Don't listen to them, listen to me, says the audiophool running 3 Yamaha AVRs. 
What is “The Yamaha Sound”?
- Thread starter Todd Dawson
- Start date
I bought them because of their reliability record and not because some "chump" who gets paid by audio manufacturers to wax meaningless hyperboles about the products they review. Im capable of independent thought, you‽Don't listen to them, listen to me, says the audiophool running 3 Yamaha AVRs.
Yamaha's natural sound is there motto/logo which is even used to describe some of there speaker lines. Yamaha receivers the ones I've heard all have a similar sound signature which sounds flat and or uncolored.
The Elephant ear shaped speaker was one of Yamahas first Natural sounding speakers.
usa.yamaha.com
The Elephant ear shaped speaker was one of Yamahas first Natural sounding speakers.
History of Speaker - Yamaha - United States
usa.yamaha.com
wmgwizard
Addicted Member
A DBT comparing receivers/amplifiers from the same era would quickly dispel your misconceptions.
Despite the mantra that a good amplifier should be nothing more than a wire with gain, A Marantz sounds different than a Yamaha which sounds different than a Sansui.......There is a "house sound" because each manufacturers engineers believe THEY have created that wire with gain. We all hear differently, engineers and designers too.
Despite the mantra that a good amplifier should be nothing more than a wire with gain, A Marantz sounds different than a Yamaha which sounds different than a Sansui.......There is a "house sound" because each manufacturers engineers believe THEY have created that wire with gain. We all hear differently, engineers and designers too.
Which Yamaha sound? The bigger stuff sounds different than the under $600 stuff in surround receivers. The bigger stuff since about 2001 has sounded more like the 70s stuff. The stuff of the 90s was pretty bad to my ears. Thin and bright.
PabloTincho
Super Member
The only truly mosfet receiver from Radio is the sta-2200
nice receiver, 60 watts very similar to the Hafler DH-120
Except that one needs to vary the amplitude be it raised or lowered by at least a half if not full db over a large enough frequency range to get said house sound. That's how our hearing works. Everything else is just our mind playing tricks on us through personal biases such as sight as an example. I'm betting most people would not be able to tell differences through blind controlled listening tests.
He follows in the chump reviewers waxing poetic category. Hardly what I would call an accurate objective review.
FauxHall
Super Member
The earlier Yamaha receivers like the CR-1020/2022 had what I call a "double expresso sound" - clear and sharp and edgy.. That contrasted with the contemporary Marantz "two martini sound" - warm and cozy or the top-end Sony "strong like a bull" clarity.
I've a new A-S3200 amp and a CD-s3000 SACD player. Together these are much more neutral even than the earlier Yamahas I had experience with but still not warm and cuddly like the earlier Marantz. I swap between Forte IIIs and Harbeth SLH5+ speakers and the differences I hear are from the speakers - the amp seems to add nothing to the sound.
I've a new A-S3200 amp and a CD-s3000 SACD player. Together these are much more neutral even than the earlier Yamahas I had experience with but still not warm and cuddly like the earlier Marantz. I swap between Forte IIIs and Harbeth SLH5+ speakers and the differences I hear are from the speakers - the amp seems to add nothing to the sound.
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Thats exactly it!!! Transparency of the amp before on the onset of clipping, speakers and their interaction with the room responsible for the sound.
wmgwizard
Addicted Member
Swapping speakers will absolutely affect the sound, that is a given.
The discussion here is about how the electronics before the speakers affects the sound.
The disconnect is in the misguided assumption that all equipment sounds the same regardless of manufacturer.
In an attempt to dispel this misconception I would ask if tubes sound different than SS gear, how is is inconceivable that different amps can sound different ?
Please attempt to explain away how tube rolling should make no difference then correlate that to how one manufacturers choice of components and implementation should sound exactly the same as another manufacturers equipment using completely different components and design ?
As I said earlier, there are a million way to make chocolate chip cookies, they are all different yet they are still chocolate chip cookies.
Tires are all black and round, but my new Michelin's are vastly different from my old Goodyear's???
The discussion here is about how the electronics before the speakers affects the sound.
The disconnect is in the misguided assumption that all equipment sounds the same regardless of manufacturer.
In an attempt to dispel this misconception I would ask if tubes sound different than SS gear, how is is inconceivable that different amps can sound different ?
Please attempt to explain away how tube rolling should make no difference then correlate that to how one manufacturers choice of components and implementation should sound exactly the same as another manufacturers equipment using completely different components and design ?
As I said earlier, there are a million way to make chocolate chip cookies, they are all different yet they are still chocolate chip cookies.
Tires are all black and round, but my new Michelin's are vastly different from my old Goodyear's???
My arguement stands with SS and not tubes.
wmgwizard
Addicted Member
But they are amplifiers none the less; by your theory, they should all sound the same regardless of topology or technology ?
My correlation of tube rolling vs the choice of transistors, capacitors and resistors affecting the sound signature of a piece of gear explains the potential how different pieces of gear can sound different.
E2
Addicted Member
Older post...I ran a Sansui AU 919 for six years in the last decade, and from 2008 on, and off until 2021 a Yamaha CR 2040. There was no difference. They both were ran with Tannoy System 800's (Power Pigs) Pioneer HPM 100's, JBL L 100's, and Yamaha NS 1000's. I still have both units, but they both need work. I would probably keep the 2040 because it's simpler unit. And more attractive. It needs less work.
I like the "Yamaha Sound" to each his own. Like those L 100's
.Besides the Tannoys the only speakers of the above group I kept, and really like(d) are the NS 1000's.
(I have a 1050,
)
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E2
Addicted Member
Yet Merrylander who was a Yamaha apostle used exclusively the 2040 like I have. He could have used anything form any make but that's what he used. And used at least two that I am aware of. Simple unit inside. Much simpler than the 2020.
I like how he mentioned to me one time while we were listening to I think a Pioneer receiver "Hmmm, that warm sound". He made it sound like a slight.
I have had the 620, the 840, and the 2040. Some of the 40's did have issues. Not the 2040.
E2
Addicted Member
(Although I haven't drank in decades)
toodletunes
Well-Known Member
Used both pro Yamaha (driving studio monitors..............Tannoy) and an AVR for garage duty. Both remarkable for their unremarkability. Then I stumbled upon an A-1000 for stooooopind $'s. Whole other thing, and most enjoyable. Detailed and unfatiguing.
I said solid state. Variances in tube manufacturer are many magnitudes higher than solid state devices so by my own admission, Im taking anything tube related out of the equation. If you choose to ignore the variances caused by tubes, thats your perogative but dont twist what Im saying.