Yamaha C-80 Preamp on Philly CL... what's it worth??

[scootchu]

Saw this and just sent an email.
It's a Yamaha C-80 and it looks grungy. What's a decent offer?
$50 too high?
Is it a decent preamp?
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/ele/408823647.html
Not mine

 

[hammr7]

Scott,

I saw it as well. Its a very decent preamp, but is prone to failure if it hasn't been used continuously or recapped. From the looks of it, I would think $50 is probably a decent offer. They tend to go as high as $200+ if in perfect shape and refurbished. And they can handle moving coil cartridges, which is always a plus.

 

[scootchu]

I got an email back from the guy and he didn't know what model it was, which leads me to believe he has no idea of what is a good price for better or for worse. I offered $50.We'll see what happens.

Henry, I am going to pick up that console in a few minutes. I will let you know what's what.
Scott

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Its a very decent preamp, but is prone to failure if it hasn't been used continuously or recapped. They tend to go as high as $200+ if in perfect shape and refurbished. And they can handle moving coil cartridges, which is always a plus.

The first sentence is new to me. The only consistant failure mode I am aware of in vintage Yamaha preamps is that of cold solder joints on the RCA I/O's. Yamaha used high-grade caps back then. A bunch of BGs in the C-2x. While they have drifted in value over the years, failure is unusual in my experience (both as a user and reading the many Yamaha preamp threads). There is a thread in the Vintage section on Yamaha preamps that covers most of the models from the original C-1 (the only know VFET preamp) up through the CX-1, the last TOTL (if one doesn't count the current YPC-1 passive unit). It lists most all of their preamps, original MRSP, owners' experiences, etc. Do a search and you'll find a host of info, including in the C-80.

 

[bordeno]

As with any question of value, an item is worth what a given individual is willing to pay for it.

Countless factors affect how that is determined.

In this case, I would look at the item and test it, especially with a seller who doesn't know anything about the item. Say you want a C 80 badly. Say the preamp isn't working but in good shape. Make him a low offer and invest in a refurbishing by a competent tech, but only if you can steal it from him. If not, just get a working one from a reputable seller on eBay, these are fairly common.

Working and in good condition, the range I've experienced is about ~$80-$150on eBay - the figure could be more with quality pics, a well written description, box, etc.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

[bully]

The C-80 is a pure joy and a wonderful preamp.
$50 would leave you with money to spend refurbing it, if necessary.

 

[hammr7]

I once had a C-80, and currently have a C-70. Both sat unused for long periods of time before I got them. Both failed shortly after I started using them regularly (not at the same time, almost a decade between the failures). The C-80 was definitely caps; I traded it to a friend who replaced them and is still using it. The C-70, which I still have, appears to have been the same type of failure. I haven't had time to confirm, but the symptoms were consistent with a cap failure.

 

[MOPAR3]

I have a c-80 that replaced my c-4 I like the sound better on the c-80. The c-80 sounds better than my nad pre as well. My c-80 in good working condition cost 150.00 shipped off the bay. That craigslist item looks like s*** but may clean up nice. Seeing it in that condition makes me wonder what its life has been? 50.00 may be too much.

 

[the-real-mandak]

MOPAR3 you can't really compare the C-4 to the C-80, the C-80 was TOTL and cost about the double of the C-4. The C-4 is more in line with the C-2.

The C-80 has the famous phono section from the C-60 witch also is in the C-85/65 and I would say $50 for a working unit is close to a steal (the MSRP was around $800-900). It is a really nice preamp.

 

[MOPAR3]

T-R-M they go for the same prices now. I love mine and the C-4 wasn't bad. The pre in that ad looks like it wasn't take care of thats my point. Does it work? I wonder if he's heard back from the seller? Your right if it works its worth 50.00. I paid alot more and couldn't test it first.

 

[bobrown14]

I live in Philly and saw that ad to today and offfered the guy $25! Go figure... sorry, I wasn't reading Audiokarma at work tho :nono: Ah well... I've been looking for a good pre on the philly craigslist and that auction site as well. Getting ready to bi-amp my new to me sentry IIIs. I've got everything I need cept a pre-amp. Was wanting a Yammy C-1 but they are too pricey for me, as I'm looking for a bargain. I've seen a bunch of c-80s come and go and for pretty good prices on e-prey but I had loftier goals. You guys think the c-80 is as good as the C-1?? :headscrat So I guess I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions for a good pre since we are on this topic? I've got the Sentry IIIs, 2 minty AU-999s, a TU-999 tuner, a totl HHB CD player (not the one with balanced ins/outs), rane AC-22 crosover, and a denon TT. I mostly listen to vinyl and some CDs and of course the radio. So you yammie folks like the C-80 - specs look good to me? Or is there other suggestions.

Cheers,

Bob Brown

 

[Blue Shadow]

bb14, you can use one of the AUs as your preamp, go out the pre-outs to the rane then back into the power amp input on the two AUs for your biamp. Try it you'll probably like it.

 

[slow_jazz]

Sounds like a steal to me at $50...

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Was wanting a Yammy C-1 but they are too pricey for me, as I'm looking for a bargain. I've seen a bunch of c-80s come and go and for pretty good prices on e-prey but I had loftier goals. You guys think the c-80 is as good as the C-1?? :headscrat

IMHO, the C-1 is strictly a collectors item. It has so many switches, pots and other bits that it can't help but have a significant impact on the sound. And, if you ever fry one of those baby VFETs you are SOL. Only replacement you will ever find will be another C-1. If you want the best sound, then you want a C-2a, C-2x, C-80 or C-85. Possibly a CX-1000 (which is bit like the C-1 in being very busy - but does have the remote). They all have two sets of outputs for running the two amps. I'm a minimalist when it comes to preamps.

 

[bobrown14]

Thanks b2 - i'm also a minimalist when it comes to audio, I'm really interested in a pre without that many bells and whistles but with a GREAT phono section. The 999 is good on the pre side but not a great phono section. I might try it the way blue shadow suggests until I get something better. I'm currently listening to the Sentrys with an AU-719 and it sounds pretty darn sweet to me. Too bad the 719 doesn't have pre outs! The 999s do have a nice mellow sound tho now that I can hear that sweet sansui mellowness from those vintage amps. I had my trigger set on a CX-1000 but the price got a little steep on E-prey but I'm still looking. C-80 looks pretty good too and a much better deal. Thanks for the tip....

Bob

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Think you will like the phono stage in these preamps, as well. Yamaha's TOTL preamps, integrateds and receivers all have very good phono stages that respond well to a few newer caps, should you want to go that far.

 

[scootchu]

Well I heard back from the seller and he is fine with $50, but he is a ways away from me, so I will have to see if he can wait unless someone wants to pick it up for me and is heading down the shore this weekend. There's l;ots of cold beer in for you. :yes:

 

[bobrown14]

C-80 $49 and change Ch-ching

Well I saw another C-80 listed on Philly CL and e-mailed the guy right away. Picked it up for $49 and change (shoulda bin $50 but the guy didn't have change for $60). The amp was pulled from a working DJ rig complete with a rack drawer the amp was mounted to. Good for me, I'll try it in my rack and compare it to my Technics SU-9070 pre. The only reason I was even looking was due to intermittant performance on the SU-9070. I had deoxited the pots and switches and it was still intermittant. Then the other day after I made plans to pick up the c-80 I sprayed the power switch from the front opening on the 9070 (musta missed that the first go around) and vola it's now perfect. Oh well it's good to have a back up. Maybe the looser of the shootout will have to go back to CL or eprey.

C-80 vs SU-9070 - similar specs. Yammy built like a tank as is the 9070. Good to see lots of metal parts. The yammy has lots of copper inside too:thmbsp: and a bunch more parts (that can fail). Pretty many big caps for a pre-amp, whats up with that? There's 4 35V 47,000 uf nicheons inside and a host of smaller ones. Again not used to seeing that kind of stuff for preamp circuits. The C-80 is clean as a whistle inside. Must of spent all its time in a rack. The only downside to that of course is the heat from the other units and I can see discoloration on the underside of the top cover from heat. There's no vents on this unit and it looks like there's been some work done with the transistors. It looks like some type of insulation material was added around the base of the heat sinks. I will need to look a little closer after I give it a test.

Wish me luck,

Bob