Yamaha CD-S3000 & A-S3000 ?

[rishiguru]

A few months back I learnt maybe from this forum or some-other, Yamaha is going to stop producing there top end HiFi range (CD-S2000 & A-S2000) and concentrate more in consumer audio. Made me sad. Really SAD. But now it seems they have reversed their plan and well to stay. Maybe because they were the first company to actually use the term HiFi back in 1954 and thought to stay. GOD knows.

Anyway recently in CES 2013 they are showing off their CD-S3000 & A-S3000 combo which is supposed to be released by spring 2013. Here are few photos:

Yamaha CD-S3000 & A-S3000

Yamaha A-S3000 (Rear)

Found no spec details, but most probably they are going to cost 4000 euro each which is a big ask. Whether they are going to justify the price tag, only time will tell.

Yamaha CD-S3000 & A-S3000

No doubt from where the design inspiration of A-S3000 came from, the mighty MX-10000. The best power amp Yamaha ever designed.

Yamaha A-S3000

Yamaha MX-10000

For more info about the MX-10000: Hifivision: Yamaha Centinal Edition

Enjoy.:yahoo:

 

[corElement]

Only, the MX designers had better aesthetic sense. =\

 

[rishiguru]

Only, the MX designers had better aesthetic sense.

It's true, they simply don't make the kind of stuff they used to. Change of times maybe.

But the MX-10000 was a limited number, one-off-product costing a fortune (US $7,500 back in 1987 ) designed by one of the greatest Japanese audio engineers of all times, to celebrate Yamaha's Centennial. The same person was responsible for designing the first ever Yamaha CD player back in 1982, the first truly hifi yamaha digital amp and a truly hi end yamaha phono pre amp which weighed 20 kilos. The only AV stuff he laid hands on was in designing the pre-amp circuitry of DSP-Z9, yamaha deciding to go big way building US $4500 av amps back in 2004. In other words he was there when Yamaha needed to make a quantum leap.

MX-10000 internal electronic components looks like gold mine to me. Nothing was spared in terms of quality. Sound was said to be fabulous with jaw dropping performance. Will love to hear this beauty, even for few minutes, but it seems nobody owns them in India.

Limited number exclusive product. DAMN.

Here are few inside shots:

 

[burkorobe]

It's true, they simply don't make the kind of stuff they used to

 

[rishiguru]

It's true, they simply don't make the kind of stuff they used to

Here is another one from the Yamaha stable, 101M, extra-rare 1982 amplifier - but ampli-fire would be more like it!

Yamaha 101M

List price was a thundering US $10,000 back in 1982.

With 10 pairs of Sanken NPN/PNP power transistors per channel 20 pairs for two channels total forty output transistors six power supply capacitors per channel (4x 18,000F/100V & 2 x 39,000F/ 63V) 1,50,000uF capacitance per channel total 3,00,000uF capacitance the 101M are (conservatively) rated at 2x 500W (8 Ohm) and 2x 750W (4 Ohm), have a switchable subsonic filter (7Hz / 12dB/octave), 125dB of S/N ratio, 0.03% THD throughout the 10Hz...100Khz frequency response and 61kg in toto.

101M Rear

101M Rear[Output transistors exposed]

101M's Dual power cords

??

The 101M consists of two fully independent mono amplifiers and thus comes with two separate power cords (as shown above) for the left and right mono amps stuffed inside a super strong chassis structure with extra thick aluminum frame structure.
????????????????
The 101M was barely distributed in Japan, Germany and some other countries. The planned 101C companion preamp to the 101M didn't go beyond a pre-production sample. It is likely Yamaha sensed the 101M wouldn't sell as a high-powered (and high-priced) audiophile amplifier and decided to turn it into a pro beast and the PC-5002M was born, the 101C preamp being scrapped along the way.

The sound as said by owners is brilliant with delicate and traditional Yamaha-esque signature. It is truly one of the Yamaha's finest stereo power amplifiers with unique double mono independent amplifier design, with a huge studio amplifier power and toughness.

Those who craved for more power, 1500 watts per channel ... earth shattering 3000 watts in total ... ahem ... got two of these...

Specification

Model: Yamaha 101M, Stereo/Mono Power Amplifier

Rated output (20Hz ~ 20kHz):
750W + 750W (4?, 0.01% distortion)
500W + 500W (8?, 0.003% distortion)
1,500W (connection BTL, 8?, 0.01% distortion)

Power bandwidth: 10Hz ~ 100kHz (8?, 250W, 0.1% distortion)
Input sensitivity: 1.73V (8?, 500W)
Impedance: 25k?
Frequency characteristic: 10Hz ~ 100kHz +0-3dB (1W, 8?)
Ratio SN (IHF-A): 122dB (8?)
THD: (8?, 20Hz ~ 20kHz, 250W) less than 0.003%
Intermodulation distortion: Less than 0.002% (8?, 50Hz: 7kHz, 250W)
Damping Factor: 500 (8?, 1kHz)
Subsonic Filter: 7Hz, 12dB/oct
Power consumption: 580W/ch (100V)
Physical Dimensions: 264 height 482 depth 441mm width
Weight: 61kg

 

[prepress]

WOW!!!! Amazing!!!:yahoo:

 

[ranjeetrain]

Yamaha has a very glorious past! Yamaha pianos are still among the best if not the best. It's certain they know a thing or two about music.

 

[picerjamo]

they simply don't make the kind of stuff they used to.

 

[goose]

+1

Have the AS1000+Marantz CD6004 combo...stunner

As you say Rishi, they've totally reversed the game going UP and looks like they seem to be building up on their past which is good thing!

 

[prepress]

Few cents from my side.

 

[rishiguru]

Yamaha has a very glorious past!

Indeed.

Yamaha pianos are still among the best if not the best. It's certain they know a thing or two about music.

Here are some the famous Yamaha pianos I like:

1982 Disklavier

2000 Disklavier - Pro2000

2009 Disklavier

Now my favorites:

2010 Concert Grand Piano (CFX)

Elton John's Yamaha "The Million Dollar" Piano

 

[rishiguru]

Youtube Video Link: Yamaha Teaser Video of the new A-S Series

 

[vkirti]

It has been posted on You tube a week back, looks like the AS series is alive and kicking after all.

 

[rishiguru]

It has been posted on You tube a week back, looks like the AS series is alive and kicking after all.

Now up on Yamaha UK site: Yamaha UK: A-S3000

Yamaha A-S3000

 

[prepress]

Awesome... They should mention the price too.

 

[rishiguru]

Good news and bad news.

Good news is A-S3000 and CD-S3000 will finally be available a few months down the line. Bad news is they are seriously overpriced with A-S3000 retailing at US $8,000 while the CD-S3000 a cool US $7,000. Personal feeling is they should cost half of what they are asking for but then again Yamaha with these are gunning against likes of Luxman ...

Here is the link: HomeTheater.com -> Yamaha Announces High-End Stereo Amp and CD/SACD Player

Below is the quote from the same article:

Joining in on the recent back to hi-fi trend sweeping across the A/V industry, Yamaha is adding a new flagship integrated amplifier and CD/SACD player to its hi-fi lineup. The retro-styled A-S3000 amp ($8,000) and CD-S3000 player ($7,000) will be available in retail stores in September. Both components are said to incorporate state-of-the-art features and embody the culmination of the companys long history and obsession with high-performance two-channel audio.

Highlights of the CD-S3000 include a 32-bit ESS Sabre32 digital-to-analog converter and a high-precision, vibration-resistant CD mechanism.

Rated to deliver 2 x 100 watts RMS into 8 ohms (2 x 150 watts RMS in to 4 ohms), the A-S3000 boasts prominent analog level meters and is built on a floating chassis designed to dampen resonances and block external RF noise. Other highlights include an oversized toroidal transformer, shortened signal paths, and a discretely configured phono amp.

Adding to the classic elegance, the side panels on both models are finished in high-gloss piano black.