Ed: As a longtime admirer of the NS1000 (which I'd gladly re-own any day given the right circumstances), and having penned many articles in this blog on these legendary loudspeakers, I enthusiastically welcome this article from a fellow reader, and it's a delight to encounter the equally legendary B-2!
BACKGROUND
Yamaha NS1000M & NAD 3020B has always been my favourite combo in the small 100sf audio room. I enjoyed the sound so much that I finally got hold of the bigger NS-1000X from Hifido Japan… & then the journey began!
ABOUT THE YAMAHAS
Yamaha NS1000X speakers (84'~88'), heavier (42kg) & newer model of the well known NS1000/1000M series. Similar high/mid BE drivers with 12" fibre carbon woofer. The In-line drivers layout is a copy of the higher model - NS2000. NS1000X was used by Luxman Japan as reference speakers up to 1979, along with a pair JBL K2 M9500! Some recognition there… at least in Japan domestic market. [Ed: see vintageknob)
Yamaha B-2 power amp (76'~80') uses 4x VFET per channel, 2x100w (8 ohm), dual mono design, separate transformers & twin volume pots. Some feel that VFET is the "most emotional" power transistor and having triode-like character similar to 300B. The VFET had ceased production since 80's due to its high cost. [Ed: see vintageknob]
THE SYSTEM
Power amp : Yamaha B-2
Preamp : ARC SP10 and Preamp section of NAD 3020B
Digital : Sony SR200P<DAC (Sparkler S306 or Micromega Mydac)
Analogue : Kenwood 600<Jelco<Denon DL301ii
Cables : Gotham & Belden
THE JOURNEY
My original NS1000M/NAD 3020B combo was musical and non-solid state sounding. Though different, it was as enjoyable as my other SET tube system. However, when I got the NS1000X and paired the 3020B with it, the magical synergy disappeared. Perhaps the NS1000X 6-ohm design and carbon fibre woofer calls for higher power than the 20w/ch 3020B is capable of. [Ed:1]
Next came Luxman SQ507X. Someone in Japan had great success with 1000X after auditions against various amps. Having 60w/ch, modeled after the highly acclaimed Luxman SQ38FD, the sound was more powerful, more 3D, but warm & soft just like old tube amp… but to my ears, it was just OK [Ed:2]. As the preamp section of the vintage NAD 3020 series has been praised by collectors [Ed:3], I was convinced to use 3020B as preamp with the power amp section of the Luxman driving NS1000X…Things seemed settled. But searching for ways to improve 1000X has always been on my mind.
In early 2021, a mint & reasonable priced Yamaha B-2 came on board. Paired with the preamp section of the 3020B, with the Yamaha B2 Vol pots arbitrarily set at 12 o'clock, there were more low level detail; mids/high have faster transients, and mico-dynamics had improved…the system appeared very much modern sounding. Still, to someone exposed to years of tube & SET, I felt something was still lacking – musicality.
I then tested B2 with my old ARC SP10 preamp, with the B2 gain pots set at the same 12 o'clock. It was an obvious mismatch (maybe impedance?) as there was unwelcoming high freq edge that was wearing, even with short listening sessions. The 3020B was then back as preamp. Sounded good again with some CDs, just OK with others, but still not as great as I have hoped from a B2/1000X combo.
The breakthrough came about when I recalled how we tested the B2 for function at the dealer's place: no preamp was used, DAC directly connected to B2 & gain pots set at 8 o'clock, A full range sound was audible in the big 350sf showroom. This implies the B2 works well even at low gain pot setting!
I then reconnected SP-10, lowered B2 gain pots to 9 o'clock & upped the volume control of SP-10. The sharp high frequency gone, hall sound & imaging came back, background noise lowered, more space in-between instruments. I felt the energy of piano keys & vibration of drum skin. Transients, attack, rhythm N pace all improved!
CONCLUSIONS
ABOUT THE YAMAHAS
Yamaha NS1000X speakers (84'~88'), heavier (42kg) & newer model of the well known NS1000/1000M series. Similar high/mid BE drivers with 12" fibre carbon woofer. The In-line drivers layout is a copy of the higher model - NS2000. NS1000X was used by Luxman Japan as reference speakers up to 1979, along with a pair JBL K2 M9500! Some recognition there… at least in Japan domestic market. [Ed: see vintageknob)
Yamaha B-2 power amp (76'~80') uses 4x VFET per channel, 2x100w (8 ohm), dual mono design, separate transformers & twin volume pots. Some feel that VFET is the "most emotional" power transistor and having triode-like character similar to 300B. The VFET had ceased production since 80's due to its high cost. [Ed: see vintageknob]
THE SYSTEM
Power amp : Yamaha B-2
Preamp : ARC SP10 and Preamp section of NAD 3020B
Digital : Sony SR200P<DAC (Sparkler S306 or Micromega Mydac)
Analogue : Kenwood 600<Jelco<Denon DL301ii
Cables : Gotham & Belden
THE JOURNEY
My original NS1000M/NAD 3020B combo was musical and non-solid state sounding. Though different, it was as enjoyable as my other SET tube system. However, when I got the NS1000X and paired the 3020B with it, the magical synergy disappeared. Perhaps the NS1000X 6-ohm design and carbon fibre woofer calls for higher power than the 20w/ch 3020B is capable of. [Ed:1]
Next came Luxman SQ507X. Someone in Japan had great success with 1000X after auditions against various amps. Having 60w/ch, modeled after the highly acclaimed Luxman SQ38FD, the sound was more powerful, more 3D, but warm & soft just like old tube amp… but to my ears, it was just OK [Ed:2]. As the preamp section of the vintage NAD 3020 series has been praised by collectors [Ed:3], I was convinced to use 3020B as preamp with the power amp section of the Luxman driving NS1000X…Things seemed settled. But searching for ways to improve 1000X has always been on my mind.
In early 2021, a mint & reasonable priced Yamaha B-2 came on board. Paired with the preamp section of the 3020B, with the Yamaha B2 Vol pots arbitrarily set at 12 o'clock, there were more low level detail; mids/high have faster transients, and mico-dynamics had improved…the system appeared very much modern sounding. Still, to someone exposed to years of tube & SET, I felt something was still lacking – musicality.
I then tested B2 with my old ARC SP10 preamp, with the B2 gain pots set at the same 12 o'clock. It was an obvious mismatch (maybe impedance?) as there was unwelcoming high freq edge that was wearing, even with short listening sessions. The 3020B was then back as preamp. Sounded good again with some CDs, just OK with others, but still not as great as I have hoped from a B2/1000X combo.
The breakthrough came about when I recalled how we tested the B2 for function at the dealer's place: no preamp was used, DAC directly connected to B2 & gain pots set at 8 o'clock, A full range sound was audible in the big 350sf showroom. This implies the B2 works well even at low gain pot setting!
I then reconnected SP-10, lowered B2 gain pots to 9 o'clock & upped the volume control of SP-10. The sharp high frequency gone, hall sound & imaging came back, background noise lowered, more space in-between instruments. I felt the energy of piano keys & vibration of drum skin. Transients, attack, rhythm N pace all improved!
CONCLUSIONS
Ability to use power amp gain pots with preamp volume control adds a wonderful new dimension in system fine-tuning. [Ed:4]
Tube preamp SP10 improves musicality for sure. Maybe high-end SS preamp like Spectral DMC-12 or Krell KBL could do likewise or even better with B2, but that has to be tested. [Ed:5]
Tube Pre with SS power is exciting and rewarding. However I still gladly return to my other full tube SET setups for totally different sonic enjoyment. I am very fortunate and delighted to have different setups for different music & listening moods.
Footnotes
{1} Yamaha 1000X placement is of great importance. Huge Improvement achievable by mere repositioning. Great patience and muscle needed. Unlike conventional speakers, 1000X (2nd order X'over sealed box) has to be placed closer to a solid front wall, no toe-in.
{2} Yamaha B2 generates lots of heat. To protect and prolong the VFET lifespan (great pity not replaceable), suction fans are placed on top of B2 casing and ON after 30 mins into operation.
Tube preamp SP10 improves musicality for sure. Maybe high-end SS preamp like Spectral DMC-12 or Krell KBL could do likewise or even better with B2, but that has to be tested. [Ed:5]
Tube Pre with SS power is exciting and rewarding. However I still gladly return to my other full tube SET setups for totally different sonic enjoyment. I am very fortunate and delighted to have different setups for different music & listening moods.
Footnotes
{1} Yamaha 1000X placement is of great importance. Huge Improvement achievable by mere repositioning. Great patience and muscle needed. Unlike conventional speakers, 1000X (2nd order X'over sealed box) has to be placed closer to a solid front wall, no toe-in.
{2} Yamaha B2 generates lots of heat. To protect and prolong the VFET lifespan (great pity not replaceable), suction fans are placed on top of B2 casing and ON after 30 mins into operation.
Editor's Postscripts: [1] Both rated at 90 db, the lower 6 ohm rated impedance of NS1000X is certainly less benign than the 8 ohm of the NS1000M. That said, the 20 wpc of the NAD is marginal even for the NS1000M, though the synergy is surprising indeed, as I had enjoyed this combo in a smallish space for 6 years; [2] Luxman usually sounds softish; never consider their preamps - no dynamics; [3] actually, I think few use the preamp section only. I am one who had praised it, as did my friend Hoi. That said, the standalone 1020, which is basically the same, does have a good reputation; [4] your results can be used to argue by some that a passive preamp will work just as well, if not better, though I don't think so. The B2 is likely of high input sensitivity, which is why it does not work well with the high gain SP-10 (a whopping 26 db just for linestage) initially. Then, there is the issue of the volume knob of the preamp, which at low settings besides not tracking stereo linearly often does not sound so good. It should be noted that many preamps, including the ARC SP-11 (but not the SP-10) have both Level and Gain controls, allowing one to finely tailor. That said, when 2 components both have volume knobs, it always pays to experiment with settings; [5] I doubt it. Certainly Krell has never made an outstanding preamp.
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