Yamaha A-S500 feedback please!

[marX]

Re: Insane test : Marantz Pm 6004 vs Quad 34 + 306 vs Yam AS 500 on B&W 603 floorstan

Yam as 500 in direct comparison with pm 6004 shows more dry, although more diffuse and detailed high frequencies, similar bass punch, but more fatiguing listening overall, for me. I tested this AS 500 for a week at home , but then I changed with Marantz PM 6004 .
Yam AS 500 is a very complete amp, but doesn't meet my preferences for a warm sound with my B&W; is a beautifull vintage looking amp, with a lot of features, but no good vol and tone knobs and a delicate front plate for fingerprints when you touch ...
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Some months ago I did some measures: CD PinkF Dark Side otm - absolutely high volumes ( there were no neighbors! ) , with vol knob at 15 o'clock , (max is 17 hours) and source direct ; in the peaks I digitally tested (average) : Vmax = 14 V/ch and Imax = 1.7 A, for a maximum power of almost 25 W/ch; I generally listen to 9:30 hours max, with my wife coming & asking me for a lower volumes....I've to say that, while the Quad 34 + 306 that I owned before for 20 years , with the same B&W towers, and at a little lower volume, was going in protection (I had to unlock it using the back button) and also warmed up a bit on the smart front radiator, the Marantz instead was almost cold and never gone + in protection. The Quad was also sounding a little harsh and with harder highs, at these levels, while the Pm 6004 has retained a good liquidity on the mid & highs, which were still confortable...; anyway, in everydays normal cd listening, at 9:30, I get only an output of 1 W/ch max on peaks, more punchy bass and similar mid vs Quad!

Just a few thoughts

The AS 500 gets hot while playing at high volumes ?

 

[GCE]

I tested this amp only for a week, but
it doesn't became hot at all, like Marantz 6004;

 

[Mr. Moving Magnet]

I don't recall ever hearing "NAD", I have seen the name online and in catalogs, I've been listening to Yamaha for over 30 years, receivers, separates and integrated amps. For it's price bracket in think that most of your trusted HiFi websites and magazine will say it's the best thing going, have owned or listen to any Yamaha equipment in the past? The A S500 will sound very "Taunt/in your face(sound stage)" and as it "breaks in" it will become very detailed(almost surgical), I like the "Pure Direct" feature, removing the tone and balance circuitry from the signal path, kinda like the first job of a "Good" amplifier is to "do no harm" amplifying the "source". P.S. I listen mostly to Vinyl. Check the specs, check the reviews, empirical evidence....

 

[amit11]

Hi Friends,

Any more feedback/opinion on Yamaha A S-500 please?

I am yet to audition this particular model, however I had auditioned with Yamaha R S-201 which I liked. Assuming that 500 would be on same lines and same sound signature.

Any experience on its pros & cons would help me to decide during the audition on this saturday. The speakers would be Tannoy V4i. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Amit.

 

[amit11]

One more thing is, It did not scale up well with better DACs. For instance, the difference between Schiit Modi and Gungnir is huge with Sugden but marginal with the Yamaha AS500. It pairs well with ODAC more than schiit DACs.



All the above with thiel speakers.

@Blasto
Just curious to know why you mention that as500 pairs better with odac than schiit? I have an as500 and was thinking for schiit bifrost (in near future), hence thought to ask.

 

[shibashis]

Hi Friends,

Any more feedback/opinion on Yamaha A S-500 please?

I am yet to audition this particular model, however I had auditioned with Yamaha R S-201 which I liked. Assuming that 500 would be on same lines and same sound signature.

Any experience on its pros & cons would help me to decide during the audition on this saturday. The speakers would be Tannoy V4i. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Amit.

RS-201 comes nowhere in comparison to the AS-500, AS-500 is much much better.
I like the AS-500 so my opinion would be biased, but still I find it energetic with impressive dynamic range, you will like it if you like your music with some verve. It however is definitely on the brighter side, so pair with warm speakers.

 

[amit11]

yes, got the as500 few days back, with Tannoy v4i.