No one takes the time and energy to go out of their way to slam someone else, unless they've got issues. Issue No.1: Before opening your mouth, fix those disgustingly vile teeth. Issue No.2: Pay attention to what a modern clean livingroom looks like, then show the world your Grandma room.
Did you not go out of your way to slam someone else while writing your comment? And before you write a nasty comment to my friend from TSA please, learn something about punctuation.
Speaking of dentist, that’s why I am here. I gave my wife’s dentist $8,000 this past year, so I figure that gives me the right to buy the $8,000 Yamaha A-S3200. But the other part of me says that money would be better spent going in to the savings account. Which means I should get the Yamaha A-S1200 instead at only $3,000. It has smaller VU meters but still has a dedicated headphone amp, This Yamaha A-S801 has neither, but for only $1,000 it still has 100 watts per channel, and it has a Loudness control, which I think I would use a lot. I have been racking my brains for months trying to figure out which to buy. Is the 1200 really worth triple the price of the 801?
@@spiritualarchitect4276 this is just my opinion but eventually you're gonna have to realize that once you're starting to spend more than ≈500 per component, it will get more and more difficult to tell the difference because of diminishing returns. Cheap equipment is so damn good these days, it's really difficult to justify spending more than that. Also consider that there may be differences when A/Bing that you would never notice otherwise. Also consider that no matter what equipment you have your brain will adjust to compensate for any discrepancies in the sound. For example if you buy a really bright speaker, it will only be a matter of time before it sounds good and normal to you. One last thing, no matter what you buy, you can still enjoy the music, that's why 95% of people settle for a $60 bluetooth speaker. At the end of the day, its about enjoying the music; it's up to you to decide where price meets performance.
As a stereo salesman for Sound Advice Once I discovered this amplifier I sold a great many of them. This amplifier is one of the greatest bargains in affordable, high-end audio! The sound quality is excellent with 100 watts per channel, An excellent phono stage, three digital inputs, ability to connect a subwoofer and two pair of speakers. I don’t know what you more you could ask for for $900. I have connected this amplifier to many incredibly expensive speakers, and was never disappointed. Highly recommended!!!!
You speak the truth - not a bunch of BS. There are so many so called "audiophiles" making videos and making a ton of money to tell us what we should be thinking/hearing. It is beyond me how so many phony reviewers (and I am not mentioning any names) get so many subscribers and likes for absolutely nothing you couldn't read for yourself from a spec sheet.
Your channel is a breath of fresh air. I agree with your assessment that the channel mentioned is more a lifestyle channel. The contrived and chi-chi presentation certainly seems to support that.
I am glad I found your site on UA-cam - Years ahead of the other so called "authorities" on sound equipment. Who cares about your personal appearance - it's the review that counts without the usual vague comments. Thank you for your honest and complete evaluations.
I own this Product, and I absolutely love it. When I first saw this review by Mr. Robinson It killed his credibility as a reviewer of audio products. I ran my unit without a sub for months, and the bass was decent. I added a powered subwoofer and wow. I was lucky to pick this unit up for $400.00 the owner had just purchased it and was promoted and moving to California. Man did I luck out, if I had listened to Robisons review I may have passed up this Jewell of an Intargrated. Amp. Thank you for an honest and truthful review.
I almost passed on it after watching Robinson's review. I'm glad I didn't cancel my order after seeing this video and reading your comment. It should be here in a week or so and I'm pairing it with a set of Dahlquist DQ-20's that I just picked up. My "vintage" receivers are 18 and 50 watts, so I need something with a bit more power and the A-S501 seemed like the perfect fit until I saw that video. Yikes. Lesson learned. Thanks @scientificaudiophile for the great video.
You are correct Andrew says Yamaha has the "Yamaha sound". I will bet a large amount of money that if you put him into a room and had 5 separate amps including a Yamaha amp. and play records on all the different amps he would never pick the "Yamaha sound" he keeps talking about.
I had one of those. The A-S801 was AMAZING. I eventually upgraded to a Parasound P6 Halo preamp and two Adcom GFA-565 monobloc amps. You are 100% correct about Andrew Robinson. His reviews are "lacking" in so many ways. I am hesitant to call him a fraud, but he is most certainly a shrill. He does speak with "authority" because he actually believes what he says. His listening room is most certainly "comfortable", but you are right that it is not optimal for sound.
New suscriber!, Omg I almost peed myself laughting when you show the "speed, articulation and detail" cartoon, but when you mentioned "Too many notes!" I did, cant help it.... you kill it man.
good job Scientific Audiophile,,,,,,,, people need pay more attention to what other say when review products. but most important just try and listen and find that sound that you personally like within your budget and personal place that you live in. A.R is another youtuber that just talk. I did not believe what he said about that A-S801, bought is used, and I am very happy with what it produces with paradigm studio 60 speakers. It gives a nice sound when playing music and in general audio is superb. thank you Scientific Audiophile for bringing that up that not all reviewers know what they are talking about.
Good for you, glad it's worked out! Another angle on A.R. and the likes of Jay, Cheap Audio Man, Darko, etc is that they are PAID to form a view/position on the gear they "review."
Bloody marvellous review mate, certain reviewers get right up my nose!! And he's one of them.Every review he does is just his opinion (or should that be opinionated !) I'm no audiophile just a freak for good quality hifi equipment. I get pleasure out of all my amps some cheap some expensive and the same with decks and a choice of 5 types of speakers so I don't get bored but I would never criticise anybody for their preferred choice.Great review I've subbed.😊
I have a Yamaha A-S 701 and I can say that it is a great amplifier. I can say that I have used it in different room sizes, with different speakers, naturally it sounds different. I tried speakers with which they sounded very bad, but the best I go with is the Q acoustics 3050i, they fit and sound excellent!
Love this... I wish I could've given you more than 1 subscription. We really need factual, logical persons like you in this industry for the sake of calling out all of the marketing BS. Let's hear what Kristy has to say😅......
Andrew is completely full of crap. And what's worse is a guy thinks he's omniscient and whenever I would write some constructive criticism he got extremely defensive. I never once said anything crude meaning swearing or getting personal yet the guy has blocked me from other people seeing my comments. He's like fine china. Very sensitive and his wife also so in that regard they make a great pair.
Agreed, Robinson`s reviews are metaphorical word salads without demonstrating anything of substance...So vanilla, staged and saccharin...And those ask Kristy segments are designed to seduce their viewers into some sort of sadomasochistic interior design tri-sexual cult, I swear!
@@ryanschipp8513 He won't even let his partner appear on camera. You think he's going to let you post something even remotely non-praising on his channel? Yikes.
Very good review and exactly my sentiments regarding Andrew's very colorful yet pretentious choice of words to describe this wonderful Yamaha amp. I've always thought "here's a guy who while irritating visually, loves to hear himself "ramble on"..... Keep up the great work.
Great point at the end. Very few people have the ears to tell the differences between brands of audio gear in a controlled environment. I know I don't.
Wow, just wow just discovered this channel yesterday. Spent an hour listing to my way to work. Got home after eight. Listen about the Yamaha integrated amp. What a great service this channel is so many years. These people have brainwash you into thinking you’re missing so much when you just could’ve been enjoying your music, thank you had subscribed
Against the advice of a couple of other reviewers, I recently bought the Yamaha s801. The measurements reported on audio holics were persuasive. Your video here, though, watched a while back, did help detach me from the naysayers. I really like the amp. Works flawlessly. Looks good. I may pick up the Arcam 20 for an AB comparison once my new speakers are delivered. The price has dropped over $1,000 at one store and is even less than the Yamaha at this point. But I may not. Considering the measurements reported, I don't know what the Arcam could do better.
My friend has the s 801 and I just ordered a used version from Amazon to test out. I hope it's more efficient and powerful than NAD C350 , that I'm trying to get rid of
Well done. I also hate irrelevant reviews. The first time I read a HiFi audio magazine was back in late 90's. It was then i discovered that "Highs could be crisp, mids could be bloated, bass could be all over the place and that cables makes the difference".I have never read any other audio magazine since then. Never. I have the same Pre-Power Amp, CD-Player and Turntable I bought used in '98 for about $1500 (+ $1000 for 25 years of maintenance services). I only invest in room acoustics treatment and a pair of speakers every six to seven years (due to wear). My audio-lunatic friends use my room as a reference point. We just hate irrelevant reviews. *All the cables (audio and power) I use are handmade by me, costing totally about $50
Not sure where you are going with this. Are you saying all amplifiers sound the same? I had a A-S801 a while back, sold it because of space limitations. Now looking to buy back. I think it's a great amp and I think Andrew also thinks so.
Amplifiers can sound different for many reasons: distortion, impedance of speakers and power supply limitations that starve it for current, frequency response, etc. However there is nothing about the A-S801 that lacks bass (if driven within its limits) and nothing that makes it break down during complex musical passages.
I watched Andrew's video first, and I don't think he thought the 801 was great. I think he panned it. But I think Andrew (and his wife/girlfriend off camera) were both wrong. Scientific Audio did not say all amplifiers sound the same. He just said that there is no "Yamaha" sound or coloration in the 801. Unfortunately, some (not all) other manufacturer's do color their sound for various reasons.
Sir, I use Yamaha amplifier R N801 paired up with Dali Spektor 6. I normally listen to it on pure direct and fairly happy. Recently a friend told me that RN803 is a receiver and I should upgrade to a integrated amp like Marantz 8006 against using a receiver. What’s ur take on that, do receivers lack clarity and sound stage? Will Marantz 8006 be better and more detailed?
The Yamaha AS801 the one discussed here is an integrated amplifier So would be in competition with the Marantz 8006. Yamaha is $500 less expensive and includes a DAC which the Marantz lacks. The Yamaha is also significantly more powerful featuring 100 watts per channel versus the 70 of the Marantz, 185 at four ohms with the Marantz having only 100. I chose the Yamaha. Great review on audioholics. Worth a read. The Marantz is even more expensive given that you probably need to add a separate dac. Does have preamp outs so you can add another amplifier which the Yamaha lacks. Your power source is a receiver. I am not sure of its specs or measurements but I am sure the Yamaha integrated amp is a much better performer
@@lsaideOK they're in two entirely different product classes, and yeah--the two channel amp is way beefier than the two channels in the A/V receiver. Pretty great A/V receiver tho.
Great video! I totally agree with your analysis of Andrew Robinson - the guy is as irritating as a housefly. I have always preferred Yamaha receivers and have always found them to perform exceptionally.
Bien sûr vous pouvez utiliser le bouton de réglage des basses ou utiliser le loudness variable pour arrondir légèrement le son. Personnellement j'adore le loudness variable de chez Yamaha.
Recovering as it’s addictive hobby that often prompts people to spend a lot of money? You pick on things without even trying to understand what’s being said. Majority of people don’t change their rooms in highly audio treated spaces. You don’t need a lot of brain cells to understand who he’s videos are targeting. I usually don’t regard high people who try to get subscribers based on bashing others. Maybe focus on your own content and let’s see if people will like your vision… Btw Kirsty you hear in background- it’s her choice not to be on a camera and secondly people love her!
The recovering audiophile moniker was explained on Robinson's channel and is, as you say, about him becoming addicted to buying expensive audio gear, much of it of much higher cost than you see on his channel. I really don't understand the motivation for a hit piece video. As for his wife not appearing on the channel, she used to. There were quite a few lewd comments made about her and so she stepped back. Her choice. Guess I can't relate to someone being so annoyed about what's a relatively inoffensive UA-cam channel that they make a video criticising it. Each to their own.
Would the S701 be a good amp with the JBL L100 Classic? (90db sensitivity, 4ohm) Listening room = 2 car garage (but I only use half of it, so about 11’x23’ used). Love how you point out the highly reflective room. Boggles my mind that most audiophile YTers don’t have any acoustic panels. I’m not an audiophile… more of an analog/hardware-setup music producer, record collector and bedroom dj… but we’re taught to use acoustic panels on ceiling, walls and corners (corners are parabolic reflectors).
701 isn’t really a 4 ohm capable amp, but with the sensitivity of those JBL’s, you’ll never really push the amp too hard, so you’ll be fine. Yes, room panels are really important.
I agree with you about the "recovering Audiophile " dig. It says I'm better than you. Not necessary at all. And after being into audio for a sixty years I don't even know what one is.
It's not a dig and he has explained the name on his channel before but its easy to take things as a personal dig when your opinion is merely a baseless assumption.
I bought a pair of s. V. S ultra book shelf speakers. I'd like to put these in my beroom with hooked up to a TV. Would this be a amp that would work good with the TV and the music? Or should I look more at AV receiver?
Scientific Audiophile, I have a McIntosh 2205 Amp i bought in 1978. it still plays but I keep having to take it to get fix, which is expensive. I saw the Yamaha A-S801 and noticed the distortion is less than on the McIntosh. Is that poossible, and would I be happy with the A-S801 after have a McIntosh 2205 for so long? Many thanks for your time.
If you haven’t already, you should do that. Buy the A-S801 from a place like Crutchfield that has a good return policy and see what you think. I’d like to know how that turns out.
I can't thank you enough for this video. Some time ago I commented on one of Andrew Robinson's videos suggesting that, instead of talking for half an hour about how gear sounds, he could let people listen to the gear so that they could form an idea themselves. He was extremely rude to me, typical of people who have no argument, supported by some fans. Now, I agree with you: the amount of BS that he tells through his videos is really huge! You're damn right about every single point you mentioned in this video!
I watched that video from Andrew Robinson and he sounds like a snake oil salesman, full of bs. I bought the Yamaha AS-801 and you get a lot for your money. Great amp!
@@MichaelJamesWoodif you watched the video, then you would know what Andrew liked the 801 a lot. Enough to choose it over Yamaha’s own 1200 given the price difference.
Man, i was looking up reviews of this amp to pair with my wharfedale diamond 12.2 bookshelf and sub. I watched Andrews reviews and he says a lot, but it's always a yeah but with every "entry level" product. So im glad to have stumbled across your channel. In that regard, do you suppose the yamaha 801 would pair well with my diamond 12.2?
Those Diamonds are a little less sensitive than most, but at 8 ohms, the 801 will easily drive them to any level you want - plus you have a subwoofer, which Andrew says will help the amplifier out with that low end punch :-)
🤣🤣 I went looking for receiver reviews as my old 1995 Pioneer receiver died last week and I'm old enough now to appreciate good audio. However, the one thing I did not expect to find is a snarky reaction video regarding AV equipment. That is usually reserved for the YT political and health/fitness scene. Guess I need to keep looking. Lol
I need help please, with purchasing an a budget amp. Is Yamaha a-s 501 a good match for speakers with nominal impedance 4 ohms? An amplifier suppose to power Dali Opticon 1 MK2 speakers.
It's not that the 501 can't run a 4 ohm speaker, but the Dali will drop well below 4 ohms at certain frequencies. I'm a much bigger fan, at this price point, for the Denon PMA-600NE. www.denon.com/en-au/shop/amplifier/pma600ne#:~:text=Engineered%20with%20remarkable%20Denon%20amplifier,and%20impedances%20for%20operational%20stability.
Great review! 3D layering front to back, where can I find that in a sub-$2000 integrated amplifier? Can you point me to some units I can investigate that have 3D qualities? Thanks..
If the Yamaha is sending low enough frequencies to a sub through the sub out, then I'm guessing that it's sending the same low frequencies to the main speakers. As you stated, if you aren't hearing them, at 100 watts per channel, it's the speakers not the amp that are at fault.
Agree that Andrew is HGTV material...or maybe the Cyrano de Bergerac of audio 😂😂 His living room is nice, but definitely not a room to test gear. You're spot on on this one.
@scientificaudiophile A few guys in the Yamaha group on Facebook say that the 801 ESS dac is only on the USB and the toslinks use the bur brown like the 701 does. I'm not sure if this is correct or not. I don't have a computer anymore and don't need the USB but the nicer dac is nice to have. Crutchfield has both in stock, 799 and 899
Well that was awesome, informative, and highly entertaining. Thank you. You and Ken Micallef of Stereophile need to start the Andrew Robinson fan club. Mr. Micallef dislikes the "recovering audiophile" even more than you.
@@HomeStudioBasics That was before the glorious return of HSB! ;) However Scientific’s takedowns of Robinson and DMS are both savage and absolutely correct. Audio is subjective, but not total snake oil.
They certainly do sound different. Class A amps sound different for Class AB, Digital amps sound different, tube amps etc. Amps of the same type can sound different - low quality power supply's can throttle needed wattage, frequency response may not be flat, distortion can be a major factor as well. You're definitely correct, amps can and do sound different. Thanks for the comment.
Majority of listeners don't have dedicated listening rooms like myself. It is in that context that Andrew conducts his reviews. Has worked on the sound damping of his current lounge as far as I know. The audience need advice on audio products so they can enjoy them in their own chosen environments
@@lebohang8405most self-proclaimed “audiophiles” refuse to see this. Andrew and Kristi speak to the majority of music lovers whom, as you stated, don’t have dedicated/acoustically treated listening rooms. And, for those who have paid attention, know that they often have different opinions on the products they review. The gatekeeping and superiority complex of individuals such as the one in this video are what most likely turn most newcomers off to the hobby. Andrew really liked the 801, so lambasting him for his choice of words is more of a reflection of this person than it is Andrew’s.
Well I received my 801 yesterday and just put 5 and a half hours through it and it's great! 👍 Plenty bass for my room and setup without a sub, using a pair of q acoustics 3050i I am very happy with my purchase.
Watched the vid and read all the comments and replies. Would love to see you banging it with OCD Mikey and Jay's Audio at least once to see if there's Synergy. Wouldn't watch if it doesn't entertain.
Lol, I watched the Robinson video right before this one. I am currently looking at the Yamaha 801 and also the Emotiva TA2. Do you have any thoughts on Emotiva as a product. I am leaning towards the Yamaha because they are an older company. If you got any info on Emotiva's quality I would greatly appreciate your in put. Great Video, I got through about half of the Robinson video before I was like what is this guy talking about. 😂
@@scientificaudiophileThanks for the reply, that is what I am worried about. Decisions Decisions. Keep making awesome vids! I've been watching all day lol. You got a new subscriber.
I love how these people think an amp that plays flat from 10hz-20khz has a sound. If these amps had a signature sound you would see it on the graph, there would be bumps in the output to give their "sound" but it's never there.
@@Ivy13276 Anyone asking for $2k cable has got to be a good deal. You simply can't spend that much money and not get a great cable. As for speakers, you may have to start out with the Micca COVO-S Compact 2 to stay within budget, but those speaker wires will make them sing.
Wait a second, did we all just get trolled? OMG. When someone says cables are more important than the speakers, and to get $2,000 cables because you know they're worth it? OMG, is this... OMG. Is this REAL?
The Yamaha A-S801 is an amazing Amp and those 15W between an A-S501 and the 801 makes a world of difference. Add a Sub and rock your world (literally!). 🙂
@@alexpal1495 No it’s not, unless you open the amp and play with the RLC Circuit. A simpler way is to get a Sub with a tunable LF knob (potentiometer) and adjust the frequency. My sub is tunable from 50 to 150Hz
@@alexpal1495 No it’s not, unless you open the amp and play with the filter circuit. A simpler way is to get a Sub with a tunable LF knob (potentiometer) and adjust the frequency. My sub is tunable from 50 to 150Hz
@@alexpal1495 I’m no expert but I think the crossover frequency for the AS801 is 100Hz. Any Bass or Treble adjustments will affect high and midrange as well as low frequencies up to 100Hz. Below 100Hz would be the sub. This is my understanding.
Kind of a harsh hit piece. I find some of what Andrew has to say pompous and if there's a representative of audiophile 1 percenters, he could be their poster boy. Often audio reviewers see it as their job to criticize products and find their weaknesses. It's hard to find good amplification at a low cost these days. To that end, my best recommendation is second hand markets. There are a lot of decent AV receivers from the 90's and early 2000's out there with plenty of power, outputs, and inputs that can be had for cheap which still work great in 2 channel mode.
Beware, the Sharur of speaker domain. Can you or anyone else do a no-headache attorney style service for installing a viable and custom-made audiophile speaker setup?
Funny commentary and in "many ways" spot on. IMO, many of these (UA-cam) reviewers who discuss their feelings about audio equipment, cars, motorcycles, etc.) should be newscasters, or promoting/ selling the latest/greatest food processor/ cutlery knives
801 couldn’t drive my 6 ohm rated Dynaudio Emit 10s. Can’t dial the volume above 45 decibels without hitting a wall of shouty distortion. None of the class D’s I tried worked. Class A’s from Audiolab, Arcam, Rotel drove those speakers.
I love me some Yamahas. Don't nobody better say nothin' bad 'bout any Yamahas. I find mine to be buttery yet slightly sweet with notes of oak and raspberries whenever I play jazz. However, if I play Daft Punk, the music becomes greasier, with notes of well marbled ground beef and french fries, with a strawberry malt finish. Radiohead: Well, have you ever opened up one of those portable tube record players and taken a whiff of the inside? That special combination of aged plywood, dusty tubes and 50 year old grease? Yeah, it's like that! As for imaging, I find the exhaust notes to be placed well behind the handlebars.
ARs review might make more sense if it was the lower wattage as301 paired with inefficient bookshelf speakers in a poorly designed room. I can see it lacking bass in that scenario. If he wanted bass he should have hooked up the as801 to his beloved Klipsch RF8000 II floor standers. The bass would have blown him out of the room.
Many UA-cam audiophiles argue about whether or not cables make a difference, but the elephant in the room is that, for the most part, amplifiers are interchangeable. I don't think I could tell a difference between my fancy THX 789 headphone amplifier (which is out of style these days) and a sound card I installed in my computer, let alone my Topping A30 modified with Burson op-amps. There is simply no significant difference between them in real world listening. These UA-cam audiophiles are functionally grifters, but I do wonder if they actually believe a lot of what they say.
Since this Amplifier was a recommendation from a close friend I decided to look at videos on UA-cam and came across this video. I did not finish watching as pretentious. Glad to find this to help put things in perspective. Thanks
I have the as501 and it's a great amp lots of base with the kef q350 . If I had to be pick on something it would be the tweeter on the kef it's a a bit harsh but the kef is good otherwise. I like the Yamaha it's in my budget and suits me.
While I agree with a lot of your video (particularly the comedy around 'lost its grip as the music got complex part,' that had me rolling lol), I disagree with your point about moving the speakers for the purpose of a receiver/integrated amp test. In order to compare units, he can't be moving his speakers all around for perfect positions like you're describing. It actually doesn't matter WHERE he puts them if he's ONLY A/B'ing other components (other than the speakers) - as long as they are never moved. Because to your earlier point, it's about the amplifier, not the speakers. If he's moving or changing many factors each time, that's not an accurate test. Or are you saying that, receivers have NO impact on things like soundstage at all, and it's 100% about speaker placement, room treatments etc? I couldn't quite follow where you were being serious vs joking through some of this. Looking for an opportunity for reviewers to improve, if someone like Andrew does not have the scientific equipment or ability to test each detail or prove something out scientifically, but he can hear a difference when comparing units side by side (especially given his access to far more hifi equipment than I will ever own), how would you recommend he portray that? As perhaps an analogy, I know when something smells good or it doesn't. But if you asked me to explain the scientific reason on why my nose and brain likes one smell vs another, and what makes up that smell etc, I wouldn't know where to start. All I know is I like it and it's different/better than another smell. (What a horrible analogy I know - so horrible that I'm almost proud of myself LOL)
Thanks for the comment. Definitely a good amplifier can help with soundstage but not to the extreme Andrew states, unless you’re comparing a great amp with some real garbage. My biggest issue with the video was the 810 is a really, really good amplifier. I a/b/c’d that amp with a Benchmark, my A-S2100 and couldn’t hear any difference. Just one of my reasons for creating the “Chasing SINAD” video ua-cam.com/video/3I1I9WyRBzw/v-deo.htmlsi=gTJBGaOKCO3YP1rN How should reviewers convey the differences they hear is up to them, but sadly a lot is perception and psychological beliefs that nicer looking and prettier equipment sounds better. It’s why I don’t own the 810, I like the meters on the 2100, and the MC/MM switch for cartridge’s right on the front.
@@scientificaudiophile For the record, Andrew repeatedly states that his opinions are just that, opinions and that ultimately people should go and listen to things themselves IF they can and buy what sounds good to them, it's literally a catchphrase on his channel 'And remember, the only person who has to like the sound of your system, is you!' At no point did he say the AS-801 is objectively bad, he gave subjective opinions based on his listening experiences A-B'ing it against other equipment is HIS living room, which he knows isn't perfect but IS more in line with what most people will be putting their equipment in instead of a dedicated listening room which is an entirely different ball game. He also points on on numerous occasions on his channel that everyone's living room, cinema room, etc will have different effects on sound and they should factor that in to how they take his reviews and how they evaluate equipment in demo rooms etc.
What Yamaha delivers compared to what you pay is phenomenal. To be fair to the subject at hand though, I kept the 701 because the 801 had something wonky going on with it's low frequency out, so maybe they received a wonky one too. One that had 100 watts per channel that didn't have any boost in bass or mids, but was refined up top...wait, did I just describe flat? :~}
I have tube amps, decent solid state amps, numerous speakers both big and small, efficient and not so efficient. High end turntables and mid level tables. The older I get the simpler my equipment becomes and it make me so happy. Snobs will say because my high end listening ability is shot. But i just want to enjoy the music more than picking at the equipment these days. I'm even getting tired of tube amps, there's always some issue going on, but I do think tubes sound better. Andrew Robinson is the first audio reviewer I unsubscribed to. He's just, I don't know, disingenuous to me.
I've always found AR to be too "wordy", he tries to sound smart and refined, but they're just bunch of generic terms and adjectives that say basically nothing,
Well put! AR is an actor at heart. Watch one of his reviews and then watch one of his live streams. Completely different person. In his reviews he's a total actor. Honestly it's pretty pathetic.
i have this amp plus lots more yamaha stuff just bought a rn600a reciever yesterday fine equiupment my ears are 62 years old tho lmao no one ever talks about that do they
I have a Denon AVR, a Yamaha AS2200, a Vincent SVK MKii hybrid, a SET tube amp and an old Marantz 2245. They all sound different and anyone could tell them apart easily. The old Marantz sounds warm up top and emphasizes lower frequencies, the Yamaha is opposite and cooler, leaner and more analytical, the Denon AVR is darker sounding than all the others, the Vincent hybrid class A has strong weighty bass and super smooth mids and highs, and I found the SET tube amp too mids and highs focused for my Forte IV's. When you suggest he couldn't pick amps out in a blind test are you suggesting all amps sound the same? Don't necessarily disagree with any of your critiiques about his review, but there's a reason people like various different types of amps and its mainly because of preferences in the way various classes and types sound.
I don't disagree some amps sound different, but the 810 is as FLAT as any amplifier ever created from 20 - 20,000. Also note, after this video, Robinson now says that Yamaha amps he listens to are neutral.
No one takes the time and energy to go out of their way to slam someone else, unless they've got issues. Issue No.1: Before opening your mouth, fix those disgustingly vile teeth.
Issue No.2: Pay attention to what a modern clean livingroom looks like, then show the world your Grandma room.
Any money spent on my teeth is money that could have been spent on better audio equipment. I'm an audiophile NOT a monster!
Did you not go out of your way to slam someone else while writing your comment? And before you write a nasty comment to my friend from TSA please, learn something about punctuation.
Its satir...
Speaking of dentist, that’s why I am here. I gave my wife’s dentist $8,000 this past year, so I figure that gives me the right to buy the $8,000 Yamaha A-S3200. But the other part of me says that money would be better spent going in to the savings account. Which means I should get the Yamaha A-S1200 instead at only $3,000. It has smaller VU meters but still has a dedicated headphone amp, This Yamaha A-S801 has neither, but for only $1,000 it still has 100 watts per channel, and it has a Loudness control, which I think I would use a lot. I have been racking my brains for months trying to figure out which to buy. Is the 1200 really worth triple the price of the 801?
@@spiritualarchitect4276 this is just my opinion but eventually you're gonna have to realize that once you're starting to spend more than ≈500 per component, it will get more and more difficult to tell the difference because of diminishing returns. Cheap equipment is so damn good these days, it's really difficult to justify spending more than that. Also consider that there may be differences when A/Bing that you would never notice otherwise. Also consider that no matter what equipment you have your brain will adjust to compensate for any discrepancies in the sound. For example if you buy a really bright speaker, it will only be a matter of time before it sounds good and normal to you. One last thing, no matter what you buy, you can still enjoy the music, that's why 95% of people settle for a $60 bluetooth speaker. At the end of the day, its about enjoying the music; it's up to you to decide where price meets performance.
As a stereo salesman for Sound Advice Once I discovered this amplifier I sold a great many of them. This amplifier is one of the greatest bargains in affordable, high-end audio! The sound quality is excellent with 100 watts per channel, An excellent phono stage, three digital inputs, ability to connect a subwoofer and two pair of speakers. I don’t know what you more you could ask for for $900. I have connected this amplifier to many incredibly expensive speakers, and was never disappointed. Highly recommended!!!!
That was a great smackdown of a completely bullshit review. Props!
Thanks. Your channel is awesome.
I absolutely agree with you!
Andrew Robinson is an audio hack.
Audioholics is where I go for honest reviews. And now this one too.
Andrew's needlessly poetic reviews are about 5 x longer than they should be.
His gushing "reviews" tend to feel more like an infomercial or a home shopping network.
You speak the truth - not a bunch of BS. There are so many so called "audiophiles" making videos and making a ton of money to tell us what we should be thinking/hearing. It is beyond me how so many phony reviewers (and I am not mentioning any names) get so many subscribers and likes for absolutely nothing you couldn't read for yourself from a spec sheet.
Your channel is a breath of fresh air. I agree with your assessment that the channel mentioned is more a lifestyle channel. The contrived and chi-chi presentation certainly seems to support that.
Thanks!
thats hilarious because Robinson comes off like an infomercial pitch man
Great video. I have the as-801 and it’s a fantastic amplifier.
It sure is!
Yes it is indeed.
Are you happy with it? Would you buy it again?
I am glad I found your site on UA-cam - Years ahead of the other so called "authorities" on sound equipment. Who cares about your personal appearance - it's the review that counts without the usual vague comments. Thank you for your honest and complete evaluations.
It is an audio video medium. Some people care about personal appearance.
I own this Product, and I absolutely love it. When I first saw this review by Mr. Robinson It killed his credibility as a reviewer of audio products. I ran my unit without a sub for months, and the bass was decent. I added a powered subwoofer and wow. I was lucky to pick this unit up for $400.00 the owner had just purchased it and was promoted and moving to California. Man did I luck out, if I had listened to Robisons review I may have passed up this Jewell of an Intargrated. Amp. Thank you for an honest and truthful review.
Wow, $400! A real bargain. Thanks for the comment.
I almost passed on it after watching Robinson's review. I'm glad I didn't cancel my order after seeing this video and reading your comment. It should be here in a week or so and I'm pairing it with a set of Dahlquist DQ-20's that I just picked up. My "vintage" receivers are 18 and 50 watts, so I need something with a bit more power and the A-S501 seemed like the perfect fit until I saw that video. Yikes. Lesson learned. Thanks @scientificaudiophile for the great video.
no reviewer in the history of audio will submit to a blind test, it would destroy the BS they live on.
100% accurate right there.
I just subbed your channel when you said “this Andrew Robinson is full of shit”. No truer words have ever been spoken. Thank you sir. 🙏
Exactly, Andew is an audiovoodo shaman.😂😂😂
I can not stand the dude. My spidey sense starts to tingle.
You are correct Andrew says Yamaha has the "Yamaha sound". I will bet a large amount of money that if you put him into a room and had 5 separate amps including a Yamaha amp. and play records on all the different amps he would never pick the "Yamaha sound" he keeps talking about.
😍This was the first video I watched on your channel. At the end of watching, I subscribed. I will order this Yamaha integrated amplifier this week.
Welcome aboard!
I had one of those. The A-S801 was AMAZING. I eventually upgraded to a Parasound P6 Halo preamp and two Adcom GFA-565 monobloc amps. You are 100% correct about Andrew Robinson. His reviews are "lacking" in so many ways. I am hesitant to call him a fraud, but he is most certainly a shrill. He does speak with "authority" because he actually believes what he says. His listening room is most certainly "comfortable", but you are right that it is not optimal for sound.
New suscriber!, Omg I almost peed myself laughting when you show the "speed, articulation and detail" cartoon, but when you mentioned "Too many notes!" I did, cant help it.... you kill it man.
good job Scientific Audiophile,,,,,,,, people need pay more attention to what other say when review products. but most important just try and listen and find that sound that you personally like within your budget and personal place that you live in. A.R is another youtuber that just talk. I did not believe what he said about that A-S801, bought is used, and I am very happy with what it produces with paradigm studio 60 speakers. It gives a nice sound when playing music and in general audio is superb. thank you Scientific Audiophile for bringing that up that not all reviewers know what they are talking about.
Thanks for the comment. Much appreciated.
Good for you, glad it's worked out!
Another angle on A.R. and the likes of Jay, Cheap Audio Man, Darko, etc is that they are PAID to form a view/position on the gear they "review."
I was gonna be a recovering alcoholic.
But momma didn’t raise no quitter
Good on you man. Clarity of perception well done.
Glad you liked it!
Bloody marvellous review mate, certain reviewers get right up my nose!! And he's one of them.Every review he does is just his opinion (or should that be opinionated !)
I'm no audiophile just a freak for good quality hifi equipment. I get pleasure out of all my amps some cheap some expensive and the same with decks and a choice of 5 types of speakers so I don't get bored but I would never criticise anybody for their preferred choice.Great review I've subbed.😊
I have a Yamaha A-S 701 and I can say that it is a great amplifier. I can say that I have used it in different room sizes, with different speakers, naturally it sounds different. I tried speakers with which they sounded very bad, but the best I go with is the Q acoustics 3050i, they fit and sound excellent!
Im looking for integrated amp for my qa3050i. Yamaha a-s 701 is one of my choices. Are you still enjoying yamaha and 3050i set up?
Love this... I wish I could've given you more than 1 subscription. We really need factual, logical persons like you in this industry for the sake of calling out all of the marketing BS. Let's hear what Kristy has to say😅......
Andrew is completely full of crap. And what's worse is a guy thinks he's omniscient and whenever I would write some constructive criticism he got extremely defensive. I never once said anything crude meaning swearing or getting personal yet the guy has blocked me from other people seeing my comments. He's like fine china. Very sensitive and his wife also so in that regard they make a great pair.
Agreed, Robinson`s reviews are metaphorical word salads without demonstrating anything of substance...So vanilla, staged and saccharin...And those ask Kristy segments are designed to seduce their viewers into some sort of sadomasochistic interior design tri-sexual cult, I swear!
@@user-ff8ww8bq9q Spot on! Its actually creepy to me.
@@ryanschipp8513 He won't even let his partner appear on camera. You think he's going to let you post something even remotely non-praising on his channel? Yikes.
@@AaronClow the guy is a wierdo.
brilliant ! Mr . robinson must get paid by the word !
now I have the YAMAHA A S 801..... and it is AMAZING..... i will keep it till the end
Good choice!
Very good review and exactly my sentiments regarding Andrew's very colorful yet pretentious choice of words to describe this wonderful Yamaha amp. I've always thought "here's a guy who while irritating visually, loves to hear himself "ramble on"..... Keep up the great work.
Well said!
Great point at the end. Very few people have the ears to tell the differences between brands of audio gear in a controlled environment. I know I don't.
Wow, just wow just discovered this channel yesterday. Spent an hour listing to my way to work. Got home after eight. Listen about the Yamaha integrated amp. What a great service this channel is so many years. These people have brainwash you into thinking you’re missing so much when you just could’ve been enjoying your music, thank you had subscribed
Welcome aboard!
Just stumbled across your channel, glad I did😂I’ll watch your other posts now! Great stuff👍
Welcome aboard!
Against the advice of a couple of other reviewers, I recently bought the Yamaha s801. The measurements reported on audio holics were persuasive. Your video here, though, watched a while back, did help detach me from the naysayers. I really like the amp. Works flawlessly. Looks good. I may pick up the Arcam 20 for an AB comparison once my new speakers are delivered. The price has dropped over $1,000 at one store and is even less than the Yamaha at this point. But I may not. Considering the measurements reported, I don't know what the Arcam could do better.
My friend has the s 801 and I just ordered a used version from Amazon to test out. I hope it's more efficient and powerful than NAD C350 , that I'm trying to get rid of
Configurable filters for subwoofers?
Well done.
I also hate irrelevant reviews. The first time I read a HiFi audio magazine was back in late 90's. It was then i discovered that "Highs could be crisp, mids could be bloated, bass could be all over the place and that cables makes the difference".I have never read any other audio magazine since then. Never. I have the same Pre-Power Amp, CD-Player and Turntable I bought used in '98 for about $1500 (+ $1000 for 25 years of maintenance services). I only invest in room acoustics treatment and a pair of speakers every six to seven years (due to wear). My audio-lunatic friends use my room as a reference point. We just hate irrelevant reviews.
*All the cables (audio and power) I use are handmade by me, costing totally about $50
You did the right thing. Too many audio reviewers are beholden to the free samples they get for review.
I appreciate the balance knob on my UA-cam viewing, where I can see widely varying presentations and dial in my audio opinions. Thank you.
Not sure where you are going with this. Are you saying all amplifiers sound the same?
I had a A-S801 a while back, sold it because of space limitations. Now looking to buy back.
I think it's a great amp and I think Andrew also thinks so.
Amplifiers can sound different for many reasons: distortion, impedance of speakers and power supply limitations that starve it for current, frequency response, etc. However there is nothing about the A-S801 that lacks bass (if driven within its limits) and nothing that makes it break down during complex musical passages.
They should !
I watched Andrew's video first, and I don't think he thought the 801 was great. I think he panned it. But I think Andrew (and his wife/girlfriend off camera) were both wrong.
Scientific Audio did not say all amplifiers sound the same. He just said that there is no "Yamaha" sound or coloration in the 801. Unfortunately, some (not all) other manufacturer's do color their sound for various reasons.
I enjoyed this so much
Sir, I use Yamaha amplifier R N801 paired up with Dali Spektor 6. I normally listen to it on pure direct and fairly happy. Recently a friend told me that RN803 is a receiver and I should upgrade to a integrated amp like Marantz 8006 against using a receiver. What’s ur take on that, do receivers lack clarity and sound stage? Will Marantz 8006 be better and more detailed?
The Yamaha AS801 the one discussed here is an integrated amplifier So would be in competition with the Marantz 8006. Yamaha is $500 less expensive and includes a DAC which the Marantz lacks. The Yamaha is also significantly more powerful featuring 100 watts per channel versus the 70 of the Marantz, 185 at four ohms with the Marantz having only 100. I chose the Yamaha. Great review on audioholics. Worth a read. The Marantz is even more expensive given that you probably need to add a separate dac. Does have preamp outs so you can add another amplifier which the Yamaha lacks. Your power source is a receiver. I am not sure of its specs or measurements but I am sure the Yamaha integrated amp is a much better performer
@@lsaideOK they're in two entirely different product classes, and yeah--the two channel amp is way beefier than the two channels in the A/V receiver. Pretty great A/V receiver tho.
Will this amp work properly and have enough power for KEF R7 speakers?
Unequivocally, unless you have a mammoth room > 4,000 cu ft.
Thank you! Finally someone who can see what a fraud AR is.
Great video! I totally agree with your analysis of Andrew Robinson - the guy is as irritating as a housefly. I have always preferred Yamaha receivers and have always found them to perform exceptionally.
Well said!
You are the sommelier of audio. I wish I could find the stags leap of components. At least it would be better than French stuff in a blind panel test.
just want to know, about the bass issue, is there a knob that can be adjusted if one wants it to be stronger?
Ha!
That's blasphemous language in the audiophile world
Bien sûr vous pouvez utiliser le bouton de réglage des basses ou utiliser le loudness variable pour arrondir légèrement le son. Personnellement j'adore le loudness variable de chez Yamaha.
Recovering as it’s addictive hobby that often prompts people to spend a lot of money?
You pick on things without even trying to understand what’s being said. Majority of people don’t change their rooms in highly audio treated spaces. You don’t need a lot of brain cells to understand who he’s videos are targeting. I usually don’t regard high people who try to get subscribers based on bashing others. Maybe focus on your own content and let’s see if people will like your vision…
Btw Kirsty you hear in background- it’s her choice not to be on a camera and secondly people love her!
The recovering audiophile moniker was explained on Robinson's channel and is, as you say, about him becoming addicted to buying expensive audio gear, much of it of much higher cost than you see on his channel. I really don't understand the motivation for a hit piece video.
As for his wife not appearing on the channel, she used to. There were quite a few lewd comments made about her and so she stepped back. Her choice. Guess I can't relate to someone being so annoyed about what's a relatively inoffensive UA-cam channel that they make a video criticising it. Each to their own.
I have the A-S501 and it’s great
That’s a great integrated amp.
Would the S701 be a good amp with the JBL L100 Classic? (90db sensitivity, 4ohm)
Listening room = 2 car garage (but I only use half of it, so about 11’x23’ used).
Love how you point out the highly reflective room. Boggles my mind that most audiophile YTers don’t have any acoustic panels.
I’m not an audiophile… more of an analog/hardware-setup music producer, record collector and bedroom dj… but we’re taught to use acoustic panels on ceiling, walls and corners (corners are parabolic reflectors).
701 isn’t really a 4 ohm capable amp, but with the sensitivity of those JBL’s, you’ll never really push the amp too hard, so you’ll be fine. Yes, room panels are really important.
I agree with you about the "recovering Audiophile " dig.
It says I'm better than you. Not necessary at all. And after being into audio for a sixty years I don't even know what one is.
It's not a dig and he has explained the name on his channel before but its easy to take things as a personal dig when your opinion is merely a baseless assumption.
I bought a pair of s. V. S ultra book shelf speakers. I'd like to put these in my beroom with hooked up to a TV. Would this be a amp that would work good with the TV and the music? Or should I look more at AV receiver?
Definitely a receiver, especially if you want HDMI.
Scientific Audiophile, I have a McIntosh 2205 Amp i bought in 1978. it still plays but I keep having to take it to get fix, which is expensive. I saw the Yamaha A-S801 and noticed the distortion is less than on the McIntosh. Is that poossible, and would I be happy with the A-S801 after have a McIntosh 2205 for so long? Many thanks for your time.
If you haven’t already, you should do that. Buy the A-S801 from a place like Crutchfield that has a good return policy and see what you think. I’d like to know how that turns out.
I can't thank you enough for this video. Some time ago I commented on one of Andrew Robinson's videos suggesting that, instead of talking for half an hour about how gear sounds, he could let people listen to the gear so that they could form an idea themselves. He was extremely rude to me, typical of people who have no argument, supported by some fans.
Now, I agree with you: the amount of BS that he tells through his videos is really huge!
You're damn right about every single point you mentioned in this video!
I watched that video from Andrew Robinson and he sounds like a snake oil salesman, full of bs. I bought the Yamaha AS-801 and you get a lot for your money. Great amp!
@@MichaelJamesWoodif you watched the video, then you would know what Andrew liked the 801 a lot. Enough to choose it over Yamaha’s own 1200 given the price difference.
Man, i was looking up reviews of this amp to pair with my wharfedale diamond 12.2 bookshelf and sub. I watched Andrews reviews and he says a lot, but it's always a yeah but with every "entry level" product. So im glad to have stumbled across your channel.
In that regard, do you suppose the yamaha 801 would pair well with my diamond 12.2?
Those Diamonds are a little less sensitive than most, but at 8 ohms, the 801 will easily drive them to any level you want - plus you have a subwoofer, which Andrew says will help the amplifier out with that low end punch :-)
@scientificaudiophile lol thanks for the reply, and for the laugh
🤣🤣 I went looking for receiver reviews as my old 1995 Pioneer receiver died last week and I'm old enough now to appreciate good audio. However, the one thing I did not expect to find is a snarky reaction video regarding AV equipment.
That is usually reserved for the YT political and health/fitness scene.
Guess I need to keep looking. Lol
I need help please, with purchasing an a budget amp.
Is Yamaha a-s 501 a good match for speakers with nominal impedance 4 ohms?
An amplifier suppose to power Dali Opticon 1 MK2 speakers.
It's not that the 501 can't run a 4 ohm speaker, but the Dali will drop well below 4 ohms at certain frequencies. I'm a much bigger fan, at this price point, for the Denon PMA-600NE.
www.denon.com/en-au/shop/amplifier/pma600ne#:~:text=Engineered%20with%20remarkable%20Denon%20amplifier,and%20impedances%20for%20operational%20stability.
@@scientificaudiophile Thank you!
@@scientificaudiophile Why this Denon is better than A-S501 in your opinion?
@@dante_517 it’s rated to handle 4 ohm speakers, the Yamaha 501 is not. So Denon is using a better power supply.
Can you help me with a question nobody can answer definitely..Will a Bose 901 Equaliser connect and work with a Yamaha A S701 integrated amplifier?
Unfortunately not
Great review! 3D layering front to back, where can I find that in a sub-$2000 integrated amplifier? Can you point me to some units I can investigate that have 3D qualities? Thanks..
If the Yamaha is sending low enough frequencies to a sub through the sub out, then I'm guessing that it's sending the same low frequencies to the main speakers. As you stated, if you aren't hearing them, at 100 watts per channel, it's the speakers not the amp that are at fault.
HAHAHA! That was as entertaining as it was informative. Thanks for this great video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Agree that Andrew is HGTV material...or maybe the Cyrano de Bergerac of audio 😂😂
His living room is nice, but definitely not a room to test gear. You're spot on on this one.
Is the only difference between the 701 and 801 the dac and the computer usb hookup?
Yes. Better DAC is probably worth the $100 price difference, IMO.
@scientificaudiophile A few guys in the Yamaha group on Facebook say that the 801 ESS dac is only on the USB and the toslinks use the bur brown like the 701 does. I'm not sure if this is correct or not. I don't have a computer anymore and don't need the USB but the nicer dac is nice to have. Crutchfield has both in stock, 799 and 899
Plz roast More audiophiles
Just put up two shorts. One @robinsonbrand and one @cheapaudioman
That was Priceless😂
Well that was awesome, informative, and highly entertaining. Thank you. You and Ken Micallef of Stereophile need to start the Andrew Robinson fan club. Mr. Micallef dislikes the "recovering audiophile" even more than you.
Thanks
You are my new favorite reviewer.
😢
@@HomeStudioBasics That was before the glorious return of HSB! ;) However Scientific’s takedowns of Robinson and DMS are both savage and absolutely correct. Audio is subjective, but not total snake oil.
hahaha i love your video. Subscribed
Thanks for subbing!
Thanks for your straightforward response to pure fluff
He's been much better after this ua-cam.com/video/kWKO3HTtmPo/v-deo.htmlsi=fGdhRbNhL4ByPfrx
It looks like a room that has been built within another room.
The concept is out of a magazine, or maybe a tub of margarine.
Nice I like this guy 👍
Listen I know that amplifiers do sound different but you make some good points also
They certainly do sound different. Class A amps sound different for Class AB, Digital amps sound different, tube amps etc. Amps of the same type can sound different - low quality power supply's can throttle needed wattage, frequency response may not be flat, distortion can be a major factor as well. You're definitely correct, amps can and do sound different. Thanks for the comment.
Majority of listeners don't have dedicated listening rooms like myself. It is in that context that Andrew conducts his reviews. Has worked on the sound damping of his current lounge as far as I know. The audience need advice on audio products so they can enjoy them in their own chosen environments
@@lebohang8405most self-proclaimed “audiophiles” refuse to see this. Andrew and Kristi speak to the majority of music lovers whom, as you stated, don’t have dedicated/acoustically treated listening rooms. And, for those who have paid attention, know that they often have different opinions on the products they review. The gatekeeping and superiority complex of individuals such as the one in this video are what most likely turn most newcomers off to the hobby. Andrew really liked the 801, so lambasting him for his choice of words is more of a reflection of this person than it is Andrew’s.
Hah 😂.. his room echoes violently. He has a Rockabilly sound to his voice
Well I received my 801 yesterday and just put 5 and a half hours through it and it's great! 👍 Plenty bass for my room and setup without a sub, using a pair of q acoustics 3050i
I am very happy with my purchase.
Very nice!
Watched the vid and read all the comments and replies. Would love to see you banging it with OCD Mikey and Jay's Audio at least once to see if there's Synergy. Wouldn't watch if it doesn't entertain.
8:57 This Andrew Robinson guy knows his shiiit😂
Lol, I watched the Robinson video right before this one. I am currently looking at the Yamaha 801 and also the Emotiva TA2. Do you have any thoughts on Emotiva as a product. I am leaning towards the Yamaha because they are an older company. If you got any info on Emotiva's quality I would greatly appreciate your in put. Great Video, I got through about half of the Robinson video before I was like what is this guy talking about. 😂
I like the Emotiva but I’ve heard, not experienced myself, some qc issues.
@@scientificaudiophileThanks for the reply, that is what I am worried about. Decisions Decisions. Keep making awesome vids! I've been watching all day lol. You got a new subscriber.
I went with a an R-N800A. I love this amp. Added some new SVS Evolution and a pb1000 pro. I am in heaven. KEEP Bish Spinning.
I love how these people think an amp that plays flat from 10hz-20khz has a sound.
If these amps had a signature sound you would see it on the graph, there would be bumps in the output to give their "sound" but it's never there.
That -0.6db rolloff at 30khz really constrains the soundstage and muddies the vocals dynamics don'cha know?
I do know, but I purposely omitted the information to make Robinson look worse.
Thanks for the Yamaha recommendation, what about speakers ($2000/3000 range) and cables?
Cables are far more important than speakers. I'd recommend you spend $2-$3k on your speaker cables, then we'll talk about what speakers to get.
@@scientificaudiophile thank you! What brand of cables would you recommend in that price range?
And what brand of speakers?
@@Ivy13276 Anyone asking for $2k cable has got to be a good deal. You simply can't spend that much money and not get a great cable. As for speakers, you may have to start out with the Micca COVO-S Compact 2 to stay within budget, but those speaker wires will make them sing.
@@scientificaudiophile that's exactly what I imagined your setup looked like!
Wait a second, did we all just get trolled? OMG. When someone says cables are more important than the speakers, and to get $2,000 cables because you know they're worth it? OMG, is this... OMG. Is this REAL?
The Yamaha A-S801 is an amazing Amp and those 15W between an A-S501 and the 801 makes a world of difference. Add a Sub and rock your world (literally!). 🙂
Crossover frequency is configurable?
@@alexpal1495 No it’s not, unless you open the amp and play with the RLC Circuit. A simpler way is to get a Sub with a tunable LF knob (potentiometer) and adjust the frequency. My sub is tunable from 50 to 150Hz
@@alexpal1495 No it’s not, unless you open the amp and play with the filter circuit. A simpler way is to get a Sub with a tunable LF knob (potentiometer) and adjust the frequency. My sub is tunable from 50 to 150Hz
@@mirchirock thanks. But is not one more benefit of having such filter that main speakers will also relax and focus more on mids and highs?
@@alexpal1495 I’m no expert but I think the crossover frequency for the AS801 is 100Hz. Any Bass or Treble adjustments will affect high and midrange as well as low frequencies up to 100Hz. Below 100Hz would be the sub. This is my understanding.
Kind of a harsh hit piece. I find some of what Andrew has to say pompous and if there's a representative of audiophile 1 percenters, he could be their poster boy. Often audio reviewers see it as their job to criticize products and find their weaknesses. It's hard to find good amplification at a low cost these days. To that end, my best recommendation is second hand markets. There are a lot of decent AV receivers from the 90's and early 2000's out there with plenty of power, outputs, and inputs that can be had for cheap which still work great in 2 channel mode.
At 11:16 time mark, You call this the AS8-10. So which amp exactly are you recommending, or reviewing? Do you even know? Did you QC your video?
Beware, the Sharur of speaker domain. Can you or anyone else do a no-headache attorney style service for installing a viable and custom-made audiophile speaker setup?
Not quite sure what that would look like.
Funny commentary and in "many ways" spot on. IMO, many of these (UA-cam) reviewers who discuss their feelings about audio equipment, cars, motorcycles, etc.) should be newscasters, or promoting/ selling the latest/greatest food processor/ cutlery knives
Lol i think i need to check more of your videos.❤❤❤❤❤
Please do!
801 couldn’t drive my 6 ohm rated Dynaudio Emit 10s. Can’t dial the volume above 45 decibels without hitting a wall of shouty distortion. None of the class D’s I tried worked. Class A’s from Audiolab, Arcam, Rotel drove those speakers.
Which rotel, arcam and audiolab are class A??
@@spokplumpen123 Rotel a11; Arcam s20; Audiolab6000. Class A/B
I love me some Yamahas. Don't nobody better say nothin' bad 'bout any Yamahas. I find mine to be buttery yet slightly sweet with notes of oak and raspberries whenever I play jazz. However, if I play Daft Punk, the music becomes greasier, with notes of well marbled ground beef and french fries, with a strawberry malt finish. Radiohead: Well, have you ever opened up one of those portable tube record players and taken a whiff of the inside? That special combination of aged plywood, dusty tubes and 50 year old grease? Yeah, it's like that! As for imaging, I find the exhaust notes to be placed well behind the handlebars.
You sir are a buttery word smith. 👍
ARs review might make more sense if it was the lower wattage as301 paired with inefficient bookshelf speakers in a poorly designed room. I can see it lacking bass in that scenario. If he wanted bass he should have hooked up the as801 to his beloved Klipsch RF8000 II floor standers. The bass would have blown him out of the room.
Many UA-cam audiophiles argue about whether or not cables make a difference, but the elephant in the room is that, for the most part, amplifiers are interchangeable. I don't think I could tell a difference between my fancy THX 789 headphone amplifier (which is out of style these days) and a sound card I installed in my computer, let alone my Topping A30 modified with Burson op-amps. There is simply no significant difference between them in real world listening. These UA-cam audiophiles are functionally grifters, but I do wonder if they actually believe a lot of what they say.
Since this Amplifier was a recommendation from a close friend I decided to look at videos on UA-cam and came across this video. I did not finish watching as pretentious. Glad to find this to help put things in perspective. Thanks
Agreed. Andrew Robinson does come across as pretentious.
@@scientificaudiophile Haha- he was talking about you as being pretentious not Robinson-check your meds.
I have the great Yamaha as801
Great product !!!!
Thanks👏
Wow! Thank you very much!
@@scientificaudiophile You're more than welcome. Thank *you* very much for *such* entertaining content! I enjoyed every second of it.
I have the as501 and it's a great amp lots of base with the kef q350 . If I had to be pick on something it would be the tweeter on the kef it's a a bit harsh but the kef is good otherwise. I like the Yamaha it's in my budget and suits me.
Bang !. You got it to the point !. - my humble opinion ..
Andrew Robinson and snake oil go hand in hand
While I agree with a lot of your video (particularly the comedy around 'lost its grip as the music got complex part,' that had me rolling lol), I disagree with your point about moving the speakers for the purpose of a receiver/integrated amp test. In order to compare units, he can't be moving his speakers all around for perfect positions like you're describing. It actually doesn't matter WHERE he puts them if he's ONLY A/B'ing other components (other than the speakers) - as long as they are never moved. Because to your earlier point, it's about the amplifier, not the speakers. If he's moving or changing many factors each time, that's not an accurate test. Or are you saying that, receivers have NO impact on things like soundstage at all, and it's 100% about speaker placement, room treatments etc? I couldn't quite follow where you were being serious vs joking through some of this.
Looking for an opportunity for reviewers to improve, if someone like Andrew does not have the scientific equipment or ability to test each detail or prove something out scientifically, but he can hear a difference when comparing units side by side (especially given his access to far more hifi equipment than I will ever own), how would you recommend he portray that? As perhaps an analogy, I know when something smells good or it doesn't. But if you asked me to explain the scientific reason on why my nose and brain likes one smell vs another, and what makes up that smell etc, I wouldn't know where to start. All I know is I like it and it's different/better than another smell. (What a horrible analogy I know - so horrible that I'm almost proud of myself LOL)
Thanks for the comment. Definitely a good amplifier can help with soundstage but not to the extreme Andrew states, unless you’re comparing a great amp with some real garbage. My biggest issue with the video was the 810 is a really, really good amplifier. I a/b/c’d that amp with a Benchmark, my A-S2100 and couldn’t hear any difference. Just one of my reasons for creating the “Chasing SINAD” video ua-cam.com/video/3I1I9WyRBzw/v-deo.htmlsi=gTJBGaOKCO3YP1rN
How should reviewers convey the differences they hear is up to them, but sadly a lot is perception and psychological beliefs that nicer looking and prettier equipment sounds better. It’s why I don’t own the 810, I like the meters on the 2100, and the MC/MM switch for cartridge’s right on the front.
@@scientificaudiophile For the record, Andrew repeatedly states that his opinions are just that, opinions and that ultimately people should go and listen to things themselves IF they can and buy what sounds good to them, it's literally a catchphrase on his channel 'And remember, the only person who has to like the sound of your system, is you!' At no point did he say the AS-801 is objectively bad, he gave subjective opinions based on his listening experiences A-B'ing it against other equipment is HIS living room, which he knows isn't perfect but IS more in line with what most people will be putting their equipment in instead of a dedicated listening room which is an entirely different ball game. He also points on on numerous occasions on his channel that everyone's living room, cinema room, etc will have different effects on sound and they should factor that in to how they take his reviews and how they evaluate equipment in demo rooms etc.
I found the Uncle Roger of audio. I like. Most comment correct. BTW, no true audiophile would do a double blind A:B test. You know why.
Uncle SA. I like it and I hate Jamie Oliver.
What Yamaha delivers compared to what you pay is phenomenal. To be fair to the subject at hand though, I kept the 701 because the 801 had something wonky going on with it's low frequency out, so maybe they received a wonky one too. One that had 100 watts per channel that didn't have any boost in bass or mids, but was refined up top...wait, did I just describe flat?
:~}
I have tube amps, decent solid state amps, numerous speakers both big and small, efficient and not so efficient. High end turntables and mid level tables. The older I get the simpler my equipment becomes and it make me so happy. Snobs will say because my high end listening ability is shot. But i just want to enjoy the music more than picking at the equipment these days. I'm even getting tired of tube amps, there's always some issue going on, but I do think tubes sound better.
Andrew Robinson is the first audio reviewer I unsubscribed to. He's just, I don't know, disingenuous to me.
Robinson is a troll, his opinion means very little.
This is amazing!
I've always found AR to be too "wordy", he tries to sound smart and refined, but they're just bunch of generic terms and adjectives that say basically nothing,
Well put! AR is an actor at heart. Watch one of his reviews and then watch one of his live streams. Completely different person. In his reviews he's a total actor. Honestly it's pretty pathetic.
i have this amp plus lots more yamaha stuff just bought a rn600a reciever yesterday fine equiupment my ears are 62 years old tho lmao no one ever talks about that do they
I have a Denon AVR, a Yamaha AS2200, a Vincent SVK MKii hybrid, a SET tube amp and an old Marantz 2245. They all sound different and anyone could tell them apart easily. The old Marantz sounds warm up top and emphasizes lower frequencies, the Yamaha is opposite and cooler, leaner and more analytical, the Denon AVR is darker sounding than all the others, the Vincent hybrid class A has strong weighty bass and super smooth mids and highs, and I found the SET tube amp too mids and highs focused for my Forte IV's. When you suggest he couldn't pick amps out in a blind test are you suggesting all amps sound the same? Don't necessarily disagree with any of your critiiques about his review, but there's a reason people like various different types of amps and its mainly because of preferences in the way various classes and types sound.
I don't disagree some amps sound different, but the 810 is as FLAT as any amplifier ever created from 20 - 20,000. Also note, after this video, Robinson now says that Yamaha amps he listens to are neutral.
You make me laugh! Thanks! I saw that video and felt it was not a good amp. Thanks!