The Latest
Technology for the Best In Sound and Convenience
The Yamaha
A-550 is a top-performance integrated amplifier offering the very latest in
sound reproduction technology. The preamp section is constructrd with the
lowest noise components and design for the cleanest possible reproduction with
an absolute minimum of distortion. Whether your input is phono, tuner or tape,
every delicate musical detail is brought to you with stunning accuracy.
The power
amplifier is a pure complementary SEPP (Single Ended Push-Pull) design with
current mirror circuitry and a bipolar power supply for exceptionally stable,
accurate reproduction under even the most demanding conditions.
Direct
coupled circuitry and an OCL (Output Capacitor Less) output stage assure that
the signal sent to your speakers is as close as possible to a perfect image of
the original input signal.
The A-550
specifications alone cannot give you an accurate idea of its superb sound
quality, but your ears will certainly hear the difference. For convenience, the
A-550 front panel is arranged so you can start up your system to monitor any
input source by pressing just two buttons: power and the Input Select button of
your choice. The Power and Input Select buttons are easy-handling illuminated
types that show you the amp's operating mode at a glance.
The A-550
also offers fully independent recording and listening: a feature that lets you
listen to any input source while recording from any other. There's even a
convenient tape monitor/copy function that makes recording and dubbing
continuously variable loudness control ensures that you get proper perspective
tonal balance at any listening level.
For
top-quality sound and convenience the A-550 is hard to beat. And its surprising
affordability makes it a best buy.
Ultra-Low-Distortion
Design
In any sound
system, distortion is the most detrimental element to accurate reproduction.
The more distortion is present, the more the shape of the original music
waveform will be altered, resulting in only a vague representation of the
actual sound. And, of course, any distortion that appears at your speakers is
the sum of all the distortion levels throughout your system. One weak link in
the chain can make your expensive system sound like a bargain basement special.
The A-550,
however, offers exceptionally low distortion throughout every stage - phono
equalizer, preamp, tone control, and power amp - from input to output. Total
harmonic distortion is no more than 0,02% at full power, from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
So no matter how hard you drive it, the A-550 delivers super clean, accurate
sound.
To maintain
the A-550's superb 0,02% distortion figure even at full 40 watts per channel
output, the power amp section is an advanced direct coupled OCL design with
pure complementary SEPP, current mirror and bipolar power supply circuitry.
There are no capacitors in the signal path to cause phase shift and distortion
of the music waveform. And transient response is exceptionally fast so the
sound is always crisp.
Since the
cartridge output signal is so small, any noise present in this critical stage
will be amplified many times before reaching your speakers. The A-500 phono
equalizer provides the outstanding signal-to-noise ratio of 98 dB (IHF A
Network). And since only the highest quality components are used in the RIAA
equalization network, frequency response is ruler flat. This kind of superior
equalizer performance lets you take full advantage of the high signal-to-noise
ratio and extended frequency response of the latest direct-cut and PCM recorded
discs.
Independent
Recording and Listening
With most
preamps and integrated amplifiers, when you record a source, or dub from deck
to deck, you're stuck with the source you're recording or dubbing, i.e. you
can't listen to anything else. Not so with the A-550. yamaha's original Rec Out
selector lets you send any source to your tape deck while you listen to any
other selected by the Input Select buttons. You can tape a friend's record
while listening to your favorite FM program, dub tapes from deck to deck while
listening to a record, or any other convenient combination.
Built-in
Subsonic Filter
High-level
low frequencies generated by warped records or other sources can cause damge to
your speaker system and sap vital power from the power amplifier. To eliminate
this potential proble, the A-550 features a built-in subsonic filter that
sharply cuts out these damaging frequencies without affecting overall sound
quality.
Power
Protection / Muting Circuitry
Since the
A-550 power amplifier section can accurately handle signals virtually down to
DC, a special power protection circuit has been incorporated which shuts down
the output stage and speakers if any potentially damaging DC leakage is sensed
at the output. This circuit also functions to prevent damage to speakers and
the output stage due to the power shock surge that occurs when the unit is
switched on.
Specifications
Minimum
Output Power (Continuous RMS Power per Channel):
40 W
at 8 Ω, 20 - 20,000 Hz (IHF)
45 W
at 4 Ω, 20 - 20,000 Hz (IHF)
53 W
at 8 Ω, 1 kHz (DIN)
Total
Harmonic Distortion:
Phono to Rec
Out (3 V, 20 - 20,000 Hz) : less than
0,005%
Tuner to Sp
Out (20 W, 20 - 20,000 Hz) : less than
0,01%
Intermodulation
Distortion:
Tuner
to Sp Out (8 Ω, 20 W, 60 Hz : 7 kHz =
4:1): less than 0,005%
Power
Bandwidth (8 Ω, 20 W, 0,05%
THD): 10 Hz to 70 kHz
Damping
Factor: over 50 (8 Ω, 1 kHz)
Frequency
Response:
Tuner, Aux,
Tape 1 & 2 to Sp Out: 4 Hz to 70 kHz
(+0 -2 dB)
RIAA
Deviation: 40 Hz to 20 kHz (±0,2 dB)
Input
Sensitivity/Impedance:
Phono
: 2,5 mV/47 k Ω (220 pF)
Tuner,
Aux, Tape 1 & 2 : 150 mV/47 k Ω
Maximum
Input level:
Phono (1
kHz, 0,005% THD) : over 200 mV
Tone Control
Characteristics:
Bass (500
Hz) : ±10 dB at 20 Hz
Treble (3
kHz) : ±10 dB at 20 kHz
Output
Sensitivity/Impedance:
Rec
Out : 150 mV/600 Ω
Signal-to-Noise
Ratio (IHF A network/New IHF):
Phono : better than 98 dB (10 mV)/69 dB
Tuner, Aux,
Tape 1 & 2 : better than 104 dB / 83
dB
Residual
Noise (volume minimum): 120 µV
Channel
Separation (1 kHz):
Tuner
to Sp Out (Input 5,1 k Ω) : better than 65 dB
NDCR, phono
to Sp Out:
IHF-A
network, 0,1% distortion, vol at -20 dB:
12 mW to 40 W
Headphone
Output: 50 mW (8 Ω, rated output)
Power
Supplies: models available for all
supply voltages and frequencies
Power
Consumption:
U.S.A. and
Canada : 240 W, 310 VA
Australia
and Britain : 290 W
Germany
: 260 W
Other Areas
: 240 W
Dimensions
(W x H x D): 435 x 112 x 338 mm
(17-1/8" x 4-1/2" x 13-1/4")
Weight: 7,8 kg (17 lb 2 oz)