When it comes to affordable integrated amplifiers with excellent sound quality, the Yamaha A S501 will be one of the ideal choices. The A S501 is a worthy successor of the A-S500, inheriting all the strengths of its predecessor and had some improvements as well. All it needs is a good pair of stereo speakers to pair up with and if you are currently on the search for one then please continue to read on.
In order to bring out the best of Yamaha A S501, we will need to find matching speakers and to do so, we will need to learn more about their sonic characteristics. Once we have gathered enough information such as the A S501 strengths, weaknesses, sonic performance, etc., we will then be able to list out the best speakers to go with the Yamaha A S501 integrated amplifier. You can also use this information to hunt for speakers on your own.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Yamaha A S501
The Yamaha A S501 also inherited the aesthetic design of its predecessor which is cool. The sleek stylish look fits in nicely with most modern HiFi speakers and listening rooms. We find the silver color finish does give the amplifier a vintage look to it. The power output of the Yamaha A S501 is pretty good for an integrated amp at this price point, it is 85 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and still can go a bit higher if it needs to for a short period of time, so to handle the music peaks. The frequency response is even more impressive which is at 10Hz-100kHz. With the amount of power output, the Yamaha A S501 should not have any problem in driving most bookshelf speakers but for floor-standing speakers, it may have some issues to really drive them and unlock their full potentials.
This integrated amp is also packed with features such as the built-in D/A converter, Texas Instruments PCM5101 that supports up to 24-bit/192KHZ resolutions, but there is no USB input though which is quite a bummer. For turntable enthusiasts, you will be delighted to know that there is still a MM phono input and you can use the Pure Direct mode for better sonic purity, giving you a cleaner sound. The dedicated subwoofer is a neat feature as well, allowing you to connect to an active subwoofer for improved bass performance. The active sub also helps to ease the load off the Yamaha A S501 by taking over part of the bass reproduction work.
More Details at Amazon – YAMAHA A-S501 Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The music delivery is so clean, you hardly hear any audible distortions even when using headphones. The music presentation is well-balanced and accurate, it also has fuller sound reproduction when compared to the classic A-S500. The stereo imaging is impeccable, and never loses its focus even when the going gets tough. This also shows how powerful the Yamaha A S501 amplifier truly is. The instruments are highly defined and are played out with precision on a large soundstage. When the music passage gets really busy and more complex, the A S501 does try to remain composed but only wavered a little, which is pretty remarkable for an amp at this price point.
When it comes to unraveling of details, the Yamaha A S501 is one of the very finest in its price range, providing us with intricate details and subtle nuance which is still enjoyable for the casual ears. The bass reproduction is tight and nimble, providing that musical presence and weight, making the overall musical performance more vivid but it could be quite lightweight for some listeners. Still, you can always connect an active subwoofer for weightier and more impactful bass performance. This does open up the overall sound reproduction, slightly expanding the soundstage and make it a little less muddled.
With the support of an active subwoofer, the Yamaha A S501 has a more powerful presentation which we find would be amazing for home theater use. The 2.1 setup does allow the A S501 to handle more music genres including the bass-heavy ones like dubstep, trance, house, EDM, and more. The clarity is exceptional but it can get overly bright if paired with bright sounding speakers. The A S501 does have its flaws but at this asking price, we really can’t complain. We now have the necessary information and data that we need, it is time to share with you a list of the best speakers to go for and pair them up with your Yamaha A S501 integrated amplifier.
Yamaha A S501 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 85 Watts into 8 Ohms per channel
- Frequency Response (+/-1dB): 10Hz-100kHz
- DAC: Texas Instruments PCM5101
- Inputs: 6 Analog inputs, 1 Phono (MM) input, 1 Optical input, 1 Coaxial input
- Outputs: 1 Subwoofer output, 1 Headphone output, 2 Analog outputs
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 151mm x 387mm (17.1″ x 6″ x 15.2″)
- Weight: 10.3kg (22.7lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Yamaha A S501
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 is one of the best bookshelf speakers at their price range and is definitely a worthy match to your Yamaha A S501. The Yamaha integrated amplifier has the muscles to drive the Concept 20 speakers and both of them have sonic characteristics which complement each other such as their clarity and revealing nature. These speakers have amazing composure which makes them a suitable match for the Yamaha A S501 as this is what the amp is lacking a little as well. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 also adds a bit of energy and articulation into the music presentation for slightly livelier performance. We will recommend hearing them out first as the speakers can be a bit bright sounding at times.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speaker
For warmer sound quality, we will recommend going for Wharfedale Diamond 220 which is one of the most successful diamond series speakers and has garnered plenty of accolades over the years. The overall sound reproduction is smooth and balanced, with sweet highs even when pushed to high volumes, the Diamond 220 does not sound harsh. Very well-match with the Yamaha A S501 as both HiFi components complement each other which allows you to have an enjoyable music listening experience for hours on end. The Wharfedale Diamond 220 has surprisingly deep bass reproduction which sounded prominent for its size and the low frequency has weight to it as well.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 220
The KEF Q150 is also one of the best speakers to match with your Yamaha A S501. Firstly, they look absolutely great and will match aesthetically well with the A S501 amplifier. Now what really matters will be the sonic prowess of the KEF Q150, there is plenty of details, and are produced with clarity without sounding clinical. The neutral and smooth sonic characteristic makes them a suitable match with the Yamaha A S501, without adding too much brightness into the overall sound reproduction. The scale of the sound and imaging of the KEF Q150 speakers are terrific as well.
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q150
Prefer an energetic musical performance then perhaps the Dali Zensor 3 will be an amazing choice for you to go for. It is an award-winning bookshelf speaker with a 7″ woofer, able to deliver a large and spacious soundstage. The Zensor 3 are punchy performers and delivers music presentations with enthusiasm. The energetic delivery is also filled with subtle musical details which makes these speakers even more charming. The clean-sounding Yamaha A S501 does add a little refinement and tighter bass control into the final music presentation. The midrange reproduction of the Dali Zensor 3 is also one of its greatest strengths which suit the A S501 amp really well. These speakers are definitely worth your time to hear them out.
More Info at Amazon – DALI Zensor 3
The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is another pair of bookshelf speakers that will provide warmth to the overall sound reproduction. The easy on the ears sound quality allows their users to enjoy their music for hours without feeling the listener’s fatigue and the low-end performance is fantastic as well. The Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 is able to punch above its weight and with the transparency of the Yamaha A S501, you’ve got yourself a sound system that can deliver a very detailed music presentation but does not sound clinical or harsh. Furthermore, the Diamond 12.1 are affordable stand-mounters that provide great value for their owners.
More Info at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
To improve the bass performance of the Yamaha A S501 and to give the low frequency a stronger kick to it, we will suggest integrating an active subwoofer. To allow the added bass to blend in seamlessly with your speakers, you should go for high-quality sealed subwoofers which are better for music playbacks when compared to ported cabinets. To fit the price range of the Yamaha A S501, we will be looking at entry-level subwoofers of the following brands SVS and Rythmik Audio. SVS SB-1000 Pro will be an ideal choice but if you want a more all-rounded sealed subwoofer then you should go with Rythmik Audio L12. If your listening room is quite big, we will suggest going for a larger and more powerful subwoofer.
More Info at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best matching speakers to pair with Yamaha A S501, we will suggest looking through the list and shortlist the ones which you find has the highest potential. Arrange an audition with the shortlisted speakers and if possible do a side-by-side comparison to see which of them sounds the best to you. We will recommend auditioning these speakers together with the subwoofer you’ll be getting and for an even more accurate result, you should be doing the speakers’ auditions in your own listening room. Feel free to use this list as a reference when hunting for other speaker models or brands.
