Beautiful sound with my Klipsch speakers
Robert from Cocoa, FL on 9/25/2023
Just right for the Klipsch RP600 speakers. Nice and subdued in the dark color which makes it perfect for low light conditions. The ability to slightly adjust the highs on the amp helps bring up the midrange sound. Perfect for my smaller listening area of 20x20 foot. Yamaha quality too.
Pros: Pure direct option. Adj bass & Treble
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Remarkable Value!
Mara from Dunlap, TN on 9/8/2023
I needed a family room amp that does not require a bodyguard. I needed tone controls for a room that was not designed with acoustics in mind. This unit is built like a brick and delivers dynamic, clean power to whatever speakers I have paired with it. A bluetooth streamer with a good dac compliments the system. Very satisfied.
Pros: Honest specifications. Well built.
Cons: None.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Nice Amp!
Jake from MADISON, WI on 9/6/2023
Really for a basic integrated amp, this has all you need. Inputs for digital and RCA, a phone pre-amp, a nice DAC, and 60watts per channel. Looks beautiful. Used it for an outside party driving a pair of Klipsch KG4.2's- we were rocking and the amp didn't even get warm. It sits in the rec room and its perfect there. Nice amp.
Pros: Clean Power Simple Beautiful
Cons: IDK...I am sure if you pick it apart there are some.
3 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from WAYNESBORO, PA on 8/13/2023
Uncompromised sound quality. I went from a surround sound setup back to two channel and I dont regret it. I listen to a lot of music. Yeah I'm old school. Had a couple old Yamaha products back in the day. This is just as good and I forgot what I was missing ! Brought a smile to my face listening to my Klipsch RP-160M that I also purchased with this. Had it in two days Crutchfield is excellent for price and service.
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
5 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Elliot from Kissimmee, FL on 7/10/2023
Very nice unit for the price. Up and running in ten minutes. Fast delivery . Replaces an Emotiva dac and amp separates that broke after 10 years. I'm using it as a 2-1 system for a tv in a bedroom
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Good sounding basic amplifier
Paul from Blacksburg, VA on 5/28/2023
Sounds good and clear--I'm noticing more detail in some of my favorite recordings. Enough inputs to cover anything I need to plug into it. Plenty of power to run my vintage Dynaco A25's. Plus a subwoofer output which my old amp didn't have, and a remote!
Pros: Good sound
Cons: Needs marker on volume knob
6 of 6 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Jason from Tucumcari, NM on 5/21/2023
1 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Sylvester from Victoria, TX on 5/16/2023
The Yamaha A-301 delivers good power and sound. It works well with my digital audio workstation.
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1 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
J Michael from North Bethesda, MD on 5/11/2023
Yamaha makes a solid product at a price that makes it a fantastic value. For a stereo set-up with mid-range power needs, it's truly a solid performer.
Pros: Solid built-in DAC Good detail for integrated stereo amp Yamaha's classic variable loudness control is useful for tuning listening space
Cons: No bluetooth; not important for me but worth noting Only two digital inputs (one coax, one optical) No auto-on when signal detected
3 of 4 found this helpful
Fixed my problem
Perry from Janesville, WI on 5/1/2023
I had a Yamaha 202 stereo receiver. Happy with it but while Bluetoothing my TV to receiver the sound didn't match lip movement. Bothered my wife. So I bought a Yamaha 301 with optical cable ability. TV sound is now matching lip movements. Also this amp has better sound compared to my 202. Even though it supposedly gives up 40 watts compared to my old receiver, you would never know it. Better bass and more details in music. I now have phono inputs too. Glad I did the upgrade.
Pros: Everything is upgraded compared to my old receiver.
Cons: Some sort of marking on dials to see where they are set would be nice.
4 of 5 found this helpful
My Final Missing Link
Roberta from Rio Grande, OH on 4/25/2023
It is a pleasure to write a review of my new Yamaha A-S301 integrated amplifier. I have been gradually updating my system, purchasing a Fluance RT85N and, from Crutchfield, a new set of KEF Q150 speakers. These were both huge improvements to my listening times. However, I felt that the old Realistic STA-77 receiver was growing tired, and I looked to Crutchfield for a replacement, reading reviews of several amps and receivers. I had originally settled for the Yamaha A-S501, but in my rather smallish listening area, I felt that the wattage of the A-S301 would be sufficient, all others specs being similar between the two amps. When my new Yamaha arrived (in excellent condition, well packed), I immediately set up and fired up the final link. Amazing difference! The little KEFs were not getting better fed and I am so very pleased! Lots of positive differences between 1977 receiver and new Yamaha. After getting over the WOW factor, I began to set up the variable loudness control and I find this item to be very useful and I can set the audio exactly the way I like it. Much better than just switching loudness on or off. Personally I love this feature. Next I began to experiment with the 'Pure Direct' feature of this amp. Amazing! Although just as all recordings are not the same, some very mellow and some very much in-your-face, The Pure Direct setting is not for all recordings, but for the ones that fit, it really fits! I am very pleased with this amp and wo
Pros: -Variable Loudness Control -Straightforward control designs -Remote control, and volume is adjusted by an actual motor drive! -Very good price to performance ratio favoring the buyer
Cons: I have none.
7 of 7 found this helpful
Excellent Product for the price.
David from Moyock, NC on 4/25/2023
Easy to setup. Sounds great with my old records. Excellent product for the price.
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1 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Richard Paul from Gresham, OR on 4/10/2023
Crutchfield is the best place to buy. Great customer service and fast shipping.
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1 of 2 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Nice amp. Does what it needs to do. I chose this based on needing an affordable amp to drive my 2 channel office setup. I like that it has a built in phono preamp, plenty of rca connections, plus digital inputs for tv and streaming too. The package was sealed up nicely for delivery. Great tech support from Crutchfield.
Pros: Affordable offering from Yamaha, with great warranty and company history.
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5 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from San Diego, CA on 2/23/2023
I've had the amp for a couple of weeks now and I am shocked. Shocked this amp sounds as good as it does. Plenty of power and remarkable clarity for an amp in this price range. Plenty of inputs. Good sturdy speaker binding posts. My only complaint is the volume control knob. The indicator mark that shows volume level is just a raised black bump so it can't be seen unless there's a light directly on it. I'm going to put a small white dot on the knob, something Yamaha should have done. That aside, I would recommend this amp to anyone looking in the under $450 price range. And thanks Crutchfield for the usual prompt service.
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7 of 7 found this helpful
Performance, Quality...Yamaha
Duke from Aurora, CO on 2/23/2023
Features! DAC, remote, A/B speaker switch, gobs of power for my ELAC speakers. Strong performer after 3 years of use.
Pros: Features! DAC, remote, A/B speaker switch, gobs of power for my ELAC speakers. Strong performer after 3 years of use.
Cons: A bit hard to read the input selector on front panel. That's about it.
10 of 10 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Joseph from Youngstown, OH on 1/29/2023
Cruckfield was good but the trucking company delivered it to my neighbor. I got it eventually.
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Ronald from Osage Beach, MO on 1/21/2023
YAMAHA ALWAYS MANUFACTURES HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS. AND, YOUR SERVICE WAS AWESOME TOO !
Pros: TOP QUALITY.
Cons: NONE
2 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Ralph Edward from Gibsonia, PA on 1/3/2023
Upgrade from a 90's Technics receiver. Running through Klipsch F2 speakers. With the Yamaha the Klipsch's now sound clear and separation in much improved. More than impressed and sure there's more to discover with the DAC.
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8 of 9 found this helpful
Superb!
Dave from Mesa, AZ on 1/1/2023
What a great amp! Fantastic value too! Exactly what I was looking for having both an optical and digital coax input. Has more than enough power to drive my Rogers Studio One loudspeakers and THEY sound better with this Yamaha amp than they did with my 24 year old Sony ES receiver, which was pretty good for it's era. And it had twice the rated power output! Very happy with the purchase and great customer service.
Pros: Exceptional sound at this price!
Cons: I wish the remote control could function with other than Yamaha brand CD/DVD/Blu-Ray players.
6 of 6 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Mark Alan from LEAVENWORTH, KS on 12/30/2022
Amplifier work great until it didn't. All of a sudden it works until I increased the volume on it, or changed a page on my laptop, or even turned off my TV, then it would suddenly stop playing. The lights on the front panel would flash, and if I turned it back on the volume control would turn completely down. This could happen every few seconds or minutes frequently and constantly. I pulled the batteries out of all my remotes, thinking it was getting impulses from them, but it would still do it. This is the worst amplifier I've ever owned, had good sound, but I'd like listening to it for more than a few seconds, before it decides to turn itself off. Contacting Crutchfield they recommended a Yamaha that costs twice as much, and I'm tempted, but I'm keeping all packing materials together, being careful to stay within warranty guidelines.
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7 of 13 found this helpful
Yamaha Quality - Lower Price
John from SIMPSONVILLE, SC on 12/8/2022
This model Yamaha is the least expensive in the lineup and has almost the identical layout and functionality when compared to their higher priced models with more audio power. In my case, older B&W tower speakers jumped to life with impressive overall tonal quality. I ordered the black case amplifier and was surprised that the remote control (not backlit) was silver. The notch on the volume knob was black on black and impossible to read. Worth noting, the silver cased model has a black line for the volume notch and it's easy to read. Pure direct mode was not useful to my ears and seemed to push up the treble and push down the bass. Pass. A slight increase on the bass knob noticeably improved the sound stage and seemed to add more warmth to my LPs. Overall, an excellent cost effective purchase combined with Yamaha's reputation for reliability.
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23 of 25 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Chester from Shreveport, LA on 11/30/2022
5 of 10 found this helpful
I don't like this amplifier.
Dana from PLANO, TX on 11/6/2022
It does what it is supposed to do. The black dials on the front of this amp are very difficult to see against its black face. At this point all I can give the Yamaha A-301 is that it amplifies sound. I wish It wasn't mine. I wish even more that I have missed the return date.
Pros: It reproduces sound and does it well.
Cons: The knobs on the face of the Yamaha A-301 are black on a black background which makes them hard to see from across the room, especially in a room without the lights on!
9 of 60 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Denver, PA on 10/25/2022
3 of 10 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Ben from Falls Church, VA on 10/10/2022
After a lot of reading and advice seeking, I settled on purchasing this amp for a few solid reasons: 1. Yamaha's reputation. 2. Simplicity of use. It may lack more modern features like Bluetooth or streaming services, but that's not why I wanted it. 3. It's more amp than I likely need. After the first few weeks, I've been impressed with the performance. It's connected to a Fluance RT81 and JBL Studio 530 speakers.
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15 of 18 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
C.D. from Tulsa, OK on 9/8/2022
Great integrated amplifier for a second system, or if you are on a budget
Pros: Useful tone controls Traditional design Built-in DAC Good performance at an affordable price point
Cons: Remote control is difficult to use in low light environments, because of the small buttons Does not have line level preamp out RCA jacks for connecting to an external power amplifier
11 of 15 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Brian from Plano, TX on 9/4/2022
Absolutely loving this amplifier for my office.
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6 of 9 found this helpful
Great amplifier
Stephen from Greer, SC on 9/2/2022
This is a great integrated amplifier at a reasonable price. The listening experience through my turntable and CD player is great; much better than my previous unit. The only reason I gave 4 rather than 5 stars is that it was not clear when I purchased the unit that the speaker connection options were only via bare wire or banana. The speaker cables I have use spade connectors, so I had to order spade to banana adapters to set up my system.
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6 of 15 found this helpful
Amazing difference !
Wilson from Sumter, SC on 8/23/2022
Never owned an integrated amp before or a dedicated CD player. Decided to spring for both over my 2 channel receiver and CD-DVD combo player. The sound clarity and dynamics are amazing compared to what I thought was good music. Highly recommend this unit for great sound and a reasonable price for updating your system.
Pros: Sound quality and value
Cons: None
9 of 10 found this helpful
Should be on all reviewers Best Budget Amps list
Keith from Longmont, CO on 8/19/2022
FWIW- I have had a lot of amplifiers over the past 40 years in audio. Everything from vintage 70s stuff like Harmon Kardon 730 to Onkyo M505, to McCormack, Bel Canto, Rogue Audio, Asian EL34 amps and a number of chip based amps, to recent solid state top budget picks. The most mentioned budget pick the NAD C316BEE. It was an absolute mediocre midrangy, undynamic disappointment with ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 speakers. Ah, must be a synergy thing, so I hooked them up to my high efficiency single driver Audio Nirvanas. Nope they just felt lifeless with the NAD. Enter the Dayton AP-150. Now that is more like it, more dynamic and less midrange boredom on both speakers, but nothing could save the Elacs, they sucked to my ear. The Yamaha has a good spec sheet and a reputation for good clean power that actually meets spec. I was a bit worried about reviews of brightness, weak bass, and perhaps a bit under powered. All of those concerns went out the window when I got it and hooked it up to my stand mount JBLs. First thing, this is big, weighty, has a novel approach to vibration control, and e core transformer (noted for good bass BTW) and runs very cool. Bass is deep and very good (folks who think it is weak need to look elsewhere in their chain), mids and highs, clean and spot on for me. It thoroughly beats the Dayton. When you do the research, where else are you going to find something that sounds this good with Yamaha's engineering chops and reputation for this little m
Pros: It performs way above my expectations. If you are on the fence for a GREAT sounding budget amp, do not hesitate, this Yamaha A-S301 is very good. And why it is not on all the reviewers lists, hmm, maybe Yamaha does not send freebies out like some of the British or other way more hyped & expensive brands.
Cons: Not really cons, just more info. Not using the loudness control, bypassing all that stuff (it does sound more transparent), since I use EQ up the line. Not a fan of the way that loudness control functions though having used my friends old school natural sound amp from the 80s (don't even think about buying a vintage piece, it will not sound as good). And I have not used the dac in this, so no comments there. I do feed it with a really great Prism Lyra
24 of 27 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Ron from Cypress, CA on 8/19/2022
At this price point, nothing else comes close. Typical Yamaha high quality build!
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7 of 11 found this helpful
yamaha as301
Robert from Lafayette, NJ on 8/17/2022
6 of 10 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Bill from Bethel Park, PA on 7/31/2022
Excellent amp!! Very reasonably priced with lots of features! Cool knobs, and I also really like the Loudness control! Great buy!!
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6 of 9 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Kenny from Cedar Rapids, IA on 7/27/2022
Better than expected. I was worried it wouldn't power my speakers as well as my old amp, but it surpasses it in every way. I was also worried it might not be able to provide connections to all of my other audio devices, but it's perfect. I love it.
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12 of 12 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Samuel from Raleigh, NC on 7/25/2022
Clean and simple, my friend said this looked like "A Babe" great value, power and sound ultra clear. I bought to replace a 1970s amp.
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7 of 10 found this helpful
Nice Amp.
Eugenio from Guaynabo, PR on 7/18/2022
Very nice integrate , i don't think you will fine a better amp in this price range , i'm old school so i liked the bass , trebel and loudness control , if you don't want to use them there's a pure direct option , i hope more integrates offer that .
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Cons: No bluetooth .
9 of 11 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Kevin from Martinsburg, WV on 7/12/2022
Perfect for my office love the quality product that Yamaha is know for.
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
great sounding inexpensive amp.
Pros: sounds great
Cons: None
4 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Richard from Chagrin Falls, OH on 6/27/2022
2 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha rocks
Scooter from Mount Holly, NC on 6/26/2022
Based on my own personal experience I can't imagine a better value for musical enjoyment. I spent over 3 times the cost of this unit on a popular British integrated a couple years ago. My system never sounded right through multiple speaker swaps, etc. Based on my Yamaha sound in my man cave I figured it was worth a try with Crutchfield's generous return policy and great service. My system now just sounds right. More power, greater dynamics, better sound period. It's amazing to me a $349 product is measurably better than something I personally paid 3 times for based on hype. I have good speakers, good sub, and digital sources. Pure direct sounds best to me. Unless you have inefficient speakers I can't imagine you need more power. This integrated amp for simply listening to music of all types cannot be recommended any higher. Fantastic sound and best value in industry in my opinion for intended purpose.
Pros: Simple, clean power, great sound, easily adjustable
Cons: Sub crossover for full range speakers, I use high pass crossover at speaker level for my klipsch bookshelf speakers so not really a con for me.
10 of 11 found this helpful
Solid budget stereo integrated amp
Nick from Pittsburgh, PA on 1/15/2022
So far, a very nice integrated amp with plenty of power and features for the price. Sound is rich and detailed on multiple sets of speakers and overall sounds good for the beginning of a "budget hi-fi" stereo. Has great punch with 6-8 ohm speakers, have not tested on strictly 4 ohm speakers. I have not tested bi-wiring on this amp, but it is supposedly capable with an 8ohm speaker.
Pros: Phono amp section seems decent enough, but I did choose to use an external pre-amp stage. Internal DAC is adequate, but I chose to run a separate bluetooth adapter which happens to have a better DAC on it. Both sound about the same even using the optical outs on the BT streamer. Headphone jack has no problems driving my AT-M50x when I want to use headphones.
Cons: Volume knob notch is too dark to see in mediocre light. I may infill with whiteout or nail polish for visibility. Second gripe is that mute is not instant, nor is it complete. When you hit mute, it cuts volume down to roughly 1/3 of where it was.
11 of 11 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Wappingers Fl, NY on 12/22/2021
Good quality product. Great value for the money. Highly recommended. Simple but effective, it does exactly what I need it to do.
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6 of 9 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Tom from Grand Rapids, MI on 11/28/2021
Backing everyone else's reviews; This is a steal of a deal for a Hi-Fi receiver! If you really listen to music, not just have it on in the background, and you want an amp without anything facny that just muddies up the sound, this probably would fit your needs. There's no "room modes" or "preset eq", simply clean, clean, clean, sound. The 60w/ch seems every bit as loud as my old 90's JVC 100x2 stereo receiver. That is to say, I turned that one up about 25-40% depending on my mood (and if my wife is home), and looking at the volume knob, it's about the same on this one. Despite making no other changes to my stereo (I didn't want to change my setup at all, but my right channel was totally blown on old amp) I'm now noticing new details in Linkin Park albums I've listened to a million times and same with Coldplay and feeling their vibe more than before because I'm hearing their voice, not a flat recording. The DAC keeps unwanted distortion away and brings out the dynamics as recorded. The mids are super detailed with a centered soundstage and the lows are warm, though perhaps a bit lacking. The highs are fluid, transparent, and realistic, not harsh or echoey like with my old amp. I'm running two ported bi-amped 3-way towers, I don't usually run my sub. But when I tune my ears to some hiphop and pop the sub on, it sounds loud and full. Only negative: bad quality music can't hide I too would buy this again in a heartbeat!
Pros: *Simple setup, high-end important things (like good quality internals and banana plugs) * no surround mode or gimmics: Just clean playback of your music. * Sleek, clean look my wife fortunately didn't notice * plenty of power to run two towers in a medium room at reference volumes *
Cons: * see note about bad quality music * a light on the volume knob might be nice * probably not the best for A/V, though it would work OK if you're ok with just two channels
7 of 9 found this helpful
Simple but great
Crutchfield customer from Des Moines, IA on 11/18/2021
I was looking for a simple stereo integrated amp to replace a well used Yamaha stereo receiver. I never listen to the radio anymore so decided to go with an integrated amp. The Yamaha is well built and sounds great. I've always like the sound my Yamaha components have delivered over the years and this is no exception. I used the EQ (bass/treble) to just slightly tweak the sound based on my speakers and room but it also sounds great using the Pure Direct mode which defeats all of the EQ. Sixty watts per channel was adequate for my needs. I'd buy this again in a heartbeat.
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7 of 9 found this helpful
Nice but a little sterile
Crutchfield customer from Saint Paul, MN on 11/7/2021
I love the looks and the features on this amp. My biggest complaint would be that the sound is thin and very heavy in the mid range. It sounds very sterile compared to the vintage Pioneer SX-535 it replaced. I am currently running Klipsch 160 m's but will need to add a subwoofer to balance the sound out. I am hoping it just needs to "break in".
Pros: Great design/layout
Cons: Thin and sterile sound
3 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Hasbrouck Hts, NJ on 11/5/2021
This thing sounds ok but with my 4 ohm JBL control 5s it just doesn't provide the power I need. Maybe with 8 ohm speakers it would be better?
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1 of 11 found this helpful
The DAC is what you may be missing.
Crutchfield customer from Winchester, KY on 11/3/2021
I wanted a receiver with a built-in DAC. Please look into DACS if you are not familiar with them. I have an audioquest dragenfly blue DAC for my android phone and an Audioengine D1 DAC connected to a pair of Audioengine A5+ powered speakers. The sound from this gear is audiophile grade. I connected my Yamaha AS301, with onboard DAC, to my best Infinity speakers and am happy with this set-up. BEST sound yet. Set the Yamaha to pure direct mode and you are set. Could not be more pleased. I have ordered all of the above and more from Crutchfield. They are excellent to work with. James Eve
Pros: Robust sound, great build quality and attractive price.
Cons: I really have no criticism.
11 of 12 found this helpful
Worth the Money
Daniel from Bellevue, NE on 10/13/2021
Very nice amp. Paired with a Rotel 1072 CD player and Klipsch RP600M speakers makes for a nice little system.
Pros: Cost, sound, features
Cons: None
6 of 9 found this helpful
great amp and great support from crutchfield
Crutchfield customer from Sun City West, AZ on 10/11/2021
easy to operate. more than enough power for my 2 speakers and sub. the pure direct setting works very well. crutchfield especially tech lee was great. highly recommended
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Canovanas, PR on 10/10/2021
Strong & pure sound, easy to manage. My second Yamaha amplifier, don't change it.
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3 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Sarasota, FL on 10/10/2021
Easy to set up. Way more than enough power to drive my Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F speakers (also purchased through Crutchfield) and wonderful music fills my living room.
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Excellent profuct!
Crutchfield customer from Bayamon, PR on 9/29/2021
Excellent product! For the price you get excellent sound! A friend of mine has the 501, and this one has just about the same quality of sound! This was a great buy!
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3 of 5 found this helpful
Beautiful sounding amp, plenty of power
Paul from MOUNT KISCO, NY on 9/14/2021
Awesome sound - crisp highs, clear midrange, deep base and more than enough power for my floor standing Klipsch RP-250F and Yamaha sub-woofer speakers. My Klipsch speakers support bi-wiring and so does this amp with Channels A+B. I am using with a turntable, cd changer, logitech bluetooth receiver (connecting an amazon dot for streaming music) and a Raspberry PI with Pi DAC Pro for internet streaming radio. This is a solid beautiful sounding amp I gave 4 out 5 for a few minor shortcomings: 1. There is no light on the volume knob, so you can't tell visually what the volume is set at. I cut a thin strip of Aluminum heating duct tape for the knob and now I have a nice visual cue (see attached photo). 2. No switched A.C. outlet. I like to plug a power strip into my Amp so when I power up the Amp, my other devices including Amazon DOT power up. This a no frills amp with exceptional sound (and it looks great), exactly what I was looking for.
Pros: Exceptional sound Solidly built Supports bi-wiring
Cons: No switched A.C. outlet No light on volume knob
11 of 12 found this helpful
Music to my ears
Crutchfield customer from Millville , DE on 9/2/2021
I purchased this amp because of the tone adjustments. I sounds great I can tweak it just the way I like.
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2 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Paonia, CO on 8/17/2021
I have had Yamaha equipment for many years and enjoyed good music with no problems. So when I needed a dependable integrated amp, this unit came to the top. I have efficient speakers (Polk S50) and this amp provides all the power I need. Just wish I could use the remote for bass and treble. Minor issue and common from what I have researched.
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3 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Bloomington, IN on 8/3/2021
Turning my piano workshop into an art / music studio and more living space was a good move after 30 years, and this amplifier helped the project along with making the set of 3 way speaker cabinets I made many years ago sound their best in the space. And much thanks to Crutchfield for their years of service in the field of sound & electronics.
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1 of 4 found this helpful
Great value!
Bill from Houston, TX on 7/20/2021
The A-S301 replaces my 18 year old Harman Kardon HK3370 receiver that had problems. The loudness knob is very aggressive! With the old receiver, when listening to really old music that lacked deep bass, sometimes the powered subwoofer would not put out much even with the sub level turned to max. With this Yamaha, just dial in some loudness-problem solved. My sub gets fed well even with old music! lt has plenty of power to drive my Polk TSI 200s. And the lnfinity powered sub sounds great. The Pure Direct setting bypasses loudness, so l'll probably never use it. This unit DOES have fixed level line out jacks for recording. Some of the modern units do not have it. And this is the first home stereo receiver/amp that turns off all speakers(and sub out)when headphones are plugged in. You don't have to set the speaker selector to off when listening to headphones. l'm so glad my old HK receiver decided to have problems. This A-S301 rocks!
Pros: price sound quality features
Cons: none
9 of 11 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Ledgewood, NJ on 7/7/2021
I already had the 501 amp which is 80 watts per channel. Sounds great. Got the 60 watt 301 for a game room. Excellent sound and value from Yamaha. Driving JBL floor speakers. More than ample power for even large rooms. I like the integrated amp more than the new receivers if you are running two channel speaker sound. Get this one while you can.
Pros: Great value, sound, look and construction.
Cons: None
3 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Guest from Timberville, VA on 4/29/2021
I bought this to replace an Onkyo TX-8222 that I bought new from Crutchfield many years ago. I put it through the paces and it proved itself to be a reliable workhorse but didn't do anything for my recently acquired Infinity RS-5B's. Sounded lifeless. I didn't want another receiver due to the fact that radio, these days, is basically not worth listening to. Getting something similar to the Yamaha C-50 and Carver M400 I had way back when proved to be too costly. I took a chance with the Yamaha based on the specifications and it's simplistic design/set up. I was using an EQ with the Onkyo. Not needed with the Yamaha. Very clean amp with tone controls that actually control the tone like they should. My Infinity's are happy...and so am I.
Pros: Simple design.
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7 of 8 found this helpful
Great Value, Exceptional sound!
Crutchfield customer from Nampa, ID on 4/25/2021
Recently I decided to get back into vinyl records. In evaluating my old receiver it became obvious it was lacking a lot of features. When looking to setup a simple stereo for phono, cd and a subwoofer the choices are limited. The Yamaha A-S301 is the perfect answer. Quality product, good, clean sound, all the imputes you will need, plenty of power for a medium to small space. Quick setup, just connect your turntable, cd player, hookup your speakers and plug in your subwoofer. Your ready.
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Cons: None
9 of 9 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Lewis Center, OH on 4/12/2021
0 of 2 found this helpful
IMPRESSIVE!!!
Vincent from Central California on 4/9/2021
I paired this with a Denon DCD-800NE CD Player and 6 ohm Infinity Kappa 7.1 speakers via coaxial connection. The sound is blissful. This amp replaced a 15 year old Yamaha amp. Plenty of power for my speakers. Could not be happier.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Lenexa, KS on 3/28/2021
1st integrated amp I have used and am more than pleased , the digital inputs are a plus. I was using an older onkyo reciever that was 100 watts rms and was afraid that the yamaha with only 65 would not sound as good , but the Yahmaha is a much cleaner sounding amplifier, I listen to vinyl , cd and streaming and am pleased with the sound in all modes . I am using this with some small Klipsch book shelf speakers with a small sub, Sounds great,
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4 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Corning, NY on 3/28/2021
1 of 1 found this helpful
Clarity and Brightness with High-end Bookshelf Speakers
Craig from Wesley Chapel, FL on 3/25/2021
This replaced a Pioneer VSX D608 in my home office/workout room. I love music while I work and I paired my receiver and now the A-S301 with Sonus Faber Concertino speakers. My music collection spans across all music genres and I was truly impressed with the overall improvement in high-end response and clarity with the A-S301. The brightness and depth I now hear from Kenny G's Summertime was eye opening. I appreciate the variable Loudness and quickly fined tuned the output for the lower listening level while I played Acoustic Alchemy, The Rolling Stones and Keiko Matsui. The music source is a Dell 5880 PC playing FLAC files, TIDAL and XM via the 3.1 USB thru a Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 (also available at Crutchfield). For the money, the Yamaha A-S301 was a very good upgrade.
Pros: Variety of input options Bass, Treble and Loudness Controls Subwoofer out
Cons: Remote does not control bass, treble or loudness.
4 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Sun City Center, FL on 3/21/2021
1 of 2 found this helpful
Love It
Joe from Madison, IN on 3/15/2021
I just received this and could not be happier. I listen to vinyl and love the way it sounds with my Klipsch speakers. It replaced an aged 5.1 Onkyo receiver that I only used for the turntable.
Pros: Simple design. Low cost. Great sound with my Klipsch bookshelf speakers.
Cons: Took a while to get back in stock. Was sold out again a day after I bought mine.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Power and precision
Brian from E STROUDSBURG, PA on 3/15/2021
I've had this amp a few months now. Very pleased with it. Delivers plenty of clean power to drive my 4 ohm Elac UniFi UB 5 bookshelf speakers. At half power, easily fills 260 Sq. ft. room with amazing sound. All the proper inputs needed. I didn't upgrade to Bluetooth because I can easily plug in my Sony Walkman digital via the Aux jack. As expected, Yamaha delivers high fidelity when playing Vinyl, CD or even (oh, the humanity) .mp3 files!
Pros: Hi fidelity, clean power
Cons: None
3 of 3 found this helpful
Ralphie
Crutchfield customer from Beverly Hills, FL on 3/4/2021
I switched from a receiver I needed to replace to an Amp because I don't listen to radio any more. I like this Amp very much. Easy to use, easy to hookup, and enough input options to satisfy the number of my inputs. Great sound compare to my old unit. I would recommend this amplifier.
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Cons: None
1 of 2 found this helpful
Giving back great stereo sound
Crutchfield customer from Parkville, MD on 2/21/2021
I haven't found a Home Theater Receiver that can satisfactorily play music in stereo, especially vinyl. This amp sounds great and has brought back what I've missed for so long. For 60W, it's loud enough for me at about 1/3 volume. And it's clean. I still use my old EQ, but there's times I can bypass it. Depends on the mids as I'm pretty picky about that range. Great buy and quality.
Pros: Clean & clear, powerful enough, great tone, warm, good quality
Cons: No Mid EQ control
2 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Plainfield, IL on 2/21/2021
The Yamaha A-S301 sounds great and works well with my turntable. You can't go wrong with this amplifier! Thanks Crutchfield for fast delivery!
Pros: Easy to use More detail can be heard from my records than before Loudness control enhances sound at lower volume
Cons: Remote could use a redesign
1 of 1 found this helpful
Great for classical music
Crutchfield customer from Tucson, AZ on 1/25/2021
This is the first Yamaha integrated amp I've ever owned. I always knew their reputation was stellar and being a classical musician and music lover I couldn't wait to try it out. I have hundreds of vinyl records including opera, symphonies, chamber music, concerti, etc., across a broad range of composers, styles and record labels. Their dates of production span the years of approximately 1930 - 1990. The Yamaha A-S301 reproduces the sounds on these recordings with a clarity and precision that went beyond my already lofty expectations. Voices are crystal clear, strings glisten, brass and woodwind tones are round and rich. I hear passages and inner voicings I've never quite heard before. And when the music is silent, surface noise on the vinyl is practically undetectable. I could hardly believe my ears and every day I can't wait to put another record on the turntable and listen to what the music has in store for me. What a fantastic amplifier. The art of its design, construction, and capabilities reproduces the art music of the past (and present) so that their wonders may truly be heard. Thank you Yamaha, and Crutchfield!
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13 of 13 found this helpful
Great Integrated Amp for the Money
Kevin from Seattle, WA on 1/15/2021
I purchased the A-S301 primarily as a means to simplify my home stereo system: I had a relatively high end pre-amp (B&K) and amp (Niles) that sounded nice but they were a bit older and lacked connectivity, which meant that I had to have an outboard DAC for my TV, an outboard phono pre-amp, etc. With the separates and the other stuff including my TV, modem, and router I literally ran out of plug space! Initially I purchased a Denon PMA-600NE but the upper midrange sounded really grating/fatiguing with my speakers (Orb Mod1s with Super8 sub) and I just couldn't adjust the problem away. I was also having trouble finding a sweet spot where the sub and satellite speakers sounded cohesive. The build quality was good and I liked that there were two optical ins and onboard but I was unhappy with the sound quality and sent it back. The A-S301 is less warm/more bright than my separates but without the harsh sound of the Denon. It was relatively easy to get my sub and speakers to blend nicely and the variable loudness knob is extremely useful for finding a full sound at lower volumes (most of my listening) - the Denon doesn't have a loudness switch or adjustable knob. The Yamaha sounds different than my old separates but not worse, so I'm happy and would definitely recommend to others.
Pros: Sounds really good for a "budget" component Variable loudness function Dedicated subwoofer out Extremely simple Looks great
Cons: No onboard Bluetooth Only one optical in Knobs feel plasticky I'd love to have an LED indicator light or even paint on the volume knob to get a visual on volume (although I guess my ears should be the guide)
5 of 5 found this helpful
I love it!
Alireza from FREMONT, CA on 12/3/2020
I really like this amp. Looks sleek, elegant and has everything that I need. The sound is clean and crisp. The amp has enough power for my setup so I do not usually turn it more than half. I mostly play vinyl records and cassettes. I really cannot say what could have been better but just maybe, maybe, maybe, a little LED for volume knob could have been nice, but again that's not really important.
Pros: High quality and clean sound with enough power. Great looks.
Cons: Nothing really.
4 of 5 found this helpful
Love this Amplifier!
Crutchfield customer from Cape Girardeau, MO on 11/14/2020
This is a great little amp! It sound fantastic! I replaced and older integrated amp and the sound quality difference is amazing. Quality product and design. Phone input and sub output. Great price.
Pros: Sound and build quality.
Cons: I would have liked to seen a connection for an RF remote extender.
4 of 5 found this helpful
Punches above its price
Crutchfield customer from Elizabethtown, PA on 11/10/2020
I spent a lot of time comparing amps in this price range and this one seemed to have the best reviews but I was worried about the sound quality. Well I was pleasantly surprised, this thing sounds much better than it should for the price.
Pros: Has built-in DAC and the remote volume control is able to adjust in small increments so you can get just the right level.
Cons: USB connection only works when a digital input is selected
5 of 5 found this helpful
A Superb Deal
Crutchfield customer from Norwell, MA on 11/9/2020
This integrated amp is an incredible deal. It has the power and the features that are needed for great sound and tonal flexibility . Crutchfield was a breeze to deal with and the fast free shipping makes this an unbeatable opportunity to own a great amp at a very reasonable cost. Thank you Crutchfield!
Pros: Clean, clear uncolored sound. Features that are never found at this price point.
Cons: None!
3 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Ambler, PA on 11/3/2020
I like this amplifier for the money . One thing of note , compared to other Yamaha amplifiers , with a loudness control , that I have had , the loudness control on this amplifier behaves much more like a " presence " control .
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6 of 8 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Medina, OH on 10/27/2020
3 of 4 found this helpful
Rediscovering the Joy of Listening to Music Again
Crutchfield customer from Pinckney, MI on 10/19/2020
I am thoroughly enjoying my new amplifier. It has been almost 20 years since I have had an actual home audio piece of equipment, and my Yamaha amp is showing me what I have missed. I set it up in a few minutes, and with the Audioengine blue tooth device hooked up to it, I finally get to hear my flac files through my Infinity speakers. It has made me remember why I loved listening to music so much. I can hardly wait for my new CD player to arrive.
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3 of 3 found this helpful
2-year follow-up Yamaha A-S301
Paul from Huntington Beach, CA on 10/6/2020
We have enjoyed a Yamaha A-S301 since September 2018. I chose it to replace Adcom separates that were about 30 years old. The tuner/preamp could not be properly repaired. Why did I choose the A-S301? It was the right amount of power (60 watts per channel RMS) to mate with a pair of 1955 (or so) JBL speakers (very efficient by modern standards). It was the right price. Actually for the price it was almost a gift. What do I like about it? It is the most boring amplifier I have ever owned (this is a compliment). It does everything quietly without pretense, noise, or distortion. It can play quite loudly if asked. The JBL's are partnered with a subwoofer with a crossover fixed at 85 Hz. That makes the A-S301 subwoofer output useless with a filter around 90 Hz, but speaker level connections to the sub work fine. The A-S301 sounds as good as the vintage Adcom components. It's not as though I blind tested the differences or anything like that, but the system sounds great. The TV goes to the A-S301 via optical without an external DAC. The CD/DVD player goes to the coaxial/digital input. I've tried it with the analogue CD inputs using Tara Labs Quantum CD interconnects. I hear no difference. Frankly, the Texas Instruments (Burr Brown) PCM5101A DAC in the A-S301 is probably better than the DAC in a 2004 Sony CD/DVD player. In short, the A-S301 sounds great and suits our home very well.
Pros: Great sound with vintage JBL speakers (and modern ones too). A real bargain for the $$$.
Cons: Subwoofer output filter is incompatible with fixed crossover of our subwoofer (speaker level connections work fine).
2 of 2 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from San Diego, CA on 10/4/2020
Yields superb sound and ample power for demanding speakers - fills the house with music and serves as a terrific base for an equally accomplished Yamaha CD player!
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Amazing power
Timothy from Caribou, ME on 10/3/2020
Excellent power .Yamaha always delivers this is the third one I purchased for my bar and studio. Have had no issues with any of them and I use them almost daily. Over powers any bookshelf and most tower speakers.
Pros: Amazing power and easy set up .
Cons: A littme on the expensive side but you get what you pay for.
1 of 5 found this helpful
Almost perfect budget amp
Crutchfield customer from Spartanburg, SC on 9/14/2020
This would be a 5 star review except for the illegibility of the markings associated with the front controls. TOO SMALL. Amp itself is fantastic. Once I figured out the loudness control, that design is better than I have used before. Back to the markings. They remind me of billboards that you see that must have been designed on a small laptop. And yes I have excellent vision. And there is not a mark showing where volume is set. There is an incredibly small indentation in the rotary volume knob. Careful marking with white paint fixes that. Oh, be careful using the Pure Sound setting. If you have loudness on and (thru it) low volume, when you press Pure Sound it erases all control settings including volume, a loud surprise it can be. Oh and I wish the mute muted more than 30 decibels or whatever it is.
Pros: Build Power for $$ Markings on back
Cons: Markings on front extremely difficult to read Be very careful using the Pure Sound button
5 of 6 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Jamaica Plain, MA on 9/13/2020
Excellent build quality, superb sound, good power. Driving Heybrook Helios speakers. Excellent bang for the buck.
Pros: price, features, sound quality
Cons: a tad on the large size.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Worth the wait
Crutchfield customer from Astoria, NY on 9/8/2020
I've had this amp for a couple of weeks now, and so far agree with the consensus that it gives clean and clear amplification better than expected for its cost. It replaced a 30 YO home theater system and is a noticeable improvement. The turntable sounds distinctly better, and the CD player (which I thought was obsolete) now sounds excellent. I like the large, minimal styling - it's true the controls are somewhat difficult to see, but I expect I will memorize the input locations before long, and may add a highlight of some sort to the volume knob. I missed buying this several times over the past few months, happy to finally have it in hand.
Pros: Very clear signal, output seems balanced and sounds good overall. D/A conversion seems very good. Clean retro styling. Very good quality for the price.
Cons: Typeface on controls is small for old eyes. Volume setting not visible more than a couple of feet away.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Alexander from WASHINGTON, DC on 8/4/2020
This is the first amplifier I've owned since upgrading from computer speakers and I am loving it. I run my turntable and a smart speaker (as a streamer/bluetooth receiver) through it to Cambridge Audio SX-50s, and have loved every minute of music passing through it. The tone control is great, it puts out plenty of power-I feel like I've set it as loud as I can without getting evicted and there is still lots of room to increase the power. The pure direct feature is nice when listening to some vinyl as it bypasses most circuitry to take the signal from source to speaker without any coloration. It's a fun way to play some old records as the artists may have originally heard them, though my small bookshelf speakers benefit from the added bass. All in all, I am very happy and definitely recommend!
Pros: Lots of control, high quality sound, more than enough power.
Cons: Doesn't include bluetooth receiver, but an easy/affordable fix.
5 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Becker, MN on 6/10/2020
Easy to use. Wonderful sound and I like the ability to be able to play music both inside and outside on my speakers at the same time. My old system only allowed either inside or outside.
Pros: Clarity of sound
Cons:
1 of 2 found this helpful
Love this amp
Crutchfield customer from Highlands, NJ on 6/8/2020
About 60 hours in, and I am very satisfied with this purchase. My turntable sounds great and love the a/b speaker selection. For the price, it is worth every penny. Strongly recommend.
Pros: Sounds great.
Cons: None. If I had a bigger room, would probably want the next size up, but for my 20'x20' living room, the wattage is perfect.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Arkport, NY on 6/8/2020
Everything I anticipated. Does not disappoint.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Amazing sound
Crutchfield customer from Riverside, CA on 6/1/2020
Chose the Yamaha 301 over the marantz because of power and connections. Each input takes an hour or two to warm up and then sounds great. Yes there is better sound to be had for more money but that is not the point. I bought this as a gift for a friend who had a failing AV receiver that was at least 20 years old. This thing sounds absolutely great and kind of unbelievable for the money . I did install an outboard phono stage. The built in is ok but cannot match even entry outboard phonostages. If you are into vinyl use the the money you save on this great amp to add an outboard phono stage
Pros: Sound quality surpasses expectations at price level
Cons: Phono adequate but not exceptional
7 of 7 found this helpful
Like old times
Crutchfield customer from Bethlehem, PA on 5/31/2020
A solid entry level amplifier. Getting back into hifi for the first time since the 70's.
Pros: It s more than enough power for an average size room and speakers
Cons: Miss UV meters!
2 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Thomaston, ME on 5/31/2020
1 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Elmwood Park, IL on 5/13/2020
Great amplifier and great price. Delivered quickly and packaging was very sturdy. I anticipate this one lasting me another 24 years as my last amp did. Definitely worth it.
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3 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Tucson, AZ on 5/11/2020
0 of 3 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from North Syracuse, NY on 5/10/2020
Versatile power source at its price point. Operates smoothly, has a remote and classic appearance.
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3 of 3 found this helpful
Great sound at low and high volumes
John from Falmouth on 5/8/2020
I have had this amp for about a week and have been hooking it up to my 4 sets of speakers(2 at a time). I have a broad range and it makes all of them sound fantastic at low and high volumes. My pair of vintage Klipsch Heresy's from 1979 have never sounded better and my new Bose 301's rock as well. I have had many other receivers over the years, HK. Sherwood, Denon and NAD. This is my first pure amplifier since I do not need a tuner any longer. Hooked it up to a BA powered subwoofer and a Bluetooth adapter and I think it is the best balance of sound and power I have had. You can't beat the price either and the customer service I received, even on weekends from Crutchfield is 2nd to none. They should teach other companies how to properly service the customer. Jenny's knowledge of audio and her responsiveness to my questions made the buying process very easy. I highly recommend this amp and of course Crutchfield.
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8 of 8 found this helpful
Beautifully simple, fantastic sound
Michael from Philadelphia, PA on 5/3/2020
I've been working in AV integration for live theaters and classrooms since I was a teen, using equipment that self-proclaimed audiophiles could only dream of owning. However, I don't claim to be the most critical listener at home. I'm happy with "good enough," so long as the parts I use hold up over time. Read this review with that in mind. I've been pulling together a home entertainment system after nearly a decade without a TV or receiver. I decided that surround sound and proprietary codecs weren't important; I'll take quality stereo audio any day of the week. A separate DAC and pre-amp weren't worth it simply because the audio sources I have wouldn't benefit greatly, if at all. Yamaha produces one of the few integrated amps with enough power and efficiency to make my 20-year-old floor-standing speakers sparkle and also doesn't require spending excruciating amounts of money. With speaker wire terminated in banana plugs, it only took a few minutes to set everything up. The frequency range and tonality are quite good, and I'm happy with how my favorite music and streaming video services are reproduced. Vocals in dialogue heavy content are clear and consistent. Plugging my studio headphones in to the front jack and getting lost in an album made me smile. No complaints at all. If you're willing to forego modern creature comforts, and you're not willing to spend for diminishing returns, this is your next amp.
Pros: Easy to use, clean interface, tone controls if you want them, fantastic sound when paired with quality speakers, good integrated DAC, inexpensive for the power offered.
Cons: I wish I knew what useful function "Pure Direct" was intended for. It's a button I pushed once and immediately regretted doing so.
7 of 7 found this helpful
I like my new Yammie
Crutchfield customer from Downey, CA on 4/21/2020
Decided on this, from a choice of others, to replace an old Denon DRA-355 receiver and couldn't be more pleased with the results. I'm powering JBL 535s and other smaller bookshelf speakers and this thing does a great job. The Denon and the 535s had an amazing synergy. The highs were shimmery and sparkly with the Denon, which the Yamaha isn't. The Yamaha has an articulate, more controlled sound overall, which the Denon wasn't. Do I prefer one over the other? No. I love them both. But i can only have one, unless I buy another used Denon somewhere. The Yamaha has plenty of "bolz". You'd never know it was rated at only 60wpc. The highs are clean and smooth. The lows are relaxed and effortless, but with a bit of punch. It has all that you would expect from an integrated at this price point. No complaints here. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that that knobs/dials feel a bit cheap. But hey, it's $350. It suits my needs perfectly. I plan to try it out with the 535s bigger brothers, the 590. Can't wait to play. Enjoy!
Pros: Basic and easy to operate. I love the simplicity of it. Lovely sound with my various bookshelves, and one pair of small floorstanders. Re-discovering my again (again). Worth every penny.
Cons: Knobs/dials feel cheap. No biggie.
7 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Fortson , GA on 4/14/2020
1 of 3 found this helpful
Great low budget audiophile amp!
Crutchfield customer from Honolulu, HI on 4/9/2020
Upgraded from a Yamaha VX385 and I can really hear the difference in sound stage and clarity! I love the simplicity and look!
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4 of 4 found this helpful
Great performer at a great price
Crutchfield customer from Farmington, MO on 3/29/2020
Clear, clean and accurate sound. Simple operation with proven old school controls combined with all the features I needed. Bought this at a substantial discount from "Scratch and Dent" but after several exams I still can't find ANY imperfections! Truly a bargain. Very satisfied with this purchase!
Pros: Good sound, simple to operate, not loaded with lots of "bling" that will never be used
Cons: No Bluetooth
3 of 3 found this helpful
Great amplifier!
Crutchfield customer from Modesto, CA on 3/26/2020
Great receiver. The sound coming out of my PSB's is so much better than the Sony receiver I was using. I left the loudness flat, the pure direct off, and adjust the treble and bass to my liking. I was looking at more expensive receivers and glad I went with this one.
Pros: Lots of inputs and flexibility for connecting you accessories.
Cons: None
0 of 0 found this helpful
Good Value
Crutchfield customer from S Dartmouth, MA on 3/17/2020
Nice design, easy to set up, and... it works. Lots of input jacks. Manages our mixed system of wired and wireless (Sonos) speakers. Was recommended by one of the Crutchfield techs and I was also available in the scratch and dent inventory. Very appropriate choice for our particular needs.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Great Amp
Crutchfield customer from Albany, NY on 1/12/2020
Excellent amp and service from Crutchfield. I've so far only used it for my turntable and appreciate its militant like simplicity and function. If there's any con, I would've bought the silver face version had it been available, but the black looks good and isn't too dull looking. I'm upgrading from Sansui and Realistic receivers from the 70s and the sound is a huge upgrade from the tired electronics and caps in the old ones. When there is no music playing the amp is quiet as a tomb - no fuzziness or noisy transistors. Build quality is excellent and is quite hefty which I take as a good sign.
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10 of 11 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Ellisville, MS on 12/24/2019
Bought this as a gift. Nice amp for the money.
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0 of 4 found this helpful
A winner
Crutchfield customer from Holt, FL on 12/1/2019
This is an excellent Receiver. I sold my Yamaha RV 485 which enjoyed for a year. It was lacking the clean ,clear power I needed. I only use I in 2.0 mode , So a Crutchfield representative recommended the301 bl and she was right. IT HAS Clean, clear and precise power.. Delivers nice hi,s and bass, with easy ability to adjust them on the front of the receiver. I definitely recommend this Yamaha 301bl .
Pros: Clean and clear power. It Delivers nice hi,s and low,s.
Cons: None
6 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Flemington, NJ on 11/26/2019
I receied good advice on the phone from Hunter, my sales person. Im very happy with this purchase.
Pros: This amp has a clean sound, lots of seperation and power to spare.
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2 of 4 found this helpful
Rock Solid Integrated Amplifier
Crutchfield customer from Vicksburg, MS on 11/25/2019
What a wonderful integrated amplifier. It is very clear and musical, and unlike "home theater" receivers, optimized for 2-channel stereo sound. While it is only rated at 60 watts per channel, it has tremendous dynamic power to achieve deep, powerful bass hits. I have been into audio for decades now, and this amp is probably the best combination of sound, features, and value, I have ever seen.
Pros: Extremely musical, outstanding (1970s style) build quality, high quality internals. Not to mention, a good warranty and extremely musical sound.
Cons: At this price point, for a new integrated amp, are you kidding?
13 of 13 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Fort Worth, TX on 9/30/2019
I like everything about this amplifier but I 'm not particularly objective since this is the one I chose and bought. I would only know to repeat what it says in the specs or what others say in reviews. A long time ago I bought a Yamaha R-S300 from Crutchfield so I know they're a good company and Yamaha makes good stuff (including pianos and motorcycles). If you're looking to buy an amplifier, get this one.
Pros: I t sounds good, looks good, is reliable and durable.
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4 of 6 found this helpful
Good alternative to more expensive options
Crutchfield customer from Waterford, MI on 9/29/2019
Easy to set up. Nice options for tone control. Exactly what I was looking for. Excellent bass on bookshelf speakers.
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2 of 4 found this helpful
Great unit
Crutchfield customer from Madison, MS on 9/16/2019
Great unit, easy to set up and use. Sounds very, very good
Pros: Well built, ease of use, great sound, price
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1 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Lake Charles, LA on 8/23/2019
I bought this amp for my workshop, I could not happier with its performance and ease of installation and use,as always crutchfield was great
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Audio Bling!
Scott from Aurora, CO on 7/9/2019
Before my purchase I was somewhat disappointed with a "nice" Onkyo receiver. It was just "OK" as far as sound quality goes. hard to explain until I got my new AS301 up and going. Within minutes I was relieved to hear the difference with better separation, clarity and solid bass. Great value!
Pros: Great build and sound quality, value and simplicity. One of my favorite features is the mute control drives the servo motor for the volume lower rather than brutal electronic clicks.
Cons: Not much negative to speak of. These are nit picky: An LED to see the volume position would be nice as well as a way to separate pre-out and main-in. But at this price point, so what.
8 of 9 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Seattle, WA on 6/6/2019
I do not think you can beat this for the price. I have been very satisfied with the ease of setting it up and the sound quality. Only time will tell how durable it proves to be. I think it would be hard to beat for the price.
Pros: Setting it up was easy. Sound quality is very good. Good for the price.
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6 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from San Juan, PR on 5/19/2019
Excellent amplifier for 2 speakers good sound.
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3 of 5 found this helpful
Great Reasonably Priced Integrated Amp
Crutchfield customer from Bowie, MD on 5/15/2019
For a $350 integrated amp, this is a really good performer. The sound is clean and accurate. Flat frequency response and no background noise. 60 watts/channel of clean power. 210 damping factor at 1kHz. This amp has many good features including an optical and coaxial digital input, subwoofer output for a powered sub, connections and switching for 2 sets of stereo speakers, 5 line level inputs, 2 line level outputs, and 1 phono input. I have only actually tried the coaxial digital input, subwoofer output, 1 line level input and 1 set of stereo speakers. All of these work great. Also, the headphone output is very good quality. The amp that I received was made in Malaysia.
Pros: Great performance and features for the money.
Cons: None that I have found.
15 of 16 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Olympia, WA on 5/2/2019
Very happy with this simple, powerful (enough) amp. Running Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 speakers. Bought Bluetooth adapter. Very pleased to find something that didn't have added bells and whistles. I'd rather spend another $40 on a BT adapter that will break after 5-10 years than an amp with BT integrated and have that fail before the amp itself, but is less replaceable.
Pros: Simple, gets the job done. Got great deal on "open box" amp.
Cons: Really can't see volume knob position, unless your face is 12" away from the unit. Will attach something bright and tacky looking. Loudness function is odd. I understand what it does, but it lowers volume at same time as boosting lows, so you then need to turn the volume back up to get back to the same level you were at prior to engaging the loudness function. However, it does improve sound when listening at low volumes.
7 of 9 found this helpful
The little truth teller!
William from Carpentersville, IL on 4/6/2019
As a music lover, I want components that give me the music in its purest form. As an audiophile, I value sound quality over bling. As a disabled widower on a fixed income, I needed a bargain price. The A-S301 meets these requirements and then some. After my Yamaha A-1000 integrated amp blew a channel after 35 years of service I needed a replacement. Having also used Yamaha receivers with great results Yamaha was my first choice. I also considered the NAD 316 BEE but went with the Yamaha from experience and a cheaper price. I'm not disappointed. I have the A-S301 hooked up in my iTunes system, driving a pair of Polk Monitor 30 small bookshelf speakers. It sounds fabulous and has more than enough power for my living room. I needed to knock the treble down a tad but that's on the speakers: the Polks are voiced with a slightly "hot" tweeter. My head- banging days are mostly behind me but I still rock out on occasion, as well as listen to blues, folk, country and pop. This amp does justice to whatever I play through it. My next move will be to upgrade the speakers. Ordering from Crutchfield was as advertised: prompt and painless. I will definitely use them again.
Pros: Pure, unhyped sound
Cons: No USB input but can add that externally
17 of 17 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Chicago, IL on 4/5/2019
1 of 1 found this helpful
Dont look any further
Steve from Mesa, AZ on 3/10/2019
The Yamaha A-S301 seems to be a far superior amplifier to the Pioneer Elite A201 in Every way. The Yamaha has a warmth to it that Ive never heard in a solid state amp. It is Very Clean and Clear which is a problem for most amplifiers trying to power Klipsch LaScallas. They are so efficient they can magnify any sonic flaws in the system. This baby is flawless. It lets the La Scallas sing the way they were intended to. The remote control which always seems to be overlooked by engineers was not in this case. It is laid out in a common sense manner with volume buttons set away from all the selection buttons, so volume Up and Down and Mute are effortless with no need to look at it every time you need to adjust for changing conditions. Crutchfield was perfect as usual. The Yamaha arrived in 2 days in perfect condition. I would'nt hesitate to purchase anything from Crutchfield. Ive been a customer and Fan from the very beginning. Thanks everyone at Crutchfield. Stay warm. Spring is coming soon. ~peace~
Pros: Easy to use, simple, powerful and extremely clean.
Cons: I should have bought this First. Not the Pioneer A201
17 of 17 found this helpful
My system is finally complete!
Dan from Arlington, VA on 1/3/2019
Wow. and wow. After unboxing and setting up this amp this morning, I have spent the entire afternoon randomly sampling different folk, jazz and classical music from my CD collection. Piano, percussion and string reveal more depth and separation than my previous 20 year old receiver/amp combo. The sound is not harsh, however, and not warmer perse, but cleaner than I have ever heard. One can feel the guitar and bass strings vibrating, presenting a soundstage about 4' away from each speaker. There is no background noise during musical pauses, and no echo when a track is complete - absolute silence between notes allows the instruments to sing. I can't imagine needing a break in period that other amp owners write about - after only 5 hours of use, this amp is already the best money I've spent on music listening. This amp is paired with 2 Wharfedale towers on Speaker A and 2 Wharfedale shelf speakers on B. Plug in the wires and RCA cables, and turn it on - that's all I did. No complicated room acoustic analysis or set-up needed for smooth, distortion free music. There are many more expensive amps that one can buy - for my listening ears, however, there is no need to spend a dime more.
Pros: In addition to my notes above, the subwoofer OUT is a great feature at this price point. Simple set up and use.
Cons: None so far. Would have liked an AC outlet on back, but have read this may cause interference.
26 of 28 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Fulton, IL on 11/2/2018
1 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Wimberley, TX on 10/16/2018
Replaced a 5.1 with this. Trouble with home theater receivers is that by the time you have them adjusted just the way you want you'll have carpal tunnel syndrome. Well, I may be exaggerating slightly, but there is truth here. Mostly, I listen to music, so a decent stereo Integrated amp is just fine. With this one you have your bass, treble, loudness and the unadulterated "Direct" adjustment, along with speaker selection and that is it. My listening room (cave) is only 10 by 11 foot, so the amp's power is plenty. I can only characterize the sound as crisp and warm, of course some of this subjective interpretation is also a product of the speakers. That said, the A-S301 is a fine instrument that can be bought with confidence.
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18 of 18 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Hank from Fall River, MA on 10/8/2018
I have had my previous receiver for 32 years.it was an Onkyo Tx 65.was a great amp in it's day.Never had trouble with it to this day.I also had an ADC 12 band EQ,same age.Both served me very well.However as years go by many improvements come along and I wanted to try something new.My customer rep. Was Calvin.He was very helpful with my choice.Never tried to upsell me on anything.The A-S301 is just what I wanted.Have only had it hooked up for 2 weeks now with approximately 22hrs in. What a nice sounding amp.Love everything about it.Looking for a nice integrated amp? Get this and you will be happy.I really like dealing with the Crutchfield co.Everybody is very knowledgeable about products and won't give you an off the cuff answer on an item you are looking for.Thank you Calvin and thank you Crutchfield
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15 of 15 found this helpful
This cheap box rocks
JH from Issaquah, WA on 9/20/2018
True winner, especially considering the minimal cost. Turn on the Pure Direct and just leave it alone. I'm running Klipsch RP-260F and Klipsch R-110SW with input from Sonos Connect via optical in a living room. I wasn't concerned about the tone or quality and it exceeded my expectations but I was concerned about nominal power. With the high sensitivity of the Klipsch RP speakers, forget about it. If I were to play anything at just half volume for more than 10 minutes I would certainly lose hearing and the cops would get called on me. Haven't tried more than half volume because I'd worry about speaker damage and personal health. Very happy with this purchase.
Pros: Warm, clean and powerful sound
Cons: None for my uses
16 of 17 found this helpful
A good performer
Tim from Roanoke, VA on 9/18/2018
Detailed and dynamic sound. For the price a good piece. Needs about 100 hours to settle in sonically.
Pros: Good sound. Yamaha people put some good quality into a low price component.
Cons: Long burn in. About 100 hours. Must use the low olm setting on the back.
7 of 10 found this helpful
The A-S301 is a winner
Paul from Huntington Beach, CA on 9/9/2018
I am very pleasantly surprised with the Yamaha A-S301 integrated amp. It arrived in 3 days as advertised in a very sturdy carton. It sounds great. I am replacing vintage Adcom gear (30+ years old with a problematic tuner/preamp). In hindsight I should have retired the Adcom set rather then having it repaired only for another problem to develop. Alas it served us well, RIP. I purchased the A-S301 for two reasons. It was the right amount of power for our Vintage (1950's) JBL speakers and the price seemed almost too good to be true. Once again, the sound is great. Stereo separation seems better than the previous components. There is plenty of clean power. I am impressed. Does it sound better than my old components? It seems to, but I was not able to perform a blind A/B comparison. I am not one who thinks different amplifiers have different sound. I think well designed amps with flat frequency response sound about the same, until over driven. The A-S301 is a winner.
Pros: Great, clean, open sound. A real bargain for the price. 60 watts RMS per channel is plenty of power. Crutchfield service was excellent. Thanks for the card Mildred!
Cons: No pre out and main in RCA connections (probably not feasible at this price point). The sub out filter is too close to the fixed crossover of our subwoofer. We had to use speaker level connections and it works fine.
3 of 4 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Crutchfield customer from Beaverton, OR on 9/6/2018
Beautiful component, classic all-business design. I was a little worried that it didn't have the power to drive my Klipsch r-28m speakers at 65 watts rms, but like my advisor KP said, those speakers are really efficient and the amp power is really clean. My music sounds amazing. Totally satisfied.
Pros: Clean design, clean power, no frills or extra crap
Cons: Ugly remote, but so what?
7 of 9 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Kenneth from Charlotte, NC on 9/4/2018
I am seriously impressed with this amp. I was concerned at this price point that this amp wouldn't drive my old Boston Acoustics VR3's as well as I would like... I have no more concerns. I wanted a simple, classic, no frills, inexpensive amp to be the center piece for a 2 channel system. Well, I was comparing this amp with NAD C316 BEE V2 and Cambridge Audio Topaz AM 10 and decided on the Yamaha based on the ability to Bi-wire my speakers (I have also had good success with other products from Yamaha over the years). I am VERY happy with this purchase. I tested my setup with Pat Metheny, Arctic Monkeys, and Nirvana (I find these three to be a good judge of a systems ability to clearly reproduce the highs and lows found in various styles of music) and was blown away with how good my system sounded. I am currently running the amp with the loudness decreased (-15dB), the bass control with a slight increase, and the treble with a slight decrease. VERY pleased with this amp.
Pros: ability to bi-wire speakers.
Cons: none that I have found at the moment
7 of 7 found this helpful
sound is good
john from Worcester, MA on 8/29/2018
sound is good.good starter amp. to early to tell has to burn in
Pros: neat and compact
Cons: miss my ca-810
3 of 10 found this helpful
Perfect balance
Crutchfield customer from Lincoln, NE on 7/26/2018
An integrated amp is still the only way to go. Yamaha does it best. My old vinyl sounds new again.
Pros: It's all good.
Cons: None.
4 of 5 found this helpful
Great amp, love the variable loudness
John G. from Greenville, SC on 7/6/2018
I bought this amp to replace a 27 year old 60 watt Kenwood receiver. Can't say the Yamaha puts the Kenwood completely to shame, but it does sound MUCH better and cleaner. Part of it is the variable loudness control, which is just a great feature. I used to find myself punching the bass up to about 4 and the treble up to around 8 to get the sound I wanted out of my Polk Audio S4 bookshelf speakers (25 years old) at normal to low volumes. With this amp, the Polks sound great with the tone controls flat, volume set at 50 percent, and the loudness set to whatever level you want. Loudness buttons were always useless, but with variable control you have no loss of richness in the lows and highs when you turn the "volume" down (by adjusting the loudness). I've wanted a Yamaha with variable loudness control for over 30 years, can't believe I waited this long to buy one. This is a great amp, hope it's still kicking in 27 years like the Kenwood was. I bought the Kenwood for $200 because the comparable Yamaha was $350 (which is what I paid today ;-) The amp seems really well built, quite heavy. Phono preamp sounds great, big reason I bought this amp. No tape monitor, but unless you're still using a 3 head cassette there's no need to have one. The optical input is great for connecting all of your video via your TV. Another improvement over cheaper receivers: no drop in fidelity or volume when you switch from A speakers to A+B.
Pros: Top notch sound, variable loudness, quality construction.
Cons: An LED on the volume knob would be nice so you can tell what the setting is when using the remote. If I were designing this amp I would probably motorize the loudness control instead of the volume control. Or drop the "pure direct" switch and motorize them both.
8 of 8 found this helpful
Very good amplifier
Cal from San Bernardino, CA on 7/2/2018
Surpasses my expectations. Great headroom. Reaches the level of my Emotiva amplifier. I passed on Marantz 5005 and don't regret it.
Pros: Price and quality.
Cons: None
7 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Robert from Rego Park, NY on 6/5/2018
Very happy with the Crutchfield team. The A-S301 works very well.
Pros: Easy to use, enough wattage for complete musical enjoyment
Cons: Best used with very efficient speakers
1 of 1 found this helpful
Just Right
Allen from Staatsburg, NY on 6/3/2018
Does exactly what is required, delivers clean power and disappears. Run the "Pure Direct". Everything clear and balanced.
Pros: Pure Direct
Cons: None
0 of 2 found this helpful
Solid, Beginner's Amp
JG from Frisco, TX on 5/7/2018
As advertised. Uncomplicated. Solid beginner's amp. Very sleek design with user-friendly, intuitive functionality.
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3 of 5 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Dan from Orlando, FL on 4/29/2018
Amp sounds great, no background noise or hiss, and provides good clean power. Loudness control is very useful as well. Phono preamp sounds great too.
Pros: Easy to use and great sound
Cons: No DAC converter
2 of 9 found this helpful
Nice integrated amplifier
Alex from Manassas, VA on 4/11/2018
Great amp with clean sound and plenty of power for most people. 60W per channel may not sound like much, but I never had to turn the volume knob past the half way point for my KIipsch RF52 towers to start hurting my ears. It has more than enough power to play loud and clean with pretty much any speakers. The DAC they chose reproduces sound very clean and accurately. Tone control knobs have no effect on the REC outs. The phono preamp is ok, but I wish they gave us a way to bypass it for those who use their own preamps so we can still use the Phono position on the input selector instead of another source.
Pros: No unnecessary features and reasonably priced. Plenty of clean power, excellent DAC, simple and clean look
Cons: Phono preamp cant be bypassed for use with other preamps on the same input. No USB input.
4 of 4 found this helpful
Great Integrated Amp!
Larry from Carlsbad, CA on 4/2/2018
After research, reading reviews and speaking with Brit, I purchased this integrated amplifier. It matches well with all my other components and drives my new Polk Audio RTi A7 speakers nicely. Very good, clean sound as I would expect from Yamaha. It replaces a Yamaha R-S300 since I have no need for a tuner and don't use surround sound in my townhouse. This unit has an abundance of connections; RCA, optical and coaxial. Both vinyl and CD (Onkyo C-7030 via optical cable) sound great. I am more than satisfied with my purchase and highly recommend Yamaha products. They have never failed to deliver as expected.
Pros: Sleek, simple look yet serious in appearance and performance. Crutchfield is my go-to source for future purchases.
Cons: None
7 of 7 found this helpful
Yamaha A-S301
Steven from Fort Collins, CO on 3/30/2018
Great amp with plenty of power. I'm driving a pair of Polk Monitor 60 II tower speakers with a Polk PSW 10 sub. Volume set at noon is plenty for a dance party. DAC performs well for input from at TV. Running a turn table as well through the phono input without issue. Remote control works great for volume and input selection, would buy again.
Pros:
Cons: Could have more digital inputs
3 of 3 found this helpful