Questions on YAMAHA CR 2040

boston1450

Hi all. I am dropping off my cr2040 tomorrow. I need to have lights repaired. As it is there i want it overhauled completely. All the things that would be needed as this is a 30 Y/O+ receiver..the questions i have are''what should be done to it. I would like a list that may make it helpful to me & should i feel like a **** if i ask them to check/adjust/replace these items..i would like to get this unit up to specs 100%..any thoughts as to how much about this would cost me ? A round about figure on price ? Unit is operating fine. Ive been using it with a TT & tape player & tuner..i did do a slight cleaning..it does seem it had been opened & lights repaired at one time because wire to tuner light has been spliced & it looks to have been done poorly. I want all new ones installed. Attachment not found.Thanks in advance. Any feedback would be helpful & appreciated alot....thanks. Randy

mhardy6647

All electrolytic capacitors in a piece that old are suspect. That doesn't mean that they all have to be replaced a priori - although today's electrolytics really are better (not to mention smaller) than they were in the '70s.

The best thing to do is to check them all for their ESR (equivalent series resistance) with an ESR meter. This can be done in-circuit, which makes it a lot easier than checking capacitance! Those with high ("out of spec") ESR should really be replaced. This could increase the cost of prophylactic repair considerably, though...

boston1450

Thanks mrh I will put that on the list. I plan on having everything looked at. That will be top on the list

cnh

If you replace "everything" you should, even at CHEAP repair prices you're looking at 100s and 100s of dollars in labor and parts. A fully refurbished vintage piece like that could push north of a 1000 dollars. Really not worth a TOTAL rehab unless you're loaded.

Mhardy's suggestions would probably be "enough" and even those might run you hundreds. If you're using Pete. Just ask him to check the main storage capacitors (and their supporting cast) and the relevant caps in the pre-amp section. Then see what "he" else he thinks might be necessary.

I have heard a couple of vintage pieces recapped and their twins in the original state (but in very good shape). And yeah, I could hear a difference, but not a 500+ dollar difference. Most of the DIY-ers on AKarma take MONTHS to FULLY recap something like that and still spend a few hundred in parts even though they do ALL their own LABOR! YMMV.

cnh

boston1450

Thanks cnh. Like i stated. It needs the lights repaired. And id like for him to look it over. If it needs adjustments and such to do them. Its very clean inside and works fine. Id like to have the tuner checked over for accurate adjustments. The probably basic stuff they do. I thought id ask here before i do drop it off just to get ideas. As i dont really know the insides of these units. I figure it will be gone for a few weeks as he sometimes is backed up. Which isnt that big of a deal. When i get it back im going to refinish the box. I have the cr1040 to play with while its gone. Thank....randy

Sprags

I had a CR2020 I purchased new back in the 70's along with a Yamaha turntable and cassette deck. As a self proclaimed aficionado of Yamaha components I think that, even though I'm into tubes now, you should have everything tested and reconditioned as you see fit to get it running well and then send it to me for an indefinite test period.

All kidding aside...I think you'll enjoy what you hear.

boston1450

T

Sprags wrote: »

I had a CR2020 I purchased new back in the 70's along with a Yamaha turntable and cassette deck. As a self proclaimed aficionado of Yamaha components I think that, even though I'm into tubes now, you should have everything tested and reconditioned as you see fit to get it running well and then send it to me for an indefinite test period.

All kidding aside...I think you'll enjoy what you hear.

thanks. I look forward to getting it back. Hopefully one day i will be getting into tubes. Ive always wanted to hear them in action

mhardy6647

Whaddya doin' next weekend? Wanna come over to the NH house? Tubes we gots. Yamahas (Yamahae?) too.

:-)

pglbook

Boston, I am curious what tech you take your stuff to because I am looking for a good tech to repair a CR 2020 I have, as well as to service my CR 2040. I live in Albany so I am not too far away.

I have had bad luck with my local tech and need to find a good one. Here is the story of my local tech:
I took my CR 2020 (I have 2 of them) to my local tech about 6 months ago because it made an intermittent popping sound after a CD had been playing for a half hour or so. I figured some bad transistors needed to be replaced. My local tech had it for 3 months and, every time I called to see if it was fixed, he complained that he couldn't figure which transistors were bad because there were sooo many transistors in "these old things," etc etc. After 3 months, he finally replaced some transistors and told me he fixed it. I took it home and it was fine for 3 days but then the same problem occurred. I took it back and waited another 3 months. The tech changed more transistors but, after another 3 months, he called me and told me he could not fix it. It had beaten him. After having it a total of 6 months, he gave up and refunded my money, but now I am still where I was at the beginning - looking for a good tech to get it fixed.

There aren't any other techs in the Albany area. I have heard there is a good tech in CT about 2-3 hours away but I was wondering if you knew of one as well as I want to take the CR 2020 to be repaired and the CR 2040 to be checked out/cleaned/serviced.

Thanks.

Gotta love that vintage Yamaha CR series!

boston1450

Stereo Doctor-Augusta & Electronics & More-Windham. I know of 2 up in my area. I had a friend use Augusta and he had his receiver 2 months. But ive heard he can sometimes be quicker. Both do very good work. Im sure there is more here. I can understand why you would be looking for another--i had my Marantz 6300 done in a week. He offered a back-up if i didnt have one. I do'but big plus for someone who doesnt. Price was great. Quick. Perfect function now.. The Yammys i have seem to be light problems only. And ive heard of adjusting the tuner. But i have no idea. I would really like to learn. I do the easy stuff. But i hope someday soon to do all my own repairs. No time. Gotta work..

boston1450

On a different note--how do you compare the 2020 to the 2040....ive never laid eyes on a 2020''they look sweet----i have the 1040 and i absolutely love it....randy

pglbook

Thanks for the info, Randy.

I find the CR 2020 and CR 2040 sound alike, in terms of having that same vintage Yamaha "natural" - neutral and transparent - sound. The CR 2040, of course, is a little more powerful than the CR 2020 and it is also supposed to have a better phono stage than the CR 2020 (although I have yet to use phono on either one but will be doing so in the near future once I get my Thorens tt set up and serviced). Both are incredible units. I just love them. I do, however, prefer the look of the CR 2020 over the CR 2040. The CR 2020, to me, is the sweetest looking of all of the vintage receivers of that era.

boston1450

You will enjoy that when you get the Thorens up n spinning. I got away from turntables for 30 plus years. Now i enjoy putting on a album and sit & enjoy it alot. I only have about 300 ablums & try only to buy ones i really like because i still have tons of cd's-tapes..ive been eyeing a reel-reel but space seems to have me holding back. I think reel-reel would sound sweet on a vintage Yamaha as well

2040fan

My Yamaha CR 2040 needs repair. I live in Southern California. I have been unable to find a company or a person within driving distance who is willing to take on the job. I just got the unit back from a local vintage audio repair shop. The tech said the unit is just too complicated for him to work on. There are at least three issues: Speaker protection not working, both channels; intermittent/scratchy output; replace all lights. Does anyone know of a reputable repair facility in SoCal that might be willing to take on a CR 2040? I'm well aware that CR 2040 repair can be quite costly. For me, that is not a show stopper.

mhardy6647

1) Are "we" sure the intermittent/scratchy output's not just dirty controls (switches or potentiometers)?
2) What do you mean (i.e., how do you know) the speaker protection's not working? Or do you mean that the receiver won't come out of protection?

I am none too familiar with the CR2040. The only member of that series I had was a CR-240, which I passed along to our daughter many years ago. I don't know anyone on the West Coast offhand who would be a good choice to rehab it. If no one here comes up with a good suggestion, you might want to ask at audiokarma.

FYI, if you don't have a manual for it, you can download the OM @ http://akdatabase.com/AKview/albums/userpics/10004/Yamaha CR-2040 Owners.pdf

la2vegas

2040fan wrote: »

My Yamaha CR 2040 needs repair. I live in Southern California. I have been unable to find a company or a person within driving distance who is willing to take on the job. I just got the unit back from a local vintage audio repair shop. The tech said the unit is just too complicated for him to work on. There are at least three issues: Speaker protection not working, both channels; intermittent/scratchy output; replace all lights. Does anyone know of a reputable repair facility in SoCal that might be willing to take on a CR 2040? I'm well aware that CR 2040 repair can be quite costly. For me, that is not a show stopper.

Hello 2040fan,

Orange County Electronics Service is my go to place for my vintage electronic repair. Not sure where exactly you are located, but they're in Laguna Hills.

2040fan

Thank you for the timely responses. First let me state that I am no longer able to tinker with electronic equipment. I go back to 1950's tube technology. Let's just say I have aged-related limitations. The intermittent/scratchy problem could very well be dirty or worn pots and switches. I just don't know. The speaker protection problem is a 'turning the receiver off' issue. The workaround I used was to switch off the speakers before I turned the receiver off. So, I am in need of expert repair help. I am located in Riverside (92504) so Laguna Hills is not too far from me. I'll contact Orange County Electronics Service next week. Again, thanks for the posts.

boston1450

Welcome to the forum @2040fan . What are you using for speakers ? I love my 2040 & enjoy hooking all kinds of brand speakers to it. Pls do tell what issues you have when you have repair done. Thank you