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Yamaha Amp Nostalgia

I remember the Yamaha C4 and M4 with some nostalgia, as they were beyond my high school student budget, and quite beautiful with their back lit power and speaker selector switches.

20 years later, they seem to be reasonably well bid on the used market, although the lamp lights are often burned out and not easy to replace, apparently.

So last week, I impulsively bought an M2, because it looked even more powerful and more interesting than the M4, and the one I found seemed to be in good shape with working lights.

There is not much info on the web - does anyone know anything about this amp?

Thank you.
cwlondon
cwlondon OP
1,198 posts
 
Yes, I found that link, too.

Nice photo, but doesn't say much.

There seems to be some debate about whether or not this amp works with lower impedance loads, amoung other things.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The C6 and M4 were tested in HIFI Choice in issue 25 in 1981. That amp worked well with low impedance loads, one channel driven it produced 149/248/343 at 8,4 and 2 Ohms. The downside was the it had an "Average" sound rating despite a very good technical performance. So a mixed bag, " no loudspeaker matching problems" but " somewhat untidy and tending to sound aggressive when loud. --some brittleness--midrange muddling --less than firm bass." But the results were inconsistent among panel members so the reader was advised to listen for himself. Hope this is some help, I couldn't find one on the M2.
timrhu
2,778 posts
 
This thread makes me yearn for my old Sansui B-2101 amp. What a beast that was for me back in the late 80s with a power meter similar to the Yamaha's.
If I recall, driving low impedance loads was a Yamaha selling point back then.
elevick
2,439 posts
 
The entire M series can hold its own against anything, M35,40, 45, 60 & 80 are all amazing.
cwlondon OP
1,198 posts
 
Elevick

Interesting you mention those amps - I thought only the B2, M4 and M2 were the real deal, and the ones you mention were all more mass produced.
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