This is a matter of personal taste and individual hearing. I like both these amps with the Metas, although their overall balances are almost night and day, and neither are really neutral or balanced by a long shot. The Emotive is leaner, or thinner if you feel inclined, but is far more opened and revealing through the midrange AND treble than the Yamaha. The A-S301 may be slightly more focused in the extreme upper treble, but less from mid treble down. The A-S301 only kicks the TA1's ass in midrange body and warmth, and bass weight, but the 301 exaggerates those things a bit. The TA1 doesn't have enough of those things, but is simply more revealing and transparent above 1Khz to me. The TA1 is also a true challeger to the 301 in the imaging department.
I own an Emotiva BasX TA1 for about 6 months or so. I think I like the sound of the Yamaha A-S301 better. If I could have heard the TA1 before I bought it I would not have purchased it. It is not terrible just not the sound I like. Going to try adding parametric eq to it then I will build new speakers for it. The TA1 just lacks the warmth, color, and texture that it should have at it's price point. I am sure it just needs different cap values or op-amps and it would be a fantastic amp. Sadly Emotiva did not design it to be easily modified. It has so much potential.
There was a time I preferred the A-S301 to the point where I actually bought them. Now, I realize the extra bass slam and warmth doesn't achieve the transparency and clarity that I seek. I think we're more accustomed to having more bass than a little less when this causes a boring sound presentation over time unlike the clarity, and transparency of the Emotiva.
Thanks for the comparison. My last amp was a Yamaha. I purchased the Emotiva today. I definitely see its appeal being slightly forward in the upper mids. It shines on recordings where vocals should be out front and deep percussion is either not present or less central. The Yamaha is capable of a warmer tapestry of sound, but gets a bit muddy at times. At least, that is what I hear.
The A-S301 is a typical class AB budget amplifier, fat bass and boosted treble (V curve). The TA1 is different with emphasis on the midrange and more clarity. Both are ok for the price.
Wow! VERY late to the party here. But thanks SO much for this head-to-head comparison. So much for the "watts-is-watts" crowd. If you can't hear the difference here, you're deaf.
It's quite easy to find schematics of Yamaha devices. And You can read everything in a schema. The Y amp is a SUPER classical transistor based beatiful analog push pull AB device. The same amp as ever. Clean design. Now offering an old style loudness control like the amps of 80's. But still people pretend to find something as warm response here and there .... ans so on and so forth.... Buy Yamaha AMP like this is like buy a Piano or a classical instrument.... very little changes around....
It's amazing to see how much the industry has gravitated to mid-forward designs. The TAI compared to the Yamaha is very mid-forward, almost nasally. Although, listening to a sound comparison via UA-cam, via my own stereo/speakers makes it all but moot. But, to my old-school ears that prefers a hair of a "V" eq, that Yamaha sounds great (with those speakers). And, that Yamaha is VERY affordable. As someone stated below, this will be a taste (or financial) thing. This channel has put out some exception videos. Well done!
Emotiva by a mile. The Yamaha sounds like there's a pillow on the front of the speaker. I wouldn't call the speakers good for a comparison anyway. Need something with range.
I'm hearing this through Mac Studio/ USB to Schiit dac/Schiit loki/Schiit vidar/Klipsh 600M. and subwoofer. in my system, the Yamaha sounds more balanced, full and pleasent to hear, mmm some more like a warmish sound, but clear and detail enough to enjoy. On the other side the Emotiva sounds too harsh and lean to highs a lot, the mids sounds clearer on the Emotiva, but not in line with the rest of the frecuencies. Here the Emotiva sounds as a very small portable fm radio. The Yamaha shows more instruments separation, more space. But in this kind of test, everything depends of the equipment that are you listening this. i want to build another system for another room , and I don't want to spend a lot, I want to know which of this two amps sounds better with a Schiit Modi DAC and a pair of sony CS5 ( a little leaned to highs ). Don't know. Maybe the Yamaha compensate the highs of the SONY's for being more warm?. That's the question.
Let's start: Most people feel (from my reading...not personal) the LS50 Meta's are bright speakers. Not every speaker pairs well with every amp. And the TA1 would not be a good pairing with them. But what I do hear, to me (long time Yamaham fan back to the 70's, listening throughIFI DAC and Hifiman Sundara so not super high end but pretty good) is the Yamaha does not present the space the TA1 does. ANd really you should not be getting strong bass from the Meta. I have multiple Yamahas and love them but I also have a TA1 and my preferred system right now is using the TA1 with a Aune X8 (Sparkos OPAMP) with Emotiva t0+ and Elac 3010 and a lot of work on placement. It is the first system I have ever had that my wife remarked on.... Simply the mating of the speaker and the amp matter... I would happily have either amp but would work on balancing out their sound.
The Emotiva is like lacks warmth and texture to the mids. The bass is punchy but has no texture. The highs are thin and tinny. If you try to fix it by adjusting the treble it just get's harsher and harsher 7 is as high as you dare go before you turn your tweeters into a weapon of mass destruction. On the Bass I have turned it up to 10 and it does not make the bass much better than at 3 or 4 and no distortion or clipping even with BASS HEAD music. No matter which control you adjust the mid's just seem to be staticly fixed. The sound stage lacks depth, width, and clear seperation between instruments and singers! This unit was purchased to replace my 1990's preamp and amplifier. My 1990's amp and preamp combined in 1990's dollars cost about the same as my Emotiva BasX TA1 in 2024 dollars. The Emotiva is not terrible but at the $500 to $600 price point and being made in China I do not think we are getting our moneys worth. You do not get a service manual orschematic or parts list and can not roll opamps! I do not think there is anything wrong with the unit outside of the sound concept of the engineers that work for Emotiva. The Yamaha in this instance sounds a bit warmer and more musical.
The Emotiva sounds as thin, weak, and dull as always. All mids and no bass, treble, or dynamics. The Yamaha stomps all over it twice, and then comes back and stomps all over it again two more times.
Y'all realize that Yamaha colors the sound significantly by injecting a big ole classic curve shape of added bass and treble right? Cuz it's what consumer ears want to hear, nothing against Yamaha, but their sound is far from neutral. If he hooked up a really expensive amp ( like a krell or Vincent, etc.) my money says they would sound more like the emotiva than the over-bassed Yamaha.
![[Blind Test Result] R3 with 4 different Amplifiers -Yamaha A-S301/Arcam SA10/Audiolab 6000A/NAD C388](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3hwBVAHDd7k/mqdefault.jpg)
This is a matter of personal taste and individual hearing. I like both these amps with the Metas, although their overall balances are almost night and day, and neither are really neutral or balanced by a long shot. The Emotive is leaner, or thinner if you feel inclined, but is far more opened and revealing through the midrange AND treble than the Yamaha. The A-S301 may be slightly more focused in the extreme upper treble, but less from mid treble down. The A-S301 only kicks the TA1's ass in midrange body and warmth, and bass weight, but the 301 exaggerates those things a bit. The TA1 doesn't have enough of those things, but is simply more revealing and transparent above 1Khz to me. The TA1 is also a true challeger to the 301 in the imaging department.
I own an Emotiva BasX TA1 for about 6 months or so. I think I like the sound of the Yamaha A-S301 better. If I could have heard the TA1 before I bought it I would not have purchased it. It is not terrible just not the sound I like. Going to try adding parametric eq to it then I will build new speakers for it. The TA1 just lacks the warmth, color, and texture that it should have at it's price point. I am sure it just needs different cap values or op-amps and it would be a fantastic amp. Sadly Emotiva did not design it to be easily modified. It has so much potential.
There was a time I preferred the A-S301 to the point where I actually bought them. Now, I realize the extra bass slam and warmth doesn't achieve the transparency and clarity that I seek. I think we're more accustomed to having more bass than a little less when this causes a boring sound presentation over time unlike the clarity, and transparency of the Emotiva.
Thanks for the comparison. My last amp was a Yamaha. I purchased the Emotiva today. I definitely see its appeal being slightly forward in the upper mids. It shines on recordings where vocals should be out front and deep percussion is either not present or less central. The Yamaha is capable of a warmer tapestry of sound, but gets a bit muddy at times. At least, that is what I hear.
The A-S301 is a typical class AB budget amplifier, fat bass and boosted treble (V curve). The TA1 is different with emphasis on the midrange and more clarity. Both are ok for the price.
Great video would love to hear the A-S801 vs TA2
Yamaha... !
Wow! VERY late to the party here. But thanks SO much for this head-to-head comparison. So much for the "watts-is-watts" crowd. If you can't hear the difference here, you're deaf.
Would love to hear what can be achieved integrating subs into both.
THX for the comparison! Yamaha for me sounds more dark and closed but not at all genres.
It's quite easy to find schematics of Yamaha devices. And You can read everything in a schema.
The Y amp is a SUPER classical transistor based beatiful analog push pull AB device.
The same amp as ever. Clean design. Now offering an old style loudness control like the amps of 80's.
But still people pretend to find something as warm response here and there .... ans so on and so forth....
Buy Yamaha AMP like this is like buy a Piano or a classical instrument.... very little changes around....
It's amazing to see how much the industry has gravitated to mid-forward designs. The TAI compared to the Yamaha is very mid-forward, almost nasally. Although, listening to a sound comparison via UA-cam, via my own stereo/speakers makes it all but moot. But, to my old-school ears that prefers a hair of a "V" eq, that Yamaha sounds great (with those speakers). And, that Yamaha is VERY affordable. As someone stated below, this will be a taste (or financial) thing. This channel has put out some exception videos. Well done!
I Like the Yamaha by a lot. It sounds more alive and substantial.
The yam sounds veiled and constricted in the mids and highs compared to the TA1. Meatier bass on the yam but definitely not cleaner. Sluggish almost.
Emotiva 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🎵🎵🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼
Благодарю за сравнение.
Emotiva by a mile. The Yamaha sounds like there's a pillow on the front of the speaker.
I wouldn't call the speakers good for a comparison anyway. Need something with range.
I'm hearing this through Mac Studio/ USB to Schiit dac/Schiit loki/Schiit vidar/Klipsh 600M. and subwoofer. in my system, the Yamaha sounds more balanced, full and pleasent to hear, mmm some more like a warmish sound, but clear and detail enough to enjoy. On the other side the Emotiva sounds too harsh and lean to highs a lot, the mids sounds clearer on the Emotiva, but not in line with the rest of the frecuencies. Here the Emotiva sounds as a very small portable fm radio. The Yamaha shows more instruments separation, more space. But in this kind of test, everything depends of the equipment that are you listening this. i want to build another system for another room , and I don't want to spend a lot, I want to know which of this two amps sounds better with a Schiit Modi DAC and a pair of sony CS5 ( a little leaned to highs ). Don't know. Maybe the Yamaha compensate the highs of the SONY's for being more warm?. That's the question.
I feel the Yamaha is fuller and less tinny
Both of these amps through the KEF's sound exactly like my crappy laptop speaker. What a coincidence!
TA1 🏆
I am looking at the Ta1 🤔 for my first setup.
Yamaha is the King !
Let's start: Most people feel (from my reading...not personal) the LS50 Meta's are bright speakers. Not every speaker pairs well with every amp. And the TA1 would not be a good pairing with them. But what I do hear, to me (long time Yamaham fan back to the 70's, listening throughIFI DAC and Hifiman Sundara so not super high end but pretty good) is the Yamaha does not present the space the TA1 does. ANd really you should not be getting strong bass from the Meta.
I have multiple Yamahas and love them but I also have a TA1 and my preferred system right now is using the TA1 with a Aune X8 (Sparkos OPAMP) with Emotiva t0+ and Elac 3010 and a lot of work on placement. It is the first system I have ever had that my wife remarked on.... Simply the mating of the speaker and the amp matter...
I would happily have either amp but would work on balancing out their sound.
Agreed
I reckon most people would go with the Yamaha pairing, hifi buffs or otherwise. Would you like your sound beefy or shrill sir ?
That hit is on the head. I was looking for those 2 words.
Emotiva sounds as rich as Arcam SA10, especially in mid range
The Emotiva is like lacks warmth and texture to the mids. The bass is punchy but has no texture. The highs are thin and tinny. If you try to fix it by adjusting the treble it just get's harsher and harsher 7 is as high as you dare go before you turn your tweeters into a weapon of mass destruction. On the Bass I have turned it up to 10 and it does not make the bass much better than at 3 or 4 and no distortion or clipping even with BASS HEAD music. No matter which control you adjust the mid's just seem to be staticly fixed. The sound stage lacks depth, width, and clear seperation between instruments and singers! This unit was purchased to replace my 1990's preamp and amplifier. My 1990's amp and preamp combined in 1990's dollars cost about the same as my Emotiva BasX TA1 in 2024 dollars. The Emotiva is not terrible but at the $500 to $600 price point and being made in China I do not think we are getting our moneys worth. You do not get a service manual orschematic or parts list and can not roll opamps! I do not think there is anything wrong with the unit outside of the sound concept of the engineers that work for Emotiva. The Yamaha in this instance sounds a bit warmer and more musical.
Yamaha 301 got this one
What's the point of listening to your stereo on my speakers to make a comparison?
Yamaha sounds economic !
Mój wybór TA1
Emotiva can actually make this speaker sound cheap. Very surprising. Still sound good though
I think the Yamaha is superior!
Neither. Thin vs foggy.
Upgrade you earphone
Ямаха рулит!
Yamaha
Yamaha is the better amp!
The Emotiva sounds as thin, weak, and dull as always. All mids and no bass, treble, or dynamics. The Yamaha stomps all over it twice, and then comes back and stomps all over it again two more times.
Y'all realize that Yamaha colors the sound significantly by injecting a big ole classic curve shape of added bass and treble right? Cuz it's what consumer ears want to hear, nothing against Yamaha, but their sound is far from neutral. If he hooked up a really expensive amp ( like a krell or Vincent, etc.) my money says they would sound more like the emotiva than the over-bassed Yamaha.
Here again Yamaha sounds completely different compared to the other amp. That can't be true that Yamaha amps sound so much different. Sorry.
onkyo A-9110 take them both.
ain't like neither of them.
both just too bassy and the high's on the yamaha is ridiculous.
not worth the money.
emotiva sounds bad