Yamaha A-S501 vs Sony STR-DE335 Review
Here's a scenario that's more common than you'd think: you've got a aging Sony receiver that's starting to act up, and you're wondering whether to repair it or move on to something better. One Reddit user laid this out clearly — their Sony STR-DE335 had a channel presumed faulty, and they were eyeing the Yamaha A-S501 as a replacement to drive Teufel Ultima 40 mk4 speakers in a ~35 m² living room. It's a genuinely interesting comparison because these two units aren't direct competitors in the traditional sense — one is a vintage AV receiver, the other a modern stereo integrated amplifier. Let's break down what each actually offers.
Yamaha A-S501 — The Modern Stereo Workhorse
What It Does Well
The A-S501 is a dedicated stereo integrated amplifier — and that focus matters. Rather than trying to be all things to all people, Yamaha built this unit to do two-channel audio extremely well. For a living room setup pairing with quality bookshelf or floor-standing speakers like the Teufel Ultima 40, it's purpose-built for exactly this kind of work.
The unit includes a built-in phono stage (useful if you're into vinyl), multiple analog inputs, and a clean, no-frills signal path that prioritizes audio fidelity over feature bloat. Yamaha's reputation for musical, natural-sounding amplification is well-established, and the A-S501 carries that forward at its price point. Users consistently describe the sound as detailed but never harsh — a balance that works particularly well with European speaker designs like the Teufel lineup.
The build quality is also notably solid. The chassis feels substantial, the knobs have proper weight to them, and the overall aesthetic — classic brushed aluminum — holds up far better over time than plastic-heavy budget receivers.
The Limitations to Know Before Buying
This is a stereo-only amplifier. If you're coming from an AV receiver and you rely on surround sound for movies or TV, the A-S501 will feel like a step backward in terms of feature set. No HDMI, no Dolby processing, no subwoofer pre-out in the traditional AV sense. The Reddit user in question mentioned having a Bluetooth adapter, a CD player, and a TV connected via HDMI splitter — that kind of workaround setup becomes necessary when you go the stereo amp route.
There's also no built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which is increasingly a friction point in 2024. External adapters work, but it's an added expense and another box in the chain.
Sony STR-DE335 — The Aging AV Generalist
What It Brought to the Table
In its day, the STR-DE335 was a competent mid-range AV receiver. It offered multi-channel surround decoding, multiple inputs, and the kind of versatility that makes it easy to hook up a TV, DVD player, CD player, and game console without much fuss. For a one-box solution in a living room, that flexibility was genuinely useful.
It also had a remote — and notably, the replacement remote (RM-U303/RM-U305) is still available for around $15, suggesting there's still a community of users keeping these units alive. That's actually a sign of how widespread this receiver was in its era.
The Problem: Age and Reliability
The STR-DE335 is old hardware, and old hardware fails. Channel faults — exactly what the Reddit user experienced — are among the most common failure modes for aging receivers. Capacitors degrade, solder joints crack, and the cost of repair often approaches or exceeds the unit's current market value.
Beyond reliability, the audio performance simply doesn't match what a dedicated modern stereo amplifier can deliver. AV receivers make compromises in their analog stages to fit surround processing and multiple channels into a single chassis. The STR-DE335 was never a reference-quality two-channel performer, and it has only fallen further behind as the years have passed.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Yamaha A-S501 | Sony STR-DE335 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Stereo Integrated Amplifier | AV Receiver (Multi-channel) |
| Audio Focus | 2-channel stereo (dedicated) | 5.1 surround |
| Phono Stage | Yes (built-in) | No |
| Bluetooth | No (external adapter needed) | No |
| HDMI | No | No (older standard) |
| Build Quality | Solid, premium-feel chassis | Adequate for its era |
| Reliability | Modern, current production | Aging, known channel fault issues |
| Remote Available | Yes (included) | Replacement available (~$15) |
| Best Use Case | Music-first living room | Home theater generalist |
| Price (approx.) | ~$500–600 new | Discontinued / used market only |
The Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?
If your priority is music quality — streaming, CD, vinyl, or even just TV audio in stereo — and you're willing to live without surround sound, the Yamaha A-S501 is the clear upgrade. Paired with capable speakers like the Teufel Ultima 40 in a 35 m² room, it will outperform the Sony significantly in terms of stereo fidelity, long-term reliability, and sheer enjoyment of music. The Reddit user asking this exact question was steered correctly — it is a good choice.
The Sony STR-DE335 no longer makes sense as a primary buy in 2024. It's not sold new, it has known reliability problems as it ages, and its multi-channel features are outdated compared to modern AV receivers. The only compelling case for holding onto one is if you actively need legacy surround processing and can't afford a replacement — but even then, modern entry-level receivers from Denon or Yamaha's own AV lineup offer far better value.
One important note for the Yamaha path: if you rely on Bluetooth or want your TV audio handled simply, budget for an external Bluetooth adapter or a TOSLINK-to-analog DAC. The A-S501's lack of digital inputs is its most practical limitation in a modern living room context. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's an extra $30–50 you'll spend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Yamaha A-S501 a good replacement for the Sony STR-DE335?
A: Yes, for music-focused two-channel listening it's a meaningful upgrade in audio quality and reliability. However, it doesn't provide surround sound, so if that's important to your setup, consider a modern AV receiver instead.
Q: Can the Yamaha A-S501 work with Bluetooth devices?
A: Not natively. You'll need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its analog inputs. Many users use a simple Bluetooth-to-RCA adapter for around $20–30.
Q: Where can I still get a remote for the Sony STR-DE335?
A: Replacement remotes (RM-U303 / RM-U305 compatible) are available on Amazon for around $15, covering the STR-DE335 and several other Sony receivers from the same era.
Q: Is the Sony STR-DE335 worth repairing if a channel is faulty?
A: Generally no. Repair costs for channel faults on aging receivers often exceed the unit's current value, and the underlying components will continue to degrade. A modern amplifier is a sounder long-term investment.
Q: What speakers pair well with the Yamaha A-S501?
A: The A-S501 drives a wide range of speakers effectively. In a 35 m² room, floorstanders like the Teufel Ultima 40 are an excellent match — the amplifier has enough headroom to drive them cleanly at realistic listening volumes.
— Tech Lead Editor 1, CPrice
Posted on April 18, 2026