engines are that good their amps should be pretty good too :) Your comments will be appreciated.
Rothchild
01-03-2016, 21:39
I have a soft spot for Yamaha amps but they don't seem to brook much credibility around these parts.
I don't know this amp (although it looks lovely) but I did last weekend go with a friend to the local discount hifi store and demo the S501 against the current Onkyo at about the same price (this is sub £200 stuff so not the same ballpark really, but) the Yammy won hands down with us - whilst the Onkyo initially sounded more resolved in the high end it very quickly sounded like a cheap trick (basically it just sounded like a smile eq with boosted top and bottom) and was quite muddled - the Yamaha on the other hand was incredibly even handed and honest sounding, it just got out of the way and let the music do the talking, which works for me. Needless to say my mate ended up buying the Yamaha and was well chuffed with his purchase.
This was paired with Quad 12L speakers which are not an easy pairing so it's a good pitch for the Yamaha and one can only imagine that things get better further up the food chain.
Forkbeard
01-03-2016, 22:06
I have a soft spot for Yamaha amps but they don't seem to brook much credibility around these parts.
I don't know this amp (although it looks lovely) but I did last weekend go with a friend to the local discount hifi store and demo the S501 against the current Onkyo at about the same price (this is sub £200 stuff so not the same ballpark really, but) the Yammy won hands down with us - whilst the Onkyo initially sounded more resolved in the high end it very quickly sounded like a cheap trick (basically it just sounded like a smile eq with boosted top and bottom) and was quite muddled - the Yamaha on the other hand was incredibly even handed and honest sounding, it just got out of the way and let the music do the talking, which works for me. Needless to say my mate ended up buying the Yamaha and was well chuffed with his purchase.
This was paired with Quad 12L speakers which are not an easy pairing so it's a good pitch for the Yamaha and one can only imagine that things get better further up the food chain.
Thanks Marc :)
hifi_dave
02-03-2016, 15:35
I have tried a couple of Yamaha amps because they looked much like the vintage models but found them flat and uninvolving.
On the plus side, I am told that they aren't selling well, so large discounts are possible.
Forkbeard
03-03-2016, 20:29
No other views on Yamaha amps anyone?
Rothchild
08-03-2016, 19:36
Well, with two contradictory reviews it seems you're going to need to find somewhere that will demo it for you so you and decide for yourself, look forward to hearing your findings.
I'm sure they're a straight down the line kind of amp, a blank canvas I suspect that may possibly be 'humanised' with careful cable and ancillary choices. I've heard the big CD player (non balanced version) and it's really good IMO and so slick to use.
Forkbeard
08-03-2016, 21:34
Well I thought "what the hell" and bought it anyway, I just had to have those VU meters :). Let me tell you, this amp is not just big, it's biiiiiiiiiiig, I just about got a hernia carrying the box into my house. I got it all set up and I absolutely love it, it certainly suits me, I need to upgrade the rest of my kit now and first will be the speakers, anyone got any suggestions as to what will go nicely with the amp, budget up to about £1200. I would also like to get the matching CD player when I can afford it too.
And those VU meters are definitely mesmerising :lol:
Rothchild
08-03-2016, 22:12
Pics or it didn't happen ;-)
Forkbeard
08-03-2016, 22:40
Pics or it didn't happen ;-)
Still sitting on the floor at the moment, I need to get a new rack strong enough to support the beasts 23kg weight :)
Nice looking amps these. Heavy weight and heavy price to go with it... hope to here how you get on with it Phil
southall-1998
08-03-2016, 23:04
Nice looking amp! Does the sound have that 1970's trait?
S.
Forkbeard
08-03-2016, 23:06
Nice looking amps these. Heavy weight and heavy price to go with it... hope to here how you get on with it Phil
Just running in at the moment, I will keep you informed,
Forkbeard
08-03-2016, 23:12
Nice looking amp! Does the sound have that 1970's trait?
S.
I don't really know what that 1970's trait is to be honest with you but t does sound very good to me :)
southall-1998
08-03-2016, 23:14
Perhaps I was being a tad stereotype! Anyway, enjoy the amp.
S.
Forkbeard
08-03-2016, 23:20
Perhaps I was being a tad stereotype! Anyway, enjoy the amp.
S.
Thanks Shane :wave::wave::wave:
Hi All, does anybody have any views on Yamaha amps and in particular the A-S1100 as I am thinking of buying one, I have a Yamaha engine in my car and that is the dogs wotsits so I figure if their engines are that good their amps should be pretty good too :) Your comments will be appreciated.
Erm OK.
Were you aware that Yama has 'Traditionally' Lied about the performance of their Engines.
'81 350 Lc's were supposed to have 47 hp.
Subsequent Real world Dyno testings revealed a 37 hp unit. Ten + hp IS a big deal on a small unit.
Recently R6 engines were 'claimed' to have a 16,000+ rpm 'redline' ... Bollocks!
Reality was they Lied and had made the tach read 16k when in fact 13K was rarely possible?
Their Fabled 5 valve cyl head proved, despite long claims, to be inadequate to needs.
Not a helluvalot of integrity in that firm.
ALL brochure babbles aside.
Note quite on the level of VW .. but still.. Food fer thought.
Certainly enough to give Yama Fanboys a sober second thought ;)
http://i1.wp.com/www.skepticalraptor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/troll-internet-miserable-e1447201405889.jpg?resize=672%2C323
southall-1998
09-03-2016, 09:22
Exactly, john. As per usual, danilo doesn't shine any contribution. All he does, is leaves his dirty arse wipes on people's threads.
The stupid fool!!
S.
Forkbeard
09-03-2016, 09:32
Erm OK.
Were you aware that Yama has 'Traditionally' Lied about the performance of their Engines.
'81 350 Lc's were supposed to have 47 hp.
Subsequent Real world Dyno testings revealed a 37 hp unit. Ten + hp IS a big deal on a small unit.
Recently R6 engines were 'claimed' to have a 16,000+ rpm 'redline' ... Bollocks!
Reality was they Lied and had made the tach read 16k when in fact 13K was rarely possible?
Their Fabled 5 valve cyl head proved, despite long claims, to be inadequate to needs.
Not a helluvalot of integrity in that firm.
ALL brochure babbles aside.
Note quite on the level of VW .. but still.. Food fer thought.
Certainly enough to give Yama Fanboys a sober second thought ;)
I dunno about any of that but I drive a Volvo S80 4.4 litre V8 AWD. Volvo sourced the engine from Yamaha who had designed this particular engine for Ford's now defunct Premier Automotive Group. This engine is also used in the British made £200,000 Noble M600 Supercar albeit with the addition of two large Garrett turbos and some fancy reworking to boost the power to 650 BHP. It is definitely a hell of a lot of fun to drive and the engine sound under acceleration is awesome, the only drawback being the 13 mpg that I get.
:lol: :ner: :hotrod:
Pieoftheday
09-03-2016, 09:32
Erm OK.
Were you aware that Yama has 'Traditionally' Lied about the performance of their Engines.
'81 350 Lc's were supposed to have 47 hp.
Subsequent Real world Dyno testings revealed a 37 hp unit. Ten + hp IS a big deal on a small unit.
Recently R6 engines were 'claimed' to have a 16,000+ rpm 'redline' ... Bollocks!
Reality was they Lied and had made the tach read 16k when in fact 13K was rarely possible?
Their Fabled 5 valve cyl head proved, despite long claims, to be inadequate to needs.
Not a helluvalot of integrity in that firm.
ALL brochure babbles aside.
Note quite on the level of VW .. but still.. Food fer thought.
Certainly enough to give Yama Fanboys a sober second thought ;)
Ive had a couple of yamaha bikes, i dont know if they lied about their specs i just know they were fookin ace to ride:) i bet that amp is pretty good too, not to ride mind, that would be silly.....
Forkbeard
09-03-2016, 09:36
Ive had a couple of yamaha bikes, i dont know if they lied about their specs i just know they were fookin ace to ride:) i bet that amp is pretty good too, not to ride mind, that would be silly.....
I could give it a go :lol:
Pieoftheday
09-03-2016, 09:41
I could give it a go :lol:
It'll be crap going round corners:lol:
Not sure the vw group should be crowed as bastions of truth. :doh:
Forkbeard
09-03-2016, 09:51
Not sure the vw group should be crowed as bastions of truth. :doh:
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
Yamaha have a very good reputation for all of their astonishingly wide range of products so I don't think to much should be read into an allegedly incorrect spec for an outboard motor (or whatever it was) - could be a misprint in the brochure, a mistake, an incorrect translation from the Japanese, who knows?
In any case it has no bearing on this amplifier which I have to say does look the business.
I have tried a couple of Yamaha amps because they looked much like the vintage models but found them flat and uninvolving.
Sorry, bit late, found the same with an AS500
Forkbeard
09-03-2016, 19:27
Yamaha have a very good reputation for all of their astonishingly wide range of products so I don't think to much should be read into an allegedly incorrect spec for an outboard motor (or whatever it was) - could be a misprint in the brochure, a mistake, an incorrect translation from the Japanese, who knows?
In any case it has no bearing on this amplifier which I have to say does look the business.
Thanks Martin, it really is :)
pedant corner...
to be fair to Yamaha....back in the 80s, maybe later, ALL bike makers fudged their power output figures by cheekily measuring the output at the CRANK...this gave an inflated number as it did not take into account losses from the gearbox and drivetrain.
NIGE.
Chunky70
11-03-2016, 17:35
I've just bought the yamaha AS201 which they claim to be a 100 watt per channel amp.
In the manual it states this: Rated Power (8 ohms, 40 Hz-20 kHz, 0.2% THD): 100 W + 100 W
Maximum power (JEITA) (8 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD): 140 W + 140 W
Notice the rated power is only from 40hz to 20khz. The 10% THD 'aint too clever either.
Further down the manual a more honest figure can be read: Total Harmonic Distortion (20 Hz-20 kHz):
- CD, etc. Speaker Out to 0.2% (50 W / 8 ohm).
Seems Yamaha are being a bit naughty here!
DogsPart2
11-03-2016, 17:56
Nice looking amp, enjoy in good health.
I purchased an A-s501 when they first came out for my 2nd (TV room) system. Sounds great and has been bullet proof.
Forkbeard
11-03-2016, 18:34
Nice looking amp, enjoy in good health.
I purchased an A-s501 when they first came out for my 2nd (TV room) system. Sounds great and has been bullet proof.
Cheers Ron, I think she is definitely bullet proof, just about gave myself a hernia carrying it in :lol:
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