The Accuphase C-200 Preamp - That's the understatement of the day!

The Accuphase C-200 preamp was Accuphase first pre-amp offered in America and began the uncompromising standard of excellence that still exists today. The C-200 was manufactured from 1975 – 1977 if I recall correctly. Cosmetically, this unit is at least an 8 out of 10. There are 4-5 small and shallow scratches in the top edge of the champagne facing – all less than 0.5 inches long. The black paint is almost new condition and has been waxed with a Teflon-based car wax. All lettering on the front and back is perfect, complete and readable. All lamps function. Timeless, classic looks. In looking at the pictures in this listing, they make it appear that the black top has spots and that there are long scratches and spots on the face. I assure you this is junk on the lens or possibly floating in the air when I snapped the pics. These imperfections are NOT present on the unit.

I bought this based on my research specifically about its phono stage. The phono stage has several unique things – gain pots to help adjust for different cartridge outputs; variable cartridge loading from 33k – 100k ohms to help get the absolute most out of your cartridge; and a low frequency boost from 0 to +1dB specifically for phono.

Given its age, I did a few things to it:

• ALL electrolytic capacitors have been replaced with new Nichicon Fine Gold, Nichicon Muse and even some Blackgates. I stayed with the original capacitance values but in some cases increased the voltage ratings for the new caps. New phenolic mounting boards were made for the replacement power/filter caps since they are significantly different physical dimensions than the original Elnas. Further, the boards are isolated from the chassis by rubber grommets to reduce vibrations to the caps. The original design has the capacitor supports physically coupled to the chassis so all vibrations would be communicated to the capacitors.

• Other capacitors that were originally electrolytics were replaced with film caps in accordance with the Service Manual as of July 1976. Key signal capacitors were also replaced with upgraded audiophile caps.

• I replaced the original two blade power jack with a current IEC jack and connected the chassis to the ground lug so you can use your own updated power cord.

• All pots/switches were cleaned with Caig

• A generous amount of Dynamat has been added to the chassis for vibrational damping.

I have been using this pre since I completed the work earlier this summer and everything works perfectly on this. I am using Disc 1 for my turntable and Aux for my CD player. Everything is dead quiet. There are probably 50-60 hours on the rebuild- not even broken in yet.

If you are looking at this or other vintage pre-amps, please consider that these units contain a number of electrolytic capacitors. Electrolytics are generally considered to have a lifespan of 15- 20 years, after which they frequently fail and leak acid. This is not urban myth as I have had a few devices destroyed from such leakage. In considering the purchase of any electronic device that is more than 15 years old, you should either (a) realize that all electrolytic capacitors must be replaced soon in order to preserve the performance, integrity and electrical safety of the device, OR (b) ensure this has been done within a reasonable time prior to your purchase of the device.

From what I have read so far, the C-200 is a great preamp and still holds its own with today's modern high end preamps. It also is supposed to have an excellent phono section with two inputs with variable load and gain. This works perfect for me as I have three turntables that I use. I have my mmf-phono pack that I can run on one of the other inputs.

This thing is a tank too, weighing in at 30+ lbs (14kg)!! I couldn't pass up this deal considering what they normally go for. I'm taking a chance on it as it is not tested, but judging from the condition it's in and the feedback of the seller, I'm feeling pretty good about this purchase.

Let me know what you all think!

I have the Accuphase C-200  integrated from the same era and it's wonderful. Accuphase is considered by many as the Japanese McIntosh. There is a lot of love for Accuphase over on AudioKarma, as well as a few Accuphase service gurus in case you need help or direction and don't find it here.

I've compared my Accuphase preamp to a few more modern mid-fi brands that I also own (Luxman, Onkyo, Yamaha) and it is clearly a more sophisticated phono stage. But I still think you can better it with a lot of the "new-generation" phono stages. I would still love to own one though. General philosophy is not to modify it but to restore it by recapping. (Replacing all the electrolytics) I don't have the schematic but i'd say you have 30-40 caps in there. A nice piece.

That's the understatement of the day!

I recapped the C-200, replacing only the eight large filter caps and a couple of resistors that suffered from "resistor rot". After that, I got the ole' girl up and running and it's been doing nothing but surprising the heck out of me! This is truly a state of the art preamp that easily stands its own ground amongst modern preamps costing well beyond $5k, and probably higher dollar units! It can only get better once I get around to replacing all the small electrolytic caps on all the pull-out boards. However, the way it's sounding right now, I don't think I'm in any rush to do that, but it will be done eventually.

In my system, this preamp is creepy spooky! There has to be some kind of perfect synergy going on between my gear because I have never had my systems before put so much life and feeling into the music like this system does, and it has only done this since the C-200 was added. I mean, it did a darn good job before with the KingRex Pre-Amp, but the Accuphase takes it leaps and bounds ahead, and the KingRex is not a preamp to sneeze at. That little digital preamp easily competes with units costing many thousands, both tube and SS. The C-200 is just amazing in the fact that it is such an improvement over the KingRex.

Before

After

MicroVerb4

Preset/programmable 18-Bit signal processor

The MicroVerb4™ is designed to provide a wide variety of great-sounding, easy-to-use effects for small studios, engineers and performing musicians. The key to MicroVerb 4's power is in its simplicity. It offers 200 programs that include everything from high-quality reverb, delay, chorus and flange to exciting multieffects and more. To customize your programs, two front panel knobs allow for quick, easy, user-storable edits, or use its MIDI inputs for control over program changes and modulation. You can then save your edited programs in the 100-space user program bank. Even though it's affordable and easy to use, the MicroVerb 4 offers the superb audio quality that you should expect from every Alesis processor.

Key feature

200 Programs chock-full of professional effects
100 User program banks so you can customize to your liking
Perfect for studios of all sizes, and musicians of all kinds
Up to three simultaneous effects for rich multi-effects
Pro-grade 18-bit A-to-D and D-to-A processing ensures quality
MIDI Input lets you change programs instantly from another source

Specs

• Presets (Factory/User) : 100/100

• Digital Effects (reverb, delay, chorus, etc.) : Rvrb; chrs; dly; flng; rtry; ptch

• Simultaneous Effects : 3

• Programmable Wet/Dry/Mix : Yes

• Compare/Bypass : N/Y

• Maximum Delay Time : 1,300 ms

• Maximum Pitch Shift Range (octaves) : ±1 octave

• MIDI Real-Time Control : Yes

• Simultaneous MIDI Controls : 2

• Discrete Programming Channels : 2

• ADC/DAC : 18-bit

• Overload Warning 4-seg : LED

• Inputs : (2) 1/4"

• Outputs : (2) 1/4"

Buy this produck? go here

Utilizing your Music Recording Software to get Lower Songs on Your Digital Sound Workstation

Nearly all audio these days will be recorded on searching for Music Work station (DAW), one's heart of which is a personal computer as well as recording software program. A number of the key gamers throughout recording computer software nowadays will be Cubase through Steinberg Media Technology, Protools through Digidesign, Reasoning by simply Apple, along with Sonar by Cakewalk. You'll find basically 3 things you can do together with your DAW: file, edit, along with combination. This information is focused on the 1st method, documenting or even 'laying along paths.'

Becasue it is an easy task to end up being overwhelmed by the particular myriad functions, possibilities, and also settings in the current documenting application, I'll stick to the principles. My own good examples make use of Cubase, since which is the saving software program I use. Nevertheless, the basic procedure is going to be equivalent with taking applications.

Begin with putting in your current sound digital camera software as well as recording application as well as environment these people approximately interact. As an example: if you utilize Cubase, navigate to the Gadgets food selection, pick the Device Create window, and judge the software driver which in turn was included with your current program.

Now hook-up your current device as well as mic(s). The majority of tools with audio produces must plug to the -10 db input in your software; your user interface will likely then increase the actual indication by simply 10 decibels. Mics will require boosting by way of a preamp (usually shortened to help before), an element built-into several electronic digital audio tracks interfaces. Many mics can connect to the +4 db insight, and also the user interface will certainly sleeping pad or perhaps decrease the signal by four decibels.

Up coming, you may set up the first recording undertaking. Within Cubase, pick Fresh Undertaking through the Record menu. You will be motivated to identify a place to save the files. Be sure you build a brand new directory for each new project. Your own saving software will develop subfolders as needed. Useful fresh undertaking. After that arranged film quality for your task, which is the sampling frequency along with bit level. Decide on Venture Create around the Undertaking menu in Cubase. Understand that Dvds utilize Forty-four.1 kHz as well as 07 touch. Greater settings improve high quality, but additionally drastically increase the desire on your desktop model as well as the height and width of audio tracks generated as well as located in your harddrive.

In case you are acquainted with mixing up reside audio as well as recognize indication circulation, you do have a fantastic start taking this specific second step. Produce a brand new enter shuttle (employ VST Contacts throughout Cubase's Gadgets selection). Select mono configuration for anyone microphone stand and several devices or perhaps stereo setting should you be using a pair of microphones or an instrument with All over the place results. Arranged this specific bus to work with the correct input from a sound electronic software. Right now create a new audio track in order to document on (Include Monitor about the Cubase Undertaking menu), along with determine the feedback shuttle you only designed to this particular observe.

You may well want to document your current monitor dried out, make use of an external digital signal processor (DSP) to improve the particular indication (probably together with retention, EQ, or even reverb) before taking, or perhaps make use of the put in to use consequences inside of Cubase. Plug-ins are generally DSPs as well as electronic tools made to communicate with your recording application. VST (Digital Business Technology) plug-ins perform most optimally using Cubase. Before acquiring plug-ins, verify precisely what plug-ins come pre-installed with your DAW software along with what type(ersus) are usually suitable for your current software. Cubase, for example, offers plug-ins regarding data compresion, EQ, reverb, plus a various other commonly used effects. While significant dojos frequently implement retention and EQ to monitors before recording, the correct answer is acceptable and frequently preferable to report the paths dried up, and then change them after taking time to be able to experiment and discover the best results to boost your current taking. Consult your handbook to understand how to insert plug-ins to the transmission stream even though taking.

While you start saving, another significant principle to understand will be signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). With the tone of voice or even device you would like to file, you are going to almost constantly be documenting some surrounding sounds, including each sound in the place (say for example a computer fan, neon lighting ballast, as well as toe-tapping) along with exterior (for example blowing wind or road sound). Your goal is to increase signal-to-noise proportion as well as thus lessen undesired noise to the point where it can be undetected. You need to do this kind of both through seem remoteness by producing your sign as deafening and apparent as you possibly can with no distortion.

Now you must in order to report. Select the track to which you will end up documenting, and ensure the best feedback will be designated. Make it possible for file or 'arm your track' through pushing the particular red button. Examine your multimeter around the carry screen (or go through the check button) to make sure the actual sign is arriving by means of. Utilize fader to create the amount for maximum SNR with no distortions. Ultimately, media your file button to start and the stop button to end recording.

It gets better! Participate in back again your current course and also listen closely very carefully in order to how it seems. Do not be reluctant to help report numerous takes until you might be totally satisfied. Even experts report multiple requires. In case simple fact, even before you document on to your 1st course, you might want to copy that and create many replicate songs to save lots of measures in establishing monitors for multiple usually takes. You may even desire to overdub, taking different portions individually to be able to revise as well as blend later.
Satisfied recording!