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| SHARP VZ-3500 Linear TT / Cassette Boombox (speakers not shown) |
Spring is here and with it comes spring cleaning and fresh starts. Why not freshen up your sound system? I have been delighted to spruce up a variety of integrated amps and other stereo equipment for some people lately. In almost all cases the problems have turned out to be minor and fully addressable. Here are a few examples that required next to nothing in parts cost (one TT motor, a 12V bulb, some LEDs) and minimal labour. All of these units were brought back to fully working condition for less that $100, often much less.
NIKKO ND100W Cassette deck - high frequency noise on playback
- cleaned internal record switch. Bias oscillator signal was leaking into playback.
MACKIE 1202-MZ Mini Mixer - unreliable
- full cleaning including master send select buttons (causing intermittent drop-outs)
TECHNICS SL 1400 Direct Drive Turntable - left channel dead
- New RCA installed
CEC HD53 Headphone Amp - erratic left channel
- Cleaned and reseated all ICs
ROTEL RX 602 and 202 - erratic, noisy, dropouts
- full cleaning of all pots and switches
LUXMAN L-410 - condition unknown, pulled from extended storage
- full cleaning and testing of all INS/OUTs
LUXMAN M-02 Power Amp - distortion at all volumes, VU backlights dead
- cracked/dry solder in driver stage and protection relays repaired.
- LEDs to replace VU backlights.
- full cleaning of all pots and switches.
LUXMAN C-02 Pre-Amp - erratic, noisy
- full cleaning of all pots and switches
HARMON KARDON hk330 VI Receiver - LCD screen dead, volume knob loose
- new 12V mini-bulb for LCD backlight, tighten volume pot
HARMON KARDON 430 - no output right channel, turner dial broken, bulbs out
- right channel speaker protection fuse blown. Cleaned selector switch and tested for safe operation (expected output levels, low DC offset). Repaired tuner assembly. Replaced fuse-style bulbs with LED equivalents.
MARANTZ 2235 Receiver - no output, bulbs out
- cleaned speaker protection relays, replaced fuse-style bulbs with LEDs.
TECHNICS SLBD 20D Turntable - too slow (progressively slower after exteded use)
- Confirmed defect of DC servo motor, replaced. Strobe calibrated, confirmed working.
SHARP VZ-3500 Linear Turntable Boombox - not working at all
- cleaned degraded belt from TT assembly, replaced belt. Replaced Linear Motor belt.
- cleaned all pots and switches. TT, tape and radio working again.
CASIO CZ-3000 - two broken keys
- repaired keys, full cleaning and testing.
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