Hi-Fi: Yamaha CD-S2000 SACD Player and A-S2000 Intergrated Amplifier Review – 70

I was deep in discussion with a prominent hi-fi retailer a few weeks ago, and in the thick of our conversation came two theories on why stereo has undergone a resurgence in popularity lately. One reason was that the iPod generation, having reached the end of the line in terms of sound quality with aftermarket earphones, bedroom stereos and iPod docks, was starting to discover the lust for better fidelity their baby boomer parents had. The other and more plausible theory? That the baby boomers themselves, now that the kids have grown up and flown the nest, can finally afford the hi-fi system they always dreamed of owning. Perhaps it’s a bit of both, but there’s no doubt  that two-channel audio has produced a comeback worthy of Lazarus in the past few years.

Now Yamaha has released an upmarket amp/SACD duo to capture some of this growing market, and it was definitely interesting to assess the brand’s hi-fi credibility after years of producing home theatre equipment.

Both the CD-S2000 and A-S2000 are impressive specimens of modern hi-fi chic. The 15kg SACD player is an exercise in minimalism with its dearth of buttons and knobs, and the near 23kg A-S2000 amplifier is a definite retro-aesthete with its combination of toggle switches and stove-top knobs.

Both amp and SACD player are equipped with single-ended and balanced connections, and to ensure the best possible sound the CD-S2000 has a ‘pure direct’ mode that switches off the display and digital outputs in the quest for even better results.

The amp has a built-in phono stage and even a dedicated headphone amp – no cheap op-amps here; it has its own dedicated power supply for maximum performance. That’s impressive!

Both components share the same unique isolating feet and internal construction, while the looks also complemented each other – Yamaha has employed a variation of the ’80s flagship component look with the use of timber side cheeks.

Decent remote controls are supplied for both the amp and SACD player, and, best of all, the amp’s remote can run the SACD player so you don’t actually have to use both controllers.

However, the prime directive is one of sound quality. Armed with a pair of new Wharfedale Opus 2-M2 bookshelf speakers, and following a couple of days’ run-in, I sat down in front of the system and put it to the test.

At 90wpc the high-current A-S2000 should drive most speakers, and it certainly had no problems with the Wharfedales. My first impression was of a fast-paced and detailed sound that was just on the bright side of neutral – tracks from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ new Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! album were vibrant and exciting, with good bass definition and clarity through the midband.

The system really shone with SACD discs; both The Rolling Stones’  Beggars Banquet and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon excelling with above-average imaging and soundstaging.

Both components gelled extremely well and while simply  very good on CD, they really came up with the goods on SACD. There is stiff competition at this price level, but the samurai spirit of this Yamaha combo demands to be experienced.

What they said

“Yamaha’s new S-2000 pairing has old school charm and old school build quality that few products even get close to these days. The ‘Highly Commended’ CD player is a masterful execution of the genre, supremely accurate and ultra-clean, and while the amp exudes the same notable qualities its slightly forward balance demands careful speaker matching.” HiFi News

Big Ones

The CD-S2000 and A-S2000 are Yamaha’s first foray into mid- to high-end hi-fi for quite some years, and although the Japanese giant is a founding father in terms of home theatre, it has a very credible two-channel history behind it.
Yamaha’s most famous two-channel product is a pair of loudspeakers – the now legendary NS1000Ms.

A very large stand-mount design, they used a combination of a 300mm bass driver and state-of-the-art beryllium dome midrange drivers and tweeters. Even today they are regarded as one of the most transparent and detailed speakers ever made, with soundstaging and imaging qualities to rival electrostatic panels, but including moving-coil dynamics and scale.

With their retro looks and oversized bass drivers, the colossal (32kg) NS1000ms would today make some younger audiophiles snigger, but they have been acclaimed as one of the finest loudspeakers ever built – at any price. Produced from 1975 to 1995, Yamaha has only recently re-entered the esoteric loudspeaker market with the new Soavo range. These look set to carry on where the hallowed NS1000Ms left off, and will hopefully grace the pages of Tone in the near future.

Also Consider

• Raysonic CD128 CD player – Tone: 55
• Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD Player – Tone: 58
• Sugden A21a/CD21 amp & CD player – Tone: 68
• Naim CD5i CD player – Tone: 65

Specifications

Yamaha CD-S2000 SACD Player

Disc Compatibility: SACD, CD, CD-R/RW (MP3, WMA)

Frequency Response: 2Hz-50kHz (SACD), 2Hz-20kHz (CD)

Harmonic Distortion: 0.0017% (SACD), 0.002% (CD)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 116dB (SACD, CD)

Dynamic Range: 110dB (SACD), 100dB (CD)

Dimensions: 435 x 137 x 440mm (W/H/D)

Weight: 15kg

Yamaha A-S2000 Integrated Amplifier

Maximum Power: 120W + 120W/8ohms, 190W + 190W/4ohms

Minimum RMS Output Power: 90W + 90W/8ohms, 150W + 150W/4ohms

Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.01% (90W, 8ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, CD BAL to Speaker out)

Load Impedance: Speaker A or B (4ohms~16ohms) / Speaker A + B (8ohms~16ohms)

Frequency Response: 5Hz-100kHz (0~-3dB)

Dimensions: 435 x 137 x 465mm (W/H/D)

Weight: 22.7kg

Pros

• Great build quality

• CD sound is good but performance shifts up a gear with SACD
• Wide-bandwidth sound from both components

Cons

• Lots of very good competition at this price point

Verdict

A welcome two-channel return for Yamaha. Four stars.

GARY PEARCE

This review is from Tone issue #70.