Preamp wars: Adcom vs SONY vs YAMAHA preamplifiers saga

Gentle reader,

I had decided (realized?) that having TWO complete sound systems in the den/listening room/man cave, was silly. I have only 21 SACDs and only a few are surround only. My OPPO universal player will mix them down to stereo, so simplification became my goal.

I disassembled as told in this post: The Robb Collections: Adcom GFP-565 Pre-amplifier has developed a hum AND no more Six-Channel Surround Sound 

Also, my Adcom GFP-565 developed a 60 Hertz hum, the source of which I have yet to determine. I wrote about that here: The Robb Collections: SONY verses ADCOM Preamplifier. The saga continues.... 

I decided the SONY wasn't what I needed for stereo-only listening, and it is currently looking for it's next steward on ebay. All the other equipment went quickly to their new abodes, many in other countries. 

I did my research and contemplated many different brands of preamplifiers. My needs were, at least five inputs, the ability to use a moving coil phono cartridge should I choose and a subsonic filter. I had noticed playing some LPs that the woofers were visibly moving before the music started which indicates very low frequencies coming from the record that can harm the woofers.

I considered a Kenwood Basic C2. It fits the bill, but is quite rare, those having one do not wish to part with it. Further searching revealed that Yamaha made a number of well-loved preamps and I started watching those. Finally bid on a C45 model and won it via ebay.

It sold new for half what the Adcom went for and is not as elegantly simple in it's front layout and the rear inputs-outputs. Further down, there are photos of the inside of it.

It has six inputs as does  the Adcom and lacks dedicated external processor connections and switching. That is fine as I sold the equalizer and it fits in with simplification.

It does have three tone controls, but I tell you, when I first tried it, they were off and I was dazzled by the sound of this unit "flat".

The Adcom's RCA terminals are wider spaced than the Yamaha's, but that does not present a problem. The AC outlets on the back do not have the "one wide, one narrow" slots, but I solved that problem simply as you will see below when it's fully installed.

I don't know how many C45 units they made, nor where the serial numbers started, but 06027 is pretty low. Oh, I replaced the stock power cord with an "audiophile" cable on the Adcom, thus the silver fitting and thicker AC cable in the two above photos.

Now for photos of it "in situ" hooked up with it's new playmates. Note that I moved the Denon turntable to the right side and placed the Dynaco power amp directly above the preamp. If you are wondering what that fluffy thing is, it's a Swiffer 360 duster. Fantastic for cleaning LP records. Now if they are dirty or finger printed, I use the Discwasher components on the right side.

So, top to bottom, left to right: Power amp, turntable. Preamp, five-disc CD player. AC power conditioner, CD recorder. OPPO universal player and three-head cassette deck.

Above, you see two oddities: The phono inputs have right angle adapters. I insulated them, one from the other. Also, the only Liberty Cables that I'm still using are the short blue ones from pre-to-power amplifiers. Everything else is one meter or three feet long. All the other Liberty Cables are two meters and some of the top-of-the-line Monster ones are even longer. Also, the white three-into-one AC adapter, less it's ground prong solved the one-wider-than-the-other AC plugs.

I decided to keep the LED power meters and they are attached atop the Dynaco above on the left. I also replaced the muffin fan's 12 volt DC power supply with a 9 volt one. I will test it to see if it still cools that left channel's heat sink sufficiently.

You can see the way I routed all the interconnect together, except the turntable's and kept them separated from the AC cords and cables.

Above, the whole shebang awaiting being turned around. This is the wall that once held the teak cabinet with the Dynaco amp on top left and stack of SONY six-channel component on the right with big books on the bottom shelf. THIS rack used to be on the left wall withing volume control reach of my chair.

Above is the insides of the C45 preamplifier. Not nearly so elegant as the insides of the Adcom, but it works and sounds terrific!

Now, for visual comparison, below are the insides of the Adcom preamp:

 So, this is what $500 more bought one back in the late 1980's in the preamplifier world.

Prior to offering the next steward the opportunity to have this Adcom, I'm going to attempt to solve the hum problem. Wish me luck. 

Thanks for looking!

Scott