Question for using Yamaha rs700 as preamp

[Jmontejano]

Hi. I have recently purchased a new Cambridge AXRS85 replacing my Yamaha RS700. The Cambridge sounds great, but I don't want to throw away the Yamaha. If I use the Yamaha as preamp for the Cambridge, would the sound be improved ?

Thanks !

 

[BMXTRIX]

IMO, I'm not sure if you get one bit of better sound from the Cambridge in the first place, but if you are happy with it, then using the Yamaha as the preamp would get rid of pretty much everything that you enjoy about the Cambridge. Move the Yamaha on to someone else or into another room.

 

[Jmontejano]

O God! What did I do! Both sonds great., but yes, they are preety much the same. I thought the toroidal transformer on the Cambridge would make a diffrence, but I think they sound preety simlar.

 

[lovinthehd]

The type of transformer means only so much. It's more about design and execution rather than type....nothing wrong with a good EI transformer. Lots of good info in this thread https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ei-transformers-vs-toroidal-transformers.18586/

 

[BMXTRIX]

O God! What did I do! Both sonds great., but yes, they are preety much the same. I thought the toroidal transformer on the Cambridge would make a diffrence, but I think they sound preety simlar.

I think you will find that the general consensus is that if you have money to spend, it should go towards better speakers or room acoustics if you have reasonable quality everywhere else.

I remember going from a entry level Kenwood receiver to a very nice Yamaha (years ago) and in the meantime I switched from the HTiB Kenwood speakers to some decent DefTech speakers. I was blown away by how much better the DefTech speakers were. I was less than impressed with the jump in quality at normal listening levels when I went to the top of the line Yamaha vs. the entry level Kenwood. It was pretty crazy how much more the speakers matter.

 

[PENG]

O God! What did I do! Both sonds great., but yes, they are preety much the same. I thought the toroidal transformer on the Cambridge would make a diffrence, but I think they sound preety simlar.

Don't feel bad, lots of people got talked into buying something that they don't need by some very skillful sales reps.

The fact is, your R-S700, as a stereo receiver that can also function as a preamp or power amp is rare nowadays. I just downloaded the manuals of both and found the R-S700 has far superior audio specs and is more powerful than the ASRS85. Both should be transparent but at high level listening the Yamaha should do better because of its higher output and much lower distortions over the range of 20-20,000 Hz range.

That's 0.019% vs 0.15% and 100 W vs 68 W, wow!! If you can still return the ASRS85, use the funds to upgrade something else that matters such as a low cost external dac so that you can play digital sources.

Good thing you did not throw this gem away..

Take a look of a partial spec comparison:

R-S700

To feel even better about your treasure, just read what the doctor said:

Integrated Amps in the $500 price range? - HomeTheaterHifi.com

 

[PENG]

O God! What did I do! Both sonds great., but yes, they are preety much the same. I thought the toroidal transformer on the Cambridge would make a diffrence, but I think they sound preety simlar.

You really have come to the right place for more accurate info (well, most of the time I hope..).
To add to HD's, be aware that there are many very low cost amps that use toroidal transformer, and also many so called high end amps including Luxman, McIntosh amps that use non toroidal transformers.

Another informative article on this:
SoundStage! Max dB - The High-End Mythology of the Toroidal Power Transformer (07/1998) (soundstagenetwork.com)

It is unfortunate that even highly knowledgeable EEs might have inadvertently misled the public to believe toroidals are always better (often enough that could be the case) for audio devices.