Yamaha A-S3200

Unlike so many of its price rivals, the A-S3200 is totally devoid of streaming or even DAC functionality. This is an unapologetically old-school integrated, complete with MM/MC phono input and headphone out.

Yamaha claims a punchy 100W RMS per channel into 8ohm and 150W into 4, for this Class AB design – which is more than most people will ever need. The power comes not via discrete transistors, but by MOSFET power modules. Interestingly, the phono preamplifier does use discrete transistors, and is very neatly laid out in a separate circuit board using good-quality components.

Sound quality

Standout facets are a crisp, detailed and precise midband along with effortless and authoritative power delivery. Feed it some punchy eighties pop from Duran Duran, and Last Chance On The Stairway comes over in a commanding way. Though not something you’d immediately classify as audiophile, this is still a well recorded track. There’s a lot going on, including a gutsy bassline and an energetic midband. Even at highish levels, driving big Yamaha NS-1000M loudspeakers, this amp doesn’t flinch; its bottom end is powerful and expressive, and never shows any sign of running out of puff even at high volumes on crescendos.