Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The best PreAmp I have ever heard (used). I bought it used form someone who obviously did not know what he was selling (lucky me). I was looking for a PreAmp to integrate all the digital audio devices that I own: 1. CD-Player(Coax-Out) 2. CD-Recorder(Optical In/Out) 3. MP3-Player/Recorder (Coax In/Out) It was not easy to find a Preamp that would allow me to connect above devices so that i could play/record from each of those to any other without having to change the wiring. Furthermore, I needed a integrated highend D/A-converter since those in my CD- and MP3-Player are pretty shabby. I took me a lot of research to find out that the CX-1000 was about the only answer to my needs. What can I say ? Once I connected my good old CD-Player via its Coax-Out to the CX-1000, I could not believe my ears !!

Strengths:
1. Connectivity: 10 analog in, 7 analog out (all fed by the record selector!!), 7 digital in, 4 digital out (all fed by the record selector) plus some video in/out. So you should see the back: 57 chinch/toslink plugs total - unbelieveable 2. The highbit D/A converter: must have heard... 3. Design and build: heavy duty, extremely good looking, no plastic

Weaknesses:
the user manual does not really explain all the possibilities this thing has. But then again, it was great fun to explore.

Similar Products Used:
None ever

Price Paid:  $0.00 from J&R Music World

Summary:
Continues to server me well after more than 10 years of hard use. Recently I noticed one of the channels would cut out occasionally. I just took it apart and was very impressed with the quality of the interior design. It turns out every right rca jack had a fracture at the solder point. It made sense given the design and my hard use. It was a snap to resolder and reassemble. Good for another 10 years probably.

Strengths:
High quality engineering. Very flexible, lots of I/O. Easy to get at internals and repair simple problems.

Weaknesses:
None.

Price Paid:  $1250.00 from Soundtrack

Summary:
Still going strong since 1991 and never been seen by any technician. I have multi amps, multiLD,DVD, all inputs and outputs filled which is saying alot because its got tons. Sounds as good as anything I've heard. And the quality. Was Yamahas flagship in 1991.

Strengths:
Just about everything

Weaknesses:
Little

Similar Products Used:
DB Systems, Hafler, Luxman

Summary:
Had it since 1991 and the only problem is the one mentioned above. Wish Yamaha would stop making cheesy looking remots.

Strengths:
Fiber optic connections I actually use. Still have room to add more components.

Weaknesses:
Volume knob started making rubbing sound about 3 months ago.

Summary:
Had since 1993. Was about $700.Unit is heavy and sounds excellent.Internal converters sound warmer than the 1bit in the Sony single disc ES series player that feeds it.Will run two external amps.

Strengths:
Quality sound,well built. Internal D/A conveters.Plenty of inputs and outputs.CX1000 not CX2000.Optical inputs/outputs.

Weaknesses:
Yamaha decided to put Burr-Brown converters in it's Japan only outboard converters.Wish they would have added them to this model.

Similar Products Used:
Yamaha CX600