Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I bought this amp on Dec 2010 with $300 and listened a few months. The sound is pure as advertized, but to me too weak, I mean, not dynamic. I set aside this amp replacing with Sansui Au 717.Now I am satisfied.

Good product, great sound, just what I needed, simple to hook up, and at a great price. You can't go wrong with Yamaha products

It sounds great but beware of constant problem with speaker wires. They are so close on back of amp that on setup and ANY time you move amp or stand that amp is on they WILL touch short out system where amp cuts out instantly when turning on.So you have to than go in back and constantly tweak them.Annnoying if your amp is hard to reach.

Amazing that such a qualityy amp,and it is excellent has such a flawed connections.It reminds me of what people did way back when they had to light candles and than came the light bulb..Maybe one day some tech designer at yamaha will say hey wait a second this is so simple lets sep them by another 1/4 inch and put a small piece of plastic in between.

Call me nit picking but I am pissed, this has happened now far too many times and I just now again moved it to clean area around it..Nothing was barely touched nor dissconneted it is just so sensitive.

Still they are the best around, this is one annoying flaw