Yamaha C-2 Review (Vintage Preamplifier)

[Scytales]

What is the difference between the C-2 and C-2A ?

Entirely different circuit designs besides different inputs and outputs layout.

 

[AdrianusG]

The legacy continues... (with the right cables of course )

View attachment 523762

It's the Yamaha C-5000. Balanced phono input. I added the arrow sticker to see the volume from across the room. Rubber phones plug to prevent oxidation there. Weighs 42 lbs!

Nice, very nice

Too bad that they didn't include the "Variable Loudness" function from earlier lines of receivers and amps, like i said earlier i have the C-2x, which also misses out on it.
I don't really miss it, but would have been nice if they had included it.
I now use a Yamaha AX-1070 (integrated , but separable)) as my power amp, and sometimes as an integrated, strangely that one has the variable loudness.
Anyways, no matter which configuration i choose Pre-Power or just the AX-1070 it sounds exellent.

 

[misureaudio]

Great, and much appreciated: amp and test

 

[Labjr]

Nice, very nice

Too bad that they didn't include the "Variable Loudness" function from earlier lines of receivers and amps, like i said earlier i have the C-2x, which also misses out on it.

Great until you need a replacement volume pot with a loudness tap. This one has a dual concentric pot for Volume/Balance which would probably be hard to find.

 

[Adaboy4z]

I had a B2, C2 combo a few years ago. I sold the C2 as it needed some work and kept the B2 as it was fully restored. I'm using a CX-800u preamp now as it has a remote. Yamaha preamps are very good!

 

[mcochris]

If you have enough output voltage for the amplifier, try to lower the gain (I see the knob -6 or -12dB). This is likely to increase the dynamic range and therefore the resolution (as you will have to ramp up the volume).

About "increase the dynamic range" - how might reducing the gain (I've got it set to -12dB now) increase the dynamic range? Thanks!

 

[leojar]

Just read this post. I have the C2 and it was fully restored. C2 is used to pair with B2 if you cannot afford to buy C1. (C1 and C2 were co-exiting when B2 was coming out.) The NEO6001 and NEO6003 are the V-fet package so C2 is symbolically a good preamp for a V-fet B2. The later C2x don't have V-fet as C1/C2.

 

[Kerry Anderson]

And so much for the need of tone defeat buttons , with competent design it’s not an issue and never was .

I thinks it’s one of the bad fashion the audiophile era brought to the table , if every true audiophile press the bypass button why spend any effort on the tone control circuit it . For added consumer satisfaction it can even be a bit noisy so the dear audiophile can feel good and hear the difference when used

Will keep an eye on the used market , this in kind of obtainable.

Go find some Luxman pre amps of the era

From the Yamaha C2 manual: "The precision attenuator bass and treble controls also have 0 settings, at which all elements having time constants are completely disconnected from the circuit, so that the amplifier functions as a flat amp. The zero position is therefore a full tone defeat setting"

 

[SigmaR1]

About "increase the dynamic range" - how might reducing the gain (I've got it set to -12dB now) increase the dynamic range? Thanks!

also interested by the question

 

[NTTY]

also interested by the question

See follow up by @mcochris here