Yamaha CR-2020 Receiver Review by hagbard

I've owned this receiver since 1978, and its travelled all across Canada with me (about five moves). I think its a wonderful receiver, and better than most of the stuff made today...and as good if not better sound wise than the Pioneer and Marantz gear of the same vintage (everyone I knew at the time considered Pioneer as a step down from Yamaha). Nothing comes close to this for under $2000cdn today.

This 100wpc receiver has continuous loudness compensation (ie: variable loudness control), two turntable inputs (one being mc), OTS tuning in FM, independent audition and recording, and connections for three sets of speakers.

That being said, this unit has been in the shop six times since I bought it. Once one year after I bought it to get a new power switch put in, again a couple years after that for yet another power switch, then a complete resoldering in 1989, and three times in one month recently to get the power switch fixed (no longer available), new lights and a problem with the protection circit (requiring the three trips back).

Over the years, the Pioneers appear to win as far as reliability, but I'll be keeping my CR-2020 until flames start coming out (or until someone offers me piles of cash for it or a Pioneer SX-1980).

Product Weakness:	Construction a bit on the weak side.
Product Strengths:	Wide range of features, 100wpc of clean power.

• Yamaha CR-1040 Receiver - RichardG 14:52:30 03/17/02 (4)
  In Reply to: Yamaha CR-2020 Receiver posted by hagbard on March 17, 2002 at 13:53:38:

  I have a Yamaha CR-1040 receiver (80 wpc) that is a of the same vintage, though a few years newer. I still use it as a tuner (comes with meters). When I first played the turner through my system, I was startled at how good it is.

  Never had any trouble. Everything, including the back lights, still operate as good as the day I purchased it.

  
  
  

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  • Yamaha - djk 19:39:38 03/17/02 (3)
    In Reply to: Yamaha CR-1040 Receiver posted by RichardG on March 17, 2002 at 14:52:30:

    The 1000 series was made from 74~78, the 1020 from 78~80 and the 1040 from 80~.So your CR-1040 is newer than the CR-2020.The 00 and 20 series had discrete semiconductors, the 40 has modules.I lined up a CR-800, CR-820, and CR-840 on the bench one day.The older they are the better they sound.So much for progress.
    
    

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    • Re: Yamaha - RichardG 04:17:34 03/18/02 (2)
      In Reply to: Yamaha posted by djk on March 17, 2002 at 19:39:38:

      Thanks for the information. I remember purchasing the unit within a 6-month window of January 1980, so that is consistent with your numbers. I am bit confused about the semiconductors. I thought that the 1040 was more expensive than the 1020 and that the numbering had something to do with cost, power and features. How did this work? Is there a web site with information on these receivers?

      My sense also is that at some point Yamaha's receivers diminished some in quality.
      
      

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      • Re: Yamaha - Veritas 17:54:04 03/19/02 (1)
        In Reply to: Re: Yamaha posted by RichardG on March 18, 2002 at 04:17:34:

        RichardG,
        The 1040 replaced the 1020...the 1040 had a parabolic eq setup that added considerable noise (hiss) when in use. I had a 1020 stolen back in 80 and tried to replace it, but it was discontinued so I then went for the 1040 only to return it a day later...no match for the 1020 sonically. I then went home with the flagship at the time...a demo 3020 and quite superior to either the 1020 or 1040...I sold it to a friend about 10 years ago and it is still in use and still sounds excellent....the 1020 did have reliability problems, not shared with the 3020.
        
        

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        • Re: Yamaha - Veritas1 17:57:00 03/19/02 (0)
          In Reply to: Re: Yamaha posted by Veritas on March 19, 2002 at 17:54:04:

          RichardG,
          My mistake on the models...my two units were the 2020 and the 2040 not 1020 & 1040...a bit more power...same size chassis. The 3020 I wound up with is considerable larger...about 110 lbs. sorry
          
          

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