INFO CHALLENGE - Integrated Amplifier - Yamaha AVX-1000 DSP

This is a HiFiCollector.com CHALLENGE! 
Yamaha AVX-1000

I'm challenging this fine, HiFiCollector Community to come up with some information on my Yamaha AVX 1000 DSP Integrated Amplifier. I've had this for about three years now, and my search for information - even the basics-watts per channel - has come up empty. 


This is a terrific amp, and very stylish. I believe it's an Asia-only model, so this may help in your search. 


First person to leave a comment with a useful link or information wins!  ...the recognition of a job well-done! :)


Thanks!

Power Amplifier - Yamaha P-2200

So why would I spend 20 minutes Photoshopping these photos but zero minutes cleaning the unit prior to taking the photos? Because I didn't buy this - only took these pics inside the garage of the estate sale property. There - mystery solved.

Why didn't I buy it? Because I had already expended my cash on speakers and a Cal Audio CD player. There. . .two mysteries solved.

How did it sound? They had it hooked up to an old (Phillips?) preamplifier and some vintage RSL speakers, so with that system it sounded fine. One of the meter bulbs was burnt out, some rack rash.

After coming home and reading up on these beasts it made me wish I would have dropped the Cal Audio CD player and grabbed this amp instead. Supposed to be a real workhorse.

Have any experience/stories about your Yamaha P-2200 power amplifier? Send 'em on in. Thanks.

What's it worth?
Good: $275
Fair: $200
As in photo: $200

Speakers - Yamaha NS-225

Here was another classic impulse buy from a yard sale. I had no room for these Yamaha NS-225 loudspeakers, nor did I have a particular need for them, but at the $7 asking price, there was no way I was going to walk off the lawn without them.

On first listen, they sounded quite good, especially at low volume. The tweeter looks identical to the one used on the higher-end NS-series from the late 1970s through the 1980s, and I assume it is the same model. The woofer, although paper-coned and somewhat flimsy-looking, held up well to the Pink Floyd I pumped through them over the weekend.

By the way, a quick Orion Blue Book lookup tells me these sold for $350 in 1978 and 1979, and the current used retail is $46 - $58. That's a respectable resale for 30-year-old Yamaha two-way speakers. These might be keepers. . .but it's all about the sound, not the monetary value, right?

They capably handled everything I threw at them and kept their smoothness through most musical passages. There was a distinct ringing in some high-frequency passages, but, after listening to them at high levels throughout most of the afternoon, I ascertained that the ringing was coming from inside my head, not the tweeters.

These Yamaha NS-225's were in very good physical shape for their age (let's leave the personal comments about my own physical shape for another time, shall we?) and sounded every bit as good as I'd hoped.

Have any experience with Yamaha NS-series speakers? Chime in by sending me an email or leaving a comment on this post.

What's it worth?
Good: $75/pair
Fair: $45/pair
As in photo: $45/pair

Monster Receiver - Yamaha CR-2040

Another photo sent in by a new member to our HiFiCollector.com community. With 120 watts per channel, this Yamaha CR-2040 qualifies as a monster. I didn't get a chance to listen to this, but the person sending it in said it sounds great - no surprises there. I may have given Yamaha receivers luke-warm reviews in the past, but this just further illustrates that beautiful sound is in the ear of the beholder. One thing for sure, these sure are great-looking units. Note the soft green meter lights. . .something only a true audio geek could appreciate.

How about you? If you have any photos, stories, or personal takes on your Yamaha receiver or the Yamaha CR-2040 in particular, leave a comment, or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Receiver - Yamaha CR-840

This 60 WPC Yamaha CR-840 has some condition issues, and unfortunately those manifested themselves as oxidation pits and some rust. Looks like the previous owner had left this in a damp garage for the last decade or so. Still, it's nice-looking and sounds great.

How does it sound? A little warmer than I remember the other Yamaha receivers sounding. Again, with 30-year-old gear, capacitors go out of spec, wiring connections go bad, etc., so sound variance between even the same models isn't rare. Still sounds nice though - a little less "natural" sounding than most other Yamahas, and that's okay with me.

If you have any photos or stories about your Yamaha CR-840 Receiver, please leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Receivers - Yamaha R-300

I sure like these Yamaha receivers from the early 80s. This one had some handsome wood grain metal going on and a striking black face. Only 30 watts per channel, but when you look this good, you don't need to show off. . . .the reciever, not me.

Have any more info, photos, video links for the Yamaha R-300? Leave a comment or send me an email.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Receivers - Yamaha CR-440

Like the high-tech display stand? I may not be the biggest fan of early Yamaha sound, but they sure make good-looking units. This was one of the final "classic-looking" Yamaha receivers and was produced in 1980 and 1981. Only 30 watts per channel, but had that simple elegance that many collectors appreciate.

How does it sound? This unit needed some contact cleaner sprayed on all the pots (potentiometers - volume and tone controls), but once cleaned it sounded fine. Yamaha receivers to me sound very natural (perhaps their "Natural Sound" marketing claim is true?). Unlike the BIG sound of Pioneer or the bass-heavy sound of a Marantz, these sound uncolored and clean. These can be had for $30 on eBay, so go get yourself one!


If you have any photos, video links, or stories about your Yamaha CR-440, please leave a comment or email me.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!

Integrated Amplifiers - Yamaha CA 410II

Pour yourself an ice-cold forty. . . watts a channel. Although not "feature-rich," this was a nice little amplifier. Again, I preface what I'm about to say with my standard "Judging sound on these old units is far from perfect. So many ways these classics can go 'out of spec' with age." speel, but I find vintage Yamaha to be a bit "thin" sounding. Maybe they are uncolored, and I like the opposite - not sure. I traded this and the matching tuner for a Sansui pair which I liked better.

If you have any more info, photos, video links, stories of your own Yamaha CA 410II, please leave a comment or email me.

Want to hook up your iPod to your vintage stereo? Visit my Audio Accessory Store for some great values!