Will A-520 be better than DSP-A2070 in stereo?

[sports]

Hi guys, I just recieved a decent offer to have a Yamaha A-520 stereo integrated amplifier at $100.

But I am confused as of now since I already have a 7.1 channel Yamaha DSP-A2070 amp. Will the A520 be able to provide a better stereo sound than my DSP-A2070 in stereo mode?

As far as I know A1000, A2070, A3090, A1 were high end multichannel amps of yamaha having decent stereo. Kindly help!!!

A520 Specs (As per manual)
-----------

Power : 75W @ 8 ohms @ 20Hz~20kHz @ 0.01% THD per channel
(No quote was given of 6 & 4 ohm loads)
Weight : 7.5 kg
Release :1985

DSP-A2070 Specs (As per manual)

--------------

Power :
80W @ 8 ohms @ 20Hz~20kHz @ 0.015% THD per stereo channel
100W @ 6 ohms @ 20Hz~20kHz @ 0.015% THD per stereo channel
(No quote was given of 4 ohm loads)

Weight : 21 kg
Release :1993

 

[sports]

Help please ....

 

[poortom]

Here's an interesting thread on the Yamaha a2070 in case you haven't seen it. It sounds like it was a pretty highly regarded piece in it's day.

http://www.techenclave.com/topic/502027-yamaha-dsp-a2070-digital-sound-field-processing-amplifier/

I'm interested in this thread too as I'm looking for an older quality av amp. I run an yamaha A-500 integrated and I'm really a big fan of it. I think it's similar to the A-520 you are considering. As well as I like the A-500 I don't know if it would be an upgrade to the A2070 you have. Some may disagree being it's an AV amp with some possible engineering compromizes that there may be but that's my thought. I doubt you'd hear much difference.

 

[sports]

Here's an interesting thread on the Yamaha a2070 in case you haven't seen it. It sounds like it was a pretty highly regarded piece in it's day.

http://www.techenclave.com/topic/502027-yamaha-dsp-a2070-digital-sound-field-processing-amplifier/

I'm interested in this thread too as I'm looking for an older quality av amp. I run an yamaha A-500 integrated and I'm really a big fan of it. I think it's similar to the A-520 you are considering. As well as I like the A-500 I don't know if it would be an upgrade to the A2070 you have. Some may disagree being it's an AV amp with some possible engineering compromizes that there may be but that's my thought. I doubt you'd hear much difference.

I also think on the same line. Truly speaking my A2070 provides awesome stereo sound and is clearly is more powerful than A520 as it can handle 6 ohm loads too.

But specifications can be deceptive in real world, and so can be their performance.

Also in your specified link someone has compared the A2070 with Quad 303 pre-amp + Quad 404 power-amp, Audiolab 8000a, Marantz 7200 KI, Cyrus 8Vs2 with PSX and Musical fidelity B1 in stereo mode. And the A2070 simply blew all of them in terms of performance.

Sound unbelievable to me but may be true.

I will truly appreciate if some one can cast more light on this topic.

 

[poortom]

The only place I see that the A520 might have over the A2070 might be the phono section. I think Yamaha phono preamps of that vintage are noted for their great sound. The A520 has a moving magnet-Moving coil selector switch and subsonic filter. It also has Yamaha's variable loudness control which some people like.

Buy the A-520 and compare it to your A2070. It'd be interesting to hear how they compare!

 

[sports]

The only place I see that the A520 might have over the A2070 might be the phono section. I think Yamaha phono preamps of that vintage are noted for their great sound. The A520 has a moving magnet-Moving coil selector switch and subsonic filter.

The Yamaha DSP-A2070 also has a great phono secton, my Denon DP 29F Turntable sounds great on it, but with A520 it may sound even better. Mind you A2070 was Yamaha's Top Of The Line[TOTL] reciever back in 1993 costing $2000.

So, I believe A2070 was a very special 7.1 channel integrated amp being the forbearer of Yamaha's technological achivement back in 1993, and not just any other amp in their lineup.

It also has Yamaha's variable loudness control which some people like.

poortom does this variable loudness is of any real help? All i can get is that at any ceratin volume it attenuates mid freqencies to have better bass response.

Buy the A-520 and compare it to your A2070. It'd be interesting to hear how they compare!

Yep I will love to do that, but then what is the need if I already posses an even better system. I will try to have an audition of the A520.

Anybody having hands on experience with A520?

 

[poortom]

I used my variable loudness some when I had my A-500 hooked up to a smaller pair of KEF bookshelf speakers. Now that I have it hooked up to decent 3-way (AR-2ax) speakers, I don't use it at all.

Its usefulness depends on the speakers you have, your listening room and speaker placement. I think the intention is that you set the main volume control to the maximum reasonable loudness you want and use the variable loudness control to bring down the apparent volume. The theory is the lower frequencies stay relatively high as the mid ranges and high frequencies are reduced resulting in an apparent flat response as you reduce the variable loudness control. It’s a lot more useful than just an all or nothing switch as most receivers or amplifiers have.

In the end the A-500/A-520 was a decent middle-of-the- road or perhaps a little bit higher end integrated amp for its day.

 

[poortom]

I just picked up a DSP-2070 to run my AR-10pi speakers. I didn't do an A-B comparison against my A-500 but my impression is that the 2070 will outperform the A-500 any day of the week. It seemed really dynamic and effortless compared to the A-500.

I don't know if I'll ever use all the DSP features or not but it seems like a really strong performer in plain stereo mode.

They sell for 100-150 bucks on E-bay. What's going to kill most people is shipping this almost 50 pound monster. The 2070 is a real sleeper of an amp IMO.

 

[sports]

I just picked up a DSP-2070 to run my AR-10pi speakers.

Congratulations!!! :thmbsp:

I didn't do an A-B comparison against my A-500 but my impression is that the 2070 will outperform the A-500 any day of the week. It seemed really dynamic and effortless compared to the A-500.

The A2070 may be dated but has a killer power amp section, the raw power that it produces, man I do not what to say, in manual it says just 100 watts per channel, but it sound like 200 watts.

I don't know if I'll ever use all the DSP features or not but it seems like a really strong performer in plain stereo mode.

The amp is very musical and perfect for stereo analog sound.

 

[newzealand]

i just picked a dsp-a2070.
it is made as good as my dsp-a1 it seems
it is not running at the moment but not to many come to me working lol
it is way better made then the rx-v870 i picked up a few days ago
well i look forward to getting inside to see whats up,
my yamaha monster collection is coming along nicely
the real problem is where to store all these lead weights lol
mike

 

[avionic]

Digging up some old threads here.

 

[newzealand]

Digging up some old threads here.

i think its of not much use to start new threads when i and others can learn from years of past knowledge,
it also shows how we think of the gear now compared to years ago,
this yamaha is now a classic in my eyes but when this thread was started it was just a big yamaha amp that was out of date,
what do you think?
update on the dsp a2070 ,i have spent a hr or two on it and got it powering up (had a bad solder joint for the relay)
however im having problems with working out how to use it as a stereo amp with out the dsp operating ,
do you have any experience with this model mate?
thanks for taking a look either way
mike

 

[Electone]

DSP-A3090, A2070, RX-V1070, RX-V870, DSP-A1, etc. All ridiculously good receivers/integrated amps that most people completely ignore now because they see them as home theater receivers. I own the RX-V870 and it's not going anywhere...

 

[newzealand]

DSP-A3090, A2070, RX-V1070, RX-V870, DSP-A1, etc. All ridiculously good receivers/integrated amps that most people completely ignore now because they see them as home theater receivers. I own the RX-V870 and it's not going anywhere...

the 870 is a good amp,i have one,
these 90's yamaha big boys are great pieces,
i have a dsp-a1 as well ,that is a super unit ,weights in at the same or just a little less then my daily used sony str-da777es at around 24kg ,
the a2070 is 21kg so not a lot lighter but i have to say the style is timeless ,they can fit into any modern set up with out looking out of place,
i will not be moving them on any time soon
mike