Yamaha Audio A-S1200BL Integrated Amplifier (Black)

This amp is true high end. Sounds amazing.

I have a really nice Yamaha A-S700 (100W RMS). However, it was not really pushing my B&W 705 S2s. I decided to upgrade to the A-S1200, and it really lights them up even though it has 10Ws less. It really tightened up the bass, improved the soundstage and mines the finest nuances from the highs. I imagine the toroidal power supply, the huge capacitors and the high-current transistors make all the difference in the world. The phono stage really impressed me. I was running a Schittmani with the A-S700 and it improved the sound a little bit. The Phono stage on the A-S1200 totally blows the Schittmani away especially with 180g vinyl. This is a warm sounding amp reminding me of my vintage days, and it is beautiful. The sides are finished in beautiful piano black and the retro VU meters are really cool. Amendment 1: I would like to add that the pre-amp does a real good job of managing the sub-woofer. Yamaha makes no claims in this regard that I am aware of. I simply set the sub to allow the pre-amp to have full control of it and only the deep bass comes through. I just adjust the volume of the sub, and it blends in so well you cannot tell I am running a sub.

I've owned a lot of amps over the years and this one is amazing. Songs that my wife and I have listened to hundreds of times sound like different versions in that there are nuances not heard before. Listening to PJ Harvey, she sounds like she is in the room! Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love" we hear instrumentation not there before! The depth, quality, precision and clarity are unparalleled. Buy this amp! You will be very happy you did! As for the 4-star review that down rated it b/c the volume control doesn't have a light to "see" the volume level, well I have found that listening to the sound level is what best determines how loud or soft the level needs to be.

This drives my new KEF Q950 speakers. No distortion whatsoever. I am delighted. I challenge my new system daily with a very wide variety of music: Bach Orchestral Suites (pure trumpet clarity), Bach - Well-Tempered Clavier on harpsichord and modern piano, Nirvana - Nevermind, Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra, Mozart sonatas, Chopin (everything), Stravinsky - Petrushka and Rite of Spring, Angels and Airwaves, Beethoven's 7th Symphony... I enjoy giving the system the challenge. I'll conclude by saying that I will continue to explore and challenge, but, so far, I see no need for a subwoofer. This system withstands every test with clarity and grace... in other words, it kicks asphalt.

Note: this is a review of the 2020 model, marked on the front as “1200.” Based on my experience with Yamaha amplifiers in the higher series, the actual product likely sounds great, but I’m advising customers to buy this new and not used, as there a quality control issues with used versions. I bought and promptly returned a used version sold to me “As new” which turned out to be an older 2016 model. Apparently Yamaha has produced various similar looking models in the A-S 1000/1100/1200 series for a while. So, make sure that the product you receive is marked 2020 or newer at the bottom, there is a sticker indicating the year of the unit—at least if it’s new. If a seller removed the sticker, they are trying to hide this information and you should return the product.