The Yamaha A-S801 is a two-channel integrated amplifier rated at 100 W per channel into 8 ohms, built around Yamaha's ToP-ART symmetrical layout and a vibration-resistant double-bottom chassis. Its standout feature is a built-in ESS ES9010K2M 32-bit USB DAC that handles native DSD 2.8/5.6 MHz and PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit, plus optical and coaxial inputs for a TV or Blu-ray player. It suits listeners who want one box for a turntable, a CD player and a computer without adding a separate DAC. Against rivals in its class it offers more digital connectivity and a phono stage, but it lacks the streaming, room correction and HDMI switching that network amplifiers provide.
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Owners rate it well overall, with 4.2 out of 5 from 12 ratings. They value the clean power, the USB DAC and the solid build for the money. Complaints center on its size and on the absence of streaming features.
The Yamaha A-S801 is an integrated amplifier with a built-in USB DAC. It delivers 100 W per channel across two channels (20 Hz–20 kHz). The ToP-ART design uses symmetrical input/output circuitry and premium components.
The chassis has a double-bottom design with a 1 mm iron plate to dampen vibration. The power transformer and heat sinks sit on an ART (Anti-Resonance and Tough) base, and a solid center bar adds rigidity. Other parts include a custom power transformer, custom block capacitors, two direct signal path speaker relays, a one point grounding system and extruded aluminum heat sinks.
The USB DAC connects directly to a PC and supports native DSD (2.8 MHz and 5.6 MHz) and PCM up to 384 kHz/32-bit. Its USB controller has its own master clock to eliminate PC jitter, and front-panel indicators show the sampling frequency in use. Optical and coaxial digital inputs keep TV and Blu-ray audio in the digital domain. CD Direct Amplification connects the CD input straight through, and Pure Direct mode sends the signal by the shortest route, bypassing the buffer amp and the tone, loudness and balance controls.
