Hello everyone , and my best wishes to you all for 2025!
Once again I experience the same problems with my Pioneer SA-8500 : the volume and balance potmeter...
The sound of 1 channel comes through very very poorly.
However I already cleaned this knob a few years ago, unfortunately the problem came back.
But perhaps the first time I didn’t clean it the correct way?
I don't remember exactly either.
What I do remember is that I cleaned the potmeter with IPA (ISOPROPANOL) and let the IPA ‘sit’ for about 5 minutes.
Afterwards I dryed the potentiometer with compressed air.
Then I probably treated the potentiometer with Griffon contact spray. (Cleaning and maintenance spray for cleaning and maintaining electrical contacts).
After this treatment the balance/volume knob worked ALMOST perfectly. (It's always the sound of the same channel that falters).
It was certainly much better afterwards.
But now it's gotten worse than it ever was...
So again I did some research on what is the correct way to clean a potentiometer and this is the way it should be done:
Spray Tuner 600 into the potentiometer and let it ‘work’ for 5 minutes.
(Spray Tuner 600 is a Precision cleaner for contacts. A mild cleaner for light contamination of potentiometers, sliders, etc. Because the composition is not aggressive, this cleaner is particularly suitable for vulnerable components for consumer electronics, computers and notification systems).
Inject Contact WL into the potentiometer.
(Kontakt WL is a rinse agent that removes dirt).
Dry spraying the potentiometer with compressed air
Apply a small amount of Kontakt 61.
(KONTAKT 61 is the moisture-displacing protective oil for all types of electrical contacts. It forms a wafer-thin, non-conductive oil film on the contact surface that displaces moisture, prevents short circuits and protects against corrosion. KONTAKT 61 increases the functional reliability of plugs, switches and controllers, especially under the influence of weather influences).
So this seems to be the way it SHOULD be done…
The best solution of course , would be to replace the potentiometer (ACV-407B), but unfortunately this ACV-407B is no longer available anywhere.
This potentiometer is also said to be located in the Pioneer SA-7500, but defective devices are rarely offered for sale and it remains to be seen whether this potentiometer is still in 'good' condition.
So the way I see it, cleaning appears to be the only solution.
Fortunately, I have 2 other SA-8500s and the potentiometers of these still work well. I also have an SA-7500 and this potentiometer also 'creaks' a bit. But that usually goes away by turning the sound up a bit.
Does anyone have any advice or comments on how to tackle this potentiometer problem?
Thank you.
PS : written via google translate : sorry for the mistakes
Once again I experience the same problems with my Pioneer SA-8500 : the volume and balance potmeter...
The sound of 1 channel comes through very very poorly.
However I already cleaned this knob a few years ago, unfortunately the problem came back.
But perhaps the first time I didn’t clean it the correct way?
I don't remember exactly either.
What I do remember is that I cleaned the potmeter with IPA (ISOPROPANOL) and let the IPA ‘sit’ for about 5 minutes.
Afterwards I dryed the potentiometer with compressed air.
Then I probably treated the potentiometer with Griffon contact spray. (Cleaning and maintenance spray for cleaning and maintaining electrical contacts).
After this treatment the balance/volume knob worked ALMOST perfectly. (It's always the sound of the same channel that falters).
It was certainly much better afterwards.
But now it's gotten worse than it ever was...
So again I did some research on what is the correct way to clean a potentiometer and this is the way it should be done:
Spray Tuner 600 into the potentiometer and let it ‘work’ for 5 minutes.
(Spray Tuner 600 is a Precision cleaner for contacts. A mild cleaner for light contamination of potentiometers, sliders, etc. Because the composition is not aggressive, this cleaner is particularly suitable for vulnerable components for consumer electronics, computers and notification systems).
Inject Contact WL into the potentiometer.
(Kontakt WL is a rinse agent that removes dirt).
Dry spraying the potentiometer with compressed air
Apply a small amount of Kontakt 61.
(KONTAKT 61 is the moisture-displacing protective oil for all types of electrical contacts. It forms a wafer-thin, non-conductive oil film on the contact surface that displaces moisture, prevents short circuits and protects against corrosion. KONTAKT 61 increases the functional reliability of plugs, switches and controllers, especially under the influence of weather influences).
So this seems to be the way it SHOULD be done…
The best solution of course , would be to replace the potentiometer (ACV-407B), but unfortunately this ACV-407B is no longer available anywhere.
This potentiometer is also said to be located in the Pioneer SA-7500, but defective devices are rarely offered for sale and it remains to be seen whether this potentiometer is still in 'good' condition.
So the way I see it, cleaning appears to be the only solution.
Fortunately, I have 2 other SA-8500s and the potentiometers of these still work well. I also have an SA-7500 and this potentiometer also 'creaks' a bit. But that usually goes away by turning the sound up a bit.
Does anyone have any advice or comments on how to tackle this potentiometer problem?
Thank you.
PS : written via google translate : sorry for the mistakes
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