M-60 vs M-4 vs M-2

stoutblock

stoutblock

"If it sounds good, it is good." Duke Ellington
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I picked up that M-60 on CL which cleaned up fine and now my brother has it combined with a C-80 and T-80. Really great combination for the money.

I spend some time with the M-60 in my own system before he picked it up. I was generally impressed with its performance. The high frequencies tend to have a little more air to them, maybe a little more delicacy to some instruments as compared to my M-2.

The M-2 has much more authority, a more forward mid range, and with warmer high frequencies.

My brother gave me a well used M-4 in trade he had recently picked up. It was horribly dirty inside, but with some work it cleaned up quite nicely. All the setting were off but adjusted to specification just fine.

For the last couple of nights I have been listening to it in my system. This is a fine sounding amp! What a sleeper. I've heard some of you state you like the M-4 sound better than the M-2. I've got to spend some more time comparing, but I think you might be right. Granted the M-2 has more authority but the mids and highs may be more balanced on the M-4?
 
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stoutblock said:
The M-2 has much more authority, a more forward mid range, and with warmer high frequencies.

... the M-2 has more authority but the mids and highs may be more balanced on the M-4?
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Thats what I experienced with the PA Brother of the M2 compared to other Yamahas, while I never heard the M4.

Maybe It's getting time to look at an M4.
Interesting thread, please keep us up to date!
 
The M-4 is nice sounding amp... But when you want to crank it up it lacks power. The M-2 beats it there. But if your after lower level easy listening go the M-4 you can get them cheaper as well.
 
pete05 said:
The M-4 is nice sounding amp... But when you want to crank it up it lacks power. The M-2 beats it there. But if your after lower level easy listening go the M-4 you can get them cheaper as well.
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Well Duh..The M-4 does not lack any power and technically has power to spare.Its rated at 120 wpc and typically measures at 160 wpc before clipping into a 8 ohm load.
the M-2 of course is a 240 wpc amp. I have not personally measured the output power on one,yet, but soon.:yes:Which, I'm guessing will probably top 280+ wpc.:scratch2:
 
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avionic said:
Well Duh..The M-4 does not lack any power and technically has power to spare.Its rated at 120 wpc and typically measures at 160 wpc before clipping into a 8 ohm load.
the M-2 of course is a 240 wpc amp. I have not personally measured the output power on one,yet, but soon.:yes:Which, I'm guessing will probably top 280+ wpc.:scratch2:
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My speakers are Soliloquy 6.5s which are rated at 92db/1watt/1M and they get plenty loud with the M-4. With pro amp build quality, full ability to adjust, and great sound, it might be the best bargain Yamaha amp out there? Must weigh 35-40 lbs?
 
I had a Luxman L-11 integrated amp rated at 100wpc driving NS-1000m's and than I hooked up the M-4 and it seemed to lack in power in comparison. The L-11 seemed to drive the speakers much easier and louder. Unless there was something wrong with the M-4.
 
I do have another M-4 (different to the one I was using before) but is needs a power supply do you think it's worth getting up and running for more comparisons?
 
avionic said:
Well Duh..The M-4 does not lack any power and technically has power to spare.Its rated at 120 wpc and typically measures at 160 wpc before clipping into a 8 ohm load.
the M-2 of course is a 240 wpc amp. I have not personally measured the output power on one,yet, but soon.:yes:Which, I'm guessing will probably top 280+ wpc.:scratch2:
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Pretty close estimation!
Here are two (I believe these could be called valuable) reviews from a German magazine of the M2 to its time:

http://www.theimann.com/Analog/Yamaha_M2/Stereoplay/index.html

http://www.theimann.com/Analog/Yamaha_M2/HiFi_Exclusiv/index.html

It was measured with 275WPC/8Ω :thmbsp: beastial.


Avionic, did you ever measure PC4002s?
 
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stoutblock said:
My speakers are Soliloquy 6.5s which are rated at 92db/1watt/1M and they get plenty loud with the M-4. With pro amp build quality, full ability to adjust, and great sound, it might be the best bargain Yamaha amp out there? Must weigh 35-40 lbs?
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It's also one of the easiest amps to recap, although unforgiving in any physical size change of the main filter caps. What few lytics there are.
 
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avionic said:
Alot..:D There was a little static.Did you ever get it squared away?


http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=3349890&postcount=86
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Nope. Every small signal and power trans on the C board replaced. Takes forever to come out of protection and that clip led never goes off. There's 3 volts in the clip indicator circuit where where there should be 0.2 (collector of TR363/364) and I can't figure out if it's the noise or something else making it wonkey. I swapped the two NJM4558D op amps just for sh*ts and no change.

I've halfheartedly (when I have time) been sending a signal through it and probing each side of a bunch of film caps when I get a few spare minutes, hoping to find something, but nada. I've tried the divide and conquer method and just can't locate it. It's nasty at the idle current TP's. The DC jumps around with no signal and if I run a sine wave through it, you can see the noise and static riding the signal. Removing the NFB to make some quick checks is a BAADDD thing, it goes into oscillation real fast and goes thermal.

Pretty frustrating.
 
Thread thieves!

Now I have the M-4 and M-2 bi-amped into the Soliloquy speakers. Now that's what I call authority!
 
pete05 said:
I do have another M-4 (different to the one I was using before) but is needs a power supply do you think it's worth getting up and running for more comparisons?
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Not sure if it would be cheaper to pick up another M-4?
 
avionic said:
Guilty as charged..What are you using for the cross-over?
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Using the passive crossovers in the Soliloquys. The 6.5s have two separate cross overs connect to each pair of lugs. One for High pass and one for low pass. You need to bridge the lugs when using one amp.

Granted an active crossover would be more efficient use of the amps but right now they are running full range with the passives doing the duty.

Listening to Kind of Blue this morning at low levels (wife is still sleeping). Using the First sound line stage (has two sets of outputs) on the 3rd click and with both amps turned full up I think the balance is perfect. The M-2 gives a little more emphasis to bass and my large living room needs it.

Can someone say headroom!
 
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