Yamaha A-S3200
The Yamaha A-S3200 combines taut, textured bass, a wide soundstage and effortless 100W-per-channel authority in a beautifully engineered analogue integrated. HiFi News admired its fast, dynamic refinement, while SoundStage Solo praised its natural musicality, deep imaging and accomplished MM/MC phono stage. Fully balanced circuitry, superb controls and retro meters complete a serious vinyl-first centrepiece.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
94/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Taut, powerful bass and confident dynamic control remain composed at high volumes.
Expansive, precisely layered soundstage with strong separation and convincing depth.
Excellent MM phono stage and refined headphone amplifier add genuine analogue-system versatility.
Exceptional fit, finish and robust engineering, including a substantial toroidal transformer and high-quality controls.
Cons
No onboard DAC, streaming or network connectivity; digital sources require external components.
Moving-coil phono loading is fixed at 50 ohms, limiting optimal cartridge matching.
Its leaner, analytical midrange and slightly reserved presentation may not suit listeners seeking maximum warmth or punch.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers consistently describe a refined yet lively Class AB amplifier with a very low noise floor, taut bass control and an unusually spacious presentation. Its character is generally clean and open, though some listeners find the midrange leaner or more analytical than warmer-sounding rivals.
Transparency Resolution
94/100
What Hi-Fi praises its clean, clear rendering of note leading edges and its ability to reveal texture and subtle changes of pace without hardness. Multiple reviewers also cite a quiet or near-silent background, open high frequencies, detailed midrange reproduction and strong separation; Stereophile notes only a slight transistor-like opacity in comparison with more transparent reference equipment.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The A-S3200 is widely found to be natural, expressive and easy to listen to, with smooth treble, rich bass and strong vocal presence. Its voicing is not described identically by every reviewer: What Hi-Fi hears a lean-to-neutral, somewhat analytical midrange, while HiFi Huff and ecoustics hear more warmth and body, making speaker matching relevant.
Dynamics
94/100
Reviewers repeatedly report effortless drive, fast transient response and convincing bass slam, even with demanding loudspeakers and large-scale orchestral music. HiFi Choice found it composed at high volume with no sign of running out of power, while SoundStage Solo notes that a Musical Fidelity rival still held a small edge in outright dynamics.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
The amplifier earns particularly strong praise for its wide, deep and clearly layered soundstage. HomeTheaterHifi heard pinpoint placement and convincing depth, StereoNET found instruments cleanly separated in a vast acoustic, and several reviewers describe a large, open presentation with precise imaging rather than a diffuse wall of sound.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Construction receives near-unanimous praise, from precisely aligned panels and positive-feeling controls to thick internal wiring, copper-lined chassis work and substantial brass speaker terminals. Reviewers also note the large toroidal power supply, robust 25kg chassis and cool-running behavior under sustained use.
Features Connectivity
94/100
For an analogue-focused integrated, the A-S3200 is exceptionally accommodating: it provides balanced and single-ended line inputs, MM/MC phono, headphone amplification with gain trim, pre-out and main-in facilities, tone controls and switchable dual speaker outputs. It intentionally omits DAC, streaming, Bluetooth and network facilities, and the phono input lacks cartridge-loading adjustment.
Value for Money
93/100
At roughly $7,500 new, it is clearly a premium purchase, but reviewers regularly call it worth the asking price, fine value, or a high-value music-playing machine. ToneAudio especially considers it an excellent value for listeners building a serious vinyl system, although Tech Reviews notes that its improvement over the less expensive A-S2200 can be subtle relative to the price difference.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Rated Output Power
- [20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07 %THD] 100 W + 100 W (8 ohms), 150 W + 150 W (4 ohms)
- High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms)
- 120/150/200/300 W
- Damping Factor
- ≧ 250 (1 kHz, 8 ohms)
- Frequency Response
- +0 /-3 dB (5 Hz-100 kHz) , +0 / -0.3 dB (20 Hz-20 kHz)
- RIAA Equalization Deviation
- +/-0.5 dB (PHONO (MM/MC))
- Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz to 20kHz)
- PHONO MC→LINE2 OUT: 0.02 % (1.2 Vrms), PHONO→LINE2 OUT: 0.005 % (1.2 Vrms), CD, etc./BAL1,2 →SP OUT: 0.035 % (50 W/8 ohms)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- PHONO MC: 90 db, PHONO MM: 96 dB, CD, etc.: 110 dB, BAL1,2: 114 dB
- Input Sensitivity
- [1 kHz, 100 W/8 ohms] PHONO MC: 150 uVrms/50 ohms, PHONO MM: 3.5 mVrms/47 kohms, CD, etc.: 200 mVrms/47 kohms, MAIN IN: 1 Vrms/47 kohms, BAL1,2: 200 mVrms/100 kohms
- Transformer
- 623 VA (Toroidal)
- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 17-1/8" x 7-1/8" x 18-1/4"
- Weight
- 54.5 lbs
Manufacturer's Description — Yamaha
A-S3200 Integrated Amplifier
In the unyielding pursuit of innovation and musicality, Yamaha is proud to present its flagship integrated amplifier – the A-S3200. Meticulously designed from the ground up, the A-S3200 realizes the ambitions of the artist and establishes a new benchmark in high-fidelity audio.
- Fully balanced circuitry to deliver impressively low signal-to-noise ratio and improved channel separation
- Large toroidal transformer in the pursuit of pure musicality
- Mechanical Ground Concept maximizes rigidity and reduces unwanted vibration
- High-quality PPS capacitors for delivering an authentically musical sound
- Exquisite level meters visually present the dynamics and pulse of the music
- Obsessive, meticulous switch design
- Heavy-duty brass feet with spikes or scratch-resistant base
- Original speaker terminals cut from pure brass with highly secure connection
UNPARALLELED MUSICAL EXPRESSION
The Yamaha A-S3200 pays homage to unparalleled musical history while embodying the latest in Hi-Fi innovation.
An expressive, dynamic instrument that effortlessly delivers music with all its emotion.
Music spawns from something emotional. A unique, personal story an artist wishes to share. Understanding how music is created, and helping artists to create, has embedded Yamaha DNA with a fundamental understanding of music, particularly the emotion upon which music creation is inspired. In the development of each of our extensive range of Hi-Fi products, conveying this emotion to the listener is one of the most important considerations.
Toroidal Transformer
A large toroidal transformer has been used in the A-S3200 in the pursuit of pure musicality. With less flux leakage there is no negative impact on other sensitive audio circuits. Copper wire is directly drawn from the winded core, minimizing energy loss compared to other substitutes, allowing the full emotional energy in the music to be felt by the listener.
High Quality Component Selection
Acknowledged for their musical performance and use in high-end home audio products, high-quality capacitors were selected, delivering an authentically musical sound.
Following an intensive forging process, the PC-Triple C speaker wire has an inherently more linear structure, allowing for smoother signal transmission to more accurately present the original musical recording.
Dedicated phono amp
The phono amp is comprised of an MC head amp and an equalizer amp – each of which are discretely configured resulting in a rich sound with pronounced musicality when playing vinyl records with both MC and MM phono cartridges.
Authentic, pure Hi-Fi is less about listening to brilliant-sounding equipment and more about that equipment disappearing and the artist performing live in the room. The openness of the music, that feeling of being within reach of the artist, brings the music to the forefront, and makes listening to music an active rather than passive experience.
Low Impedance Concept
Adopting the low impedance design concept minimizes energy loss while maintaining absolute integrity in the audio signal. Preservation of the original audio results in an open, natural sound stage, bringing the listener and the artist together.
Following an intensive forging process, the PC-Triple C speaker wire has an inherently more linear structure, allowing for smoother signal transmission to more accurately present the original musical recording.
Brass Screws and Copper Terminals for Block Capacitors
Adopting brass screws and oxygen-free copper terminals for the large block capacitors contributes to superior connectivity, superbly delivering the additional headroom available in the four large 22,000μF capacitors to produce the open soundstage.
Fully Balanced Circuitry from Input to Speaker
The fully balanced circuitry used in the A-S3200 yields a number of listening benefits. Delivering impressively low signal-to-noise ratio allows for the perfection of silence - gaps in the music and moments between movements are a pure absence of sound. The design also adds to improved channel separation producing a sound stage that almost makes the entire system disappear, giving the listener the feeling of being in the room with the artist, not the CD or vinyl source.
Original Speaker Terminals
The luxurious speaker terminals are cut directly from pure brass and achieve a highly secure connection, effortlessly allowing tightening by the human hand.
Feeling the music. Not just feeling like you are there, but feeling the story in the music. Feeling the rhythm, the groove of the music. Moving with the music. Only a true representation of the music can deliver this.
Mechanical Ground Concept
An expression of deep, rhythmic and melodious bass generates feeling from the music, the story of the music. The Mechanical Ground Concept achieves this expressive and rhythmic bass by maximizing rigidity and reducing any unwanted vibration. The large power transformer, block capacitors and heat sink are directly bolted to the chassis delivering greater rigidity, while the feet, with bolts directly welded to the main chassis, provide further reinforcement for absolute rigidity. The A-S3200 has an original Rigid Streamlined Construction that further suppresses vibration.
Chrome-Plated Pinpoint Brass
Completing the rigidity of the amplifier are the heavy-duty brass feet used with either spikes or a scratch-resistant base for delicate surfaces, originally engineered exclusively for the flagship C-5000 preamplifier and M-5000 amplifier.
Meticulous Switch Design
Use of the elegantly designed switches and knobs on the front panel present more than just input changes or volume adjustments. They serve as a connection between the owner and the engineer, a beautiful, highly-tactile surface reflecting the obsessive care of the engineers, passed directly to the owner.
Exquisite, Large Level Meters
Visually presenting the dynamics and pulse of the music, the large meters imbue a warm feeling through their softly illuminated LEDs. The glass window is cut diagonally and precision-fit to the back surface of the front panel, leaving no gaps or screws for connection. An exceptionally luxurious look and feel is achieved.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Yamaha A-S3200
- 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)
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