Hi all I just joined from Australia and I am seeking advice on my preamp
I recently purchased a Yamaha Mx-1000 and the matching Cx-1000 and both seem to be in mint condition. The Mx drives my Paradigm Tribute anniversary speakers beautifully however the matching Cx preamp lacks bass despite being the best amp I have ever heard.
My c40 and c70 preamps deliver a better volume of base when compared to the Cx.
Does anybody have ideas on how to get more base out of this amp as I am prepared to pimp it or if that is not possible I would appreciate some suggestions on a better Yamaha preamp.
I mostly listen to rock and pop on vinyl with ortofon bronz.
I recently purchased a Yamaha Mx-1000 and the matching Cx-1000 and both seem to be in mint condition. The Mx drives my Paradigm Tribute anniversary speakers beautifully however the matching Cx preamp lacks bass despite being the best amp I have ever heard.
My c40 and c70 preamps deliver a better volume of base when compared to the Cx.
Does anybody have ideas on how to get more base out of this amp as I am prepared to pimp it or if that is not possible I would appreciate some suggestions on a better Yamaha preamp.
I mostly listen to rock and pop on vinyl with ortofon bronz.
Make sure your subsonic filter is not switched in, if not, maybe a coupling cap somewhere has lost it's uF spec, only a tech will sort this out.
Cheers George
Cheers George
Thanks but I was trying to save a bit of coin and learn some stuff in the process.
If it is something simple like replacing a capacitor I would love to do it. I believe some people know which are the best ones to use.
If it is something simple like replacing a capacitor I would love to do it. I believe some people know which are the best ones to use.
You need to post the complete circuit diagram, so we can give and idea which caps you could to try to replace just for starters, better off if a tech can measure first before going to that sort of trouble.
Cheers George
Cheers George
First step would be measuring frequency response, as suggested. You have a computer, which will usually include both a line-out and line-in or combo mic/line-in (only newfangled portable gear tends to come with only a combo headset jack, which would not work as it records in mono only), and chances are it's a Windows machine that can run RMAA. So it takes only two RCA to minijack cables and a free download (the standard version is plenty) to measure the response from a high level input to preamp output. Make sure RMAA and Windows settings for input and output devices agree on sample rate (of course that setting is hidden on an Advanced tab), and you should be good. And take a baseline direct loopback measurement, of course, you never know what might go wrong.
Should the problem be in the phono section and you do not feel like making an inverse RIAA filter (which would not catch some issues anyway), well, you do have multiple preamps. You can always do a cross-check by routing the phonopre to the recording output and into another pre from there.
If there is a difference in phonopres, I would suspect impedance matching first, which is always an issue with MMs to some degree. A bright top end might be perceived as lack in bass although there actually is precious little wrong down there.
Obviously with 25-year-old electrolytics and an unknown history in generally warm Australia, you never really know. A look at capacitor types used may be worth it. The odd "bad apple" series does exist, and I suspect the 1000/2000 series Yamahas may have been a different designer's work.
Should the problem be in the phono section and you do not feel like making an inverse RIAA filter (which would not catch some issues anyway), well, you do have multiple preamps. You can always do a cross-check by routing the phonopre to the recording output and into another pre from there.
If there is a difference in phonopres, I would suspect impedance matching first, which is always an issue with MMs to some degree. A bright top end might be perceived as lack in bass although there actually is precious little wrong down there.
Obviously with 25-year-old electrolytics and an unknown history in generally warm Australia, you never really know. A look at capacitor types used may be worth it. The odd "bad apple" series does exist, and I suspect the 1000/2000 series Yamahas may have been a different designer's work.
Problem fixed
I think you are spot on about a bright top end disguising bass but I think I have found the problem. Last night I made a list of all the duorex elna capacitors (some with a very slight bulge)
I then decided to plug it in one more time to give and accurate description of how it was performing however this time I used a new monster rca cable instead of the standard black one between the pre and the main.
Much to my surprise I noticed a 10 to 20 percent increase in sound quality including bass and treble. I even went back and forward comparing cables with same results.
I would never have believed it would have made such a difference.
I am now hearing records like never before. The cx-1000 is greatly superior to my c-70 and I now listen to it flat. Sorry to have wasted everybody's time talking about fixing it.
I am now looking at replacing the rca cable on the turntables.
Thanks all
I think you are spot on about a bright top end disguising bass but I think I have found the problem. Last night I made a list of all the duorex elna capacitors (some with a very slight bulge)
I then decided to plug it in one more time to give and accurate description of how it was performing however this time I used a new monster rca cable instead of the standard black one between the pre and the main.
Much to my surprise I noticed a 10 to 20 percent increase in sound quality including bass and treble. I even went back and forward comparing cables with same results.
I would never have believed it would have made such a difference.
I am now hearing records like never before. The cx-1000 is greatly superior to my c-70 and I now listen to it flat. Sorry to have wasted everybody's time talking about fixing it.
I am now looking at replacing the rca cable on the turntables.
Thanks all
(some with a very slight bulge)
They've definitely had their day, especially if they are coupling caps, this is your problem.
The preamps is now get on to 30 years old, all caps everywhere need to be replaced.
Cheers George
They've definitely had their day, especially if they are coupling caps, this is your problem.
The preamps is now get on to 30 years old, all caps everywhere need to be replaced.
Cheers George
Well ok maybe the problem isn't totally fixed I was happy to continue in denial for as long as I could but now I feel like I have a ticking time bomb. I appreciate the feedback. Does anybody know where I could find somebody who has re capped the cx and has a parts list.
just open it and replace all the caps it will be way less trouble than trying to search for the right cap but of course you need some knowledge to start with the right caps usually if its one stage filter its a cap and resistor but i dont think its gonna be a case here. you should ask a technican for help.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.