The Yamaha A-S801 is an excellent integrated amplifier that delivers high sound quality and an amazing music listening experience without breaking your wallet. Furthermore, the A-S801 comes with a plethora of features catered for modern-day uses which makes it even more attractive for both audiophiles and casual listeners. For such a remarkable amplifier to really shine it will require matching speakers to pair up with it.
With so many stereo speakers to choose from which ones are the best match for your Yamaha A-S801? To find out, we will first need to learn more about this Yamaha integrated amp. By learning more about its merits and sonic characteristics, we will then be able to find the right speakers to match with the Yamaha A-S801 which we are going to list these speakers out later on.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Yamaha A-S801
The Yamaha A-S801’s minimalistic and sleek front makes it look so stylish and clean. It will definitely fit in nicely with most home decorations and would not be a distraction when you are planning to focus on listening to your music (no strong lightings or displays). Most modern speakers will also aesthetically match well with the A-S801. At this price point, this stereo amplifier packs quite a lot of muscles, the rated power output is 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohm, and its High Dynamic Power will provide a short burst of additional wattage to handle music transients and peaks. The frequency response is also impressive, it is 10Hz to 100kHz (+/-1dB). With these specs, the Yamaha A-S801 will be able to drive most bookshelf speakers including some floor-standers that are not difficult to drive.
If you are worried that the bass output of the bookshelf speakers is not satisfying enough, you can always connect to an active subwoofer as the Yamaha A-S801 has a dedicated subwoofer output. It also comes with a powerful D/A converter ESS SABRE ES9010K2M (up to 32-bit/384 kHz), enabling you to playback high-resolution music files such as DSD 2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz. There is also a USB input which is neat as it makes it easier to connect to your computer and playback the stored music files. The moving magnet phono input will be great for turntable users. Another notable feature will be the Pure Direct mode which provides higher sonic purity when activated.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha A-S801 Natural Sound Integrated Stereo Amplifier
The soundstage that the Yamaha A-S801 projects are huge, it is wide and deep, with satisfying height. The stereo imaging is impeccable, precisely positioning the musicians on the stage, not to mention, highly defined and well-separated. The vocals sounded natural and composed even when pushed at high volumes. The intricate details of the instruments can be heard clearly, same as other subtle musical nuances which are produced with clarity. The music presentation is clean, accurate, and transparent, but never sounded clinical. It is simply engaging when you are presented with such rich details and scale that you just want to keep feeding more of your favorite tunes into the sound system.
Yamaha A-S801’s bass performance is musical as well, the low-ends are taut and agile, seamlessly blending in with the rest of the frequency. The deep bass frequency has weight which provides a slightly added impact when the need arrives. The midrange reproduction is probably the integrated amp’s greatest strength, it has so many details and is very dynamic, providing us with a vivid musical performance. The overall sound reproduction is quite neutral but can be quite bright at times especially at higher volumes. Still, it does not reach the level of shrill or cringe.
With how the Yamaha A-S801 handles the bass reproduction, connecting an active subwoofer may provide a punchier performance and delivering the subterranean bass which most speakers are unable to produce. The faithful music presentation of the Yamaha A-S801 is truly exceptional, with the right speakers, even the discerning critical listeners will find the sound quality impressive. With the arsenal of features, this Yamaha amp is worth its asking price. We have the details we need and it is time for us to start sharing the best speakers to go for and pair them with your Yamaha A-S801 integrated amplifier.
Yamaha A-S801 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 100 Watts into 8 Ohms per channel
- Frequency Response (+/-1dB): 10Hz-100kHz
- DAC: ESS SABRE ES9010K2M
- Inputs: 6 Analog inputs, 1 Phono (MM) input, 1 Optical input, 1 Coaxial input, USB input (type B)
- Outputs: Preout Subwoofer output, 1 Headphone output, 2 Analog outputs
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 435mm x 152mm x 387mm (17.1″ x 6″ x 15.2″)
- Weight: 12.1kg (26.7lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Yamaha A-S801
The legendary KEF LS50 will be one of the best speakers to pair with your Yamaha A-S801. The sonic characteristics of these mini-monitors are similar to the Yamaha A-S801 integrated amplifier. It has the transparency and the capability to produce a massive amount of details in every music effortlessly, delivering a faithful music presentation of your favorite tunes. The Yamaha A-S801 has the power to drive the KEF LS50 and the sonic prowess to complement these stand-mounters. If you want to enhance the bass performance, you can always add an active subwoofer into the mix.
More Details at Amazon – KEF LS50 Mini Monitor
The Wharfedale Linton is an ideal choice for listeners who want to add some warmth to the overall sound reproduction so to slightly ease the brightness of the Yamaha A-S801. The scale of the soundstage that the Wharfedale Linton delivers is certainly exceptional which the A-S801 stereo imaging and separation complements this sonic characteristic really well. The low-end delivery of the heritage speakers is powerful and rich with details. You probably wouldn’t need to connect a subwoofer to support these speakers. The Wharfedale Linton may sound laid-back but the fuller sound and the speaker’s agility do make it an engaging performer without exciting the treble much.
More Information at Amazon – Wharfedale Linton with Stands
If you are having a tight budget but do not want to compromise the sound quality then the Q Acoustics Concept 20 will be a great choice for you. It is a pair of bookshelf speakers that have won multiple awards over the years due to their sonic prowess which you can get at an affordable price. The Yamaha A-S801 has more than enough power to drive the Concept 20 with ease and has the reserves to handle most music peaks. These are musically refined and transparent speakers which make the Q Acoustics Concept 20 a suitable match with the Yamaha A-S801. The bass reproduction is tight and agile, it is certainly a worthy pair of speakers to have an audition with you.
More Info at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20 Bookshelf Speaker Pair
The Dynaudio Evoke 10 is one of the best speakers to go with the Yamaha A-S801 as these speakers’ sonic characteristics are quite neutral and are capable of delivering a full-bodied sound quality. The smooth sounding and well-balanced music presentation, not to mention, the natural realism which makes it very alluring to listen to. The Evoke 10 speakers are a great match with the A-S801, the clarity of the amp does complement the speakers too. Dynaudio Evoke 10 will require the support of a subwoofer as it is lacking in the bass department which fortunately the Yamaha A-S801 has a dedicated subwoofer output for you to connect to an active sub.
More Info at Amazon – Dynaudio Evoke 10 Bookshelf Speaker
KEF Q350 will be an excellent choice to match with your Yamaha A-S801, it is a talented bookshelf speaker with similar sonic characteristics. The clarity and the ability to reveal details make the KEF Q350 a suitable match with the A-S801 but if your budget allows, you should go with KEF LS50 instead. The Q350 may not be able to compete with the level of stereo separation, insights, and transparency of the KEF LS50, still, the Q350 bass performance is slightly better with a meatier and deeper low-end reproduction. Not to mention, the KEF Q350 is more affordable as well. It is recommended to have an audition with them first.
More Info at Amazon – KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
For subwoofers, we will suggest going with sealed cabinet types as they are more agile and accurate which makes sealed subs more suitable for music. The subwoofer brands that you want to check out will be SVS and Rythmik Audio. Both of them make powerful and high-quality sealed subwoofers that are sanely priced and there are models which are within the price range of Yamaha A-S801. You can start with SVS SB-1000 Pro and Rythmik Audio L12 entry-level sealed subwoofers. If you are a bass fanatic and/or want more bass output with higher max SPL, then you probably should go with the ported cabinets which both SVS and Rythmik Audio do have.
More Information at Amazon – SVS SB-1000 Pro Sealed Subwoofer
To Sum It Up
These speakers are some of the best on the market which are also quite close to the price range of Yamaha A-S801 and they definitely deserve an audition with you. You can also use this list as a reference when searching for higher-end models. We will suggest that you at least listen to some of the listed speakers first and see if you like what you hear before searching for other speakers’ brands/models. Integrating a subwoofer into the mix does affect the overall sound quality, you might want to include the potential sub that you will be getting during the speakers’ auditions.
