As many of you know, I've been doing my best to promote Yamamoto Sound Craft's unique line of audio components ever since I began importing this gear several months back. Well, it looks like my efforts are finally beginning to pay off - here is the first U.S. review of the A-08 45 SET amplifier:

Six Moons Audio auditions the Yamamoto A-08 (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto/a08.html)

I couldn't be happier! :D

Man! What a verbose review!
The first page was a review of you, the second of Mr. Yamamoto and his sockets, and the third was a catalog of Yamamoto gear. I can't even remember what the fourth page was. Finally, at the bottom of the fifth page, he discusses how it sounds. I've never labored so hard to read a review before.
Jack

Well, I myself am glad that Jeff Day decided to devote the first three of pages of the review to providing some background on my little shop and Yamamoto Sound Craft (a company that most folks over here are totally unfamiliar with). I also have never had much trouble reading, so the length of the article didn't bother me in the least... ;)

Gotta say I loved it! It was a learning experiance for me from start to finish, and finding out a bit more about Brian was great. The photos and descriptions of all the different systems tested had me drooling!

-Dave

Gotta say I loved it! It was a learning experiance for me from start to finish, and finding out a bit more about Brian was great. The photos and descriptions of all the different systems tested had me drooling!

-Dave
So, are you going to buy one?
Jack

Can't say I haven't thought about it. I'm rather compulsive - may decide no way today and pull the trigger tomorrow. Course if I'm smart I'll wait until I can afford to grab a pair of Cain & Cain's to go along with it :yes:

-Dave

I thought it was a real page turner myself. :)

Mike

BrianB:

All I can say is: WOW!!!

You know you can't buy that kind of publicity. I was especially interested in learning a little about you. Just backs up AKer's high opinion of you.


(Tubes... someday soon!)

I also liked the background info on you and Yamamoto-san.

I liked the comparison of the A-08 to other more expensive amps. I was also happy to hear the reviewers opinion with the Edgarhorn system. As I also have a A-08 and Edgarhorns, I have a good idea of what he was talking about.

I have found the Yamamoto A-08 and Edgarhorn combination to be a real powerhouse, and that is also echoed by others who have been to my house and posted on AK their opinions.

For a different comparison, I just picked up a pair of GE speaker cabinets housing a JBL D123 (12") and 075 tweeter and N-2400 crossover.

This system provided a challenge to the A-08 as it is a 16 ohm system and the A-08 is optimized for 8 ohms, but Yamamoto-san says is compatable with 4 to 16 ohms systems with only slight loss of performance.

Well, after a 2 hour run-time (my system does not come alive with less than 2 hours burn-in), I noticed the thiness of sound, but still much of the quality I was used to. Even with the JBL 2-way being only 96db/watt effecient, still put a pretty good soundstage in front of me.

I'm not going to compare this speaker system to the Edgarhorns as there is no comparison, but I will say the Yamamoto sound signature was still present.

The Edgarhorns have been dissambled for staining and finish work to be done, so I will have to live with the "little" 2-ways for now. At almost 5 cu' some may say not little, but compared to the Edgarhorns, I call them portable!


To finish off, the Yamamoto A-08 and Edgarhorn system is a breath of fresh air in a world of "newer" disposable audio gear!!!


Way to go Brian, You deserve the recognition!!!!!!

:banana:

After the review I am figuring there will be some orders put in for the A-08 amp.

I know I appreciate mine. And that coming from a very picky audiophile.

Regards, Ron

:thmbsp:

And that coming from a very picky audiophile.

Regards, Ron

:thmbsp:

Uh Huh. How many amps have you had in the last year ?
Jack

Nice article, indeed. That Yamamoto caught my eye the 1st day Brian used it as his avatar- a beautiful piece. Too bad that with my disposable income, it would take an installment plan to ever afford one; or I could stop buying ceedees.............

:yikes: :lmao:

Going backwards in time counting only the new amps purchased:

Yamamoto A-08
ASL Tulip
ASL MG DT Si-15
Norh Se-9

Other used tube amps in my stable:

McIntosh MC-240
Stromberg Carlson ASP-422 (2)
Lafayette LA-224
Knight KN-734
Pioneer SX-800
Audio Engineered Sound Stereo 225
Heathkit EA-2
Harmon Kardon TA-260
Sherwood (mono) (2 )
Heathkit UA-1
RCA MX-7
ERIC 3560

I have others in the garage I have not seen in years...


and several console tube amps also...

So I guess I have heard a variety of tubed gear and the Yamamoto heads the list of favorites for SET, and the MC-240 is the "Big Daddy" of the push-pull amps as far as my tastes are concerned.

So Yes, I consider myself very picky!

Ron

Nice article, indeed. That Yamamoto caught my eye the 1st day Brian used it as his avatar- a beautiful piece. Too bad that with my disposable income, it would take an installment plan to ever afford one; or I could stop buying ceedees.............

:yikes: :lmao:

Or do what I do. Set Brian up as an automatic payroll deduction on my paycheck :D

-Dave

Really nice article. I also liked the look of the speakers Yamamoto built, good lookers and so simple.

Been a fan of TCs work for a while as well. Beautiful stuff.

The Yamamoto was in good company. :thmbsp:

...since you are using the Yamamoto A-08 with some Edgarhorns, I thought you might find this of interest:

In the 6moons review of the A-08, it was mentioned that Bill Van Winkle, the piano tuner who owned a pair of Edgardhorns, was seriously considering the purchase of this Yamamoto amp. Well, he went ahead and bought the review unit last week, and I just received this message from Pete Riggle (Bill is blind, and Pete takes care of much of Bill's correspondence):

"The Yamamoto A-08 is in now Bill Van Winkle's listening room, driving his Edgarhorn Titans with great clarity, detail and sonorous beauty. Excellent and perfectly integrated over the entire spectrum, including, perhaps surprisingly, detailed and lucid bass when driving the big horn subwoofer through a solid state plate amp (which is what Bruce Edgar recommends). This amplifier sings, and is detailed, incisive and smooth, an unusual combination, with a remarkable sound stage. This is certainly some of the best sound we have ever heard. Yesterday Jeff, Stephaen, Bill and I listened with great delight for several hours. For high efficiency speakers, the Yamamoto A-08 is certainly one of the best amplifiers available at any price, and is an unbelievably good buy at the price being offered. It is very musical on Bill's efficient Cain & Cain double horns with the 6" Fostex 168 Sigma drivers, and is just absolutely world class on the very highly efficient Edgarhorn Titan system. And then there is the extremely high quality of design and construction, and the great visual beauty of the finished product. By the way, the binding posts on this amplifier are a delight to use, and operation is glitch free. What more can I say? Well, maybe that this is as much a timeless musical instrument as it is a wonder of thermionic amplification."

I guess others are finding out what I already know about the Yamamoto/Edgar combo. I could not hold back the grin when my guests kept looking for the hidden amp that could make the "powerful" sound stage they kept hearing.

I can't wait for when my basement gets cleaned out and the walls re-inforced(damped/deadened) and the Edgarhorns get a larger room to operate in.

While the "dynamic-duo" can play rock and other music quite well, my favorite was still the classical music with stringed/bowed instraments. If ever there was music that would show any weakness in my system, that would be the most revealing. The intricate details of those sounds if done poorly would make me turn off the stereo and turn on the TV! (for those who know me, the TV is for the news and Leno's monologue, and the Browns on Sundays when I am not working).

I have found when the system is at its best, I have been know to fall asleep in the middle of the day. A excellent system will do that!

Brian, I did not know you were such a young pup! You are 11 yrs younger than I am. Also, time to come back to your roots! Your Uncle's house in Columbus. Then you must stop at the "spkrman's" house!!!!

Great review, glad I got my Yamamoto before the price goes up!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Regards, Ron (your "picky" customer!!!)

Check it out:

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/b004/b004jeff.html

:) :) :)

coolness.

those headshells look like a likely purchase in the fairly near future.

those headshells look like a likely purchase in the fairly near future
:D :D :D