General Asylum: REVIEW: Yamaha CR-2020 Receiver by hagbard

Model:	CR-2020
Category:	Receiver
Suggested Retail Price:	$800 Canadian in 1978
Description:	Receiver
Manufacturer URL:	Yamaha
Manufacturer URL:	Yamaha

Review by hagbard ( A ) on March 17, 2002 at 13:53:38
IP Address: 24.64.223.203

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for the CR-2020

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.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	100wpc
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	none
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CD, Sony tt, computer mp3
Speakers:	Castle Sterling
Cables/Interconnects:	HD 12g zip cord
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	all
Room Size (LxWxH):	40feet x 20feet x 8-12feet
Room Comments/Treatments:	bright sounding room
Time Period/Length of Audition:	23 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	a $15 power bar
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

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