Yamaha A-S3200 Review: Can This Classic Amplifier Still Beat the Competition?

ByRonald

As you know, Yamaha has updated its top-class integrated amplifier. At first glance, the Yamaha A-S3200 seems only subtly evolved from the beloved A-S3000, but in practice, its sonic maturity makes it one of the finest Japanese amplifiers available today.

In an era when giants like Sansui, Onkyo, and Kenwood have stepped away from high-end hi-fi, Yamaha remains among the few (alongside Accuphase, Luxman, and Marantz) keeping Japan’s amplifier legacy alive.

Design & Build

Yamaha embraces its heritage. The A-S3200 continues the company’s 1970s/80s styling with glossy wooden side panels, dimly glowing VU meters, and sharp-edged controls that click reassuringly into place. At 24.7 kg, this is no lightweight – inside, the meticulous layout and premium components reflect Yamaha’s no-compromise philosophy.

Technical Highlights

  • Output Power: 2 x 100 W (8Ω), 2 x 170 W (4Ω)
  • Circuitry: Fully symmetrical, floating push-pull MOSFET output stage
  • Power Supply: Dual galvanically isolated supplies (pre and power stages separated)
  • Inputs: 6 line inputs (balanced & unbalanced), plus a discrete MM/MC phono stage
  • Tone & Balance: Relay-controlled precision adjustments
  • Volume Control: Premium JRC IC for superior channel tracking
  • Extras: Pre/power amp separation, robust steel shielding against interference

Check Out: Yamaha YST-SW315 Review

Compared with the A-S3000, Yamaha has implemented new capacitors, quieter diodes, thicker internal cabling, and improved anti-resonance feet – small technical updates, but paired with careful re-voicing.

Yamaha A-S3200 inner look

Listening Test & Sound Quality

Yamaha engineers spent months fine-tuning the “German voicing” of this amplifier in neutral listening rooms. The result:

  • Balance: Neither bright nor veiled, the A-S3200 offers an open, finely resolved sound.
  • Bass Performance: Nimble, deep, and energetic – more agile than the A-S3000 in upper bass.
  • Transparency: Voices and instruments float clearly, with excellent separation.
  • Groove & Emotion: True to project leader Susumu Kumazawa’s goal, it conveys rhythm and feeling effortlessly.

Tested with Canton A55, Gauder Arcona MK II, and Harwood LS 3/5a, the amplifier proved stable, powerful, and universally adaptable. Long listening sessions were a joy – fatigue never crept in.

Comparisons

  • Vs. Yamaha A-S3000: Slightly more transparency, neutrality, and speed in bass response. The A-S3200 refines rather than reinvents.
  • Vs. Atoll & Moon / Cambridge rivals: The Yamaha impressed with greater liveliness and clarity.
  • Vs. McIntosh MA7900: The A-S3200 outclassed it in precision and openness.
  • Only serious rival: The more expensive Neukomm, which offered smoother mids but lacked Yamaha’s airy elegance.

Phono Stage

The phono section is exceptional for its class – on par with Yamaha’s C-5000 preamp stage. Against dedicated units like the Pro-Ject DS2 (~€700), the A-S3200 held its own with energy, resolution, and dynamics.

Pros

  • Exceptional build quality with classic Yamaha design
  • Transparent, balanced, and highly musical sound
  • Drives a wide variety of speakers effortlessly
  • Superb phono stage (MM & MC support)
  • Relay-controlled tone and balance for precision
  • Pre/power separation adds flexibility

Cons

  • No built-in DAC or streaming board (competitors often include this)
  • Upgrades from A-S3000 are evolutionary, not revolutionary
  • Pricey compared to some equally powerful integrateds
Yamaha A-S3200 back panel view

Verdict

The Yamaha A-S3200 is an integrated amplifier that blends heritage design, modern refinement, and truly musical performance. While it lacks digital features, it delivers what matters most: timeless build quality, versatility, and sound that engages emotionally.

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At its price point, few amplifiers match its universal appeal. Whether for vinyl lovers or purist audiophiles, the A-S3200 is one of the most compelling high-end integrateds available today – a benchmark of Japanese hi-fi excellence.

Yamaha A-S3200 Specifications

General

  • Type: Integrated Stereo Amplifier
  • Dimensions (W × H × D): 435 × 180 × 464 mm
  • Weight: 24.7 kg

Power Output

  • 100 W + 100 W (8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.07% THD)
  • 170 W + 170 W (4Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.07% THD)

Amplifier Design

  • Fully balanced, floating push-pull design
  • MOSFET output stage (same polarity configuration)
  • Independent power supplies for preamp and power amp stages

Inputs / Outputs

  • Inputs:
    • 3 × Line (RCA)
    • 2 × Balanced (XLR)
    • 1 × Phono (MM/MC, switchable)
  • Outputs:
    • 1 × Line out
    • 1 × Pre-out
    • 1 × Headphone output
  • Speaker Terminals: 2 sets (A, B, or A+B)

Phono Stage

  • Discrete MM/MC phono preamp
  • Shielded steel casing for interference reduction

Tone Controls

  • Bass, Treble, Balance — relay-controlled for precision

Other Features

  • High-rigidity chassis with mechanical grounding
  • Custom block capacitors and low-noise diodes
  • Thick internal speaker cables for improved signal flow
  • Separable preamp/power amp functionality
  • VU meters with dimmer

Finish

  • Silver or Black front panel
  • Glossy piano-finish wooden side panels

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