Accuphase C-200 Stereo Control Preamp...

chops · 14th December 2010, 09:41 PM

So as the title says, I'm inquiring about the lofty and totally mint Accuphase C-200 preamp that I just bought one off of eBay and want to know if anyone here has one and if they have done any "tune-up" work on them and what to look for when I get mine.

From what I have read so far, it is a great preamp and still holds its own with today's modern high end preamps. It also is supposed to have an excellent phono section with two inputs with variable load and gain. This works perfect for me as I have three turntables that I use.

This thing is a tank too, weighing in at 40 lbs (14kg)!! I couldn't pass up this deal considering what they normally go for. I'm taking a chance on it as it is not tested, but judging from the condition it's in and the feedback of the seller, I'm feeling pretty good about this purchase.

Here's a couple pics of the actual unit...

chops · 14th December 2010, 11:47 PM

One thing I need to find out rather quickly is if there's anything special about the power cord as this unit does not come with one. It looks like a standard 2-prong but can't tell if the socket opening is odd shaped or not.

Any thoughts?

chops · 15th December 2010, 01:34 AM

Don't everyone reply at one time now!

Anyway, I resolved the power cord issue by simply ordering a HOSA PWC-178 power cable commonly used with Roland and other pro-audio type gear.

I still would like to know about what caps to replace in this thing if it needs it, and considering that it's 37 years old, it probably does.

BTW, have I ever told you I hate one sided conversations?!?! LOL

chops · 16th December 2010, 01:28 PM

No one on here has anything to say about this preamp? I find that a little hard to believe. Hmm...

Leon08 · 16th December 2010, 02:26 PM

Well, what I can say about this.Must be good preamp.
Here you can get more info about it: Index of /cat

chops · 17th December 2010, 01:48 PM

Umm... okay...

Leon08 · 22nd December 2010, 03:58 PM

Accuphase is good, but if I look at prices then I wonder and think that they are a bit too high.Their products cost as if they are made from gold, but there are also only usual electronic parts inside.Something is plated with gold, but the actual material value must be many times lower then they demand.For that money you can buy a car and a car is much more complex and labour intensive to manufacture then any amp.So how they justify their prices?

ticknpop · 10:57 AM

After 37 years you'll need to replace the electrolytics (with Elna Silmics or Cerafines), change the power supply diodes to soft recovery types, spray the switches with detoxit and work them while they are wet to clean the contacts, change any carbon resistors to non-magnetic Vishay / Dales or PRP - that would make the most of the unit at reasonable cost and improve the reliability. Make a list of semiconductors in the unit as you work on it and buy a few spares of each type if you can find any - Accuphase naturally used Japanese transistors and relays which can be hard or to impossible to find. Good luck.

chops · 1st January 2011, 11:11 PM

Here's a few pics of the recap job and the two resistors...

Before...

After...

Halfway there...

All the way there...

My sophisticated clamping system for board work...

Old crispy 0.5W resistors...

New 2W resistors...

The HOSA power cable that was recommended that didn't come close to fitting, so I made my own temp one from it...

And pumping out some great sounding tunes once again...

h_a · 5th January 2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

No one on here has anything to say about this preamp? I find that a little hard to believe. Hmm...

Not too hard to believe, as this is a DIY-forum. If you could reverse engineer the C200's schematic and post it here, then we have something to discuss

14th December 2010, 09:41 PM	#1
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	Accuphase C-200 Stereo Control Preamp... So as the title says, I'm inquiring about the lofty and totally mint Accuphase C-200 preamp that I just bought one off of eBay and want to know if anyone here has one and if they have done any "tune-up" work on them and what to look for when I get mine. From what I have read so far, it is a great preamp and still holds its own with today's modern high end preamps. It also is supposed to have an excellent phono section with two inputs with variable load and gain. This works perfect for me as I have three turntables that I use. This thing is a tank too, weighing in at 40 lbs (14kg)!! I couldn't pass up this deal considering what they normally go for. I'm taking a chance on it as it is not tested, but judging from the condition it's in and the feedback of the seller, I'm feeling pretty good about this purchase. Here's a couple pics of the actual unit...

27th December 2010, 10:50 AM	#8
ticknpop diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: toronto	After 37 years you'll need to replace the electrolytics (with Elna Silmics or Cerafines), change the power supply diodes to soft recovery types, spray the switches with detoxit and work them while they are wet to clean the contacts, change any carbon resistors to non-magnetic Vishay / Dales or PRP - that would make the most of the unit at reasonable cost and improve the reliability. Make a list of semiconductors in the unit as you work on it and buy a few spares of each type if you can find any - Accuphase naturally used Japanese transistors and relays which can be hard or to impossible to find. Good luck. Last edited by ticknpop; 27th December 2010 at 10:57 AM.

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14th December 2010, 11:47 PM	#2
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	One thing I need to find out rather quickly is if there's anything special about the power cord as this unit does not come with one. It looks like a standard 2-prong but can't tell if the socket opening is odd shaped or not. Any thoughts?

15th December 2010, 01:34 AM	#3
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	Don't everyone reply at one time now! Anyway, I resolved the power cord issue by simply ordering a HOSA PWC-178 power cable commonly used with Roland and other pro-audio type gear. I still would like to know about what caps to replace in this thing if it needs it, and considering that it's 37 years old, it probably does. BTW, have I ever told you I hate one sided conversations?!?! LOL

16th December 2010, 01:28 PM	#4
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	No one on here has anything to say about this preamp? I find that a little hard to believe. Hmm...

16th December 2010, 02:26 PM	#5
Leon08 Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: at Home	Well, what I can say about this.Must be good preamp. Here you can get more info about it: Index of /cat

17th December 2010, 01:48 PM	#6
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	Umm... okay...

22nd December 2010, 03:58 PM	#7
Leon08 Banned Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: at Home	Accuphase is good, but if I look at prices then I wonder and think that they are a bit too high.Their products cost as if they are made from gold, but there are also only usual electronic parts inside.Something is plated with gold, but the actual material value must be many times lower then they demand.For that money you can buy a car and a car is much more complex and labour intensive to manufacture then any amp.So how they justify their prices?

1st January 2011, 11:11 PM	#9
chops diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Pete, Florida	Here's a few pics of the recap job and the two resistors... Before... After... Halfway there... All the way there... My sophisticated clamping system for board work... Old crispy 0.5W resistors... New 2W resistors... The HOSA power cable that was recommended that didn't come close to fitting, so I made my own temp one from it... And pumping out some great sounding tunes once again...