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Going from a Yamaha R-2000 to an integrated amp

Raphaz

Raphaz

AK Subscriber
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I currently own a R-2000 (well restored). Had it for nearly two decades. I like the SQ, it’s unforgivingly detailed and clear in all frequency ranges, even at lower volumes, and has enough umph to power my large, open, heigh ceiling loft space.

I recently changed things a bit and added Wiims for streaming and for adding WiFi for remotes.

I am debating on selling my two receivers and replacing them with an integrated amp.

What integrated amps (vintage or new) would give me a similar SQ or better?

Budget? It depends: If SQ/power is on par with the R-2000 max $ 1’2000.00 - if it’s a significant upgrade maybe 2.5K max.
I should mention I prefer a clean vintage look (and large meters would be an added bonus).

Sources all go through a simple switch into a Wiim Pro+ and from there to the R-2000.
Spotify, Tidal; Technics TT (Ortofon OM30, Pro-Ject Box S); NAK Tape; Denon CD…
Analog/wired: 2 x KEF Q500 and a Klipsch sub; remotes: 2 x Fluance A61 (Wiim Mini, WiFi) and 2 x JBL 401-BT (Wiim Mini, WiFi).
Some components may be upgraded over time.
 
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When you broached this topic back in October, there was a couple of good suggestions, I'll add a restored CA-1010 to the mix.

Having owned one I kinda regret I let it go as it was a beast and sound great!

Amp to replace Yamaha R-2000 receiver

I own an R-2000 and I’m very happy with the way it sounds - I have been happy with it for close to two decades. But other components around it changed and the R-2000 now basically serves just as an amp only. I wonder if it’s worth for me to look for an amp that has a similar sound signature...
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Look into the new Yamaha AS-xxx line of integrated amps ?

A properly restored CA 2010 would also fit the bill.

IMHO you would need a significant upgrade to make the change worthwhile, the R2000 is a pretty solid unit as is.
 
My KEF 500s are connected to a Yamaha R-2000, bi-wired.
In addition I have a Klipsch 112 sub connected to the R-2000 pre-amp.
I have it running like that for years now. Usually it sounds great, but every now and there's a phase when this barely audible noise, like a mid-frequency brown noise, is coming out of the left speaker, and sometimes the left channel sounds ever so slightly distorted, and on rare occasions it sounds like it has little millisecond outings), almost as if there was a loose connection somewhere.
It's not in-your-face annoying, but it's happening again lately – even my wife noticed it when walking by the speaker and no music was playing.
The weird thing is that it usually stays for a couple days and then suddenly it's all fine again, no noise anymore.

I changed to better speaker wires over a year ago, and recently I checked all connections and cables, nothing there.

Sometimes I have the receiver running for a full day, other days it's not on at all. Either way, it never gets super hot – the vents on top are not obstructed by anything. I have a surge protector, clean power, and a quality relay/trigger before the receiver – it automatically powers down after 2+ min without any activity/signal, so it never really runs longer than 12-13 hours at a time. I never use the spatial expander on the receiver – finicky gimmick.

I played a bit with right and left balance: it's definitely most (if not only) audible on the left.
Increasing/decreasing volume makes no difference, neither does using a different source (TT instead of streaming). Setting the Out to Mono may decrease the noise slightly, not sure, but it's still there. And I just changed the speaker wires on the receiver from the B terminals/channel to the C channel – no change.

The only thing the receiver may need at some point is the memory-battery changed again (if that)* and one of the channel A terminals will need to be fixed/replaced – otherwise everything seems clean and working.

I want to find out what it is and if there's a remedy. I was hoping someone here would have an idea or can give some advice. Thank you!



*(from what I was told the batteries are self-self-regenerating unless the receiver is not used for a long period of time, but I guess they can till go bad, not sure).
 
Maybe that was too long an explanation, but I’m sure I’d be asked for more context and details anyway.
So here's the short version:

Yamaha R-2000 powers a pair of KEF Q500 and a Klipsch sub. I recently get this (barely audible) noise, mid-frequency, from left speaker, and sometimes the left channel sounds slightly distorted, and on rare occasions it has little outings.

I'm not sure where the noise comes from and how to get rid of it.
I was hoping someone here could help.

See above for more context – I'm happy to provide more details if helpful.

Thank you!
 
Noise has started to come out of the left speaker lately, barely audible, then there were short outings lately, and since yesterday there’s no sound at all! Must be the receiver.
It powers up and all the lights come on, but no sound.

I now need to figure out what’s going on here first. Any ideas what I should look for, besides cleaning and DeOxit? What could it be?

I’m not a technician.
If it’s more serious I’m not sure where to go to here in New York to get it fixed. I doubt that Analogique is still in business.
Does someone know of any other repair shop that they can recommend in the NY area that can take care of vintage gear like that?

I should mention that one of the A channel binding post’s plastic parts (outside) broke off (a long time ago), but that has not been an issue as long as I used just the B and C channels. The hat can’t be the problem here, right?
 
dcgibby said:
Why not go with new Yamaha. The A-S1200 seems about equivalent to your current setup.
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I thought about the A-S line.
The price tag for the A-S1200 is a bit steep though, and below that I won’t get the quality and power I want.
But if it gives me a similar sound and is indeed more reliable (and easier to get it repaired if needed), I may consider it.
Critics and reviews are mixed, as usual but the measurements seem comparable to the R-2000, right? And it has meters - that’s nice!

At this point my focus starts shifting towards a one-and-done solution — I’m tired of upgrades, and spending time and money on issues and fixes. I would assume the higher end Yamahas are still superior to many brands in that regard.

I wish there was a powerful enough high-end Yamaha option that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles and is therefore more affordable without sacrificing quality.
The thing is I don’t need all the inputs, the phono pre, DAC, HDMI and all that since I run all sources through a simple switch (and the tt through a pre before the switch), and from there it all goes through the Wiim Pro+ first, before it goes to the amp/receiver. Why? That way I can sync and correct latency between the analog mains/sub and the WiFi-enabled powered remote speakers, without coloring the sound. And, unfortunately I don’t care for the Yamaha proprietary MusiCast (until they license it to more speaker brands).

I guess I mainly need a good amp at this point. But of the newer lineup there seems to be the M-5000 only - but I’m not willing to fork out over six grand!

In any case, even if I get something like an A-S1200 I’d like to get the R-2000 fixed so I can sell it in good conscience, or keep it as a backup.
Any ideas who could fix it in the NY area?
 
There's definitely a serious issue with the R-2000.
After cleaning, deOxit, re-wiring speakers, using different speaker channels, different sources, even radio... no sound whatsoever. It's dead. Why?!

If you know of anyone in the New York area who could fix it, please share. Thank you!
 
There's definitely a serious issue with the R-2000.
After cleaning, deOxit, re-wiring speakers, using different speaker channels, different sources, even radio... no sound whatsoever. It's dead. Why?!

If you know of anyone in the New York area who could fix it, please share. Thank you!
 
The city. The five boroughs, Westchester.
Maybe up to Poughkeepsie or Beacon. Buffalo or the South Hamptons would be too far.
 
I looked a bit more into the A-S line.
18 1/4 deep. Can’t do it. Max for my custom record and HiFi gear shelving is 15.5 in.
May sound absurd to some but that kills the A-S options for me. it took me too much time and money to find a shelving solution I’m happy with to now change it.
Any other suggestions for newer amps/integrateds with similar build quality and sound signature? Or maybe for some vintage gear less prone to maintenance/repair?
 
Raphaz said:
I looked a bit more into the A-S line.
18 1/4 deep. Can’t do it. Max for my custom record and HiFi gear shelving is 15.5 in.
May sound absurd to some but that kills the A-S options for me. it took me too much time and money to find a shelving solution I’m happy with to now change it.
Any other suggestions for newer amps/integrateds with similar build quality and sound signature? Or maybe for some vintage gear less prone to maintenance/repair?
Click to expand...
You need 3" of extension to make your shelving work, all you need is a thin piece of plywood, or sheet of metal (aluminum or SS) that is 18-1/4" deep and as wide as the legs to put under the A-S, and yes it will then protrude 3" outward from the face of the shelving unit.
 
I would like to provide another option.

I don't want to get you off the idea of Yamaha since you like it's sound but the new NAD C3050 might be an option. It sounds like it would fit your budget, accept your other components with ease, would fit in your cabinet and does have a vintage look with VU meters. It being . . of color, lol might be an issue, but it does look classy IMO. I have not hear or seen one in person but it seems to be getting decent reviews.

Just a thought.
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Sandman1221 said:
You need 3" of extension to make your shelving work, all you need is a thin piece of plywood, or sheet of metal (aluminum or SS) that is 18-1/4" deep and as wide as the legs to put under the A-S, and yes it will then protrude 3" outward from the face of the shelving unit.
Click to expand...
I won't do that. It would look weird, and the bearing would become very front-heavy.
 
Boonaroo said:
I would like to provide another option.

I don't want to get you off the idea of Yamaha since you like it's sound but the new NAD C3050 might be an option. It sounds like it would fit your budget, accept your other components with ease, would fit in your cabinet and does have a vintage look with VU meters. It being . . of color, lol might be an issue, but it does look classy IMO. I have not hear or seen one in person but it seems to be getting decent reviews.

Just a thought.
View attachment 3373158
Click to expand...
I looked at this thing also. I had an NAD receiver in the past. Very good, nice design, nothing wrong with it. I just didn't like the sound so much – it sounded tamed to my ears compared to the Yamahas and Sansuis I've heard/owned. I missed that unforgivingly clear sound. But it's possible that the newer NAD offerings have a different sound signature?
 
For what it's worth, I did some more testing. One of the tests involved replacing the R-2000 with a Nikko 1219 that I have as a backup, and swapping wires, plus cutting some slack on the speaker wires and getting rid of the banana plugs (connected to the posts directly with bare wires ends) and I did some other changes. Still no sound on the wired mains. Just a faint sound on th sub, but only when I crank the volume on the receiver way up (which normally would be dangerously loud).

That probably means the receiver is not the culprit. So the R-2000 may not need a replacement or repair after all.
And I can't imagine the KEF Q500 being dead — if so, wouldn't I at least hear some noise or some sort of signal?

I'm at a loss as to what's happening here. Any ideas anyone?!
 
Nope. Looks like I was wrong.
I did some more testing. One of the tests involved replacing the R-2000 with a Nikko 1219 that I have as a backup, and swapping wires, plus cutting some slack on the speaker wires and getting rid of the banana plugs (connected to the posts directly with bare wires ends) and I did some other changes. Still no sound on the wired mains. Just a faint sound on th sub, but only when I crank the volume on the receiver way up (which normally would be dangerously loud).

That probably means the receiver is not the culprit. So the R-2000 may not need a replacement or repair after all.
And I can't imagine the KEF Q500 being dead — if so, wouldn't I at least hear some noise or some sort of signal?

Sorry for double posting — at this point I should probably make a separate post about this, with a better title?

Anyway, I'm at a loss as to what's happening here.
Any ideas anyone?!
 
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