Yamaha System

[cjmustang69]

I have acquired several vintage Yamaha pieces over the past 6 months - but hadn't put them together in 1 system until this morning. I have a Yamaha B2 amp coming later this week and want to put into a Yamaha "focused" system when it arrives. I've attached a photo of the B2 amp. I'm buying from the original owner who seems to be a very stand up person. Today, I put the M2, NS-1000M, and PF-800 together with an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamp. After listening to the system for an hour - I'm wondering what took me so long as I'm impressed with its performance. I'm anxious to compare the B2 and M2 to hear if I can tell a difference in this system.

 

[bob06]

Very Nice. :thmbsp: I love Yamaha gear.

 

[J English]

Lovely! A Yamaha amp is on my very short want list...

 

[avionic]

I have acquired several vintage Yamaha pieces over the past 6 months - but hadn't put them together in 1 system until this morning. I have a Yamaha B2 amp coming later this week and want to put into a Yamaha "focused" system when it arrives. I've attached a photo of the B2 amp. I'm buying from the original owner who seems to be a very stand up person. Today, I put the M2, NS-1000M, and PF-800 togehter with an Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamp. After listening to the system for an hour - I'm wondering what took me so long as I'm impressed with its performance. I'm anxious to compare the B2 and M2 to hear if I can tell a difference in this system.

What cart are you running on the PF? I'm running a DL160 on mine. Nice veneer on the 1000M's.

 

[cjmustang69]

The turntable has a Shure V15 Type V Cartridge. I recently purchased table/cartridge locally from a very experienced and kind gentleman. It is in near new condition - as it was his backup turntable to his primary Sota table. I had always wanted a PF-800 or PF-1000 and feel lucky to have found this one locally.

 

[avionic]

The turntable has a Shure V15 Type V Cartridge. I recently purchased table/cartridge locally from a very experienced and kind gentleman. It is in near new condition - as it was his backup turntable to his primary Sota table. I had always wanted a PF-800 or PF-1000 and feel lucky to have found this one locally.

Thats the cart I run on my P-750.Excellent sounding.

 

[Saint Johnny]

:drool: Since I've owned/heard niether, I can only relate what I've read here and elsewhere.

The M-2 will out power the B-2 in brute force. But the B-2 isn't about force, the B-2 is all about finesse.

There a quite a lot of threads here comparing the the TOTL Yamaha amps to each other. They make for very good reading.

And those two amps are a great pair!
Both the M-2 and B-2 are among my two most coveted, sought after amps for the past year or 3.
I've been stuck with a pair of M-4s and a C-4/C-6 combo for a while now.

 

[cjmustang69]

That is also my understanding regarding the 2 amps - based on reading I have done. I also have a Sony TAN 8550 amp. Having an opportunity to get what appears to be a nice B2 and own both a Sony VFET amp and Yamaha VFET was too much to resist. Ultimately, I'd like to build a nice vintage Yamaha System and vintage Sony System.

 

[Saint Johnny]

That is also my understanding regarding the 2 amps - based on reading I have done. I also have a Sony TAN 8550 amp. Having an opportunity to get what appears to be a nice B2 and own both a Sony VFET amp and Yamaha VFET was too much to resist. Ultimately, I'd like to build a nice vintage Yamaha System and vintage Sony System.

You're killing me! M-2, B-2 AND an 8550!?!?
My third most coveted SS amp!

 

[cjmustang69]

I found this locally last year from original owner. Based on others expertise on AK - I had faulty diodes changed out when I first purchased amp. I'd like to have it recapped at some point to ensure it performs for the long term. I really like this amp as they aren't too common.

 

[Vint Age]

I've been stuck with a pair of M-4s and a C-4/C-6 combo for a while now.

Hmmm ... stuck with? I can certainly think of worse amps to be stuck with. If I wouldn't of had the good fortune of finding a B-2 at a price I couldn't resist a few years back, I likely would have stuck with my M-4 till death parted us.

To my ears the sonic differences between the M-4 and the B-2 are subtle and one could argue that the unobtainium in the B-2 outweighs that difference and its higher price; having said that, I now have three of these sonic B-2 beauties and my two M-4's have moved on to make others happy ... :yes:

 

[Saint Johnny]

Hmmm ... stuck with? I can certainly think of worse amps to be stuck with. If I wouldn't of had the good fortune of finding a B-2 at a price I couldn't resist a few years back, I likely would have stuck with my M-4 till death parted us.

To my ears the sonic differences between the M-4 and the B-2 are subtle and one could argue that the unobtainium in the B-2 outweighs that difference and its higher price; having said that, I now have three of these sonic B-2 beauties and my two M-4's have moved on to make others happy ... :yes:

You are correct! Stuck was not the right word. :twak:
I truly do love the sound of the M-4.
Sound/Listening Enjoyment vs Dollars Spent, the M-4s I have, have been just about the best acquisitions I've made in this hobby to date. They have in fact banished all Marantz 22xx receivers from my rotation permanently. The M-4s even made a MAC 1900 expendable.

But I also suffer from B-2 envy! And to a much lesser extent M-2 envy.
While I see both occasionally go for reasonable prices on the bay. Whenever a B-2 or M-2 pop up locally they're always priced in the stratosphere. :tears:

 

[sax6]

Nice veneer on the 1000M's.

And verrry nice everything else !!

Love that gear, rrr, rrrr !
__________________

 

[cjmustang69]

Thanks for comments about veneer on the NS-1000M speakers. I bought these from a gentleman who lived in Cincinnati. He had rebuilt the x-overs and also did the veneer work. It was about a 9 hour round trip for me to pick these speakers up. One of my longer distance purchases - but also one of my most satisfying buys

 

[slow_jazz]

What a great system going... Congrat's..

 

[cjmustang69]

The B2 amp is on its way - should be delivered Thursday of this week. For those who are driving NS-1000M speakers with a M2 or B2 amp - is there a preference for tube or solid state preamp? I'm using a tube preamp currently -but have a CX-1000 preamp to try in future also. So far, I'm happy with the performance with the tube preamp.

 

[avionic]

The B2 amp is on its way - should be delivered Thursday of this week. For those who are driving NS-1000M speakers with a M2 or B2 amp - is there a preference for tube or solid state preamp? I'm using a tube preamp currently -but have a CX-1000 preamp to try in future also. So far, I'm happy with the performance with the tube preamp.

I've used solidstate since buying the NS-1000's new in 1980.Still sounding grrreat with just about any amplifier I slave into the system. Currently M-2/C-4 on th NS-1000's .M-4/C-6 on the NS-1000M's. DIY(MOSFET)/C-85 on the NS-690's.

 

[bob06]

I've been stuck with a pair of M-4s and a C-4/C-6 combo for a while now.[/QUOTE]

:lmao: Thats good Saint Johnny. When I first joined AK I had a pair of M-65's with a C-65. You guys praised how good the M-4's and the C-4's where so I sold them and bought The M-4 and C-4 combo. Now I'm stuck with 4 of each.

 

[Saint Johnny]

:lmao: Thats good Saint Johnny. When I first joined AK I had a pair of M-65's with a C-65. You guys praised how good the M-4's and the C-4's where so I sold them and bought The M-4 and C-4 combo. Now I'm stuck with 4 of each.

:yes: I know, I know how it goes!
M-4s are so plentiful and usually so inexpensive, that there are more than a few times I've had to fight off hitting the BIN button. Or I'd have 4-5 more M-4s than I already have.
Now if only this were the case with B-2s?

 

[cjmustang69]

Today turned out to be a great day - the "new to me" B-2 amp arrived today as scheduled. The seller packed the amp to withstand falling off a cliff. I couldn't be happier with how the amp was packed and the condition of the amp when I finally got it out of the packaging. Whenever buying a piece this old without having heard it play first - it is always a relief to hook it up and have no issues. I've been listening to it for about 30 minutes - hooked up to tube preamp and Sony speakers. Way too early to make comparisons to other amps, but everything works as it is supposed to. I was also surprised how much larger and heavier it is compared to the M2. I plan to listen to it a lot this weekend.