Rega Elex problem pointer

pphilpot · 15th November 2011, 10:54 AM

Hi all - I'm new here, but I hope that my question is reasonable straight forward. I have a 20 year old Rega Elex amplifier (yup, 20 years old - it was the first run with the purple Rega logo) that has a problem with the right channel speaker output.

Independent of the volume pot and the selector pot, the right speaker crackles/hisses with no music making it through to that channel. I have a pair of heaphones attached to the tape out, and the amp provides a perfectly good output there.

Which component should I be looking at that may be causing this? Anybody have experience with this amp?

sreten · 15th November 2011, 11:56 AM

Hi,

Could be a dodgy connector, a dry joint or similar, sometimes
the power amplifier input transistors go noisy, unusual though.

rgds, sreten.

pphilpot · 15th November 2011, 12:38 PM

Thanks sreten. I'll take a look over the right channel. I've just connected it up again, and realized the it is in fact amplified by the volume pot, but the noise/crackle is reasonable loud with the volume pot at zero.

I think the input is fine as when listened to via the tape out all is sounding good.

jaycee · 15th November 2011, 01:59 PM

first off, with an amp that age, shotgun replace all electrolytic capacitors. it could well be a bad coupling capacitor causing this problem.

pphilpot · 02:18 PM

Thanks jaycee. You're right - are they roughly 2000-3000 hrs use? If so, they would be well overdue for a change. Can you recommend any particular type/supplier?

[edit] Are these any good? Link [/edit]

jaycee · 15th November 2011, 02:31 PM

Having looked at the schematic, it seems the preamp stage is passive - just a selector switch and the volume pot. So you've got a more serious problem I'd say. I'd look for dry joints but i'd say its probably more serious.

I'm not sure what level of expertise you have here to suggest further.

jaycee · 15th November 2011, 02:35 PM

Panasonic are good brand capacitors - also look at cpc.farnell.com
It is right that they're about 2000-3000 hours of use. After 20 years, they are indeed overdue for replacement, especially if they're only 85c rated.

pphilpot · 15th November 2011, 02:36 PM

Sorry jaycee - so I should definitely replace all 2.2uf circled in green, but what about the 1000uf and 10000uf circled in magenta? Would they be any specific quality?

Many thanks in advance.

jaycee · 15th November 2011, 03:05 PM

The magenta ones are power supply capacitors... replacing those will help with sound quality but they wont be fault related.

ingenieus · 15th November 2011, 04:07 PM

Ooh, that looks like a lot of soldering. Be careful out there. Use a decent soldering iron and desoldering pump. If you are rusty, practice your technique on something else before starting off.

15th November 2011, 10:54 AM	#1
pphilpot diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Woodbridge, UK	Rega Elex problem pointer Hi all - I'm new here, but I hope that my question is reasonable straight forward. I have a 20 year old Rega Elex amplifier (yup, 20 years old - it was the first run with the purple Rega logo) that has a problem with the right channel speaker output. Independent of the volume pot and the selector pot, the right speaker crackles/hisses with no music making it through to that channel. I have a pair of heaphones attached to the tape out, and the amp provides a perfectly good output there. Which component should I be looking at that may be causing this? Anybody have experience with this amp?

15th November 2011, 11:56 AM	#2
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Could be a dodgy connector, a dry joint or similar, sometimes the power amplifier input transistors go noisy, unusual though. rgds, sreten. __________________ There is nothing so practical as a really good theory - Ludwig Boltzmann When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail - Abraham Maslow

15th November 2011, 02:13 PM	#5
pphilpot diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Woodbridge, UK	Thanks jaycee. You're right - are they roughly 2000-3000 hrs use? If so, they would be well overdue for a change. Can you recommend any particular type/supplier? [edit] Are these any good? Link [/edit] Last edited by pphilpot; 15th November 2011 at 02:18 PM.

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15th November 2011, 12:38 PM	#3
pphilpot diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Woodbridge, UK	Thanks sreten. I'll take a look over the right channel. I've just connected it up again, and realized the it is in fact amplified by the volume pot, but the noise/crackle is reasonable loud with the volume pot at zero. I think the input is fine as when listened to via the tape out all is sounding good.

15th November 2011, 01:59 PM	#4
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	first off, with an amp that age, shotgun replace all electrolytic capacitors. it could well be a bad coupling capacitor causing this problem.

15th November 2011, 02:31 PM	#6
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Having looked at the schematic, it seems the preamp stage is passive - just a selector switch and the volume pot. So you've got a more serious problem I'd say. I'd look for dry joints but i'd say its probably more serious. I'm not sure what level of expertise you have here to suggest further.

15th November 2011, 02:35 PM	#7
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	Panasonic are good brand capacitors - also look at cpc.farnell.com It is right that they're about 2000-3000 hours of use. After 20 years, they are indeed overdue for replacement, especially if they're only 85c rated.

15th November 2011, 03:05 PM	#9
jaycee diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, UK	The magenta ones are power supply capacitors... replacing those will help with sound quality but they wont be fault related.

15th November 2011, 04:07 PM	#10
ingenieus diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Ooh, that looks like a lot of soldering. Be careful out there. Use a decent soldering iron and desoldering pump. If you are rusty, practice your technique on something else before starting off.

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