Yamaha A-S1200
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
88/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
93/100
Value for Money
92/100
A muscular yet refined analogue integrated, the A-S1200 combines taut bass, quick transients and sharply focused imaging with a beautifully engineered retro chassis. Sound Advice highlights its effortless speaker control and accomplished MM/MC phono stage, while A British Audiophile praises its clean detail, agility and refined treble.
Pros
Fast, tightly controlled bass and clean transient response deliver strong grip and agility.
Highly resolving, focused presentation reveals subtle detail and places instruments precisely.
Exceptional build quality, with a substantial, meticulously assembled chassis and premium finish.
Versatile analogue facilities include a strong MM/MC phono stage, headphone amplifier, pre/main inputs and A/B speaker outputs.
Cons
Soundstage depth and overall air are less expansive than some rivals, despite precise placement.
The upper midrange can sound slightly forward or tense with unsuitable speakers or recordings.
No digital inputs, DAC or streaming features; it requires external digital source components.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 88/100
The A-S1200 is widely praised for its clean, detailed and controlled presentation, underpinned by powerful, taut bass and strong timing. Its sound is more focused and intimate than overtly expansive, while a few listeners found the upper midrange a touch tense or forward with unsuitable partnering.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
Reviewers consistently hear plentiful low-level detail, clean transients and strong instrumental separation. A British Audiophile calls it one of the most resolving amplifiers heard on the channel, while The Audiophile Man praises its ability to uncover subtle detail and its precise, controlled treble.
Tonal Balance Musicality
86/100
The Yamaha is described as refined, believable and tonally right, with smooth vocals, a neutral-to-cool balance and treble that remains controlled rather than harsh. There are caveats: some reviewers note a slightly tense or prominent upper midrange, and Zero Fidelity found this character potentially fatiguing before longer-term use softened that concern.
Dynamics
88/100
Its 90W output is repeatedly said to sound muscular and controlled, handling orchestral peaks without strain and delivering taut, impactful bass. It is agile and punchy rather than relentlessly explosive, however; Sound Advice and StereoNET both note that it is not the most ballistic or frenetic-sounding option.
Soundstage Imaging
85/100
Imaging and placement are regarded as precise, with good lateral spread and a focused, stable presentation. Stage scale is more variable: StereoNET heard a large stage but less convincing depth, while The Audiophile Man found less air and space than some rivals, producing a relatively compact yet well-organised picture.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Construction receives exceptionally strong praise. Reviewers describe meticulous assembly, substantial weight, faultless finish and a rigid, carefully engineered chassis; Zero Fidelity considers it among the best-made integrated amplifiers around its price.
Features Connectivity
93/100
This is an analogue-first amplifier rather than a network or digital hub, with no DAC, streaming or digital inputs. It is nevertheless generously equipped for traditional hi-fi, offering MM/MC phono, a headphone amplifier, pre-outs/main-in capability, tape loop, tone controls and switchable A/B speaker outputs.
Value for Money
92/100
At roughly £2,000 when reviewed, StereoNET calls the price keen and hard to resist, while Sound Advice considers it tempting for the engineering on offer. A British Audiophile places it firmly on the shortlist at this price, and Zero Fidelity says its value proposition improved further over time.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Rated Output Power
- [20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07% THD] 90 W ＋ 90 W (8 ohms), 150 W ＋ 150 W (4 ohms)
- High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms)
- 105/135/190/220 W
- Damping Factor
- ≧ 250 (1 kHz, 8 ohms)
- Frequency Response
- +0 / -3 dB (5Hz-100kHz) , ＋0 / -0.3 dB (20 Hz-20 kHz)
- RIAA Equalization Deviation
- ＋/-0.5 dB (PHONO (MM/MC))
- Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz to 20kHz)
- PHONO MC→LINE2 OUT: 0.02% (1.2 Vrms), PHONO→LINE2 OUT: 0.005% (1.2 Vrms), CD, etc.→SP OUT: 0.035% (50 W/8 ohms）
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio
- PHONO MC: 90 db, PHONO MM: 96 dB, CD, etc.: 110 dB
- Input Sensitivity
- [1 kHz, 100 W/8 ohms] PHONO MC: 150 uVrms/50 ohms, PHONO MM: 3.5 mVrms/47 kohms, CD, etc.: 200 mVrms/47 kohms, MAIN IN: 1 Vrms/47 kohms
- Transformer
- 625VA (Toroidal)
- Dimensions (W x H x D)
- 17-1/8" x 6-1/8" x 18-1/4"
- Weight
- 48.5 lbs
Manufacturer's Description — Yamaha
A-S1200 Integrated Amplifier
Acknowledging the golden era of Hi-Fi with its beautiful design, the A-S1200 boasts an impressive array of the latest technology to accurately deliver an emotional, purely musical sound.
- High quality components delivering exceptional musical expression
- Toroidal power transformer with enormous energy for a pure musical sound
- Gorgeous level meters convey dynamics and music pulse with a nod to the nostalgic Hi-Fi era
- Floating balanced power amplifier
- Mechanical ground concept maximizes rigidity for expressive and rhythmic bass
Nostalgic Hi-Fi design. Today's Hi-Fi technology.
A nod to the past with the latest technology for a purely musical sound.
Understanding music is to understand the emotion upon which music is created – the passion and story behind the music that drives artists to create. With unmatched experience in every facet of music creation, embedded deep in the Yamaha DNA is an intimate understanding of the emotional essence of music and music creation. Conveying the artists’ emotion through our Hi-Fi equipment is a fundamental component of the Yamaha design philosophy.
Toroidal Transformer
Usually reserved for flagship Hi-Fi components, the A-S1200 benefits from the technical proficiency and absolute musicality of a toroidal transformer. Combined with an array of high-end Hi-Fi features and components, the toroidal transformer assists in ensuring the musical emotion is conveyed to the listener.
Gorgeous Level Meters
The level meters are both a nod to the nostalgic era of Hi-Fi, while simultaneously demonstrating the return of pure Hi-Fi for today’s discerning enthusiast. Visually presenting the dynamics and pulse of the music, the level meters imbue a warm feeling through their softly illuminated LEDs.
An open sound stage presents the listener with a musical experience that is similar to being at the live performance. True Hi-Fi delivers this openness in the sound, transforming the listeners’ musical experience, bringing them closer to the artist.
Thick Wires for Ground Connection
Our low Impedance concept, aided by the thick wires for ground connection, is critical for componentry adopting the badge of premium Hi-Fi. This Yamaha design concept begins in our premium Hi-Fi components with the A-S1200, helping to present an open, natural sound stage, bringing the artist and listener closer together.
Original Speaker Terminals
Cut directly from pure brass, the luxurious speaker terminals comfortably fit the human hand for effortless tightening, achieving a highly secure connection.
Connection with the music is achieved with the underlying groove and rhythm. A true representation of the music lets the listener feel the groove, and therefore not just hear the music but feel the story behind the music.
Mechanical Ground Concept
The A-S1200 adopts a Mechanical Ground Concept, inherited from both the A-S2200 and A-S3200. The concept begins with the bolts of the feet welded directly to the main chassis, followed with the large heat sink, power transformer and block capacitors also directly bolted to the chassis. Through this design, unwanted vibration is avoided, achieving expressive and rhythmic bass, presenting the ‘Groove’ of the music to the listener.
Chrome-Plated Iron Feet
Completing the rigidity of the amplifier are the heavy-duty chrome-plated iron feet.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Yamaha A-S1200
- Absoulute Audio plus Video — in-store — Aiken, South Carolina, United States (website)
- The Music Room — online and in-store — Erie, Colorado, United States (website)
- 138 Quaiduson — online and in-store — Lille, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
- A1 Futureshop — online and in-store — North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia (website)
- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
- Accessories 4 less — online and in-store — Apopka, Florida, United States (website)
- Acclaim Sound and Light — online and in-store — North Bay, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sound Design — online and in-store — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
and 298 more verified dealers