The DSP-AZ1 is designed to deliver the full impact and dynamism of movies by supplying generous amounts of power (including bass power!). That’s why despite all the digital processing magic, it is first and foremost a powerful receiver. By drawing on our long years of amplifier expertise (we’ve created some of the world’s legendary power amps and preamps) and refusing to make any compromises on quality, we’ve endowed the DSP-AZ1 with awesome capabilities. It incorporates a powerful 8-channel amplifier with high dynamic power and sophisticated circuitry like linear damping.

Total Low-Impedance Design
All current signal paths, from the power supply to the power amplifier to the speaker drive circuits, utilize a low-impedance design. This improves the separation characteristics among multi-channels and allows the use of a wider variety of low-impedance speakers.

8-Channel High Power,
Discrete Amplifier Configuration
The DSP-AZ1 will deliver as much as 130W (RMS) of power at a negligible 0.015% distortion to each of six channels (two main, two rear, one center and one rear center). Plus 45W to each of the two front effect channels. This is more than enough to fill even the largest rooms with vibrant music and Richter-scale sound effects.

High Dynamic Power Capability
The DSP-AZ1 is capable of delivering large amounts of reserve power for accurate reproduction of the high energy peaks that are especially prevalent in digital audio sources. This emphasizes the music’s dynamic qualities and provides a sharper sound image.

Linear Damping (Main L/R and Center Channels)
Level variations due to high amp impedance tend to reduce an amplifier’s damping factor, and frequency variations cause it to fluctuate. This circuit cancels the effect of these variations, maintaining a high, stable damping factor, for superior articulation of all sounds and better frequency response.

Anti-Vibration, Anti-Resonance Chassis and 1.6mm ToP-ART Base
Supporting the heavy heat sinks, transformer, and circuit board is Yamaha’s 1.6mm ToP-ART base, which has exceptional anti-resonance and damping characteristics. Beneath this base is the bottom of amplifier, part of the heavy chassis which is also designed for maximum vibration damping.

Naturally Cooled Anodized Heat Sinks
The two large, anti-resonance, aluminum-extruded, naturally cooled heat sinks undergo black anodization processing to ensure maximum heat dissipation efficiency. They are located on the base frame with the power amplifier circuit boards to prevent interference with the preamplifier and digital processing sections. The fact that they are naturally cooled means that they are so efficiently designed that a fan is not necessary for cooling. The power block is equipped with a fan, but it is only used for extreme heat build-up and is not activated during normal operation, preventing the occurrence of even the slightest unwanted noise.

Every Internal Component Is a Top Performer - And It Makes a Difference!
In order to realize the goals of massive power and superlative sound quality, Yamaha technicians completely re-evaluated all the parts used in previous amplifiers. As a result, many were replaced with more expensive or custom-designed units.

Extra-Large Custom-Made Block Electrolytic Capacitors
Developed specifically for the DSP-AZ1, the 27,000µF block electrolytic capacitors use low-magnification foil and are exceptionally high quality.

Ultra-heavy-duty chassis with two large, anti-resonance, aluminum-extruded, naturally cooled anodized heat sinks.

Extra-Large (9.8kg), Low-Impedance Transformer
The massive power supply transformer has a new core material and improved design, allowing it to output 200VA, 20% higher than the previous model. Cables have been upgraded from 22-gauge to 20-gauge.

Wire-Wrapped Connectors
The connectors from jumper cables to PCB, transformer, etc, are wire-wrapped, as shown in the photo. This takes a great deal of effort (so much, in fact, that Yamaha is the only manufacturer who does it), but provides much greater signal reliability.

FE Mica Capacitors and Metallic Mylar Film Capacitors
At this level of sound quality, even these small parts make a difference. The high precision FE mica and metallic mylar film capacitors use polypropylene material and are the highest performance types on the market.

High Performance Power Transistors
Superior power transistors, upgraded from 150W in the DSP-AV1 to 180W, enable the DSP-AZ1 to achieve a wide bandwidth with frequency response extending to 100kHz. Although human hearing only extends to about 20kHz, the harmonics of these frequencies go much higher, and reproducing them enhances overall tonality and musicality. This also means that the DSP-AZ1 will perform superbly with the next generation of wider range digital audio products such as DVD-Audio and SACD.

Schottky Barrier Diodes
Low forward voltage drop and fast switching make these diodes ideal for fast switching applications, contributing to the high S/N ratio.

Twin Direct Signal Path Speaker Relays
Speaker switching is accomplished by relays right in front of the speaker terminals, rather than at the switch position. This results in a shorter signal path and minimum output impedance.

High Quality Printed Circuit Board
The printed circuit board is made of new material and has impedance-reducing extra-thick 70µm copper foil to maintain high signal quality.

Inlet-Type Power Cable
The inlet-type power cable is separate, rather than attached to the unit. It is a thicker type (16-gauge) than ordinary power cables, for higher power handling capacity.

Thick PC Board Wiring with 1.6mm Copper Jumper Cables
The audio signal is routed within the amplifier through exceptionally thick, top quality wire, ensuring that signal purity is maintained.

Improved Preamplifier Power Supply
A large capacity, stable-voltage preamplifier power supply with an extra-large heat sink ensures rock-steady operation for analog and digital signal processing and video signals. And with no interference from the power amplifier section, this power supply is unaffected by noise.