YAMAHAAudio A-S301BL Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier (Black)

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

Great Product (obviously, it's Yamaha), Great Customer Service (thanks to Gramophone), and Great Price (thanks to Gramophone). I bought this amp just before the price was lowered and Gramophone was gracious enough to refund the difference. What an understanding and great company! I also got a fantastic amplifier in the deal. I have never been disappointed with Yamaha gear (ever since I rode a single cylinder 250cc Yamaha motorcycle when I was 17 years old) and their unrelenting quality continues.

Excellent amplifier sounds great ! I own the 701 and just purchased the 801 to use the built in dac for streaming. I know they should sound the same but 801 sounds more dynamic to me. Both are definitely keepers. I’m really happy with them

I compared the Yamaha A-S301 with the Fosi ZA3, pairing them with Emotiva B2+, T1+, and Klipsch RP-600M II speakers.Starting with power, Yamaha outclasses the ZA3. Whether the Yamaha’s power rating is conservative or the ZA3’s is overstated, the difference is unmistakable. Tracks like Enter Sandman and Thunderstruck showcase Yamaha’s ability to deliver distortion-free power, pushing the speakers to their limits and filling the room with strong bass even at moderate volume (around 55%). The ZA3, though powerful for its compact size, lacks the same oomph but is still sufficient for most setups.The experience varies by speaker in terms of sound. Emotiva B2+ shines with the Yamaha A-S301. The pairing produces open, balanced sound, tight bass, a wide soundstage, and detailed highs. The Fosi ZA3 performs admirably with Emotiva B2+ and T1+, though the bass lacks the Yamaha’s punch. Klipsch RP-600M II fares better with the Fosi ZA3, which emphasizes detail in the highs and slightly improves the muddy bass. However, I find the Klipsch underwhelming overall, regardless of the amp.The Yamaha A-S301 consistently makes speakers sound fuller and more dynamic than the ZA3. While the differences are most apparent during A/B testing, Yamaha’s ability to make sound feel "bigger" is immediately noticeable.I use a WiiM streamer, and Yamaha’s optical and digital coax inputs are a big plus. Contrary to some reviews, I don’t notice any significant differences between Yamaha’s internal DAC and external DACs S.M.S.L. SU-1 and Schiit Modi+, which I also A/B tested with. This saves cost and complexity since I can connect my WiiM directly to the amp.The Yamaha A-S301 outperforms the Fosi ZA3 in almost every aspect, except for its larger size and higher price. If space or budget is a concern, the ZA3 is still an excellent option. But if you can stretch your budget, the Yamaha A-S301 offers a superior listening experience and is worth the investment.