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#1
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a
couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Readily Visible wrote:
I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa |
#4
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Arfa Daily" wrote in message
... "mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa The OP just got through saying he had narrowed the problem to the main amp section... Granted the controls and switches should be cleaned on general principles, but inn this case I'd strongly suspect tarnished or pitted speaker relay contacts. A knowledgeable tech can usually revive these safely; a DIY attempt may just ruin the relay. The speaker select switch(s) should be cleaned as well. Mark Z. |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. The most common affliction older gear like yours gets is oxidized switches and pots in the signal path. Over time oxidation builds up on the contact surfaces of switches and pots (and relays), especially switches and pots which are rarely used (hence the tip about the tape monitor switch(es)). The oxidation is an insulative layer which resists the flow of current. When the contacts stop conducting, a voltage differential is set up across the contacts. By increasing the volume, you are increasing the voltage differential. When it gets big enough, the signal will arc and blast a tiny hole through the oxidation and you'll hear sound again... for awhile. If you'd like to clean it up yourself, it ain't rocket science. For tools all you'll need is a screwdriver to open up the receiver. You'll also need an aerosol can of contact cleaner such as Caig DeOxit and an aerosol can of cleaner/lubricant such as Faderlube (might be called "tuner spray"). You can buy these, or something like them, at any electronics store including Radio Shack. Unplug the unit and take off the cover. I haven't done a lot of work on Pioneers so I'm not sure how accessible the front-panel switches and knobs are, but you may need to take off the knobs and faceplate... hopefully not as sometimes these are a real pain to get apart/together. Use the DeOxit first. Use the thin straw that comes with the can to apply the cleaner INSIDE each switch and pot (knob)... you need to do ALL of them. Volume/balance/bass/treble/loudness/high-cut filter/low-cut filter/tape monitors/speaker selector/tone defeat/turnover frequency switches and any others you find. Each control should have one or more small holes through which you can spray the cleaner. Remember, soaking the outside will do no good, it's gotta get inside the control. After a good squirt, operate each control 50 times. Don't cheat. You're scrubbing away the oxidation. Allow the unit to dry out overnight. Now repeat the process with the Faderlube. Faderlube containes a solvent and a lubricant which coats the innards of the controls and keeps them from immediately re-oxidizing. After letting it dry out overnight again, give it a try. If the problem persists, you may try cleaning the contacts in your speaker protection relay, or just replacing the relay... they're cheap and available. Most relays of that era have a plastic removable cover... it may take some fiddling to figure out how it comes off. The relay will be located near the back of the unit and will likely be about 1" x 3/4" in size. The relay contains gossamer thin copper arms with a contact at the ends... they're very easy to bend or break so be very careful. You can use a fine emery board or a points file to clean up the contact surfaces. I find that if I put the emery board between the contacts, I can GENTLY push them closed while pulling the board out. If none of this works, get a bright light and a magnifying glass and start looking at solder joints... it's tedious but must be done. Start around the speaker terminals and pay close attention to any joints which are subjected to any mechanical forces at all. If you happen to have an oscilloscope and a schematic for the unit, you can probably save yourself some time as this appears to be a very reproducible problem. Apply a sine wave to the input and start probing at the output working backwards until you find the problem component(s). |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Mark Zacharias wrote:
"Arfa Daily" wrote in message ... "mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa The OP just got through saying he had narrowed the problem to the main amp section... Granted the controls and switches should be cleaned on general principles, but inn this case I'd strongly suspect tarnished or pitted speaker relay contacts. A knowledgeable tech can usually revive these safely; a DIY attempt may just ruin the relay. The speaker select switch(s) should be cleaned as well. Mark Z. Thanks for the careful reading, Mark. I hadn't even considered the speaker relays. If that *is* the problem, I should be able to confirm with a simple continuity test when the condition prevails. Power down and test the left side for continuity. But upon further thought, the fact that the condition persists through a power down and power up cycle makes me doubtful that it is the relay, which physically opens and closes during power down/up. Also, the fact that the sound does not cut out immediately, but fades over a period of a second or two would definitely rule out the speaker relay. Plus the fact that when the volume is turned way up, the bad channel can be heard faintly. What intrigues me about this problem is that the I can cause the channel to kick back in by turning up the volume with the speakers muted. That indicates that the problem can be overcome by merely increasing the voltages to the amp circuit by way of increasing the volume, without the flow of current through the circuit. What is interesting is what is happening as I type! The volume is fading out more slowly now, over a period of 3 or 4 seconds and then fading back in. It did it twice since beginning to type about what intrigues me. Now it just faded back in over a period of about 15 to 20 seconds! Real time troubleshooting... now it's playing okay. One of the fade-outs was so gradual that I thought it was part of the music on the jazz station, but then it faded back in just as gradually and the same song was playing. It did that long fade out/in twice. Still playing okay, but those fade-outs and fade-ins were unmistakably long and drawn out. Now it occurs to me that it might have been the station fading in and out for some reason. I have the receiver set to mono and the balance set all the way to the left channel so I can monitor it while hearing both channels of music. I don't know what was happening with the right channel during those drawn out fades. But, as I now recall, I have noticed this same behavior once before with the CD player driving the unit. Now the left channel has done a quick fade out. I will wait to see if if it revives on it's own. Ten minutes and the channel is still out. Turning the volume up a bit past half way kicked it back in. It then kicked out more three times in well within a minute and kicked back in when the volume was turned up to the same point, just a bit past halfway. It seems to be cutting out more frequently after about 30 to 45 minutes of playing. The last time the cut out was abrupt, as if a switch were opened. Time to put it on the desk and bust the case open. |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
On May 25, 1:08*pm, Readily Visible wrote:
Mark Zacharias wrote: "Arfa Daily" wrote in message ... "mark" wrote in .... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks * * * * Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends .... Arfa The OP just got through saying he had narrowed the problem to the main amp section... Granted the controls and switches should be cleaned on general principles, but inn this case I'd strongly suspect tarnished or pitted speaker relay contacts. A knowledgeable tech can usually revive these safely; a DIY attempt may just ruin the relay. The speaker select switch(s) should be cleaned as well. Mark Z. Thanks for the careful reading, Mark. I hadn't even considered the speaker relays. If that *is* the problem, I should be able to confirm with a simple continuity test when the condition prevails. Power down and test the left side for continuity. But upon further thought, the fact that the condition persists through a power down and power up cycle makes me doubtful that it is the relay, which physically opens and closes during power down/up. Also, the fact that the sound does not cut out immediately, but fades over a period of a second or two would definitely rule out the speaker relay. Plus the fact that when the volume is turned way up, the bad channel can be heard faintly. What intrigues me about this problem is that the I can cause the channel to kick back in by turning up the volume with the speakers muted. That indicates that the problem can be overcome by merely increasing the voltages to the amp circuit by way of increasing the volume, without the flow of current through the circuit. What is interesting is what is happening as I type! The volume is fading out more slowly now, over a period of 3 or 4 seconds and then fading back in. It did it twice since beginning to type about what intrigues me. Now it just faded back in over a period of about 15 to 20 seconds! Real time troubleshooting... now it's playing okay. One of the fade-outs was so gradual that I thought it was part of the music on the jazz station, but then it faded back in just as gradually and the same song was playing. It did that long fade out/in twice. Still playing okay, but those fade-outs and fade-ins were unmistakably long and drawn out. Now it occurs to me that it might have been the station fading in and out for some reason. I have the receiver set to mono and the balance set all the way to the left channel so I can monitor it while hearing both channels of music. I don't know what was happening with the right channel during those drawn out fades. But, as I now recall, I have noticed this same behavior once before with the CD player driving the unit. Now the left channel has done a quick fade out. I will wait to see if if it revives on it's own. Ten minutes and the channel is still out. Turning the volume up a bit past half way kicked it back in. It then kicked out more three times in well within a minute and kicked back in when the volume was turned up to the same point, just a bit past halfway. It seems to be cutting out more frequently after about 30 to 45 minutes of playing. The last time the cut out was abrupt, as if a switch were opened. Time to put it on the desk and bust the case open.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - Bad FET's were a problem with some of the older receivers too. Sometimes a can of cold spray used in small areas at a time can reveal much. Then reheating the suspect component with a soldering iron can help nail down the culprit. But a word of caurtion here. Don't overheat. Lenny |
#8
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
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#9
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
On Sun, 24 May 2009 22:16:40 -0700, Readily Visible
wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks I can think of a number of possible causes, but it should be possible to run down the problem without any sophisticated test equipment. Yes, a signal generator and scope would make it a trivial problem. The schematic / service manual seems to be available free he http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/pioneer/sx-838.shtml (registration required). I'd suggest setting the volume at a moderate level and measuring the AC signal level at various points in the signal path, comparing the levels at right and left channels. Use a mono source. You might get exceptionally lucky and discover the signal pops back in when you probe a particular point. PlainBill |
#11
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... Now, how to identify the FET's as opposed to generic transistors... a quick google image search for 'fet' returns several schematics. The symbol for FET's look different than the symbol for what I refer to as 'generic transistors'. I don't see any FET symbols in the amp section of the schematics for the SX-838, however. Could the schematics from this period use the round transistor symbol for FET's rather than the squarish looking symbol? FET part numbers will start with 2SK (N-channel) or 2SJ (P-channel) as opposed to BJT's which are more likely start with 2SA, 2SB, 2SC or 2SD. Note that the "2S" is often omitted on the transistor due to space constraints. |
#12
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Dave wrote:
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. The most common affliction older gear like yours gets is oxidized switches and pots in the signal path. Over time oxidation builds up on the contact surfaces of switches and pots (and relays), especially switches and pots which are rarely used (hence the tip about the tape monitor switch(es)). I understand. But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? The left channel is out at the moment and operating the tape monitor switches does nothing to bring it back. But turning up the volume to just past halfway *always* brings it back. The oxidation is an insulative layer which resists the flow of current. When the contacts stop conducting, a voltage differential is set up across the contacts. By increasing the volume, you are increasing the voltage differential. When it gets big enough, the signal will arc and blast a tiny hole through the oxidation and you'll hear sound again... for awhile. If you'd like to clean it up yourself, it ain't rocket science. For tools all you'll need is a screwdriver to open up the receiver. You'll also need an aerosol can of contact cleaner such as Caig DeOxit and an aerosol can of cleaner/lubricant such as Faderlube (might be called "tuner spray"). I've done that in spades in the past, except for the Faderlube, with no improvement. And again, I hate to belabor the point, but it seems certain that the volume pot is not the problem since the problem channel does not switch from left to right when I switch the left and right preamp outputs and main amp inputs in the back of the unit so that the right preamp circuit drives the left main amp circuit and the left preamp circuit drives the right main amp circuit. If a faulty volume pot were the problem, the faulty channel would change from left to right when I do this. But it doesn't. You can buy these, or something like them, at any electronics store including Radio Shack. Unplug the unit and take off the cover. I haven't done a lot of work on Pioneers so I'm not sure how accessible the front-panel switches and knobs are, but you may need to take off the knobs and faceplate... hopefully not as sometimes these are a real pain to get apart/together. Not a problem. I've done it already. I have also hot soldered all the cold soldered joints just to rule that out. Must have been 150-200 of them, if not more. Got them all. Use the DeOxit first. Use the thin straw that comes with the can to apply the cleaner INSIDE each switch and pot (knob)... you need to do ALL of them. Volume/balance/bass/treble/loudness/high-cut filter/low-cut filter/tape monitors/speaker selector/tone defeat/turnover frequency switches and any others you find. Each control should have one or more small holes through which you can spray the cleaner. Remember, soaking the outside will do no good, it's gotta get inside the control. After a good squirt, operate each control 50 times. Don't cheat. You're scrubbing away the oxidation. Allow the unit to dry out overnight. Now repeat the process with the Faderlube. Faderlube containes a solvent and a lubricant which coats the innards of the controls and keeps them from immediately re-oxidizing. After letting it dry out overnight again, give it a try. If the problem persists, you may try cleaning the contacts in your speaker protection relay, or just replacing the relay... they're cheap and available. Most relays of that era have a plastic removable cover... it may take some fiddling to figure out how it comes off. The relay will be located near the back of the unit and will likely be about 1" x 3/4" in size. The relay contains gossamer thin copper arms with a contact at the ends... they're very easy to bend or break so be very careful. You can use a fine emery board or a points file to clean up the contact surfaces. I find that if I put the emery board between the contacts, I can GENTLY push them closed while pulling the board out. If none of this works, get a bright light and a magnifying glass and start looking at solder joints... it's tedious but must be done. Start around the speaker terminals and pay close attention to any joints which are subjected to any mechanical forces at all. If you happen to have an oscilloscope and a schematic for the unit, you can probably save yourself some time as this appears to be a very reproducible problem. Apply a sine wave to the input and start probing at the output working backwards until you find the problem component(s). I cannot stress enough two things: 1. Switching the right and left preamp outputs with the right and left main amp inputs does *not* change the problem channel. It remains the left channel that drops out. 2. The dropout is not always instantaneous. Sometimes, it fades out and fades in. Sometimes in goes out instantaneously and does not come back. It occurs to me as I type this that this could very well be two different problems. I will pop the top and check the relay. If it proves difficult to open up the speaker relay, I could easily shunt around it for the left channel just to rule it in or out before busting in to it. |
#13
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
wrote:
On Sun, 24 May 2009 22:16:40 -0700, Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks I can think of a number of possible causes, but it should be possible to run down the problem without any sophisticated test equipment. Yes, a signal generator and scope would make it a trivial problem. The schematic / service manual seems to be available free he http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/pioneer/sx-838.shtml (registration required). I'd suggest setting the volume at a moderate level and measuring the AC signal level at various points in the signal path, comparing the levels at right and left channels. Use a mono source. You might get exceptionally lucky and discover the signal pops back in when you probe a particular point. PlainBill Excellent link, Bill, thank you! I have the schematics but not the service manual. I am preparing to bust open the case again. |
#14
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be
the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? Ah-yup. |
#15
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
William Sommerwerck wrote:
But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? Ah-yup. There it is, then. Absolutely confirmation :-) I have the unit on it's side now with the top and bottom removed. I popped the top off the speaker relay and carefully cleaned the contacts with a strip of 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper and the unit is playing through some test speakers in mono mode with the balance all the way to the left. Usually the left channel will cut out within 15 to 30 minutes. Needless to say, it would be *great* if that turns out to be the problem... or at least *one* of the problems: the cutting out and staying out until the volume is turn up just past halfway. The fading in and out over a period of ten 10 to 15 seconds is obviously something else altogether. |
#16
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Readily Visible" wrote in message
... wrote: On Sun, 24 May 2009 22:16:40 -0700, Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks I can think of a number of possible causes, but it should be possible to run down the problem without any sophisticated test equipment. Yes, a signal generator and scope would make it a trivial problem. The schematic / service manual seems to be available free he http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/pioneer/sx-838.shtml (registration required). I'd suggest setting the volume at a moderate level and measuring the AC signal level at various points in the signal path, comparing the levels at right and left channels. Use a mono source. You might get exceptionally lucky and discover the signal pops back in when you probe a particular point. PlainBill Excellent link, Bill, thank you! I have the schematics but not the service manual. I am preparing to bust open the case again. You've shown a good thought process in diagnosing the problem area. I agree with you that the most likely suspect is the power amp section. Now to get into the circuit. If you have the schematic and a couple of good multimeters, it's time to use them. Open the unit to the point that you can easily probe the power amp circuit board and the output transistors. And yes, they are plain old BJTs (not FETs). Play the unit until the left channel dies. While it's still powered up, check the voltages around all the transistors on the power amp board (as well as the power transistors for the left channel. Use the voltages around the working right channel as a reference when the voltages aren't present on the schematic. Since this is a DC coupled circuit, it might be a little tricky to identify the bad guy immediately, but with a bit of logic and transistor theory, it can be done. You will probably see a significant discrepancy somewhere in the signal chain. If you have trouble sorting out the measurements and what they mean, write them down and post them back here. Some very good techs here can help. I've seen transistors become intermittent. That is, they work for a while and then for no apparent reason, they die. This could be due to one of the bonding wires inside the transistor being broken away from the silicon die or the transistor lead. Sometimes, a physical shock such as a tap with a dowel or screwdriver handle will make it act up. Other times, when the transistor heats up from use, the bonding wire will separate. Since the audio dies slowly (as opposed to suddenly), the problem has the bookmarks of a heat-related problem. As has been suggested, a very *quick* blast of circuit cooler can be very helpful. Be aware of the *quick* blast here. The most common mistake in using circuit cooler spray is the tendency to freeze the components to the point that ice forms on them. A one-second (or less) blast is all that's needed to cool a small component such as a small transistor, diode, resistor, etc. Focus the spray on a single component at a time, so you can easily identify it if the channel immediately starts working again. Hth, -- Dave M masondg44 at comcast dot net One good thing about Alzheimer's; you get to meet new people every day. |
#17
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Dave wrote:
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... Now, how to identify the FET's as opposed to generic transistors... a quick google image search for 'fet' returns several schematics. The symbol for FET's look different than the symbol for what I refer to as 'generic transistors'. I don't see any FET symbols in the amp section of the schematics for the SX-838, however. Could the schematics from this period use the round transistor symbol for FET's rather than the squarish looking symbol? FET part numbers will start with 2SK (N-channel) or 2SJ (P-channel) as opposed to BJT's which are more likely start with 2SA, 2SB, 2SC or 2SD. Note that the "2S" is often omitted on the transistor due to space constraints. I downloaded the service manual and, according to the info you supplied, there are no FET's in the power amp section. I have the unit on it's end with the top and bottom removed. I buffed up the speaker relay contacts with some 600 grit sandpaper and so far, after 15 minutes of play, the left channel has no cut out. I'll leave it like this for at least 6 hours before concluding that the speaker relay was likely the problem. |
#18
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Mark Zacharias wrote:
"Arfa Daily" wrote in message ... "mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa The OP just got through saying he had narrowed the problem to the main amp section... Granted the controls and switches should be cleaned on general principles, but inn this case I'd strongly suspect tarnished or pitted speaker relay contacts. A knowledgeable tech can usually revive these safely; a DIY attempt may just ruin the relay. The speaker select switch(s) should be cleaned as well. Mark Z. Mark, I have the unit on its end on my desk with the top and bottom removed. I opened the relay and buffed the contacts with 600 grit sandpaper. After 20 minutes, so far, so good. I will let it play until I get back from a barbecue and if the left channel is still playing I will call it good and reassemble. |
#19
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Dave M wrote:
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... wrote: On Sun, 24 May 2009 22:16:40 -0700, Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks I can think of a number of possible causes, but it should be possible to run down the problem without any sophisticated test equipment. Yes, a signal generator and scope would make it a trivial problem. The schematic / service manual seems to be available free he http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/pioneer/sx-838.shtml (registration required). I'd suggest setting the volume at a moderate level and measuring the AC signal level at various points in the signal path, comparing the levels at right and left channels. Use a mono source. You might get exceptionally lucky and discover the signal pops back in when you probe a particular point. PlainBill Excellent link, Bill, thank you! I have the schematics but not the service manual. I am preparing to bust open the case again. You've shown a good thought process in diagnosing the problem area. I agree with you that the most likely suspect is the power amp section. Now to get into the circuit. If you have the schematic and a couple of good multimeters, it's time to use them. Open the unit to the point that you can easily probe the power amp circuit board and the output transistors. And yes, they are plain old BJTs (not FETs). Play the unit until the left channel dies. While it's still powered up, check the voltages around all the transistors on the power amp board (as well as the power transistors for the left channel. Use the voltages around the working right channel as a reference when the voltages aren't present on the schematic. Since this is a DC coupled circuit, it might be a little tricky to identify the bad guy immediately, but with a bit of logic and transistor theory, it can be done. You will probably see a significant discrepancy somewhere in the signal chain. If you have trouble sorting out the measurements and what they mean, write them down and post them back here. Some very good techs here can help. I've seen transistors become intermittent. That is, they work for a while and then for no apparent reason, they die. This could be due to one of the bonding wires inside the transistor being broken away from the silicon die or the transistor lead. Sometimes, a physical shock such as a tap with a dowel or screwdriver handle will make it act up. Other times, when the transistor heats up from use, the bonding wire will separate. Since the audio dies slowly (as opposed to suddenly), the problem has the bookmarks of a heat-related problem. As has been suggested, a very *quick* blast of circuit cooler can be very helpful. Be aware of the *quick* blast here. The most common mistake in using circuit cooler spray is the tendency to freeze the components to the point that ice forms on them. A one-second (or less) blast is all that's needed to cool a small component such as a small transistor, diode, resistor, etc. Focus the spray on a single component at a time, so you can easily identify it if the channel immediately starts working again. Hth, Dave, I am thoroughly impressed with all the help I am receiving here. Thank you all very much! Mark Z suggested checking the speaker relay for bad contacts. This made sense at first as it is on the downstream side of the preamp-amp connectors on the back and I have established that the problem is downstream from this point and the speaker relays are about as downstream os you can get. But then I realized that I remember the left channel quickly fading out in the past I jumped to the conclusion that a bad speaker contact would tend to cut out instantaneously. But of course, I can't say why exactly I arrived at that conclusion. At any rate, after cleaning the speaker relay contacts, the left channel has been playing for about 25 minutes without cutting out. If it *does* cut out again, I will follow your advice as far as I can as soon as I can get a can of freeze at the local electronics supply store. I will keep the group posted. Jack |
#20
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... I understand. But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? The left channel is out at the moment and operating the tape monitor switches does nothing to bring it back. But turning up the volume to just past halfway *always* brings it back. You are absolutely correct, I did not read your post clearly enough. If the problem stays with the amp when the channels are switched, it's definitely in the amp. Usually when transistors start to fail you get static, not the fading in/out you describe. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that cleaning the relay works... it can be a real pain to track down this type of fault. I have spent literally days working on a piece of equipment and it ends up being something I never even thought of. |
#21
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
On Mon, 25 May 2009 21:45:06 GMT, "Dave" wrote:
"Readily Visible" wrote in message . .. I understand. But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? The left channel is out at the moment and operating the tape monitor switches does nothing to bring it back. But turning up the volume to just past halfway *always* brings it back. You are absolutely correct, I did not read your post clearly enough. If the problem stays with the amp when the channels are switched, it's definitely in the amp. Usually when transistors start to fail you get static, not the fading in/out you describe. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that cleaning the relay works... it can be a real pain to track down this type of fault. I have spent literally days working on a piece of equipment and it ends up being something I never even thought of. One fact can't be beaten - it is always the last thing you try. d |
#22
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
I would not completely rule out the possibility of a bad speaker relay.
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#23
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Dave wrote:
"Readily Visible" wrote in message ... I understand. But doesn't the fact that the left channel continues to be the one that drops out when I switch the right channel preamp output to the left channel main amp input and same for the other two ins and outs at the back of the unit... doesn't this isolate the problem to the main amp section? The left channel is out at the moment and operating the tape monitor switches does nothing to bring it back. But turning up the volume to just past halfway *always* brings it back. You are absolutely correct, I did not read your post clearly enough. If the problem stays with the amp when the channels are switched, it's definitely in the amp. Usually when transistors start to fail you get static, not the fading in/out you describe. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that cleaning the relay works... it can be a real pain to track down this type of fault. I have spent literally days working on a piece of equipment and it ends up being something I never even thought of. It's been 6 hours now and the left channel appears to be fine. I think that was it! Your story of finding the solution in a place you never thought of looking reminds me of when my truck wouldn't start last week. The first thing I checked was the spark on my after market MSD Blaster ignition unit and I had spark all the way to the end of the plug wires so I figured it *had* to be the fuel. I spent two days tearing apart the carburetor four different times. In desperation I tried changing the MSD ignition back to the stock unit which was still in the truck and BAM! it started right up. I changed back to the MSD ignition and it had spark but no start. Changed back to the stock ignition and BAM! it started right up again. I chucked the MSD ignition. After all that aggravation with futilely tearing apart the carb in frustration, I guess I was due for an easy layup with the Pioneer. I guess I was tricked by the fading out and fading in into thinking it couldn't be the speaker relay. I have never been so happy to be wrong! |
#24
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
William Sommerwerck wrote:
I would not completely rule out the possibility of a bad speaker relay. That was the easiest thing to try so I tried it first and that seems to have done the trick. I used a small strip of 600 grit sandpaper to buff the contacts and the receiver has been playing for over 6 hours without dropping the left channel. Usually it would drop out after 15 to 30 minutes, guaranteed. |
#25
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Major Debacle" wrote in message
... After all that aggravation with futilely tearing apart the carb in frustration, I guess I was due for an easy layup with the Pioneer. I guess I was tricked by the fading out and fading in into thinking it couldn't be the speaker relay. I have never been so happy to be wrong! But next tiem you rip into the carb it will only take you 25% of the time! Ha ha, too bad you probably will never have to. I had a similar situation with my car last year, it turns out I had an extra fuel injector in the throttle body for cold starts which kept coming on when it shouldn't... that was a WHORE to track down, it took MONTHS of replacing suspect parts. Good news on the Pioneer though. Dirty controls and relays are, as I said from the git-go, by a factor of about 10X the most common ailment these old dogs have... oxidiation is unstoppable even in dry climates. The great thing about this group (and others like it) is that there is probably a combined 100 years of tech experience monitoring the posts at any given time... Dave |
#26
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
In article , Readily Visible wrote:
Dave M wrote: "Readily Visible" wrote in message ... wrote: On Sun, 24 May 2009 22:16:40 -0700, Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks I can think of a number of possible causes, but it should be possible to run down the problem without any sophisticated test equipment. Yes, a signal generator and scope would make it a trivial problem. The schematic / service manual seems to be available free he http://www.hifiengine.com/manuals/pioneer/sx-838.shtml (registration required). I'd suggest setting the volume at a moderate level and measuring the AC signal level at various points in the signal path, comparing the levels at right and left channels. Use a mono source. You might get exceptionally lucky and discover the signal pops back in when you probe a particular point. PlainBill Excellent link, Bill, thank you! I have the schematics but not the service manual. I am preparing to bust open the case again. You've shown a good thought process in diagnosing the problem area. I agree with you that the most likely suspect is the power amp section. Now to get into the circuit. If you have the schematic and a couple of good multimeters, it's time to use them. Open the unit to the point that you can easily probe the power amp circuit board and the output transistors. And yes, they are plain old BJTs (not FETs). Play the unit until the left channel dies. While it's still powered up, check the voltages around all the transistors on the power amp board (as well as the power transistors for the left channel. Use the voltages around the working right channel as a reference when the voltages aren't present on the schematic. Since this is a DC coupled circuit, it might be a little tricky to identify the bad guy immediately, but with a bit of logic and transistor theory, it can be done. You will probably see a significant discrepancy somewhere in the signal chain. If you have trouble sorting out the measurements and what they mean, write them down and post them back here. Some very good techs here can help. I've seen transistors become intermittent. That is, they work for a while and then for no apparent reason, they die. This could be due to one of the bonding wires inside the transistor being broken away from the silicon die or the transistor lead. Sometimes, a physical shock such as a tap with a dowel or screwdriver handle will make it act up. Other times, when the transistor heats up from use, the bonding wire will separate. Since the audio dies slowly (as opposed to suddenly), the problem has the bookmarks of a heat-related problem. As has been suggested, a very *quick* blast of circuit cooler can be very helpful. Be aware of the *quick* blast here. The most common mistake in using circuit cooler spray is the tendency to freeze the components to the point that ice forms on them. A one-second (or less) blast is all that's needed to cool a small component such as a small transistor, diode, resistor, etc. Focus the spray on a single component at a time, so you can easily identify it if the channel immediately starts working again. Hth, Dave, I am thoroughly impressed with all the help I am receiving here. Thank you all very much! Mark Z suggested checking the speaker relay for bad contacts. This made sense at first as it is on the downstream side of the preamp-amp connectors on the back and I have established that the problem is downstream from this point and the speaker relays are about as downstream os you can get. But then I realized that I remember the left channel quickly fading out in the past I jumped to the conclusion that a bad speaker contact would tend to cut out instantaneously. But of course, I can't say why exactly I arrived at that conclusion. At any rate, after cleaning the speaker relay contacts, the left channel has been playing for about 25 minutes without cutting out. If it *does* cut out again, I will follow your advice as far as I can as soon as I can get a can of freeze at the local electronics supply store. I will keep the group posted. I was quickly reading through the posts and I don't see Bang on IT. Thats a method I always use. Yesterday I was drilling some holes in the bathroom wall with an inpact drill, and I did have some reserve being some AC and other stuff in the wall, but off to the side. I was sweating and I go arounfd to the other side and find in horror the thermostat screen blanked out. I start sweating even more knowing the AC is off. I banged on it and installed new batteries. I was afraid the wires might be shorting and some thermostats get some power from the line. I finally ended up banging on it again, this time in the proper method aparently and it came back on. I don't know if I can trust this thing now. I think it reset to a default temp last night cause I set it to 69 F and found it 78 this morning. I got a back up thermostat to install. greg |
#27
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Arfa Daily wrote:
"mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa Been busy at what is for me the bread and butter work. I picked up a can of Super Cold 134 today and I am waiting for the left channel to bug out again. Yesterday, when I didn't have stuff, it was bugging out fairly regular. Poking at the main amp components didn't seem to have much effect at this point like it seemed to have earlier. I will post any significant developments. Jack |
#28
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Readily Visible wrote:
Arfa Daily wrote: "mark" wrote in message ... Readily Visible wrote: I came into possession of this beautiful old Pioneer SX-838 receiver a couple of years ago and I would like to fix this problem. After the unit has been playing for a half hour or so, irrespective of source, the left channel will drop out. When it drops out, it fades out over a period of a second or two. It does not cut out instantaneously. To isolate the problem I switched the preamp-to-main amp connections in the back so that the left preamp channel feeds the right main amp channel and vice versa. The left channel continued to drop out. This tells me that the problem is in the main amp section (speakers are *not* the problem). I was hoping that the problem was in the volume pot, this behavior seems to rule that out and points to the left channel of the main amp section. If I turn the volume up high enough the dropped channel can be heard faintly and if I turn it up even higher it will kick back in with a crackle and play okay for a while before dropping out again. To avoid blasting the volume out of the speakers when doing this I used the speaker button on the front to disconnect the speakers. This technique resurrects the channel as well as when I leave the speakers connected. This seems significant as turning the volume up past a certain point resurrects the channel whether or not current is flowing through the circuit. Apparently, the higher voltage applied to the circuit is enough to do the trick. When the channel drops out, I can power down the unit for 10 or 15 seconds and when I turn it on again the channel is still out. Can anyone suggest to me which type of component(s) might be causing this behavior, resistor, capacitor or semiconductor? I have the schematics and I don't see any coils. I don't suspect the power supply because both channels seem to be powered by the same circuitry and if one channel went out, both would go out. I don't have a scope or a signal generator for probing the circuit, just an analog and a digital meter. Any help appreciated. Thanks Push in the tape monitor switches when the problem occurs, tape monitor switches are a source of problems on a lot of old stereos they often need to be cleaned. Seconded. Next suspect after that has to be bad joints, particularly on any devices screwed to the heatsink. You can look for bad joints (and to some extent, dicky connectors) by pressing and tapping on the PCB with some kind of insulated rod - a piece of wood dowelling for instance. After that, a can of freezer spray, and a hair drier are your best friends ... Arfa Been busy at what is for me the bread and butter work. I picked up a can of Super Cold 134 today and I am waiting for the left channel to bug out again. Yesterday, when I didn't have stuff, it was bugging out fairly regular. Poking at the main amp components didn't seem to have much effect at this point like it seemed to have earlier. I will post any significant developments. Jack The left channel bugged out again and I double confirmed that it is *not* the speaker relay. I also double confirmed that switching right and left preamp outputs to left and right power amp inputs respectively *does not* change which channel drops out, confirming that the problem is downstream of these connections. Then, with the left channel out, I sprayed some freeze onto the tranny I suspected of being at fault, with no results. I then sprayed every other tranny on the amp board, including the output trannies. No change. Then I sprayed all the resistors and caps. Then I gave the whole amp board a general spraying. I got absolutely no reaction. The channel continues to respond to an increase in volume, that is, it kicks back in with a crackle when the volume pot is turned just past the halfway point. I guess now is the time to begin probing with a voltage meter on the right and left sections of the amp board to see where I might find discrepancies. |
#29
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Readily Visible wrote:
The left channel bugged out again and I double confirmed that it is *not* the speaker relay. I also double confirmed that switching right and left preamp outputs to left and right power amp inputs respectively *does not* change which channel drops out, confirming that the problem is downstream of these connections. Then, with the left channel out, I sprayed some freeze onto the tranny I suspected of being at fault, with no results. I then sprayed every other tranny on the amp board, including the output trannies. No change. Then I sprayed all the resistors and caps. Then I gave the whole amp board a general spraying. Presumably "tranny" means transistor in this context. (It used to mean transformer in electronics.) It doesn't seem as likely that a transistor opening (or shorting) would have a reversible effect. In most modern direct-coupled power amplifiers, a transistor fault will take out most of the other transistors in the channel and will NOT be reversible after cooling off. I got absolutely no reaction. The channel continues to respond to an increase in volume, that is, it kicks back in with a crackle when the volume pot is turned just past the halfway point. So sending an audio transient into the amplifier does something that restores the signal path. My suspect list would be: solder joints, capacitors, resistors. |
#30
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
In article ,
Readily Visible wrote: The left channel bugged out again and I double confirmed that it is *not* the speaker relay. I also double confirmed that switching right and left preamp outputs to left and right power amp inputs respectively *does not* change which channel drops out, confirming that the problem is downstream of these connections. Then, with the left channel out, I sprayed some freeze onto the tranny I suspected of being at fault, with no results. I then sprayed every other tranny on the amp board, including the output trannies. No change. Then I sprayed all the resistors and caps. Then I gave the whole amp board a general spraying. I got absolutely no reaction. The channel continues to respond to an increase in volume, that is, it kicks back in with a crackle when the volume pot is turned just past the halfway point. I guess now is the time to begin probing with a voltage meter on the right and left sections of the amp board to see where I might find discrepancies. Another possible candidate, under these conditions, would be a bad inter-stage coupling capacitor - an electrolytic located in the signal path. These are used in some designs to block DC offset voltages in one stage from affecting the next (or previous) stage. At this point I think you really need to compare signals on the two sides of the circuit... but with an oscilloscope rather than with a voltmeter. You're likely to find the problem faster that way. If you don't have a scope, you should definitely acquire one. Even a slow, old scope will have plenty of bandwidth for looking at audio circuits. As a crude example, I picked up an old-style Tektronix scope (bandwidth is around 5 MHz) at a local ham-radio flea market for about $15 or $20, as a "learning and practice" scope for a friend. Works fine within its limits... that sort of scope would be adequate for your needs. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Friends of Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! |
#31
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
"Richard Crowley" wrote in message
So sending an audio transient into the amplifier does something that restores the signal path. My suspect list would be: solder joints, capacitors, resistors. Agreed. This is the sort of problem that often goes away after someone goes through and reconditions every solder joint in the machine. As we both no doubt know, the failure mechanism is that an insulating or semiconducting oxide or sulphide film forms in some signal or supply path, which has a very low break-over voltage. The path usually involves a soldered joint that has either cracked in use, or was defective all along, but took years to fail. Applying enough voltage to "punch though" the insulating film, will create a temporary signal path, which eventually gets interrupted again by corrosion. A hot, tinned soldering iron in skilled hands, is applied to every soldered joint, with a little flux and solder being applied where needed to ensure a good soldered joint. Sometimes it is is necessary to remove the existing solder with a solder pump, and resolder the joint completely. Sometimes the bad connection is inside a part, particularly coupling capacitors. Then the bad part needs to be replaced. |
#32
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
Arny Krueger wrote:
"Richard Crowley" wrote in message So sending an audio transient into the amplifier does something that restores the signal path. My suspect list would be: solder joints, capacitors, resistors. Agreed. This is the sort of problem that often goes away after someone goes through and reconditions every solder joint in the machine. As we both no doubt know, the failure mechanism is that an insulating or semiconducting oxide or sulphide film forms in some signal or supply path, which has a very low break-over voltage. The path usually involves a soldered joint that has either cracked in use, or was defective all along, but took years to fail. Applying enough voltage to "punch though" the insulating film, will create a temporary signal path, which eventually gets interrupted again by corrosion. A hot, tinned soldering iron in skilled hands, is applied to every soldered joint, with a little flux and solder being applied where needed to ensure a good soldered joint. Sometimes it is is necessary to remove the existing solder with a solder pump, and resolder the joint completely. Ayup. That's exactly what I'd do, starting with the heatsinked parts. -- W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^--------------------------------------------------------------- |
#33
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
On Jun 1, 8:52*am, Bob Larter wrote:
Arny Krueger wrote: "Richard Crowley" wrote in message ez So sending an audio transient into the amplifier does something that restores the signal path. My suspect list would be: solder joints, capacitors, resistors. Agreed. This is the sort of problem that often goes away after someone goes through and reconditions every solder joint in the machine. As we both no doubt know, the failure mechanism is that an insulating or semiconducting oxide or sulphide film forms in some signal or supply path, which has a very low break-over voltage. *The path usually involves a soldered joint that has either cracked in use, or was defective all along, but took years to fail. Applying enough voltage to "punch though" the insulating film, will create a temporary signal path, which eventually gets interrupted again by corrosion. A hot, tinned soldering iron in skilled hands, is applied to every soldered joint, with a little flux and solder being applied where needed to ensure a good soldered joint. Sometimes it is is necessary to remove the existing solder with a solder pump, and resolder the joint completely. Ayup. That's exactly what I'd do, starting with the heatsinked parts. -- * * W * . | ,. w , * "Some people are alive only because * *\|/ *\|/ * * it is illegal to kill them." * *Perna condita delenda est ---^----^--------------------------------------------------------------- Back in the day I replaced a fair number of TO-220 case power transistors that would open the base lead when they warmed up. Does that Pioneer use any of those? G² |
#34
Posted to rec.audio.tech,sci.electronics.repair
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Vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver loses one channel after warmup
wrote in message
... On Jun 1, 8:52 am, Bob Larter wrote: Arny Krueger wrote: "Richard Crowley" wrote in message ez So sending an audio transient into the amplifier does something that restores the signal path. My suspect list would be: solder joints, capacitors, resistors. Agreed. This is the sort of problem that often goes away after someone goes through and reconditions every solder joint in the machine. As we both no doubt know, the failure mechanism is that an insulating or semiconducting oxide or sulphide film forms in some signal or supply path, which has a very low break-over voltage. The path usually involves a soldered joint that has either cracked in use, or was defective all along, but took years to fail. Applying enough voltage to "punch though" the insulating film, will create a temporary signal path, which eventually gets interrupted again by corrosion. A hot, tinned soldering iron in skilled hands, is applied to every soldered joint, with a little flux and solder being applied where needed to ensure a good soldered joint. Sometimes it is is necessary to remove the existing solder with a solder pump, and resolder the joint completely. Ayup. That's exactly what I'd do, starting with the heatsinked parts. -- W . | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because \|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est ---^----^--------------------------------------------------------------- Back in the day I replaced a fair number of TO-220 case power transistors that would open the base lead when they warmed up. Does that Pioneer use any of those? G² Pioneer used TO-220's for drivers in this model. Also, the SX-838 used flat-pack output transistors, some of the first ones. 2SC2525 and 2SB755 as I recall; certainly they were of that type. Impractical and unnecessary to resolder all connections - there are simply too many. These models really didn't suffer from solder problems in the small-signal circuits. Power supply and amp driver cards are another matter. Once again, controls and switches - and those notorious Sanyo blue coupling capacitors - should be at the top of the list of possible culprits. Mark Z. |
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