Yamaha A-S801 Integrated Amplifier at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The A-S801 is a high-quality integrated amplifier from Yamaha (Hamamatsu, Japan), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. Built on Yamaha's ToP-ART (Total Purity Audio Reproduction Technology) I/O Direct Symmetrical Design, it delivers 100W + 100W at 8 ohms (20Hz–20kHz, 0.019% THD) with 290W high dynamic power per channel into 2 ohms. A built-in ESS Technology ES9010K2M 32-bit DAC with Yamaha's jitter elimination function supports DSD 5.6MHz native playback and PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit via USB. CD Direct Amplification, Pure Direct mode, a continuously variable loudness control, MM phono input, digital optical and coaxial inputs, gold-plated speaker and RCA terminals, subwoofer output, and dual speaker system switching make the A-S801 a fully equipped integrated amplifier for both analogue and high-resolution digital audio.

ToP-ART Design and High-Strength Chassis Construction

The A-S801 implements Yamaha's ToP-ART I/O Direct Symmetrical Design, organizing the left and right channel circuits in a straight, symmetrical layout from input to output to minimize the signal path length and reduce susceptibility to noise and distortion. The chassis is constructed with a double bottom incorporating a 1mm iron plate to effectively damp vibrations that adversely affect audio performance. The power transformer and heat sinks in the power amplifier section are supported by an ART (Anti-Resonance and Tough) Base — an extremely strong and stable mounting structure — with a solid center bar providing additional rigidity and vibration damping. These construction measures contribute directly to the A-S801's 99dB signal-to-noise ratio and natural, rich sound reproduction. High-quality parts throughout include a custom-made power transformer, 12,000µF block capacitors, aluminium-extruded heat sinks, two direct signal path speaker relays, and a one-point grounding system.

USB DAC with DSD 5.6MHz and ESS 32-Bit Converter

The A-S801's built-in USB DAC function uses a Yamaha-developed USB device controller IC with its own master clock to eliminate PC-generated jitter for high-resolution signal transmission. This controller, combined with the ASIO 2.3 Yamaha Steinberg USB driver, achieves lower delay and higher throughput than generic USB audio implementations. Digital-to-analog conversion is handled by the ESS Technology ES9010K2M, a 32-bit converter selected for its precision processing of 32-bit audio, full PCM 384kHz and DSD 5.6MHz native reproduction capability, strength in low-register reproduction, and high-quality high-frequency definition. The ES9010K2M's internal master clock generation includes a jitter elimination function for DAC-stage conversion with extremely low clock jitter impact. A 2-channel DAC with double differential operation within the chip produces exceptionally high signal-to-noise performance. A front-panel digital signal indicator displays DSD and PCM playback formats and sampling frequencies for instant format confirmation during playback. Note: Windows supports 32-bit operation; Mac support is 24-bit.

CD Direct Amplification, Pure Direct and Loudness Control

CD Direct Amplification provides a straight connection from the CD input to the amplifier stage, maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio for CD playback by minimizing the number of circuit stages between the source and the output. Pure Direct mode takes this further by routing the music signal through the shortest possible circuit path, bypassing the buffer amplifier and all tone, loudness, and balance controls to eliminate signal degradation for the purest achievable sound quality from any source. The continuously variable loudness control on the front panel uses an electronic volume implementation for high sound quality, allowing independent adjustment of the low and high-frequency balance relative to the master volume level. This compensates for the natural reduction in human hearing sensitivity to bass and treble at low listening levels, maintaining full tonal range at any volume setting.

Phono MM Input, Digital Inputs and Dual Speaker System

The A-S801 includes a moving magnet phono input for direct turntable connection without requiring an external phono stage, integrating vinyl playback alongside digital sources within the same amplifier. Optical and coaxial digital inputs accommodate a television via optical and a Blu-ray player via coaxial, keeping audio in the digital domain through to the ES9010K2M DAC for pure, pristine reproduction of movie and broadcast content. A subwoofer output expands bass capability when a powered subwoofer is added to the system. Speaker A, B, and A+B selection across four gold-plated speaker terminals allows two separate speaker systems to be connected simultaneously — in different rooms or in the same space — switchable or combined with a single button press. Gold-plated input RCA terminals complement the speaker terminals for corrosion-resistant, long-term connection quality throughout.

Key Features

• 100W + 100W Rated Output (8 ohms): Rated at 20Hz–20kHz, 0.019% THD, with 290W high dynamic power per channel into 2 ohms and a damping factor of 240.
• ESS Technology ES9010K2M 32-Bit DAC: High-performance 32-bit converter with internal jitter elimination, double differential 2-channel operation, and DSD 5.6MHz native capability.
• USB DAC with DSD 5.6MHz and PCM 384kHz: Yamaha-developed USB controller IC with own master clock eliminates PC jitter; ASIO 2.3 Yamaha Steinberg USB driver for low latency and high throughput.
• ToP-ART I/O Direct Symmetrical Design: Straight, symmetrical left and right channel layout from input to output for minimum signal path length and maximum signal purity.
• High-Strength Double-Bottom Chassis: 1mm iron plate double bottom with ART Base transformer and heat sink mounting, center bar reinforcement, and vibration damping construction.
• CD Direct Amplification: Direct connection from CD input to amplifier stage maximizes CD signal-to-noise ratio by reducing intermediate circuit stages.
• Pure Direct Mode: Bypasses buffer amplifier, tone, loudness, and balance controls for the shortest signal path and purest sound from any source.
• Continuously Variable Loudness Control: Electronic volume-based loudness control independently adjusts low and high-frequency balance at any master volume level to compensate for human hearing response at low listening levels.
• MM Phono Input: Built-in moving magnet phono preamplifier for direct turntable connection without an external phono stage.
• Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs: Optical for TV audio and coaxial for Blu-ray player audio, maintaining signal in the digital domain to the DAC.
• Dual Speaker System with A/B/A+B Selection: Four gold-plated speaker terminals for two complete speaker systems, switchable or simultaneous, for multi-room or bi-wiring configurations.
• Subwoofer Output: Dedicated subwoofer pre-output for adding a powered subwoofer for extended low-frequency performance.
• Gold-Plated Speaker and RCA Terminals: Corrosion-resistant gold plating on all speaker and RCA input terminals for long-term connection quality and minimal signal loss.
• Digital Signal Indicator: Front-panel display shows DSD or PCM format and sampling frequency during USB DAC playback.
• Custom Power Transformer and 12,000µF Block Capacitors: Custom-made power supply components sized for the high dynamic power demands of the amplifier.
• Auto Power Standby: Automatically shifts to standby mode after approximately 8 hours of inactivity to minimize power consumption.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Yamaha A-S801?

The Yamaha A-S801 is an integrated amplifier delivering 100W + 100W at 8 ohms (20Hz–20kHz, 0.019% THD) with 290W dynamic peak per channel into 2 ohms, built on ToP-ART I/O Direct Symmetrical Design with a double-bottom ART Base chassis. It includes an ESS Technology ES9010K2M 32-bit DAC with USB DAC supporting DSD 5.6MHz native and PCM 384kHz, CD Direct Amplification, Pure Direct mode, continuously variable loudness control, MM phono input, optical and coaxial digital inputs, dual speaker system A/B/A+B selection, gold-plated speaker and RCA terminals, and subwoofer output.

How does the Yamaha A-S801 compare to the A-S1200 or Cambridge Audio CXA81?

The A-S801 adds a built-in 32-bit USB DAC with DSD 5.6MHz native support and digital optical and coaxial inputs that the A-S1200 does not include, making it a more versatile choice for listeners who want integrated DAC functionality without a separate component. The A-S1200 steps up with Yamaha's Floating Balanced Power Amplifier topology, Mechanical Ground Concept chassis construction, 110dB SNR versus 99dB, and a more rigorous internal engineering specification. Against the Cambridge Audio CXA81, the A-S801 offers dual speaker system switching with A/B/A+B selection, CD Direct Amplification, a continuously variable loudness control, and DSD 5.6MHz native USB DAC support that the CXA81 does not provide, while the CXA81 adds Bluetooth connectivity absent from the A-S801.

Can the Yamaha A-S801 be used as a USB DAC for a computer?

Yes. The A-S801 includes a USB Type-B DAC input driven by a Yamaha-developed USB controller IC with its own master clock, eliminating PC-generated jitter for clean high-resolution transmission. It supports DSD 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz native playback and PCM up to 384kHz at 32-bit on Windows using the ASIO 2.3 Yamaha Steinberg USB driver. Mac users are supported up to 24-bit. The front-panel digital signal indicator confirms the active format and sampling frequency during USB DAC playback.

What is the difference between CD Direct Amplification and Pure Direct on the A-S801?

CD Direct Amplification provides a straight connection specifically from the CD input to the amplifier stage, maximizing signal-to-noise ratio for CD playback by reducing intermediate circuit stages between the source and the output. Pure Direct mode works with any input and bypasses the buffer amplifier and all tone, loudness, and balance controls, routing the signal through the absolutely shortest circuit path to virtually eliminate signal degradation from any source. Both modes prioritize signal purity, with CD Direct Amplification optimizing the CD input path specifically and Pure Direct providing the cleanest achievable path from any selected input.

Can the Yamaha A-S801 drive two separate speaker systems simultaneously?

Yes. The A-S801 provides four gold-plated speaker terminals supporting Speaker A, Speaker B, and Speaker A+B simultaneous operation. Two complete speaker systems can be permanently connected — such as main listening room speakers on A and a secondary room or second speaker pair on B — and switched between or combined with a single button press on the front panel or remote control. When using A+B simultaneously, the impedance load presented to the amplifier should be checked to ensure compatibility with the minimum impedance specification.

Where can I buy the Yamaha A-S801 in Toronto or Canada?

The Yamaha A-S801 is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorized Yamaha dealer in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries Yamaha's complete integrated amplifier lineup and can assist with speaker matching, turntable pairing for the MM phono input, USB DAC setup guidance, and purchase. Customers across Canada can contact Vinyl Sound directly for product availability and shipping options.

Does the Yamaha A-S801 have a phono input for a turntable?

Yes. The A-S801 includes a moving magnet (MM) phono input with a built-in phono preamplifier for direct connection of any MM cartridge turntable without requiring a separate external phono stage. This allows vinyl playback to be integrated alongside digital streaming, CD, and television audio sources within the same amplifier, making the A-S801 a complete solution for listeners who combine analogue and digital source components in a single system.