Integrated Tube Amp approx. $2,500

 

Yamaha is a pretty boring choice. Safe, accurate, flawless, but lacks musicality.

Having owned some pretty well regarded SS amps known for their musicality, such as Pass, Coda, and Exposure, in addition to tube products from the likes of Bel Canto, Allnic, Cayin, Quicksilver, AVA, and Rogue, I have to disagree. That’s not to mention all the higher tier models and brands I’ve auditioned from Luxman, Aavik, Gryphon and so on.

The MOSFET based Yamaha integrateds that were introduced around 2014 are not remotely lacking in musicality. Quite the opposite in my experience, especially when paired with >$10K speakers. They are not powerhouses, but most “musical” SS amps are <100WPC IME. I would never consider going back to the Pass XA25 or Coda 8 over my Yamaha 2100. The 2100 does practically everything better in my system. With decent enough speakers, the Yamaha’s have a “lit from within” sound that is matched by very few SS components.

that's how I have heard Yamaha, my ears just didn't want me to like them

Need an update.

@br3 well, how is it??  did you go with the 1200 or the 2100?

that’s how I have heard Yamaha, my ears just didn’t want me to like them

The MOSFET transistor Yamahas have to go through a fairly lengthy break-in before they sound best. I didn’t believe in amp “break-in” prior to owning one. The difference between the first and ≈50th hour is drastic. They sound very different from Yamaha’s AVRs and considerably different from their BJT based integrateds.