Yamaha MX-2000 on the bay, I can't stand it

[Mark B]

Hi folks,

Actually, I am the winner of this MX-2000. Waiting for the seller to provide the total payment for the unit...

Anyway, this is the 2nd MX-2000 to be going into a setup with the McIntosh C200 pre-amp and IRS Epsilon's speakers. In the room that the system is in, these two MX-2000's provide more than enough power.

Sometimes ago, I picked up a similar-conditioned MX-2000 for around $750. But UPS managed to smashed the side panels. So, they ended up paying over $650 for it and let me keep amp. Fortunately, nothing inside was damaged and the unit is 110% functional. UPS also managed to smash a Sony TA-N90ES amp for a customer the following week.

I put on Honduran Rosewood panels cut to match the exact size of the MX-2000's original faked MFB panels, which added another 5-10lbs to the total weight... I am not too crazy about the glossy look of the panels anyway...

Sound quality wise, it's a subjective matter anyway... But the MX-2000's replace a pair of MC352, a pair of MC2102 (and at some point, I had various configurations of these 325's and 2102's to the speakers). To my ears, the MC325's were dark and slow. The MC2102's were nice, but worth nothing in the bass dept.

I also had some Krell KAS-200's in another system with the IRS V's... Replaced them with the MX-10000's 3 years ago and never look back.

Bottom line is that this $1450 amount is probably more than offset by the fact that the 1st MX-2000 is practically free to me. And, no more business to UPS from us.

I am hope that the new addition will arrive in its current conditions!

DLe.

Congratulations on the MX-2000! A pair of them driving Infinity IRS Epsilons is going to be sweet.

Regarding the MX-10000's you mentioned. Are you saying you have 2 of the Limited Centennial Edition amps? If so, please start a thread and post pictures of them.

 

[dle_apowers]

The two MX-10000's were from a business to Tokyo a few years ago...

The house with the IRS V setup is under some renovation, and all "precious" stereo stuff are under thick plastic covers... So, no pictures for now...

But, I can offer some pictures of the MX-2000 (before I fixed the panels).

DLe.

 

[Len44]

What do you MX-2000 owners think how the MX-2000 sounds in comparison to other amps ?

What I have noticed most are more detail and, at the same time,
smoothness. And, of course, the sheer gorgeousness of the MX/CX,TX 2000 series rack.

Mind you, this is in comparison with a Yamaha 1000 series rack, and a Yamaha DSP-AZ1... But, the MX-1000 is a mighty fine amp it it's own right, no doubt about it.:yes:

 

[bastek]

The two MX-10000's were from a business to Tokyo a few years ago...

The house with the IRS V setup is under some renovation, and all "precious" stereo stuff are under thick plastic covers... So, no pictures for now...

But, I can offer some pictures of the MX-2000 (before I fixed the panels).

DLe.

Hey DLe, congrats. Did you finally sell those Sigmas?

 

[specialidiot]

Hi folks,

Actually, I am the winner of this MX-2000. Waiting for the seller to provide the total payment for the unit...

Any updates for us?

 

[Susurus]

Very very nice setup.

 

[SoCal Sam]

The 2000 series and 10000 series are on the top of my wish list! I'd love to have the whole set including the matching speakers.

 

[BroonsBane]

The 2000 series and 10000 series are on the top of my wish list! I'd love to have the whole set including the matching speakers.

The Goodwill find of the century

 

[SoCal Sam]

The Goodwill find of the century

That would be the GOAT find! Not sure what kind of deal with the devil you'd have to make...

 

[dle_apowers]

Hi Folks,

Any updates for us?

Yes, it's on its way through Ohio - according DHL tracking. Supposed to be here Monday...

Will try to put up some pictures once I get a chance to check out the new MX-2000's. And, also some inside shots when I open it up for a detailed job.

Very very nice setup.

Thank you!!! It's "mobile" setup that works better for me when I have to move around for work...

Handling the IRS V's and their associated electronics is not something I want to do every few years...

Hey DLe, congrats. Did you finally sell those Sigmas?

Well, the buyer sent a $220 (10%) deposit 3.5 weeks ago, but never to hear from again...

The guys at the local crating place kept asking me when they'd get to see those big speakers that I kept getting quotes for?

But on the other hand, I guess I have money to run ads on A'gon and such for a while! So, no sweat!

Not really in a pinch to have to sell those Sigma's anyway... Maybe I'll use them as rear speakers with the IRS V's setup once I finish the house renovation in AZ...

Regards.

 

[dle_apowers]

Hey Folks,

Well, the verdict is... Probation! Well, maybe due to my own personal paranoia!!

Picked up the box earlier today, and the unit was moving inside a little bit... Hmm!!!

Opened it right on the DHL front counter - and there was a whole lot peanuts, which explained the movement. The unit was wrapped adequately, with some corner reinforcement. Not as tight as I would prefer, but nevertheless - no visual crunch of anything...

Cosmetically, the unit is very clean. A couple of nail head sized chips in the Al trims, but that's expected for a 20+ years unit. Panels are all intact. Overall, a solid 9/10.

Powered up nice and quiet, but the meters' lamps are quite dim. Minor stuff for now!

Initial output DC offset was 1mV for both channels. 30 minutes warming up later, both channels measured 0.6mV DC offset??? Wow! My other MX-2000 has 6.5mV output DC offsets.

Inside is relatively clean, just a little dusty as usual - but no nasty cigarette tar or pet hair, etc. Nothing my little 90psi air compressor couldn't handle.

A quick air spray/brush, and wipe down left the unit is almost new conditions.

But then, my palm accidentally hit the right channel's heat sink. It was still hot after unplugging from the wall for 15 minute!!?! What the heck? The left channel was cool as it could be. A little bit strange to say the least, but it was far too late for me to try to pull the pre/driver or output boards to check now... Hope it's something trivial...

I decided to plug it into the system, nevertheless. After playing for 30 minutes now, no obvious issues.

Interesting thing is that the top left and right panel feel equally warm now, though not hot... And, I recalled they felt about the same as well when I first powered it up. Only when actually touching the heat sinks can reveal the temperature difference between the two channels...

Maybe I'll try to find some time in the months or so to check it out.

Thus, the "probation" verdict!

Took some pictures, but in RAW format. I need to process them before "showing off" tomorrow.

G'nite.

 

[bastek]

Good to hear you are happy with the unit. A bias adjustment might be in order, usually that's the cause of L-R heat sink temp. differences. But you gonna need the schematic for test points and DC values.

 

[dle_apowers]

Good to hear you are happy with the unit. A bias adjustment might be in order, usually that's the cause of L-R heat sink temp. differences. But you gonna need the schematic for test points and DC values.

The schematics - that I have. Finding the time to get to it in the next month or two, that's the tough part...

Too much is going at the office and at home until at least Labor Day!

Anyway, I think it'll probably survive till then...

DLe.

 

[Arkay]

Congratulations on some GREAT gear there! Beautiful looking set-up. :thmbsp:

Your TT is a Pioneer PL-C590, right? Is the arm on it the PA-1000 or the PA-5000 version -? (I can't tell from the pic on my smallish computer screen). I have one (was playing with it earlier today ), but mine has an SME 3009 II arm on it. A few other AKers have 'em, too. Onepixel has one with an Infinity Black Widow arm on it, and I remember reading one or two others have that TT, but not many. Even fewer (probably no one!) have your matched amps, though! :thmbsp:

 

[dle_apowers]

Congratulations on some GREAT gear there! Beautiful looking set-up. :thmbsp:

Your TT is a Pioneer PL-C590, right? Is the arm on it the PA-1000 or the PA-5000 version -? (I can't tell from the pic on my smallish computer screen). I have one (was playing with it earlier today ), but mine has an SME 3009 II arm on it. A few other AKers have 'em, too. Onepixel has one with an Infinity Black Widow arm on it, and I remember reading one or two others have that TT, but not many. Even fewer (probably no one!) have your matched amps, though! :thmbsp:

Yes, sir! That's the PA-5000 TA on the PCL-590. Took me a whole lot of work to restore the TA to its current conditions. When I first got it about 2 years ago, the whole thing was almost totally covered in tarnish and rust. Many hours of careful cleaning and polishing... It is now is very respectable shape.

I didn't go as far as replacing the TA wire, fearful of the worst - that I couldn't get the arm to work properly again after disassemble the whole thing. Being 30+ years in age and in such rarity, it's unlikely that I could easily find parts...

Still have the Sansui SR-929 sitting on the work bench with its TA totally messed up! :-(

Mounting it was another challenge, as there is no available guideline/template. But, I cut a few of those mounting boards as well as some 1/4" Al cover plates. So now, I have some spares in case I need to make changes in the mounting position...

Took 6-7 months of my spare time altogether, but it's truly a wonderful setup now... I might try to optimize the placement and alignment in the future, but that's another story - probably...

The table came without the arm, and was in pristine conditions. But, I accidentally dropped record clamp on the top surface... Ouch! So now it has a chip in the finish... More character that way, I guess!

Anyway, I hope to get the pictures up later tonight.

Regards.

 

[dle_apowers]

OK, last night I was debating whether to process the pictures or to goof around with the amp... Well, you already know the answer to that! So, this puts me behind on other projects (work and personal), but what the heck!

Thus, no pictures yet and hopefully over this weekend they'll be up...

Anyway, the "boss" had an unplanned business trip... So after I dropped her off at the airport, it was time to put the amp on the work bench!

Everything looked to be in place and all components/connections seemed fine. No signs of any stress or damage.

The DC levels on the right channel was definitely far off from what it needed to be. The manual says DC 60mV +/- 590mV (yes, I know - this is a strange notation), and I guess that it should be ideally 590mV with about 10% variation (60mV).

The right channel's DC bias level was at 1.2V, while the left's was 574mV. Easy fix!

It took me way longer to remove all the necessary panels to get to the resistive pots and the test-points than to set the correct DC levels!

Good to hear you are happy with the unit. A bias adjustment might be in order, usually that's the cause of L-R heat sink temp. differences. But you gonna need the schematic for test points and DC values.

Bastek,

Good call on the bias mismatch! Thanks again!!!

Regards.

 

[specialidiot]

Thus, no pictures yet and hopefully over this weekend they'll be up...

Great to hear that you'll have it singing in no time!

I can't wait to see the pics.

Jeff

 

[dle_apowers]

Here it is!

Amp seems to be in fine operating and cosmetic conditions for now!!!

Next step? Maybe change out the captive power cord... Ok, that's probably next year sometimes!!!

Regards.

 

[theophile]

If the MX-2000 was a person,I could see it being Grace Kelly.....
Just gorgeous.

 

[rush2112guy]

Going to see Rush in St. Louis friday Broon! Cant wait , it is my 50th Birthdat present to myself!!!

Guy