Home Multitest integrated amplifiers – 2500 Euro – Which is the best (for you)?

Multitest integrated amplifiers – 2500 Euro – Which is the best (for you)?

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Price: € 2750

Yamaha A-S1200

We have been using a Yamaha A-S2200 as a reference amplifier in the 3000 – 4000 Euro class at the editorial office for years now. A very reliable and neutral sounding amplifier. Perhaps a tad dry for some enthusiasts, but our experience is that it is a perfect device that lets you hear a lot. And your author likes that.

Now we take the A-S1200 which is basically a 2200 minus the balanced inputs and a little less power. That shouldn’t make a whole lot of difference to the signature (it does in other areas, by the way). What does the team think of the Japanese correctness?

Geoffrey reports: “Layering, more of everything, lots of micro-detail, great timing, very complete reproduction, you can hear the noise of the vinyl, smooth”. Martijn can live with it too: “Very accurate, voice goes up very nicely in the first part, details in the words and how she sings. Bass is dry. Impulse response is good, even in the busy part of the end the mix stays audible.” Yung also endorses the accuracy of the Yamaha. But with a small comment: for him, the low end is a bit on/off and less fluid than with, say, a Rega or Arcam

A comment that comes up more now is that the sound is somewhat “light. It is certainly true that the Yamaha sounds a bit less warm than the Rega, Atoll or Advance, for example. The question, of course, is: what is correct? And what do you like?

Metingen Yamaha A-S1200

The Yamaha is almost a calibration device. That’s how tightly this amplifier measures in some areas. It is clear that Yamaha uses a fair amount of feedback: the noise floor is very low and calm. Crosstalk is above average, but not as good as, say, the Cyrus. Frequency response is neat and also both channels are eerily similar (just like the Cyrus, by the way).

What is striking is how clean the residual measurement is: it’s neat sines we see, which means that the crossover distortion is neat. Power is delivered cleanly; even when the input is very low, which is beneficial for microdetail. Power is also achieved. Although we don’t see the values at the crossover point where we always measure.

Specificaties Yamaha A-S1200

Country of origin Japan
Dac No
Analog 4 x single ended in, 1x loop (line2), Pre-out and Main in.

Phono MM/MC

Power 105 watt 8 Ohm / 190 watt 4 Ohm (Dynamisch). 160 watt nominal / 4 Ohm
Power supply 625 VA
Size / weight 44 x 32 x 10cm – 22 Kg
Price 2600 Euro
Tested price range
Price cheapest product: €2400
Price most expensive product: €3000
Production country
Differs
Sound Samples
Properties
  • Brand and model: Advance Paris A12
  • Build quality: Cheerful and striking appearance.
  • Overall impression: An amplifier with a high fun factor
  • Price: €2700
  • Brand and model: Arcam SA30
  • Build quality: Bit austere, but solid
  • Overall impression: Nice balance and very fine rhythmic character
  • Price: €2799
  • Brand and model: Atoll IN300
  • Build quality: Solid, functional
  • Overall impression: Round sound, forgiving.
  • Price: €3000
  • Brand and model: Cyrus Classic Amp
  • Build quality: Typical cyrus, Solidly built
  • Overall impression: Precise amplifier with an up-beat character
  • Price: €2400
  • Brand and model: Moon 250i
  • Build quality: Chic, sturdy, functional
  • Overall impression: Roundly relaxed sound. Forgiving
  • Price: €2499
  • Brand and model: Rega Elicit MK5
  • Build quality: Sober, solid, functional
  • Overall impression: Very fine amplifier with focus on a large stereo image
  • Price: €2600
  • Brand and model: Yamaha A-S1200
  • Build quality: Chic, classic, very nicely finished
  • Overall impression: Very neutral and correct
  • Price: €2600
  • Winkels met Advance Paris

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    Schoenmakersstraat 19
    6041EX Roermond, NL
    Grotestraat 23
    5931 CS Tegelen, NL
    Parkweg 23
    8084GG 't Harde, NL
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Geldropseweg 105
    5611 SE Eindhoven, NL
    Breestraat 146-148
    2311CX Leiden, Zuid Holland, NL
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL

    Winkels met Arcam

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Pleinweg 136
    3083 EP Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NL
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    Schoenmakersstraat 19
    6041EX Roermond, NL
    Parkweg 23
    8084GG 't Harde, NL
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
    2311 JS Leiden, NL
    Jozef Verbovenlei 54
    2100 Deurne, BE
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL
    Paalstraat 128
    2900 Schoten, BE

    Winkels met Atoll

    Cort van der Lindelaan 11
    9722 LP Groningen, NL
    Schoenmakersstraat 19
    6041EX Roermond, NL
    Stationsweg 87
    9471 GM Zuidlaren, NL
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Spoorstraat 18
    7491 CK Delden, Overijssel, NL
    Steenstraat 54
    6828 CM Arnhem, Gelderland, NL
    St.-Katelijnevest 53
    2000 Antwerpen, BE
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL

    Winkels met Cyrus

    Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
    2311 JS Leiden, NL
    St.-Katelijnevest 53
    2000 Antwerpen, BE

    Winkels met Moon

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Pleinweg 136
    3083 EP Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NL
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    Korte Jansstraat 11
    3512GM Utrecht, NL
    Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
    2311 JS Leiden, NL

    Winkels met Rega

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    Schoenmakersstraat 19
    6041EX Roermond, NL
    Stationsweg 87
    9471 GM Zuidlaren, NL
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Breestraat 146-148
    2311CX Leiden, Zuid Holland, NL
    Koningsstraat 35
    2011TC Haarlem, Noord Holland, NL
    Steenstraat 54
    6828 CM Arnhem, Gelderland, NL
    Theresiastraat 151 - 157
    2593 AG Den Haag, Noord Holland, NL
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL

    Winkels met Yamaha

    Sint-Antoniusstraat 15
    2300 Turnhout, BE
    Joseph Bensstraat 21
    1180 Ukkel, BE
    Pleinweg 136
    3083 EP Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, NL
    Hooikade 13
    2627 Delft, Zuid Holland, NL
    Bredabaan 1031
    B-2930 Brasschaat, BE
    Pelikaanstraat 126
    2018 Antwerpen, BE
    Schoenmakersstraat 19
    6041EX Roermond, NL
    Grotestraat 23
    5931 CS Tegelen, NL
    Parkweg 23
    8084GG 't Harde, NL
    Stationsweg 87
    9471 GM Zuidlaren, NL
    St. Ceciliastraat 28
    5038 HA Tilburg, NL
    Hermesweg 2
    3741 GP Baarn, Utrecht, NL
    Korevaarstraat 2 e-f
    2311 JS Leiden, NL
    Steenstraat 54
    6828 CM Arnhem, Gelderland, NL
    St.-Katelijnevest 53
    2000 Antwerpen, BE
    Beethovenstraat 9-b
    1077 HL Amsterdam, Noord Holland, NL