The attached audio file contains audio with distorted sound - or rather it might be more correct to say that the sound is distorted by some kind of interference. I have tried 4-5 tapes - but the interfered sound is there no matter wich tape I use. The tapes are ok - so my deck seems to have an issue.
The interfered sound is present no matter how I playback the tape or how I listen to the recording:
Output connected to amplifier
Output from head phones
fwd or rev pb
Low speed or high speed
DBX in or out
I can also add this:
First time I discovered the issue - I removed the lower buttom plate on the back of the deck - and the sound was then ok again. But after that I placed the buttom plate again - the sound was distirbed again.
But after this the issue remains even if the lower plate is removed.
I have cleaned the output potentiometer - and checked wires and solder joints - but have not found anything wrong.
Are any of you able to tell what could be causing the interference heard from the attached file?
BR Benny
The interfered sound is present no matter how I playback the tape or how I listen to the recording:
Output connected to amplifier
Output from head phones
fwd or rev pb
Low speed or high speed
DBX in or out
I can also add this:
First time I discovered the issue - I removed the lower buttom plate on the back of the deck - and the sound was then ok again. But after that I placed the buttom plate again - the sound was distirbed again.
But after this the issue remains even if the lower plate is removed.
I have cleaned the output potentiometer - and checked wires and solder joints - but have not found anything wrong.
Are any of you able to tell what could be causing the interference heard from the attached file?
BR Benny
Are the heads clean ?
Mains interference .
HR earth.
HR soldered joint .
Using a plastic rod prod the area that temporary fixed it to see if anything changes .
This could be a whole variety of things even misalignment of the tape over the tape head.
Mains interference .
HR earth.
HR soldered joint .
Using a plastic rod prod the area that temporary fixed it to see if anything changes .
This could be a whole variety of things even misalignment of the tape over the tape head.
Hi Duncan
Yes you are right - there could be various things.
But the most obvious area to look into - is the area you also mention. It is approx. 1/3 of the audio board. The part that is beneath where the button plate is placed. In that area there is a lot of wires - and they could have been loosened. But in the same area is ofcourse also various components.
I have checked with a plastic rod - where the wires are soldered to the board - and they seems to be ok. I have tapped on the components - and furthermore I have checked the plugs and sockets - but everything seems to be ok.
I also did try to move the tensioners a little bit up (or down) - when playing - but this did not help either.
I wonder if the interrupted sound could have anything to do with a GROUND connection missing somewhere.
Or maybe the tape tension needs to be adjusted (but I do not have the right tool to do it).
Anyhow the tapepath (pinch rollers etc) looks to be ok.
BR Benny
Yes you are right - there could be various things.
But the most obvious area to look into - is the area you also mention. It is approx. 1/3 of the audio board. The part that is beneath where the button plate is placed. In that area there is a lot of wires - and they could have been loosened. But in the same area is ofcourse also various components.
I have checked with a plastic rod - where the wires are soldered to the board - and they seems to be ok. I have tapped on the components - and furthermore I have checked the plugs and sockets - but everything seems to be ok.
I also did try to move the tensioners a little bit up (or down) - when playing - but this did not help either.
I wonder if the interrupted sound could have anything to do with a GROUND connection missing somewhere.
Or maybe the tape tension needs to be adjusted (but I do not have the right tool to do it).
Anyhow the tapepath (pinch rollers etc) looks to be ok.
BR Benny
In most old tape recorders you need a good earth,that "scratching noise " could be mains transmitted electrical interference from your fridge or other piece of domestic equipment which is emphasized by a high resistance earth .
Sounds like PSU noise to me. Certainly not head misalignment.
The X-1000R is double insulated. No earth.
The X-1000R is double insulated. No earth.
After now 1 week I have not found the cause for the distortion - but I have found out that sometimes it is present and sometimes it is not.
First time I discovered this - I was actually able to make the distortion go away. The only thing I did was tapping with two fingers on the top frame. The distortion came back 4-5 times - but each time I could make it disappear again by doing the tapping.
But that was 5 days ago - and since then - the tapping does not help anymore.
I have checked wires again - and also tried tapping with a pencil - on some of the components - but that does not change anything.
The deck seams very sensible. 10 min. ago the distortion was present again - and I wanted to check some of the components on the audio board. But guess what happened - Yes the distortion went away again. The only thing I did was to put down the deck on it's backside.
Yesterday same thing happened - when the deck was vertical - I just had to turn it a little - and then the distortion was gone again - and then the deck performed well the rest of the day.
Does this give any signs of what could be wrong???
BR Benny
First time I discovered this - I was actually able to make the distortion go away. The only thing I did was tapping with two fingers on the top frame. The distortion came back 4-5 times - but each time I could make it disappear again by doing the tapping.
But that was 5 days ago - and since then - the tapping does not help anymore.
I have checked wires again - and also tried tapping with a pencil - on some of the components - but that does not change anything.
The deck seams very sensible. 10 min. ago the distortion was present again - and I wanted to check some of the components on the audio board. But guess what happened - Yes the distortion went away again. The only thing I did was to put down the deck on it's backside.
Yesterday same thing happened - when the deck was vertical - I just had to turn it a little - and then the distortion was gone again - and then the deck performed well the rest of the day.
Does this give any signs of what could be wrong???
BR Benny
Its obvious then there is a bad connection or high resistance soldered joint actually in or connected to the casing.
You said you tried tapping it but doesn't work now so on the main PCB or others using an insulated plastic rod push --GENTLY -- down on various parts on it or them .
Then any interconnecting wires /connectors push them gently .
It would be good if you watched it on an oscilloscope as you do it with a sine wave signal of 1kHz going through it
You said you tried tapping it but doesn't work now so on the main PCB or others using an insulated plastic rod push --GENTLY -- down on various parts on it or them .
Then any interconnecting wires /connectors push them gently .
It would be good if you watched it on an oscilloscope as you do it with a sine wave signal of 1kHz going through it
Yes I agree.
After I wrote my post earlier today - I was for the first time able to bring back the distortion.
When the deck was still laying on the back (and playing) - I tapped on the solder side of the audio board.
Suddenly - when tapping (or rather pressing gently on the solder joints) in the area with the bias adjustments - the noise was back again.
It surprised me a little because the mentioned bias - area is only related to recording.
But since I was able to bring the noise back - I will have to look more into the bias (recording) area on the audio board.
After I wrote my post earlier today - I was for the first time able to bring back the distortion.
When the deck was still laying on the back (and playing) - I tapped on the solder side of the audio board.
Suddenly - when tapping (or rather pressing gently on the solder joints) in the area with the bias adjustments - the noise was back again.
It surprised me a little because the mentioned bias - area is only related to recording.
But since I was able to bring the noise back - I will have to look more into the bias (recording) area on the audio board.
on the X-1000R the audio board is the giant board at the base of the machine. on this board are the audio switches that connect the proper play and record heads to the electronics. These switches are notorious for getting noisy. Have you tried cleaning them?
JMO, but I don't think its power supply noise, think you have a dirty contact point somewhere in audio path.
JMO, but I don't think its power supply noise, think you have a dirty contact point somewhere in audio path.
Thank you John.
Yes I did clean the switches - and that did not help.
However it looks like the distortion is gone now.
I'm not sure where the distortion came from. I did resoldered 25-30 solder joints on the audio board - and also checked all screws etc connecting to the chassis.
It seams that this has cured the distortion issue. The deck has play with none distortion 3-4 days now.
Yes I did clean the switches - and that did not help.
However it looks like the distortion is gone now.
I'm not sure where the distortion came from. I did resoldered 25-30 solder joints on the audio board - and also checked all screws etc connecting to the chassis.
It seams that this has cured the distortion issue. The deck has play with none distortion 3-4 days now.