Yamaha M-2 Power amp - Is it worth buying?

Hi,
I just found a vintage Yamaha M-2 power amp 2x200W for 300$ in very good condition.
Has anybody got any experience with this amp?
What do you think, is it worth purchasing?


Current setup includes exposure 2010s amp + Kef LS50 speakers

Thanks

 

I have a Yamaha B-5 which is basically the Japan domestic equivalent of the M-2 but minus the front level light indicators. It sounds fantastic and I have no plans of ever getting rid of it. At $300 for an M-2 I don't think you can go wrong. You could even put a few hundred dollars into it for cleaning/refurb and make it sound even better. Hope it works out for you.

 

Thanks for the answer.
I am planning to listen it. Owners says it is almost Mint but he did not operate it for the last 20 years.
So I am a bit worried about the capacitors.

 

Mine was purchased from Hong Kong and upon pulling the top it was totally full of dust and grime. I vacuumed and wiped where I could and as I said it sounds great. Certainly listening before buying is always a good idea but I doubt you have much to worry about and truthfully $300 is the junk price for an M-2.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with Yamaha amps of this vintage. I still believe (as many other pro sound guys do..) that these old Yamahas were the best sounding amps ever. I had P2200 and P2100 running my studio monitors for years. I only got rid of them because they got too heavy to move around. Interesting link on the M-2 / B5 an P2200 here:
Yamaha M-2 on thevintageknob.org

 

Do you have a Variac? If not, there's probably a few available on your local Craigslist. Plug it into the Variac, start the voltage around 40-50 volts, and bring the voltage up slowly, maybe 10 volts every hour until you get to 110 VAC. Once you get to 110 VAC, leave it on for 24 hours. That should safely reform the electrolytics.

 

Ok, for the sake of the OP, let's try to be more precise. You can't go wrong? Baloney. What can go wrong with an amp this old? In short, everything, starting with caps, but hardly ending there. Moreover, whether you are talking about the top guys, be it CJ, AReaserch, Pass, or even Yamaha, if the old stuff was really that great, they'd still be making it. I like the vintage stuff too, but it's like owning a '63 Porsche speedster. Marvelous , but a new 9111 Carrera will run rings around it.

 

Mmmmm, Yamaha...

 

Nothing wrong with a Yamaha. I have a Yamaha CD player and if I ever buy a boat I can use the transport as an outboard motor!

Edit: Oh I see you meant that as a positive as you have the same transport/outboard motor.

 

Yes, that was meant as an endorsement!

 

I'd check it out and if it was right, Buy it and take it straight to my tech for Resto.

Wouldn't even bother plugging it in.

 

You can tell just by looking at it? Pretty amazing....

 

Unless someone as anal as me opened it up previously, I can telll just by looking at the screw heads and how they sit on the case. Most everyone is pretty cavalier about turning screws and they tend to mar them up pretty reliably.

If it's clean, and doesn't have any markings that indicate it has been abused, I just buy it and have my tech go through it and repair everything. Of course, my tech is really reasonable as far as repairs go.

 

Plug it in and let it warm for a few hours and play it.Done it tens and tens of time with this vintage of equipment and no problems.Then decide about having it gone through.Yamaha amps are very good.

 

I have an '86 Ford Escort you might be interested in. All screw heads mint.

 

YES!
I have M2 and I love it

 

Hi again thank you all for your feedback.
I will visit the owner of the amp during the weekend to demo the amplifier.
He will also give me the Yamaha C2a pre-amp to match it.

 

If that's the case then buy it.
In another life I was more than a little familiar with the B2 & C2. Back in the mid to late seventies it was the equipment to have. The big meters on the B2 was awesome!
I still own a CA2010 today.

 

Absolutely! I had the smaller M4 for years. Those old Yamaha amps are very musical. Find a matching C4 preamp for a great combo! Thumbs up for only $300!

 

The owner will give me Yamaha M2 + Yamaha C2a pre-amp for $300. Now I believe its a great deal.

 

Buy the guy lunch or something. Even if they are barely working $300 for both is an insane deal.