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A-S1200 Integrated Amplifier
Acknowledging the golden era of Hi-Fi with its beautiful design, the A-S1200 boasts an impressive array of the latest technology to accurately deliver an emotional, purely musical sound.
• High quality components delivering exceptional musical expression
• Toroidal power transformer with enormous energy for a pure musical sound
• Gorgeous level meters convey dynamics and music pulse with a nod to the nostalgic Hi-Fi era
• Floating balanced power amplifier
• Mechanical ground concept maximizes rigidity for expressive and rhythmic bass
Nostalgic Hi-Fi design. Today’s Hi-Fi technology.
A nod to the past with the latest technology for a purely musical sound.
EMOTION
Understanding music is to understand the emotion upon which music is created – the passion and story behind the music that drives artists to create. With unmatched experience in every facet of music creation, embedded deep in the Yamaha DNA is an intimate understanding of the emotional essence of music and music creation. Conveying the artists’ emotion through our Hi-Fi equipment is a fundamental component of the Yamaha design philosophy.
Toroidal Transformer
Usually reserved for flagship Hi-Fi components, the A-S1200 benefits from the technical proficiency and absolute musicality of a toroidal transformer. Combined with an array of high-end Hi-Fi features and components, the toroidal transformer assists in ensuring the musical emotion is conveyed to the listener.
Gorgeous Level Meters
The level meters are both a nod to the nostalgic era of Hi-Fi, while simultaneously demonstrating the return of pure Hi-Fi for today’s discerning enthusiast. Visually presenting the dynamics and pulse of the music, the level meters imbue a warm feeling through their softly illuminated LEDs.
OPENNESS
An open sound stage presents the listener with a musical experience that is similar to being at the live performance. True Hi-Fi delivers this openness in the sound, transforming the listeners’ musical experience, bringing them closer to the artist.
Thick Wires for Ground Connection
Our low Impedance concept, aided by the thick wires for ground connection, is critical for componentry adopting the badge of premium Hi-Fi. This Yamaha design concept begins in our premium Hi-Fi components with the A-S1200, helping to present an open, natural sound stage, bringing the artist and listener closer together.
Original Speaker Terminals
Cut directly from pure brass, the luxurious speaker terminals comfortably fit the human hand for effortless tightening, achieving a highly secure connection.
GROOVE
Connection with the music is achieved with the underlying groove and rhythm. A true representation of the music lets the listener feel the groove, and therefore not just hear the music but feel the story behind the music.
Mechanical Ground Concept
The A-S1200 adopts a Mechanical Ground Concept, inherited from both the A-S2200 and A-S3200. The concept begins with the bolts of the feet welded directly to the main chassis, followed with the large heat sink, power transformer and block capacitors also directly bolted to the chassis. Through this design, unwanted vibration is avoided, achieving expressive and rhythmic bass, presenting the ‘Groove’ of the music to the listener.
Chrome-Plated Iron Feet
Completing the rigidity of the amplifier are the heavy-duty chrome-plated iron feet.
Rated Output Power
[20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.07% THD] 90 W ＋ 90 W (8 ohms), 150 W ＋ 150 W (4 ohms)
High Dynamic Power/Channel (8/6/4/2 ohms)
105/135/190/220 W
Damping Factor
≧ 250 (1 kHz, 8 ohms)
Frequency Response
+0 / -3 dB (5Hz-100kHz) , ＋0 / -0.3 dB (20 Hz-20 kHz)
RIAA Equalization Deviation
＋/-0.5 dB (PHONO (MM/MC))
Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz to 20kHz)
PHONO MC→LINE2 OUT: 0.02% (1.2 Vrms), PHONO→LINE2 OUT: 0.005% (1.2 Vrms), CD, etc.→SP OUT: 0.035% (50 W/8 ohms）
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
PHONO MC: 90 db, PHONO MM: 96 dB, CD, etc.: 110 dB
Input Sensitivity
[1 kHz, 100 W/8 ohms] PHONO MC: 150 uVrms/50 ohms, PHONO MM: 3.5 mVrms/47 kohms, CD, etc.: 200 mVrms/47 kohms, MAIN IN: 1 Vrms/47 kohms
Transformer
625VA (Toroidal)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
17-1/8″ x 6-1/8″ x 18-1/4″
Weight
48.5 lbs
At $2,090 with unknown condition, this A-S1200 feels ambitious—typical used black models in good shape trade hands for $1,600-$2,000 on the resale circuit, depending on hours and provenance. It's no steal unless it's pristine with box and manual, but you'd be wise to negotiate down 15-20% given the opacity.
Before biting, fire it up for channel balance and hum on the phono stage, as those MC/MM inputs can get finicky with age; also verify the power supply caps aren't bulging, since these beefy 22kg beasts from the mid-2010s push hard and early failures crop up. Insist on original remote, power cord, and meter calibration if possible—walk if it lacks service history.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Yamaha stands as one of the world's most storied audio manufacturers, with roots extending far beyond consumer electronics. Founded in 1887 by Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company began as a reed organ manufacturer before expanding into pianos and eventually becoming a comprehensive musical instrument maker. This deep heritage in acoustics and materials science would prove foundational to its later audio ventures. The company operated under its original name, Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., until 1987, when it was renamed Yamaha Corporation in honor of its centennial.
Yamaha's entry into high-fidelity audio proved transformative for the industry itself. In 1954, the company released the Yamaha Hi-Fi Player, widely recognized as the world's first audio component to bear the "Hi-Fi" designation in its name. The company subsequently built a comprehensive product portfolio spanning amplifiers—beginning with the acclaimed A-100 in 1960—speakers, turntables, and digital audio equipment. The NS-1000 speakers, introduced in 1974 with beryllium drivers, became iconic reference monitors. Yamaha also pioneered digital audio technology, shipping the world's first CD recorder in 1988.
Today, Yamaha occupies a distinctive position as a mid-to-high-end generalist rather than a niche specialist. The brand commands respect among both casual listeners and serious audiophiles, balancing accessibility with genuine engineering credibility. Its reputation rests on six decades of consistent innovation, proven reliability, and the unique advantage of applying musical instrument expertise to audio reproduction. Vintage Yamaha components remain highly sought by collectors, while current products maintain the brand's tradition of delivering performance and durability across multiple price tiers.
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