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Authorized dealers for Yamaha A-S301

  • Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
  • The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
  • 138 Quaiduson — online and in-store — Lille, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
  • A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
  • Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
  • Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
  • Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
  • Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
  • Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
  • Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)

and 264 more verified dealers

Yamaha A-S301 #1
Yamaha A-S301 variant 1
Yamaha A-S301 variant 2
Yamaha A-S301 variant 3
Yamaha A-S301 variant 4

Yamaha A-S301

United States flag

The Yamaha A-S301 brings a bold, full-bodied presentation with warmly expressive vocals, solid bass and clean digital playback. What Hi-Fi? praises its weighty balance, while Analogholic highlights its effective tone controls and rhythmic assurance. MM phono, optical/coaxial inputs, dual speaker outputs and Pure Direct make this a remarkably versatile integrated amplifier for an affordable two-channel system.

View at Yamaha
Specifications23 reviews & sources

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88/100
Rating for A-S301

Nicely Roasted

Sound Quality

85/100

Build Quality

85/100

Features Connectivity

93/100

Value for Money

92/100

Pros

Warm, full-bodied sound with especially pleasing vocal midrange, solid bass and capable dynamics.

Exceptionally broad connectivity for the class, including MM phono, optical/coaxial digital inputs, subwoofer output and A/B speaker terminals.

Tone and variable loudness controls offer genuinely useful tailoring without significantly compromising coherence or soundstage.

Strong value, combining credible build, extensive features and satisfying sound at an entry-level price.

Cons

Rhythm and dynamics can sound less involving and punchy than key rivals, with limited fine-detail retrieval.

Soundstage is not especially expansive; some listeners found the presentation somewhat cramped.

The treble can become slightly edgy on certain material, particularly through the phono input.

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What Reviewers Are Saying

"It’s a value- and feature-packed win."

— HomeTheaterHifi

SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 85/100

Reviewers find the A-S301 warm, full-bodied and clean, with particularly pleasing midrange presence and substantial bass for an affordable integrated amplifier. Its presentation is more assured than spectacular: some reviewers wanted more fine detail, excitement and spatial scale.

Transparency Resolution

86/100

Cheap Audio Man calls the sound "very, very, very clean," while Analogholic heard smooth, detailed reproduction and a well-implemented DAC in Pure Direct mode. What Hi-Fi notes a slight shortfall in detail and granular insight, and one reviewer found a little top-end edge.

Tonal Balance Musicality

87/100

The prevailing character is bold, full-bodied and warmly voiced, with What Hi-Fi particularly praising the easy-listening midrange and vocal warmth. Analogholic similarly found the bass controlled rather than heavy-handed and the mids sweet, though What Hi-Fi felt the performance could lack the final degree of musical excitement and drive.

Dynamics

84/100

What Hi-Fi found convincing low-level and large-scale dynamic shifts, while Analogholic praised preserved pace, rhythm and impactful deep bass. Conversely, both What Hi-Fi and Cheap Audio Man felt it was less punchy and animated than stronger rivals, and Cheap Audio Man wanted firmer bass control.

Soundstage Imaging

83/100

Analogholic heard a wide stage with good detail, especially on more energetic material. But HomeTheaterHifi found the image somewhat cramped, and Cheap Audio Man did not hear the especially immersive, expansive staging associated with more spatially expressive amplifiers.

Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.

Build Quality

85/100

What Hi-Fi says the A-S301 neither looks nor feels like a budget component, praising its tactile controls, while Analogholic highlights the anti-resonant chassis construction and aluminium front panel. HomeTheaterHifi nevertheless found the case relatively light and its metalwork somewhat thin, so the impressions are positive rather than uniformly premium.

Features Connectivity

93/100

The A-S301 is unusually versatile for a conventional two-channel amplifier, with numerous analogue inputs, coaxial and optical digital inputs, MM phono, headphone output, dual speaker terminals, subwoofer output and tone controls. Reviewers also praise Pure Direct mode and the breadth of connection options, although Bluetooth requires an optional adapter and the subwoofer output does not high-pass the main speakers.

Value for Money

92/100

At the reviewed $350 and sub-£200 pricing, reviewers repeatedly call the A-S301 an outstanding or incredible value and a highly worthwhile budget choice. Its broad feature set, capable sound and credible construction were viewed as especially compelling against affordable rivals.

Reviews & Sources

Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.

Online Reviews & Mentions

YouTube Reviews

Forum Mentions

No forum mentions found yet

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Specifications

Minimum RMS Output Power (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz)
60 W + 60 W (0.019% THD)
High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms)
100 / 120 / 140 / 150 W
Frequency Response
10 Hz - 100 kHz +/- 1.0 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (CD to Sp Out, 20 Hz-20 kHz)
0.019% (50 W / 8 ohms)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (CD)
99 dB (input shorted, 200 mV)
Damping Factor
210
Digital Input
Yes (optical / coaxial)
Audio In / Out
8 / 2
Subwoofer Out
Yes
Pure Direct
Yes
ToP-ART
Yes
DC out
Yes
Standby Power Consumption
0.5 W
Power Management (Auto Power Standby)
Yes
Dimensions (W x H x D)
17-1/8" x 6" x 15-1/4"
Weight
19.8 lbs.
Built-in DAC
Phono Stage
Headphone Output
Tone Controls
Remote Control

Manufacturer's Description — Yamaha

A-S301 Integrated Amplifier

Designed for excellent sound quality, with a beautiful appearance. An integrated amplifier with the advantage of digital inputs.


  • 60 W x 2-ch (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
  • Digital audio inputs for TV or Blu-ray™ player
  • Pure Direct mode for greater sound purity
  • ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) and high quality parts
  • I/O (input to output) direct symmetrical design
  • ART (Anti-Resonance and Tough) Base
  • Custom-made power transformer / 6,800uF block capacitors / extruded aluminum heat sinks
  • Simple yet sophisticated design (aluminum front panel)
  • Continuously variable loudness control

High Quality Circuit Design Based on the ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) Concept

The amplifier design technology from Yamaha is called ToP-ART which features an input to output with a direct symmetrical design. ToP-ART design and ART Base ensure optimum sound when processing and transmitting the audio signal. The signal is simple and direct, therefore it is less likely to be affected by noise and distortion. The left and right channels are organized in a straight, symmetrical layout for the highest signal purity. In addition, the ART (Anti-Resonance and Tough) Base bottom chassis and a solid center bar provide high rigidity support and dampers vibration. These design innovations contribute to this amplifier's rich audio reproduction with abundant musicality.


High Quality Parts for Outstanding Audio Performance

Notice the custom made power transformer, custom made block capacitors, two direct signal path speaker relays, one point grounding system, extruded aluminum heat sinks and other top quality parts to effortlessly handle demanding audio conditions. The quality of each individual part, as well as how they work together, basically determines the sound quality of this component. Yamaha uses only very high quality parts, carefully selected and tested for their sound properties.


Created by Rich Experience, Tradition and High Technological Expertise

Yamaha, with a long history of over 125 years as a musical instrument maker, also has a high reputation for Hi-Fi components. The A-S301 is created by taking advantage of this rich experience and high technological expertise. Based on the concept of “Natural Sound” for reproducing all music as it really sounds, this amplifier is built with scrupulous care from its circuit design to basic sound production.


Pure Direct Mode for Greater Sound Purity

The Pure Direct mode causes the music signals to travel the shortest possible circuit route, bypassing the buffer amp, the tone, loudness and balance controls to virtually eliminate any signal degradation for the purest sound quality.


Continuously Variable Loudness Control

The A-S301 also features a new analog loudness control on the front panel that uses electronic volume for higher sound quality which lets you adjust the loudness effect as desired. Separate from the overall volume, this controls the balance of the low and high frequencies providing full tonal range at any volume level by compensating for the natural loss in the human ear at soft levels.


Digital Audio Input for TV and/or Blu-ray Disc™ Player

The A-S301 is equipped for digital audio inputs with an optical and digital coaxial input terminal. The optical is for receiving audio from a TV and the coaxial for receiving audio from a Blu-ray Disc player. The audio stays in the digital domain giving you pure, pristine and dynamic sound for all of your entertainment sources.


Connection for YBA-11 Bluetooth® Wireless Adapter (Optional Accessory)

With the YBA-11, you’ll be able to stream music wirelessly from a Bluetooth® compatible mobile phone or a PC. Thanks to the digital coaxial connection and the aptX® audio coding algorithm, you will enjoy wireless music streaming with optimum sound quality. You can also conveniently power the YBA-11 via the DC out connection on the rear panel of this amplifier.


Speaker A, B or A+B Selection and Speaker Terminals for Two Systems

You can connect two separate speaker systems and hear them in different rooms at the same time. There are four terminals, so by just rotating a simple selector dial you can switch between the two pairs of speakers to play the selected source.


Subwoofer Terminal

A terminal for connecting a subwoofer is provided, allowing you to increase the bass output of your system for a more powerful sound with better overall sound quality.


Phono Moving Magnet Input Terminal

You can connect a turntable with a MM phono cartridge to play vinyl records. Get the best of both worlds whether listening to analog vinyl or the latest digital technology.


Simple Yet Sophisticated Design

With a beautiful, simple and unique design inherited directly from Yamaha Hi-Fi audio components, this amplifier also boasts an easy to operate layout. The aluminum front panel has a richly textured silver hairline finish.


Remote Control with Clean, Simple Design

The clean, simple design of the remote control provides easy to understand operation with a single hand. The design makes it simple to adjust inputs, volume and more. The unit has a sophisticated looking hairline finish that matches the design of the amplifiers. You can also use the remote to control a Yamaha CD player.


Rotary Encoder Input Selector with LEDs

The rotary encoder makes it quick and easy to select input sources. The luxurious hairline finish offers a nice tactile feeling. LEDs clearly show which source is selected so you can easily switch sources, even in a dark room.


Auto Power Standby

When Auto Power Standby is engaged, the amplifier will automatically shift itself into standby mode when a user function has not been executed in eight hours. This a great function if you forget to turn the amplifier off and it will help minimize power consumption when the unit is not in use.


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Authorized dealers for Yamaha A-S301

  • Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
  • The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
  • 138 Quaiduson — online and in-store — Lille, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
  • A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
  • Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
  • Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
  • Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
  • Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
  • Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
  • Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)

and 264 more verified dealers