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 

XBox 360 Forza 4 100% Completed The FINAL Chapter!

Gentle reader,

At long last, I am completing the Internet documentation of my completing 100 per cent of Microsoft's XBox 360 racing simulation titled: Forza 4.

Just this weekend, I completed the reboot series starting at zero with the 120 Gig hard drive from the '360 that I bought for $20 from a thrift shop. (I also transferred the black case from the unit to mine and cleaned the dust out of it as well.) I made it to level 57 to complete however many racing "years" it takes to get to the ending credits. 

Last time, I left off with the Nissan R390, a real Japanese racer they competed with at Le Mans. Next, also a real racer, sold here as a Dodge, in Europe as a Chrysler and campaigned by France's Team Oreca. This is one of the winningest Vipers. It ruled Le Mans and the ALMS Series as well until GM upped their game with the Corvette racers.

Speaking of Corvette racers, here is their 2006 effort.

Ah, the sound of this three liter V12 Ferrari racing engine! This 312P was the little brother to the 512 five liter racers. Awesome car!

Porsche's super version loosely, very loosely based on the 911. It won too!

The Porsche 959 came out the same time as Ferrari's F40. Both twin turbos, there the similarities ended. Porsche's first AWD car, it won the really tough rallys like the Dakar. 

Another Nissan Le Mans type racer. This for JDM races and it's based on their GT-R sports car.

A purpose built budget racer. I think they still make them. Fast and fun!

Another JDM racer, this one a Honda (Accura here) NSX.

Now, for the final 21 racers. All are real racers, the closer to the bottom of the list, the faster they are. 

Jet another Japanese Le Mans racer, this from 1998.

This Aston Martin Le Mans racer is Gulf Racing livery. The three car team numbers were, 007, 008 and this 009.

The FIA made an exception for Audi to race this TT based car in their German Touring Car series. They were sedans raced, usually four-doors, not coupes. Plus, no TT ever was rear wheel drive with a V8 engine!

One of the bespoke car makers, Pagani, this one as a racer. It is based on the stock car, and was not a purpose built racer like the rest on this page.

Pretty cool livery on this Porsche Spyder P2 ALMS racer. Odd sounding engine, though.

This, too is authentic livery for this BMW Le Mans racer, but not what it came with.

While this was called a Bentley and raced by a British team, underneath it is an Audi R8 racer. 2003 being only time Audi did not win Le Mans. Coincidence? Being that Audi owns Bentley?

An American team, Risi Competione, this is their 1998 Ferrari F333 SP. Another awesome sounding Ferrari race engine!

Another redecorated racer, the original was all silver.

This, a higher class Aston Martin than the one above, P1 to be exact. This one also in Gulf Racing livery and having James Bond's number, 007. 

Next, another American team that raced in the now, (sadly) defunct ALMS. This being called an Accura, but in fact, a Honda:

Not the original livery.

Next, the all-conquering Audi R18 TDI. The windshield is so small, it almost proved fatal to Alan McNish and the Ferrari driver he hit whom he couldn't see. Spectacular crash with the airborne R18 nearly killing photographers and fans.

One screaming Japanese racer! Called GT-ONE, but a GT class racer, it wasn't.

Next one of my favorite racers, the Audi R8 of which their top street sports car is named.

Another clever and talented Forza "painter" accurately reproduced then current livery for the Mazda factory Tudor United Sports Car Series. Note their "Skyactiv" engine technology name. I'm not sure why he chose this Honda powered Lola, rather than the Mazda powered one below.

Ah! I see why, this Dyson Mazda is an older model and doesn't have the dorsal fin of the later cars.

This car is what Porsche first brought to the fight, but a P2 racer, not the top P1 which they now campaign in. I don't really think this is a real livery.

France's answer to Audi's TDI racers, and they won sometimes too.

And that, my long-suffering readers, concludes the listing of my Forza 4 racing virtual garage.
I have now deleted it and all the millions of credits I won. They were all on my old, smaller hard drive anyway. I have nothing further to do with Forza 4. For a while, anyway.

Thanks for looking!

Scott