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Yamaha preamps

...As for the C-2x, yeah it seems that is like the premier Yamaha preamp.

Check out the CX-10000 on TVK :drool:

I wonder if Yamaha make a special preamp to go with the GT2000X? Perhaps the CX-2000 was the one, I bet it also had a killer phono stage?
 
I have to agree with Asha here. I'm running a C-2x/DacMagic. I've had the other C series as well.

The phono stage on the C-2x is much better than the other 2. There is one AK'er around that has a C-2x, and ONLY uses it for it's phono stage. I believe he runs a passive pre along with it. The C-2x I own has outlasted a few other preamps I had (Audio Research LS-9R, VTL Ultimate Dual Mono Pre, C-2, C-2a, Acurus RL-11). It is a very good pre, and many agree it has a very good (for its time, now, or future) phono stage.

That said, I will admit that while everyone (and I mean everyone) I've had contact with regarding its phono stage gives it accolades, I still use an outboard phono pre (Pure DC Camelot Lancelot/Charm supply). My C-2x phono stage was a bit dark with my VPI/Rega/Ortofon kontrapunkt MC. Even with the additional gain from that C-2x's rear gain phono switch, it was a bit dark. A mis-match perhaps? A cap or two needing replacement in the phono stage? Not sure, but it was fine with other configs.

Overall, unless I step up to something like a Lamm Reference tube pre or similar, I'm very pleased with the C-2x. It's a real sleeper, which is fun when people hear my system and find out that Yammy is driving a fair amount of it (C-2x/B-2/B-2x).
 
Thanks, Asha. As for the C-2x, yeah it seems that is like the premier Yamaha preamp. What I meant was that it seems folks are saying that the earlier C-2's phono stage was great for its day but that it was eventually bested by the C-2a and C-2x.

Yes the C-2x/B-2x was a statement setup, out of class (and price) compaired with the other Yamaha units off that time.

The C-2a was made to go with the M-2, Yamaha did not think the C-2 was good enough for there "new" TOTL amp. But some how they stuck with the C-2 name, only if you open them up you will not find much in common. Try to look at some of the naked pic in the big Yamaha thread.

Yamaha did make a special phone stage, the HX-10000 - a monster phonostage witch was part of the Centenniel series and is really rear.

Yamahalic: the CX-2000 is the same as the CX-1000.
 
Yamaha HX-10000

Info (from www.hifi-wiki.de/index.php/Yamaha_HX-10000 ):

Mfg Date: 1987

Weight: 20 kg

Inputs: 2x Phono MM/MC, MM 2.5mV/47 KOhm, MC 60µV/10/30 Ohm, 200µV/30/100 Ohm

Outputs: Line 150mV / 470 Ohm

Frequency response: MM 99 dB / MC 94 dB

Signal Noise Ratio: 99 dB MM / MC 94 dB

Stereo channel separation: 86 dB MM / MC 50 dB
 
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how would you guys compare the c2a to the yamaha C-70? i LOVE my C-70. especially for it's phono stage. seems to mate very well to my modded Technics SL-1600MK2/Spectral MCR Signature cartridge.

i'm pretty happy as is but if a cheap C2a (or unlikely C2X) every came around, i'd of course give 'em a shot.

Robby
 
Yes the C-2x/B-2x was a statement setup, out of class (and price) compaired with the other Yamaha units off that time.

The C-2a was made to go with the M-2, Yamaha did not think the C-2 was good enough for there "new" TOTL amp. But some how they stuck with the C-2 name, only if you open them up you will not find much in common. Try to look at some of the naked pic in the big Yamaha thread.

Yamaha did make a special phone stage, the HX-10000 - a monster phonostage witch was part of the Centenniel series and is really rear.

Yamahalic: the CX-2000 is the same as the CX-1000.

Yeah, I've heard about that HX-10000. Sounds like it is awesome! Oh, and I guess the CX-10000 is probable close to the C-2X in terms of performance as well.

Do you know how the Yamaha integrated amps compare in terms of quality? I came across a CA-1000 for about $200 a while back but didn't bite. Would the preamp portion of a CA-1000 be comparable to the CX-1000?
 
The CX-10000 is in a different class than the C-2x and with a price of about 3-4 times the C-2x it has to be. I newer had the pleasure of listening to the CX-10000, so I can't say how the difference is compared to the C-2x but maybe Mark B can chime in.

Regarding the CA-1000; it has the rumour of being a good integrated and remarkable of it's time (mid 70's), but it do come short next to the CX-1000. Take a look at www.thevintageknob.org axel has a great site about vintage audio.
 
The CX-10000 is in a different class than the C-2x and with a price of about 3-4 times the C-2x it has to be. I newer had the pleasure of listening to the CX-10000, so I can't say how the difference is compared to the C-2x but maybe Mark B can chime in.

Regarding the CA-1000; it has the rumour of being a good integrated and remarkable of it's time (mid 70's), but it do come short next to the CX-1000. Take a look at www.thevintageknob.org axel has a great site about vintage audio.

That's a great site! Cool pics of the CA-1000 and others there. And thanks for the info. on the CA-1000.

I'm wondering if there are any Yamaha integrated amps or receivers whose preamp sections match up well with those of the separate C2x and CX-1000.

Speaking of the CX-1000, I think my dream of finding one at the price for which I paid for my excellent condition MX-1000 ($250) is slowly becoming a pipe dream...

...at least on ebay that is (check out how much this one went for yesterday; granted it does have the original box, manual, and remote but the unit itself is not in mint or near-mint condition):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220379390871

(WOW!)
 
You paid around $500 under market for your MX-1000. Yes there are sometimes deals/steals out there, but I wouldn't on getting another deal like that soon.

I've never auditioned the CX-10k either. I would like to. I also would like Mark B's opinion on the CX-10k vs. his other statement Yammy Pre's (C-1 & C-2x). As much as I pine over the Centennial series and would love to own some, I have mixed feelings about the preamp. With all the IC's (C-1 & C-2x is completely discrete) inherently adding noise, digital processing, and adding video switching as well, I'm not sure it outperforms the C-2x. This is only on paper, and is only a guess based on past experience with other preamps. Is the CX-10k as stellar as the MX-10k? Maybe Mark will tell us. He's got the experience, and I trust his opinion. As much as I am sure the MX-10k would stand up against most any SS amp ever produced, I'm guessing the CX with all its extra baggage, would not. Again, I haven't heard one and would love to, and would love to be wrong!

If you are looking for integrateds you should look for the very rare Ax-2000a. One recently sold on the 'bay for a BIN price of about $750. Good price. The amp section is basically one of Yammy's statement B-2x (but with sliding bias, Aka: HCA). I don't know much about the front end of it. TVK has a bit of info about it. The one that sold recently is the first one I've seen in 2 years of looking (I should have bought it).
 
If you are looking for integrateds you should look for the very rare Ax-2000a. The amp section is basically one of Yammy's statement B-2x (but with sliding bias, Aka: HCA).

You are a bit of there, the super integrated is the A-2000 witch was only sold in Japan. That unit is the one sharing the design with the B-2x, I do not know if any parts of the pre comes from the C-2x. But I do know it is really good.

The AX-2000 is also an interesting unit, the layout + design is taken from the MX-2000 but the tech design is from the MX-1000 and propplerly also the CX-1000 - witch ain't bad either.

These 2 are the best vintage integrateds Yamaha ever did, the joker is the new A-S2000 - the 2000 naming is still used by Yamaha.

the A-2000: http://translate.google.dk/translat.../k-nisi/index.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=da&ie=UTF-8
 
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You paid around $500 under market for your MX-1000. Yes there are sometimes deals/steals out there, but I wouldn't on getting another deal like that soon.

I've never auditioned the CX-10k either. I would like to. I also would like Mark B's opinion on the CX-10k vs. his other statement Yammy Pre's (C-1 & C-2x). As much as I pine over the Centennial series and would love to own some, I have mixed feelings about the preamp. With all the IC's (C-1 & C-2x is completely discrete) inherently adding noise, digital processing, and adding video switching as well, I'm not sure it outperforms the C-2x. This is only on paper, and is only a guess based on past experience with other preamps. Is the CX-10k as stellar as the MX-10k? Maybe Mark will tell us. He's got the experience, and I trust his opinion. As much as I am sure the MX-10k would stand up against most any SS amp ever produced, I'm guessing the CX with all its extra baggage, would not. Again, I haven't heard one and would love to, and would love to be wrong!

If you are looking for integrateds you should look for the very rare Ax-2000a. One recently sold on the 'bay for a BIN price of about $750. Good price. The amp section is basically one of Yammy's statement B-2x (but with sliding bias, Aka: HCA). I don't know much about the front end of it. TVK has a bit of info about it. The one that sold recently is the first one I've seen in 2 years of looking (I should have bought it).
I believe that I have all of Yamaha's best preamps, some of which are in better than new condition (C-1 & C-2x rebuilt by EchoWars). My CX-1000 is stock, as is the CX-10000, and a CX-1 that I no longer have. The CX-10000 is my favorite. The preamp in my main system before getting the CX-10000 was a Krell KRC-3. The Krell has been retired. The C-2x rivals the Krell, and the C-1 betters it. My second favorite preamp is the VFET C-1.
 
I believe that I have all of Yamaha's best preamps...

Have you ever heard the CX-2000? The rough detail in the attached scan for this unit is suspiciously different than is shown for the CX-1000 unit in the same flyer, so I am not really sure how close they are.
 

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Have you ever heard the CX-2000? The rough detail in the attached scan for this unit is suspiciously different than is shown for the CX-1000 unit in the same flyer, so I am not really sure how close they are.
Yes I've listened to a CX-2000 with an MX-2000 driving Vandy 2C's in a friends system. Sounded wonderful.
 
You are a bit of there, the super integrated is the A-2000 witch was only sold in Japan. That unit is the one sharing the design with the B-2x, I do not know if any parts of the pre comes from the C-2x. But I do know it is really good.

The AX-2000 is also an interesting unit, the layout + design is taken from the MX-2000 but the tech design is from the MX-1000 and propplerly also the CX-1000 - witch ain't bad either.

These 2 are the best vintage integrateds Yamaha ever did, the joker is the new A-S2000 - the 2000 naming is still used by Yamaha.

the A-2000: http://translate.google.dk/translat.../k-nisi/index.html&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=da&ie=UTF-8

Mandak or anyone else,

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I actually was wondering if anyone had any insight as to the quality of the A-1020 integrated amp. I found a local guy selling it plus a bunch of other Yamaha components for cheap. The preamp section of the A-1020 amp seems to be pretty similar to the CX-1000 purely in terms of functionality. Does anyone know if the A-1020 more or less contains the CX-1000 preamp, or is the preamp portion of the A-1020 of inferior quality compared to the CX-1000?
 
Actually, it doesn't look like the A-1020 has preouts, so I guess you can negate my last post. I'd want to only use the preamp portion of the A-1020 and hook it up to the MX-1000 or my Bryston 3B, but it doesn't look like I can do that.
 
Have you ever heard the CX-2000? The rough detail in the attached scan for this unit is suspiciously different than is shown for the CX-1000 unit in the same flyer, so I am not really sure how close they are.

The Service Manual parts list is identical except for cosmetic panels/knobs. Electrically, CX-2000=CX-1000.
 
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