# Yamaha A-S801 vs McIntosh MA252: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Yamaha A-S801 (Yamaha) and McIntosh MA252 (McIntosh) among integrated amplifiers. Yamaha A-S801 is the cheaper of the two at $1099.

## Side by side

| Spec | Yamaha A-S801 | McIntosh MA252 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1099 | $5000 |
| Brand | Yamaha | McIntosh |
| Power per channel8 ohm (W) | 100 | 100 |
| Power per channel4 ohm (W) | — | 160 |
| Amplifier class | — | tube-hybrid |
| Thd percent | 0.019 | 0.03 |
| Snr (dB) | 99 | 97 |
| Built in dac | Yes | No |
| Phono stage | MM | MM |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Analog inputs | — | 3 |
| Digital inputs | — | 0 |
| Headphone output | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (kg) | 12.1 | 12.7 |

## Key differences

- Thd percent: Yamaha A-S801 0.019 vs McIntosh MA252 0.03
- Snr (dB): Yamaha A-S801 99 vs McIntosh MA252 97
- Built in dac: Yamaha A-S801 Yes vs McIntosh MA252 No
- Weight (kg): Yamaha A-S801 12.1 vs McIntosh MA252 12.7

## Sources

- Yamaha A-S801: https://europe.yamaha.com/en/products/audio_visual/hifi_components/a-s801/specs.html (europe.yamaha.com, verified 2026-07-13)
- McIntosh MA252: https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/integrated-amplifiers/MA252 (mcintoshlabs.com, verified 2026-07-13)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/integrated-amplifiers/yamaha-a-s801-vs-mcintosh-ma252/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Yamaha A-S801 ($1099) vs McIntosh MA252 ($5000) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/integrated-amplifiers/yamaha-a-s801-vs-mcintosh-ma252/
License: CC BY 4.0.