Yamaha C-1 and MX-2 are back from shop

I know, I know......it's been a week now and I haven't even hooked it up yet.
I have had the grandbaby over for 4 days and this and that.
Hopefully, tonight, I will be able to unhook the reserve gear, and set these back
into place.

Here is what they gave me with the gear, wasn't that nice of them.
87 caps and 7 transistors=plus?

Said it will sound bright and will need at least 500 HRS of burn in time?

The MX-2 wasn't worked on like the C-1. Said it was good and just tuned
it up (bias). I wanted the DC offset adjusted, and they said that it could not be done ?

YAMAHA C1 and MX-2

Hello gkwolfman

87 caps and 7 transistors=plus?
Witch transistors ? I don't see any in your plastic bag ...Headphone section use 2 TR 2SC458 , do you know what are the 5 other ?

I have to read my MX-2 service manual to see if any DC offset adjustment is possible or not :thmbsp:

So far so good

When I dropped the C-1 and MX-2 off, I had the high resolution schematics and service manuals purchase from

http://www.StereoManuals.com is owned and operated by Stout and Associates.

and they did not take them.

I have the amp and pre set up and running with the cdx-1110 and ADS L710 II and Marantz HD 77, and so far......

They fixed the static in the knobs, especially bad was the volume=good
Heat = still heating, but, maybe just a little less
**everything seems to be working as it was before, smoother, with my bad hearing, still sounds real good to me.

I dont have all = turntable, cassettes = hooked and running yet, but,
so far, so good :thmbsp::thmbsp:

****I would have to say, I would recommend Austin Stereo for repairs***
****edited: I may have jumped the gun on this statement. see explanation in reply below****

photo of the bag of caps

forgot to mention that the amp is COOL as a cucumber.
Not even breaking a sweat. Plenty of power. Seems like better than before.

inside the bag of caps

photos before the service

I would have to say, I would recommend Austin Stereo for repairs

Good ! If they don't take "your high definition service manuals" that's because they already have them !

There is many voltages to check and to adjust , and it is not possible to gess ...so with the SM is more easy to do a good job !

I'm curious on your opinions of before/after recap of the C-1 right now and then after the burn in.

Keep us posted!

gkwolfman said:

Said it will sound bright and will need at least 500 HRS of burn in time?

Click to expand...

Since electrolytic caps these days are pre-formed at the factory I'm wondering what needs 500 hrs. to burn in? Seems like a bunch of repair shop CYA BS to me ... :scratch2:

Vint Age said:

Since electrolytic caps these days are pre-formed at the factory I'm wondering what needs 500 hrs. to burn in? Seems like a bunch of repair shop CYA BS to me ... :scratch2:

Click to expand...

:yes:

****I would have to say, I would recommend Austin Stereo for repairs***
****edited: I may have jumped the gun on this statement. Without any feedback to the shop from me and their rebuttal...ie
what is up with all the heat coming from this pre-amp. Are there not any adjustments to reduce the heat. I am not an expert, and I know heat is produced to a certain
degree, but, I feel there is more than normal heat emitting from my C-1. Like I said, I am not an expert and without an comparison to another unit, I am not in a position to make a valid complaint. I will have to say that I feel lucky that the pre-amp is working and the main problem that was in the volume pot was fixed. Now, as far as the sound better or different, well I cant really say, I did not play the pre-amp that much to remember, not wanting to ruin it before an exam/adjust/going over/ as not to hurt or ruin it if the heat was going to destroy it in anyway. I only decided to utilize this local service shop, after seeing some local folks giving a somewhat good review for them. But, in the reviews that I read, it was mentioned that they do not do repairs, but, full refurbish. On that thought, which they did not do for my MX-2. The biggest reason for me using them was that, I was not to keen on the thought of boxing and shipping this pre-amp off to anywhere, and for it's return shipment back to me.
One thing that I noticed: in the loudness control, seems to go louder in REVERSE. From the extreme left position, the red light for loudness is on>to the extreme right position(where the red loudness light goes off) the volume increases left>right> all the way to where the red light for loudness goes off(extreme right position).
Also, with the tone control switch off>the volume is greater than with the tone control switch on<

On a final note.....I still do like this pre-amp, and with the MX-2 amp, it still sounds good to me, even with or without a burn in time?
But, I am inclined not to play any burn in time or regular 24/7 listening pleasure, until I find out more about the HEAT ISSUE.

Further developments to follow.........

The C-1 will run a lot warmer than other pre-amps. If that's all the parts they replaced then they left at least a half dozen tantalum electrolytic caps in there. 10 hours labor ( I can see that). 100lbs of stuff crammed into a 10lb box.

gkwolfman said:

Further developments to follow.........

Click to expand...

bump

gkwolfman said:

****I would have to say, I would recommend Austin Stereo for repairs***
****edited: I may have jumped the gun on this statement. Without any feedback to the shop from me and their rebuttal...ie
what is up with all the heat coming from this pre-amp. Are there not any adjustments to reduce the heat. I am not an expert, and I know heat is produced to a certain
degree, but, I feel there is more than normal heat emitting from my C-1. Like I said, I am not an expert and without an comparison to another unit, I am not in a position to make a valid complaint. I will have to say that I feel lucky that the pre-amp is working and the main problem that was in the volume pot was fixed. Now, as far as the sound better or different, well I cant really say, I did not play the pre-amp that much to remember, not wanting to ruin it before an exam/adjust/going over/ as not to hurt or ruin it if the heat was going to destroy it in anyway. I only decided to utilize this local service shop, after seeing some local folks giving a somewhat good review for them. But, in the reviews that I read, it was mentioned that they do not do repairs, but, full refurbish. On that thought, which they did not do for my MX-2. The biggest reason for me using them was that, I was not to keen on the thought of boxing and shipping this pre-amp off to anywhere, and for it's return shipment back to me.
One thing that I noticed: in the loudness control, seems to go louder in REVERSE. From the extreme left position, the red light for loudness is on>to the extreme right position(where the red loudness light goes off) the volume increases left>right> all the way to where the red light for loudness goes off(extreme right position).
Also, with the tone control switch off>the volume is greater than with the tone control switch on<

On a final note.....I still do like this pre-amp, and with the MX-2 amp, it still sounds good to me, even with or without a burn in time?
But, I am inclined not to play any burn in time or regular 24/7 listening pleasure, until I find out more about the HEAT ISSUE.

Further developments to follow.........

Click to expand...

Like I stated previously. The C-1 is going to run alot hotter than any other yamaha pre-amp. It is stuffed with FET's and they run hot.

I had a MX-1 amp for a four or so years, and have to say I really liked it. I didn't push it very often, but when I did, it powered my NS-1000Ms very well. It's a solid amp, one I wouldn't mind finding again sometime in the future.

I'm in an apartment now in NYC, one where loud music probably isn't a good idea. I'm thinking that throwing money at some nice headphones and the associated gear for them is probably my best bet now.

Enjoy your pre & amplifier! That sounds like a nice setup you have.

John

Yamaha C-1, MX-2, CDX-1110u Follow up

Well, it has been since the first of June 2013, that I got my MX-2 and C-1 from Austin Stereo. I added the CDX-1110u towards the end of summer. Now, I wished that I would have held out for the MX-1 amp, just for the extra bump.

When I first acquired the Yamaha C-1, I was using a Phase Linear 400 series II to power the preamp. The C-1 was working just fine, although it had some volume cut/out static noise, plus, of which I thought was a heating issue (running warm/hot). Anyways, playing the C-1 through the Phase Linear 400 through my ADS 710's and Marantz HD77's, it sounded great to me.

Now, as we all know about the C-1, and not knowing any prior history, other than a sticker label on the bottom plate indicating service at a Audio shop, it was destined for a check up and what ever replace/re-cap. I ended up doing a local shop (for not wanting to ship). The place I ended up using was Austin Stereo. Come to find out, the person at Austin Stereo used to work at the Audio Shop that had the sticker label attached, which was dated 1993, ten years prior my purchase. So, this was going to be an update service ten years later from previous.

Well, by the time I picked up the C-1 from the shop, I had sold the PL 400 II and bought the Yamaha MX-2. So, the results from the Austin Stereo service for a comparison is obsolete for an exact sound test. But, I am happy with the sound still, and as far as my ears go, sounds just as good as before I took it in for service. No static, and the heat is still the same, from which I am told, runs warmer than the usual run of preamps. The Yamaha MX-2 does not peg out as the PL 400 II did, which that I can remember, I find myself going farther up the volume knob for the MX-2. But, the sound is still the same to my ears. The Yamaha MX-1 and 2 are great amps from what I researched/read up on.

To sum up here, I have a some what Rare Piece of Audio Gear, that sounds great and looks great. And should play for some time without any issues for the length of time that I will end up owning it. I have thin most of my extra audio pieces and flipping for what I would consider what I really like and need. Now I find myself owning a system that I can live with. Unless I come across the MX-1, but is not needed, the power from the MX-2 is doing just fine for my listening space.

A happy story with a happy system for a happy person. That is what it is all about.

Nice to hear that your C-1 has been refurbished.

The C-1 is a spectacularly good preamp, and the MX-2 is a very nice amp.

One of the best sounding pre-amps I've ever heard. Lucky you!:yes: