Not sure what country you’re in but the products you noted are still on the Yamaha US website except for the high end cd player which was released back in 2014 and is now discontinued though some retailers still have stock including Yamaha who have black and silver in their web store.
I just looked at their site and nothing appears to have changed recently. Their top-end preamp and amp are there and their large range of 2-channel integrateds are there, as are their audio receivers (N2000, et al.) and their TTs. High end disc players are available. Technics has at least three.
I bought the A-S3000 brand new. It was an upgrade sonically from their flagship integrated from 1985, the A-1000. However the A-1000 had a ton more power. Both amps were rated at 150 wpc @ 8ohms. I used the same speakers to compare.
I thought the A-S3000 was the last amp I was ever going to buy. That was four amps ago! Unfortunately, I had to upgrade from the A-S3000 when I upgraded speakers to a 4 ohm speaker.
The silver face A-S3000 is the most beautiful amp I’ve ever seen. It would be my go to if I lived in an apartment, the sonics at low volumes are really incredible! I’d also match it with efficient speakers. My old Infinity RS4b’s weren’t efficient enough. Their rated at 8 to 4 ohms.
My experience with Yamaha electronics is limited to a 1990's mid-range CD player I bought used. The internal DAC was unlistenable. It even sounded bad as a transport using the coax digital out to my external DAC.
Their current Yamaha integrated amps look the part. I sure hope they sound better than that CD player.
Some models could be discontinued for an updated model possibly, especially the sacd players.
Their more affordable integrateds always sold like hot cakes.
Even the niche high end models like the C5000, M5000 stack, etc (not cheap by avg hifi standards) has steady sales. They’ve always had the lions share of the musician market i.e the ones among them with some cash. Musician dudes don’t show up on hifi forums to sing praise...they are quiet customers.
I had an all Yamaha mid-fi system around 1988, cold and sterile comes to mind. No body to the music. When I say mid-fi, I am talking an (all Yamaha) integrated amp, tuner, and cd player. I was using Boston Acoustics speakers (their most expensive floor standing speakers) and a Nakamichi cassette deck. I hated it but my friend loved it and bought the entire system. Moved on to Adcom separates and Vandersteen 2ci speakers. Then the continuous upgrade path began.
I have and use an RX-Z9 RECEIVER bought new for $4,050 in 2003, the first year they had a 10% off sale.
This unit now has over 35,000 hours on it and still functions as new! I’ve actually worn out the first remote.
The unit operates in Class A/B and can peak at 540 WPC. (Must be heavily into Class A because it gets real hot when there is no/little signal.)
For music (Oppo-95 ) I run it in "Pure Direct" mode which by-passes everything but the volume control and turns off the digital circuitry. I’ve run it with an open load all the way to a dead short and never has it failed.
Take the name tags off do spec sheet and build quality / parts review. Many models will significantly surpass theirs and other pay grades. Example, a Tube sound preference might go to an Audio reference 160s, but nothing else on that spec sheet would come anywhere close to the Yamaha Mx-10000. Yes it was a limited production that said it was also 1987 vintage.
In the UK l believe Yamaha only excel in the AV market. Their multi-channel amps and sound bars. Not a serious contender in true hi-fi now in my opinion.
I've had Yamaha receivers which I really like. I think the sound lacks a bit, but it's under friendly and reliable. I'm currently using a Yamaha surround sound processor and it's a very solid unit. I've had it for almost 10 years and I don't see any need to replace it.
I'm not sure what all the angst is about. Yamaha is still a top audiophile contender in my book. I have an A-S801 Integrated amp that's so sweet and functional, its amazing in what it can do. The build quality is totally on point with a solid, double deck chassis and a gigantic, very well isolated toroidal transformer. In the DAC section, Yamaha selected the 32-bit, 2-channel SABRE™ Premier Audio DAC from ESS Technology. Its the same chip all the audiophilesle sware by. How about showing a little love for a solid piece of Hi-Fi gear from a great company. All of this from a guy who's used Yamaha mixing consoles in the studio and in live audio settings for decades.
The current crop of Yamaha HiFi components are quite good, easily competitive with alternative options in their respective price classes. The A-S2200 and 2100 are a couple of the best sounding integrateds I have heard regardless of price.
Their NS-5000 speakers are true high end.
Yamaha possesses R&D resources that many other brands can only dream of.
There's a lot more to building a good CD/SACD player than just the chip. If that was the case, I guess some of the Chinese mass produced, Amazon sold, DAC, basically the same one sold under a half dozen different names for cheap, is all you need. I own a CD-S2100 and can tell you it's not just a 35Ib hunk of chassis. It would take too long here to go into detail about its design, but it delivers the goods. FYI, I also own an Esoteric KO-3XD if you need to compare to something else. Also, for fun I own a Philips Magnavox CDB-560 with original remote that looks and operates like it was built last month, utilizing the Philips TDA 1541 ladder DAC, the same one that Demetris Backlavas, designer of the Ypsilon CDT-100(an aquaintance took delivery of one of these made to order works of art a few months back), said he would have used in the design of his machine if they were available. I have a pretty good handle on what the Yamaha is all about.
My first "real" stereo was all Yamaha back in 1980. CR-440 receiver, lowest TT, cassette deck and speakers. The receiver was the best part of it. Had it for a couple of years and started trading way more often than I should have. It was college, what can I say? Settled down when I graduated and only switch when something breaks or I need something (like a remote for volume on the integrated) or I get some found money or Covid hits. It seems like removing vibrations from the turntable and putting speakers 3 feet from the wall were the biggest improvements. Also removing vibrations from the speakers helped a lot.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
