Integrated Tube Amp approx. $2,500

@br3 well, how is it??  did you go with the 1200 or the 2100?

that’s how I have heard Yamaha, my ears just didn’t want me to like them

The MOSFET transistor Yamahas have to go through a fairly lengthy break-in before they sound best. I didn’t believe in amp “break-in” prior to owning one. The difference between the first and ≈50th hour is drastic. They sound very different from Yamaha’s AVRs and considerably different from their BJT based integrateds.

@shtinkydog ​​​​@russ69 I received the A-S1200 yesterday and within two songs I knew I was going to keep it. I've put about 10 more listening hours in since then, and I haven't heard anything to change my mind. One of my biggest concerns was that it would be too forward, but I've found the presentation to fill the room more than pound my face. I think that the instrument seperation is really good, and they sound more realistic and clear than the tube amps I had been using (this may be because I haven't ventured into high-end tube amps yet). Obviously, it's not as warm as a tube amp, but it's not harsh at all. It's kind of like a tube amp in ultralinear mode, but better (I'm not quite sure how to explain it). I've read that the sound improves after approx 50 hours. If that's the case, then it's just icing on the cake. I couldn't of hoped for better thus far.

@br3 , thank you for your impressions. I've been eyeballing the 1200 and the 2200 for another system.  Your comments help.  Congratulations and hope it brings you years of pleasure.  

 

I received the A-S1200 yesterday and within two songs I knew I was going to keep it. I've put about 10 more listening hours in since then, and I haven't heard anything to change my mind. One of my biggest concerns was that it would be too forward, but I've found the presentation to fill the room more than pound my face. I think that the instrument seperation is really good, and they sound more realistic and clear than the tube amps I had been using (this may be because I haven't ventured into high-end tube amps yet). Obviously, it's not as warm as a tube amp, but it's not harsh at all. It's kind of like a tube amp in ultralinear mode, but better (I'm not quite sure how to explain it). I've read that the sound improves after approx 50 hours. If that's the case, then it's just icing on the cake. I couldn't of hoped for better thus far.

Congrats on your new acquisition. 

FWIW, I compared my previous A-S1100 to quite a few tube products, both integrateds and separate pres/amps. The 1100 acquitted itself quite well against all of them. In most cases it bettered them considerably. Even when used solely as a preamp, the 1100 sounded better than all tube pres I’ve owned, even the $5500 Allnic L-1500 and $3500 Bel Canto SEP-1. It was laughable the first time I conducted an A/B between the 1100’s pre and the Allnic. I stand by the assertion I’ve made elsewhere that the Yamaha integrated’s pre sections alone are worth the retail price considering the performance of competitors. The only preamps I’ve owned that sound marginally better (and only in terms of outright resolution) are squeaky-clean measuring models like the Benchmark LA4 and Bel Canto Pre5. But those don’t do the tube-like lushness. In my opinion, the MOSFET Yamaha integrateds provide what most hybrid tube/SS products promise but fail to deliver. One thing for certain is that after having lived with the 1100, 2200 and now the 2100, I have zero interest in ever returning to tube-based products of any sort. 

It’s also worth mentioning that I’ve yet to own an amplifier that manages bass depth/extension as well as these Yamahas. With full-range speakers, the Yammies seem to add a whole half an octave of bass extension compared to every other I’ve owned, including powerhouses like the Parasound A21 and Coda No.8.