Yamaha CD-2000 CD-player Review

Yamaha’s highly flexible new top-of-the-line CD player, the CD-2000, includes such deluxe features as direct numerical track access, programmable playback of tracks in any sequence, music search, repeat operation, and “phrase” repeat of any defined portion of a program. Among its other features are dual gold-plated output jacks carrying fixed and variable signal levels and a DIN connector that provides subcode outputs for compatibility with future accessories that will allow still video images or other visual information to be extracted from a suitable CD and displayed on a video monitor.

The basic playback operations are controlled by a row of black keys along the bottom of the front panel. These include fast forward and reverse search with the program audible, track skipping in forward or reverse directions, and an index key that displays the current index number (when applicable). The CD-2000 does not, however, allow the programming of indexed portions of a disc. A space insert control adds 3-second quiet intervals between the tracks during playback.

The display window initially shows whether there is a disc in the horizontal front-loading drawer and, if so, its total number of tracks and total playing time. After playing has commenced, it shows the current track number and elapsed playing time in the track, the status of the repeat and space insert buttons, and the setting of the volume control (which affects both the rear-panel variable outputs and the front-panel headphone jack).

A total of twelve selections can be programmed, and the CANCEL button can be used to correct any errors in entering the program. Repeated operation of the check button displays the programmed track numbers in order, and pressing the remain time button converts the time display from the elapsed time in the current track to the remaining time on the entire disc or in the programmed sequence.

The Yamaha CD-2000 uses a three-beam laser pickup. The program is oversampled at 88.2 kHz, and independent left- and right-channel digital filters are used to remove the unwanted components above 20,000 Hz. Yamaha claims that conventional CD circuits are microphonic and that even the digital integrated circuits are affected by noise and vibration that impinges on the structure of the player. Therefore, in addition to isolation of the disc drive and laser mechanisms from external vibration, the CD-2000 uses a Vibration Damping circuit assembly that is said to give it a purer output than the usual construction methods.

The Yamaha CD-2000 is 17-1/8 inches wide, 11-1/2 inches deep, and 4 inches high, and it weighs about 11-1/2 pounds. It is furnished with a wireless remote controller that duplicates most of the front-panel controls, including the volume adjustment, index button, and even the drawer open/close control. Price: $799.

Lab Tests

The output level from the fixed outputs of the CD-2000 was 2.06 volts from a maximum-level (0-dB) recorded test signal. The maximum output from the variable outputs was 5.15 volts, and it could be reduced to unmeasurable levels by the volume control. The volume changes were smooth, unlike typical digital control systems, since the level is actually varied by a motor-driven analog potentiometer. The channel levels were matched within about 0.15 dB. The frequency response of the CD-2000 was among the flattest we have measured, varying only about ± 0.1 dB from 20 to 20,000 Hz. Since the player uses separate digital filters for its two channels, we were surprised to find an interchannel phase shift (measured at the fixed-level outputs), which ranged from 2 to 10 degrees up to 5,000 Hz and increased to about 20 degrees at 10,000 Hz and 36 degrees at 20,000 Hz. This amount of phase shift is entirely negligible, however.

The error correction of the Yamaha CD-2000 was excellent. There was no evidence of loss of tracking at any defect level of the Philips TS4A calibrated test disc. The laser pickup moved from Track 1 to Track 15 of the Philips TS4 disc in only 2.5 seconds. The transition from Track 17 to Track 18 of that disc, which are not separated by a silent interval, was perfect, with no clipping of the opening syllable of Track 18. The player’s resistance to external shock was quite good. Although hard knuckle raps on its top caused occasional backward skipping along the disc, it seemed to suffer no ill effects from side blows.

Comments

Almost all CD players today do an excellent job of extracting the music from the discs, and such differences as have been noted by various critics are certainly exceedingly minor. Although we cannot say that the Yamaha CD-2000 sounded any different to us than others we have used, we could not fail to be impressed by its smooth and flawless operation. In sharp contrast to some of the first-generation CD players (only three years ago!), the CD-2000 is easy to use—virtually self-explanatory. Even without an instruction manual for our test sample, we had no difficulty using its many features. The full-function remote control was also much appreciated.

We have often wished that CD players had output-level controls, if only so that their levels could be matched to those of other program sources used in the system. We have seen only a couple of players that have this feature, and Yamaha’s analog control is a clear winner as far as we are concerned. In addition, the availability of a smoothly controlled audio level with a healthy 5-volt maximum output makes the CD-2000 ideal for driving any power amplifier directly, without an intervening preamplifier.

We remain unconvinced about the importance of “microphonic” circuits in degrading CD sound. For one thing, we have never heard any evidence of such degradation. Although Yamaha’s literature shows some impressive spectrum-analyzer photos of the effects of microphonics in CD circuits, there is no indication of their magnitude. It certainly cannot hurt, however, to remove even this minute flaw (if it exists) from a music system.

Nit-picking aside, we liked the Yamaha CD-2000 very much and can honestly say we have never used a better CD player—or, indeed, one we would choose in preference to it if such a choice became necessary. It definitely embodies the Yamaha tradition of quality, and if it has any weaknesses, we did not find them.

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