ToP-ART Design and ART Base Ensure Optimum Sound When processing and transmission of the audio signal is simple and direct there is less chance of it being affected by noise and distortion. Yamaha’s amplifier design technology called ToP-ART features an I/O (input to output) Direct Symmetrical Design, with left and right channels organised in a straight, symmetrical layout for highest signal purity. In addition, the ART (Anti-Resonance and Tough) Base bottom chassis and a solid centre bar provide high-rigidity support and vibration damping. These Yamaha design innovations contribute to this amplifiers’ rich audio reproduction with abundant musicality.

Custom-made power transformer, custom-made block capacitors, two direct signal path speaker relays, one-point grounding system, aluminium-extruded heat sinks and other top-quality parts effortlessly handle demanding audio signal conditions. The quality of each individual part, as well as how they work together, basically determines the sound quality of any component. Yamaha uses only very high quality parts, carefully selected and tested.

The Pure Direct mode causes the music signals to travel the shortest possible circuit route, bypassing the buffer amp and the tone, loudness and balance controls to virtually eliminate any signal degradation for the purest sound quality.

The A-S301 also feature a new analogue loudness control on the front panel that uses electronic volume for higher sound quality, which lets you adjust the loudness effect as desired. Separate from the overall volume, this controls the balance of the low- and high- frequency sounds, providing full tonal range at any volume level, compensating for the natural loss in the human ear of high and low frequencies at soft levels.

The A-S301 is equipped for digital audio input with both optical and coaxial terminals. The optical is for receiving audio from a TV, and the coaxial for receiving audio from a Blu-ray player. The audio stays in the digital domain, giving you pure, pristine dynamic sound for all your entertainment sources, from sports and other programmes to movies and concerts.

You can connect two separate speaker systems in different rooms and switch between them, or have them both playing at the same time. There are four terminals, so by just pushing a button, you can switch speakers to match the sound source.

With a beautifully simple and unique design inherited directly from Yamaha’s HiFi audio components, this amplifier also boast an easy-to-operate button layout. The aluminium front panel has a richly textured silver hairline finish. The control knobs are also of the same luxurious construction as used on our top-end models.

The clean, simple design of the remote control provides easy-to-understand one-hand operation. The easy-to-use design makes it simple to adjust song volume and order. The unit has a sophisticated looking hairline finish that matches the design of the amplifiers. You can also use the remote to control a Yamaha CD player.

The amplifier has a power management function that detects when it hasn't been used for a long time (about 8 hours) even though the power is on, and automatically shifts it into standby mode. So even if you forget to turn it off, power consumption will be minimised.

In this era of high spec sources, we are looking toward the future of small bookshelf speakers, not only providing good value for price. It utilises an all-new high resolution compatible dome tweeter that makes it completely different from ordinary speakers that claim high resolution compatibility: 40kHz. The focus is on tuning that brings out the reality of vocals, where listeners notice differences in quality the most, and on delivering expansive high and low tones without colouration.

With the characteristics and sound quality you would expect from a next generation unit, it features a new structure that places a newly revised aluminium dome inside the voice coil for both weight and strength. The aluminium’s Black Anodised processing suppresses the aluminium-specific metallic character of its sound, producing a natural, glistening sound quality without colouration. The diffuser features a new shape, and the voice coil is comprised of CCAW (copper-coated aluminium wire) reengineered in material and linearity. While maintaining the amount of information and energy in the audible band it achieves 45 kHz (–10 dB) reproduction with extended high frequencies. This is truly a breakthrough in high frequency reproduction.

The unique waveguide horn and tweeter utilise the same waveguide technology used for directivity control in studio monitor speakers to control the incidence of indirect sound. The Vertical and horizontal directivity control increases the sense of sound field, providing vivid stereo reproduction.

Incorporating 30% high quality white mica, the 13 cm (5”) woofer utilises a lightweight, high rigidity PMD (Polymer-injected Mica Diaphragm) cone that achieves ideal internal loss and high elasticity characteristics. The new design put both the voice coil and spider under the knife, achieving massive, expansive low tones. As the future of HiFi small bookshelf speakers, its supple and strong bass redefines musical expressiveness.