What happened to Yamaha electronics?

Some models could be discontinued for an updated model possibly, especially the sacd players.

Their more affordable integrateds always sold like hot cakes.

Even the niche high end models like the C5000, M5000 stack, etc  (not cheap by avg hifi standards) has steady sales. They’ve always had the lions share of the musician market i.e the ones among them with some cash. Musician dudes don’t show up on hifi forums to sing praise...they are quiet customers.

I had an all Yamaha mid-fi system around 1988, cold and sterile comes to mind.  No body to the music.  When I say mid-fi, I am talking an (all Yamaha) integrated amp, tuner, and cd player.  I was using Boston Acoustics speakers (their most expensive floor standing speakers) and a Nakamichi cassette deck.  I hated it but my friend loved it and bought the entire system.  Moved on to Adcom separates and Vandersteen 2ci speakers.  Then the continuous upgrade path began.

I never got the love for Yammie. Below the line, AFAIC.

I have and use an RX-Z9 RECEIVER bought new for $4,050 in 2003, the first year they had a 10% off sale.

This unit now has over 35,000 hours on it and still functions as new!  I’ve actually worn out the first remote.

The unit operates in Class A/B and can peak at 540 WPC.  (Must be heavily into Class A because it gets real hot when there is no/little signal.)

For music (Oppo-95 ) I run it in "Pure Direct" mode which by-passes everything but the volume control and turns off the digital circuitry.  I’ve run it with an open load all the way to a dead short and never has it failed.

Take the name tags off do spec sheet and build quality / parts review. Many models will significantly surpass theirs and other pay grades. Example, a Tube sound preference might go to an Audio reference 160s, but nothing else on that spec sheet would come anywhere close to the Yamaha Mx-10000. Yes it was a limited production that said it was also 1987 vintage.