Yamaha CR-2040 Natural Sound Stereo Receiver Professionally Serviced & Tested

Yamaha CR-2040 Natural Sound Stereo Receiver — 120 WPC — Original Components — Professionally Serviced & Tested

Offered here is a beautiful example of Yamaha's formidable CR-2040 Natural Sound stereo receiver, one of the final heavyweight receivers of the great 1970s "receiver wars" and one of Yamaha's most ambitious designs of the period.

Introduced in 1979, the CR-2040 occupied the upper reaches of Yamaha's receiver line and combined very substantial power with the low-distortion, wide-bandwidth engineering for which the company's Natural Sound components became famous. Yamaha rated the CR-2040 at 120 watts per channel into 8 ohms, both channels driven from 20 Hz–20 kHz, at no more than 0.02% THD. The original specifications also give an unusually wide 5 Hz–100 kHz frequency response.

And those figures were decidedly conservative. In a contemporary laboratory evaluation, the CR-2040 produced approximately 140 watts at 20 Hz, 145 watts at 1 kHz, and 135 watts at 20 kHz before reaching its rated 0.02% distortion, while THD at the specified 120-watt output measured only 0.0029% at 1 kHz. The reviewer observed that the receiver could reasonably have carried a considerably higher FTC power rating.

The CR-2040 is also much more sophisticated than a simple high-powered receiver. Its elaborate preamplifier provides separate bass, presence and treble controls, Yamaha's continuously variable loudness control, selectable low- and high-frequency filtering, dual tape facilities, an external processor/adaptor loop, dual headphone outputs and connections for two speaker systems. Its phono section accommodates both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges, with selectable phono loading—an unusually serious provision even among upper-tier receivers of the period.

The FM section received similarly serious attention, incorporating Yamaha's automatic DX/local bandwidth selection, Auto Blend circuitry and automatic pilot-signal cancellation. The result was a receiver intended not merely to win the late-'70s horsepower contest, but to function as a genuinely sophisticated control center for a substantial hi-fi system.

Our CR-2040

This particular receiver remains electronically original, with its original components intact. Rather than replacing parts indiscriminately, it was recently evaluated and serviced by the lead technician at Village Vinyl & Hi-Fi.

All controls and switches were thoroughly cleaned, flushed and exercised, and the amplifier's bias and DC offset were checked and properly set. All functions were then tested and passed during approximately eight hours of continuous play, with the receiver performing exactly as expected throughout.

Cosmetically, this is a very handsome and highly presentable survivor. The brushed-aluminum faceplate presents beautifully, the lettering and control markings remain crisp, the knobs and switches are complete, and the characteristic illuminated dial and meter display is particularly striking in operation.

The dark wood cabinet retains an attractive deep grain and gloss, but it does show light signs age and use. We have deliberately photographed these areas closely and under revealing light rather than attempting to disguise them. There is also some minor age-related wear elsewhere consistent with a component approaching half a century old. Overall, however, the receiver presents extremely well from normal viewing distance.

The rear panel is clean and complete, and the underside is remarkably well preserved. An original Nippon Gakki inspection sticker, signed by the inspector, remains attached to the cabinet—an especially charming surviving bit of Yamaha manufacturing history.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description.

Specifications

• Type: AM/FM solid-state stereo receiver
• Production: circa 1979–1981
• Rated output: 120 watts per channel into 8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz
• Rated THD: ≤0.02%
• Frequency response: 5 Hz–100 kHz
• Damping factor: 40
• Phono inputs: Moving Magnet and Moving Coil
• Input sensitivity: 0.1 mV MC / 2.5 mV MM / 120 mV line
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 86 dB MC / 95 dB MM / 100 dB line
• Tuner: FM/AM
• U.S. power requirement: 120 VAC, 60 Hz

Factory and contemporary sources confirm the 120 WPC rating, extremely low distortion and the CR-2040's unusually extensive tuner and preamplifier facilities.

Shipping / Local Pickup

This is a large, heavy vintage receiver, and it will be insured for full value with Secursus and packed accordingly. We have extensive experience shipping valuable vintage audio equipment throughout the United States and internationally. The receiver will be very heavily protected, immobilized within the carton and packed with substantial cushioning appropriate to its weight.

Worldwide shipping is available. International buyers are welcome; please contact us with your complete destination information if a shipping quotation is required. Any import duties, taxes or customs charges imposed by the destination country are the buyer's responsibility.

Local pickup is also welcome for buyers who would prefer to collect this substantial Yamaha in person.