Yamaha HX-10000 phonostage, any views?

Correction. The vintage Yamaha phono stage I did hear extensively is the C2, not the C1.  Apparently the C1 is an integrated amplifier in their same high end product line.

The Pioneer Exclusive C7 I was thinking could be won for approx' £300 was sold in auction for £1600.  Hey Ho, back to the Nicely Figured Walnut Side Panels with Polished Brass Top Face for the Pre Amp's casing. 

Yamaha C1 and C2 (and C2x) are complete preamplifiers. Yamaha hardly released any separate phono stages.

The Exclusive C-7 would have been a bargain buy at 1600 UK pounds.

Lew the names of three who had/have HX-10000 I can recall are 808 State and imfree and Mark B.  Correction Mark B has the rest of the Centennial collection but not the HX. There could be a couple more. You’ll need to join AudioKarma and ask them yourself. I was just pointing out where the information can be found from the horse’s mouth. Not relaying from the horse.

Also 'Dark' is relative to what one is comparing it to/ running it with.

Since my 845 Mono's have been converted to Balanced and the impression made being more than anticipated for the better, I took on a new interest in what the Pre' Amp Design should be able to do for my purposes.

I now have all the Parts for a earlier Pre Amp Design that is to be a Dual Mono Balanced Design and have added to the options to experience an alternate take on a Pre Amp' Design as a Dual Mono Design to be both Single Ended and work with the Balanced Power Amp's.

The alternate design for a Pre Amp' is my conception given to an individual with over 40 years experience of a career being a designer / builder of Valve and Solid State Devices. The shaping of my conceptual thoughts by this individual has been extremely interesting.

As a Tease I already have in use a Prototype Single Box version of the SS Section for the Pre, which is becoming quite addictive to experience. Other Pre's both SS and Valve that have been used in comparison to the prototype, off which all have been quite attractive in use, have not been able to maintain the role as the Pre' that most impresses. They have been swapped out to return to use of the Prototype,  .

The BOM for both Amps is close to £1500 +/- £250 - £500 for Valves and +/- £400 - £500 for the Chassis. Design Charge and Labour Charges are yet to be added. 

I would have had one built as a Single Box using the C7 Chassis with modifications, if I won it at close to £300.