Yamaha AX-497 100 Watt Natural Sound Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black)

by Yamaha

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15.4 x 17.1 x 5.9 inches ; 20.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 24 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000F5CP2Q
• Item model number: AX-497
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,956 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

High Power Amplifier with Pure Sound Technology,ToP-ART, CD/DVD Direct Amplification and Linear Damping

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yamaha AX-497 Stereo Integrated Amplifier, August 10, 2009

By 

Joel Tunnah (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha AX-497 100 Watt Natural Sound Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black) (Electronics)

First, the Amazon title of this amp is wrong, it's 85 watts per channel, not "100W".

I'm a recovered audiophile. I've been clean for two years now. Hence this will not be an audiophile review. Before I bought this amp I was running a DIY tube pre + power amp into a pair of late 60's Altec Flamencos... but then the AX-497 really helped kill the hobby for me. Instead of listening to amps, now I listen to music. "Natural Sound" is not just marketing, it really has a transparent natural sound.
I run it 100% of the time on "CD/DVD Direct", which bypasses the tone and loudness controls, although the controls are quite musical sounding, and might come in handy in certain rooms.
My livingroom is 19 x 11, and coupled to a pair of Polk RTi8 (wonderful speakers!), there isn't even a hint that the Yamaha is breaking a sweat in loud dynamic passages. There is really nothing about the sound that I don't like, and I highly recommend it. Like all Yamaha stuff, build quality is excellent, and it's an attractive, understated unit, IMO.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERDADERO HI-FI, July 22, 2010

By 

Alis Linares "ALi" (Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha AX-497 100 Watt Natural Sound Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black) (Electronics)

Adquirí este amplificador en Enero de este año; entre sus grandes cualidades resaltan las siguientes:

- Entrada de phono, indispensable para mi colección de viníl.
- Su bajísimo THD.
- El sonido de este Yamaha es de muy buena calidad, plano, ideal para mi ya que no me gusta las coloraciones que brindan ciertos equipos; yo diría que su sonido es muy al estilo europeo.
- Potencia de 85Watts p/c, más que suficiente para cualquier sala mediana a grande, pudiendo hacer temblar las paredes con facilidad sin esfuerzo alguno, y lo más importante es que lo hace manteniendo la nitidez del sonido a cualquier nivel.

En resumen, recomendable ampliamente para audiófilos serios que deseen un excelente equipo dentro de este rango de precio.


I purchased this amp in January this year, among his great qualities highlighted the following:

- Phono input, essential for my vinyl collection.
- Very low THD.
- The sound of this Yamaha is very good quality, flat, ideal for me because I do not like the colors that provide certain equipment, I would say they sound very European style.
- 85Watts power p / c, more than enough for any medium to large room, being able to shake the walls with effortless ease, and most importantly, it does maintain the sharpness of the sound at any level.

In summary, widely recommended for serious audiophiles who want an excellent team in this price range.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great unit for the money, November 29, 2010

By 

Craig M. Schmidt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yamaha AX-497 100 Watt Natural Sound Stereo Integrated Amplifier (Black) (Electronics)

I got this unit through Amazon for a rock bottom price. The unit is very well made and sounds very good. Remote is nice. Door on front is a nice touch but i could do without it. Extremely quiet with no hiss what so ever! Loudness control is odd. I do not quite understand the theory behind it. Unit is all metal even the faceplate. Good sounding and will probably last a long time. I replaced a 12 year old Yamaha amp with this one, not because it was broken. It just looked a little banged up being moved a few times. Get one while you can because they stopped making them. The replacement unit does not impress me.