I have had my AS1100 for nearly a year now and felt like selling it several times. It was just very disappointing on a number of fronts for an amplifier of this build quality. It was very 2d in its presentation, although you could hear the distance cues of instruments and there was no definitive layering in the soundstage or sense of space. I tried the Yamaha with Focals, Jamo D570, Kef Coda 7 and B&W 603s3. I also have a Yamaha rxv2700 and found it was better in most respects to the 1100 when it came to listening enjoyment, soundstaging and detail except for in combination with the B&W for which both amps were equally unacceptable in their own ways. My brother in law who is a diy enthusiast picked up a second hand Denon surround amp for 10 dollars and he bought it over to show me for a bit of fun, so we hooked it up and what do you know the sound is suddenly a big improvement and I bought it off of him and put my 1100 up for sale. Still feeling jaded about the 1100 I thought this can't be right and before anyone bought it I tried one last time to get decent sound out of it by trying my speakers (603) in lots of different positions. Now just remember that they are normally 3 feet from the front wall, 4 feet from side walls and about 7 feet apart and 9 get from my ears. This has given me very good results with my other amps. What I found with the 1100 was that I got all of what I wanted/expected with the 603s 6 1/2 feet out from the front wall. They look ridiculous out there in the room and most wives would probably go nuts about it but I have an understanding better half. I have never had to do this with any of my amps before but am keeping it for now as I am really enjoying the results, but the fact that it has required such extreme speaker placement as compared to my other amps to me just makes it weird for what it is. I should say that in the past I have had electrostats, Maggie's, polk lsi15, Dali, Jamo, Nad and Denon POAS10 mono blocks.I've owned some incredible Yamaha pieces over the years but it's been a long time since I've had any in the house. I've gotten out of the vintage game and my system is mostly modern gear, other than the turntable.
However, I find myself interested in the new A-S1100 integrated amp. I demoed it this morning at the one and only remaining audio shop here but their room and speaker set up was crap and the music sounded lousy. The sales guy kept turning it up louder and I kept turning it down as it sounded so bad. I don't believe what I heard what representative of what this amp is capable of.
Anything I can find about the S1100 on the net says it sounds great and folks are generally pleased with it. I'd like to hear from AK owners of this amp so please feel free to share your impressions with me, likes/dislikes, strengths/weaknesses etc. Thanks!
Happy to hear you have found an amp you are happy with. I always hear good things about Hegel. I am impressed with my Yamaha now and would be hard pressed to sell it.Thanks for that input. What I really wanted was the 3000 but just can't justify spending that much.
Picked up a new Hegel H90 a few weeks ago, an absolutely superb amp.
Anyone had a chance to compare with Sony TAA1ES ? I heard one in Japan and while it was paired with top of the line speakers, i really liked it.
I am tossing up between the 1100 and the Sony.
Thank you.Welcome to AK Darren..
Hi Jason,So how good is the as1100...has it got a deep smooth sound...what about the build quality and the feel of the tone controls
I am still wondering if the A-S1100 or even the A-S801 would have the oomph and fullness and sparkle like a Pioneer SX-1010, a beast. I sat and listened critically to my Kenwood KA-9100 and quickly switched back to the Pioneer. Both need work / restoration. Does the power / clarity of the Yamahas feel as warm powerful and inviting as these vintage watts? I see the 801 is literally a different class, but does it hold up?