I think you will be better off with a "darker" amplifier (Marantz, NAD...).
Focals have a little "sparkling" sound, but so do Yamaha, so maybe there will be a problem with emphasized high tones.
I had Yamaha R-N803D with Tannoy XT6F and sometimes there was a pronounced "hiss" sound in some songs.
I didn't have a Focal 906, but a friend did and he said it was a speaker with a lot of high-pitched tones.
Measurements are one thing and personal experiences are something completely different.
I have those speakers right now in testing and like them. Luckily they aren't very hard to drive, there is no need for a particularly beefy amplifier.Noob question. I got a new turntable (Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO) and new speakers (Focal Aria 906) and I need an amp.
The difference is one is a streaming/analog receiver with less power and the other is a amplifier with builtin DAC with more power.I can have the Yamaha R-N600A or the A-S701 for the same price. What are the differences between them? Thanks!
There is a thread in my signature that shows all kinds of Yamaha devices from the inside, including the A-S701, 501 and 301. They are more or less the same in functionality, looks and build, they are just different in power and power supply.Edit: OK, I think I understand better now. I should go with the A-S series. But which one exactly? Wouldn't the 701 be a bit overkill for my use? I can have it for about 600 euros. 501 would cost me about 450 euros. 301 about 325 euros. Thanks again!
The Focal frequency response doesn't show any particular sparcle:I think you will be better off with a "darker" amplifier (Marantz, NAD...).
Focals have a little "sparkling" sound, but so do Yamaha, so maybe there will be a problem with emphasized high tones.
Yes, personal experience is subjective. Also, every room is different. I bet the speakers sound different in my bath room than in my living room.I had Yamaha R-N803D with Tannoy XT6F and sometimes there was a pronounced "hiss" sound in some songs.
I didn't have a Focal 906, but a friend did and he said it was a speaker with a lot of high-pitched tones.
Measurements are one thing and personal experiences are something completely different.
There is one more difference, the A-S701 has this button, the 301 and 501 do not:the ONLY difference between the 301, the 501 and the 701 is power
I have those speakers right now in testing and like them. Luckily they aren't very hard to drive, there is no need for a particularly beefy amplifier.
Just make sure you calculate the expected sound pressure with a SPL calculator:
Here is an example:
View attachment 330286
You should aim for 93dB at least. This is for one speaker, a second speaker will add +3dB, so you can expect 96dB in room. That is plenty loud, too loud to listen to for long times.
The difference is one is a streaming/analog receiver with less power and the other is a amplifier with builtin DAC with more power.
The Yamaha R-N600A is a bit pricey for my taste. I would rather have a A-S501 and buy a WiiM streamer for 100€ or so and pocket the money that is left.
There is a thread in my signature that shows all kinds of Yamaha devices from the inside, including the A-S701, 501 and 301. They are more or less the same in functionality, looks and build, they are just different in power and power supply.
In my room the 501 would be plenty loud with these speakers and have a bit of headroom too. I think it's the sweet spot.
If you are into saving money, try to get a used R-S700. It has the exact same power supply and power amp section as the A-S701, but can be bought used for less than 250€ or so. I use Hifishark to find used stuff. The R-S700 also has FM radio, but you can ignore that, if you don't want it.
The R-S700 has no builtin DAC like the A-S301 to 701, but it has pre-out/main-in, to loop in a MiniDSP or equalizer in the future.
All of them have variable loudness, which is awesome once you learn about it.
The Focal frequency response doesn't show any particular sparcle:
It's not shy in the highs, but if it's too much for your room, you are better off using the treble knob on your amp, PEQ in your source or a MiniDSP to solve matters of taste.
None of the mentioned amplifiers has anything but a smooth and flat frequency response in measurements as long as you operate them below their power rating.
It's a bad idea to tune the "sound" by buying different amps. You are better of buying neutral stuff and then EQ, because maybe you move or install a carpet, then you would have to buy different speakers or amps. EQ will solve many issues.
I personally haven't seen any frequency response deviations in Yamaha, NAD or Marantz anyway, so they will sound the same, within their power rating.
Yes, personal experience is subjective. Also, every room is different. I bet the speakers sound different in my bath room than in my living room.
That is why we have science to calculate the expected inroom response for a specific speaker in a generic room.
Your personal experience doesn't count much, it's just not applicable to the situation @exai finds himself in.
BTW, i have the R-N803D as well, i could unpack it and test it with the Aria 906. I wont, because i'm sure it measures and sounds exactly like the A-S 1200 they are connected to right now. Not testing the Fosi V3 either, it will measure, and thus sound, the same.
Fair enough.I don't want to sound smart, I'm just sharing my (and my friend's) experience.
They do for what you measure. Physics is real.Measurements do not always show the true state.
Agreed. I don't think it really matters, as long as the amp has a SINAD that is somewhere around CD fidelity it's really just about the power you need, the features you want and price.Anyway, I wish the new Focal user good luck and pleasant listening, whatever he decides.
I agree. And I would like to add that you probably don't even need SINAD at CD quality due to ambient noise.Fair enough.
They do for what you measure. Physics is real.
The problem, perhaps, is that we don't measure enough. If you measured in your room, we would know. As it is, there is no knowing.
Ears and what is attached to them is not measurement grade. What you perceive depends on stress, back pain, blood sugar, temperature, amount of sleep and a myriad of other input into your biochemical automaton.
You hear what you see:
And that doesn't even include your, mine and OPs room! Maybe you have a glass picture frame where it matters, maybe i have heavy drapes there.
In any case, to fix the in-room response by exchanging amplifiers doesn't lead to happiness, it leads to wasting money. Competent amplifiers have only the slightest deviations from flat, certainly not enough to be detected in a blind test.
EQ on the other hand is based on facts if you combine it with measurements. And if you are just out for the subjective experience, EQ to taste without measurements is cheaper than exchanging amps.
Agreed. I don't think it really matters, as long as the amp has a SINAD that is somewhere around CD fidelity it's really just about the power you need, the features you want and price.
I replaced the Yamaha A-S1200, certainly a well regarded amplifier, with a Fosi V3 with 48v power supply. A friend of mine did some hidden switching back and forth, and we level matched with a UMIK1. It wasn't really scientific, but needless to say, neither could tell which amp was running.
OK, thanks that helps narrow the search.I think you don't get YPAO in models under 803d.
Assuming you know what to measure, and you understand how well your measurement process performs, then it absolutely does. Your ears, whilst sensitive, are very inconsistent and cannot provide a reliable quantitative assessment.Measurements do not always show the true state.