YAMAHA A-S701SL Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Silver)

The Yamaha A-S801 is one of three systems I’ve fully optimized, and I can confidently say it’s the cornerstone of my budget-friendly yet seriously capable setup. Getting back into the audio hobby at a deeper level, I wasn’t expecting this level of performance—but the A-S801 has far exceeded all expectations.Its output is clean, powerful, and remarkably neutral, which makes it the perfect foundation for customizing your sound through external DACs, streamers, and other sources. There's no worry about underpowering speakers—this amp can confidently drive 90% of what’s on the market, including many speakers costing far more than the amp itself.I’ve paired it with Cabasse Murano Alto floorstanders, a FiiO R2R K11 DAC, and a WiiM Ultra streamer—an absolutely synergistic combination. While this may not be an “endgame” setup, the musical enjoyment it delivers is undeniable. The A-S801 opens the door to a wide range of speaker pairings and digital source options, making it one of the best sub-$1000 integrated amps out there.Like many others have said: this amp punches way above its price class. Totally impressed.

First off, I've been using vintage equipment for a while. The problem is the constant breakdown of 40 year old equipment so i decided to go modern. I didn't want another BPC receiver, I've had two, a pioneer and a Sony, neither of which had any any real output, I had to turn them way up to get loud but was never satisfied with the sound quality, but then I found the Yamaha integrated amp with the silver face. Very clean lines, not cluttered with multiple switches.Its paired with a set of Klipsch R26FA speakers. The amp has only an A, B and A+B selection. A is hooked to the front speakers while the B is hooked to the top firing Atmos speakers. It has a subwoofer output which I attached to a Klipsch K100SW powered subwoofer. I have a large listening room and this set up fills the room with sound that you can feel as well as hear.I still use a vintage turntable and tape deck but I have an Echo Link hooked up as well. The sound is awesome, but then I said that already. I also have a top of the line modern Panasonic Blu-ray hooked up, when I watch a concert video it's almost like being there. A vintage Pioneer tuner completes the package however I have ordered the tuner from Yamaha so I can utilize the presets which can be accessed from the remote.With 100WPC at 8 ohms, it's got plenty of room, I barely turn it half way up and thats loud enough especially since i added the subwoofer. I rarely have to move the bass/treble control from neutral to get astonishing sound. Yamaha also has a "pure" CD and all input selector that bypasses all the internal filters if you want to hear exactly what the component signal sounds like. This becomes in handy if you have adjusted the bass/treble controls and want to revert back to the neutral setting without having to adjust the controls afterwards. There are three additional inputs as well as inputs for phono, cd, tuner and optic cable.Another plus of modern equipment is remote control. My Pioneer and Sony receivers had incredibly complicated remotes that usually required reading the instructions whenever i wanted to do anything with it other than powering on/off or adjusting volume. The remote with this model is like the amp, simple clean lines/controls and doesn't require a rocket science degree to comprehend. This amp also has an analog volume control which moves when you access it via the remote.Cons: no outlets on the amp. Not a big deal but I like having my turntable hooked up to an amp switched outlet so it can't turn on unless the amp is turned on.It would also be nice if it had the ability to run 3 channels simultaneously so I could bi-wire the front speakers but honestly my sound is impressive.Also no tape monitor which limits what I can do with my vintage equalizer.Another lack is a low volume bass boost, but since the bass is usually at neutral I've found I can turn it up a smidgen to get improved bass at low volume. By doing this and utilizing the Pure Input it is almost like having the bass boost option.Another improvment Yamaha could have added is a mute function on the amp control face. It does have one on the remote. There is "Loudness" control on the panel. This control can variably lower the volume without adjusting the main volume control. It is useful when I want to change the music selection on Alexa since she can't hear me talking when I have the volume pumped up. Afterwards i can resume at the volume I had previously dialed in.No HDMI input but then this isn't meant for a home theater. On the other hand it does have an optic input. It does have a USB output to power something, i don't use it yet, maybe I can power my echo dot with it or perhaps dress up the rack with an led tape to add a little color...or notThe control and power on indicator lights could be a little bigger or brighter. From across the room I cant see them at allOverall impression...I'm very happy with this amp. Yamaha signature "natural sound". It plays my music clearly and loud enough to piss off the neighborhood if I wanted to. I wouldn't recommend it for a home theater system since it only has two speaker channels but that isn't what I wanted it for. If you want a clean sound and a silver vintage look without breaking the bank you couldn't go wrong with this amp. Just be sure to get a set of speakers with the legs to run the horsepower and you won't be disappointed

Love it

For many years I have owned two stereo audio systems. My 'secondary' one had, as its amplification equipment, an NAD-7020 receiver. After over 30 years, it 'died' and, rather than trying to have it repaired, I decided to replace it with a Yamaha A-S300 integrated amplifier. I was (and am) immensely pleased with this amplifier. (I have had some experience with Yamaha products. Prior to buying this one in 2013, I had owned two Yamaha home theater amplification units, one of which I still own and use. I also own a Yamaha Clavinova. So it was natural for me to buy another Yamaha product.)In my 'main' audio system the amplification equipment was a Hafler DH-101 preamplifier and a Hafler DH-200 power amplifier, both of which I had assembled from kits in 1980. These have served well for over 36 years.However some of the circuitry was starting to degrade: I could hear more and more 'hiss' through my loudspeakers (a pair of Klipschorns) and, especially, the balance was going off badly.Not owning (or even knowing how to use) the very sophisticated electronic test equipment necessary to determine the cause and the necessary repairs/replacements (nor the cost for such obviously necessary repairs/replacements), I thought it prudent to replace these devices (though I had a special place in my heart for them).I chose this Yamaha A-S701BL Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Black).I placed this unit in my Amazon Wish List when the model was first introduced in 2014 and I started tracking its price which was $799.95.That price was consistently kept - until November 29, 2016 when the price suddenly dropped to $511.14 (plus sales tax).I didn't wait - I ordered it immediately! (The next day the price was back up to $799.95 where it has remained.)Now don't get me wrong - this amplifier is well-worth its standard price. It's just that, being what they are, my finances necessitate caution in what I buy. (And I wouldn't even consider buying such an expensive unit any place other than Amazon.) Plus, after all, the Haflers were still working so a 'good price' was a major consideration for me.But I have to tell you that I am as immensely pleased with this integrated stereo amplifier, the A-S701BL, as I am with my earlier one, the A-S300.I'll tell you why I was interested more in the '701 than the '801. The '801, which costs $100.00 more, comes with a built-in USB DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) connection. As I already have a couple of DACs, I really had no need for the one in the Yamaha.Plus DACs are evolving all the time; a built-in one cannot be upgraded but external ones can be changed.Everything else on the '701, including the sound specifications, is exactly the same.So I am glad that I purchased the '701 rather than the '801.Now how is the sound quality?In a word, superb. It is EASILY the equal of my Haflers (when they were new, not as they are now). Especially from LPs, the reproduced sound is full and rich, with no obvious attenuations or exaggerations in any frequency bands.I find the phono section in the amplifier to be fine. However, there is only one phono input and I have two turntables. The solution to that 'problem' is an external phono amplifier, the BEHRINGER MICROPHONO PP400 which, despite its very low price, is as superb a phono section I as have ever heard. (Some reviewers have complained that it's noisy. Unless these reviewers got a defective unit which should be exchanged, this is nonsense. I cannot hear ANY hum or noise through my Klipschorns, the most sensitive speakers on the market and if there is no hum or noise audible via those speakers, there will be none through any speaker!)I have this second turntable connected via the Line 1 input.There are many other connections on the back of this amplifier. I am using all of them with the exception of the second speaker set binding posts. I have even added a Bluetooth receiver via the optical input. I have a CD player attached to the Coaxial input, an SACD player attached to the CD input, two cassette tape decks, and, as noted above, an external DAC running through the Tuner input.I suppose I could go on and on but, as this review is already far too long, I shall just say that if you are in the market for a positively superb stereo integrated amplifier, at a reasonable price (or even at an unreasonable price), you cannot buy anything better than this one. Over the years I have heard many esoteric (and ridiculously expensive) amplifiers and I can tell you that none sound better than this one. Technically an amplifier should have no 'sound' of its own - but they all do! At least that statement is from my own experience and is my own opinion. (You and some others may differ of course.)Anyway, and in conclusion, I am as pleased with this amplifier as I could possibly be and I HIGHLY recommend it.Thank you for reading my opinions and for considering them.Lawrence H Bulk