Hi. Sorry I brought this up earlier, but I've reached the point where I'm almost obsessed with the future of my vintage audio gear, so I'm thinking of buying another set as a backup, to rotate them every 6 months, is that a good solution?
Depends on how old you are. Under 60, probably not the best strategy. But many have more than one audio system at home (I have five).
You could just have two systems in different rooms, and if one becomes unrepairable you'll still have the other.
Using a dedicated AC line filter to protect the equipment will go a long way to extend their useful lives. All my equipment has one.
https://tripplite.eaton.com/isobar-8-outlet-surge-protector-12-ft-cord-3840-joules~ISOBAR8ULTRA
You could just have two systems in different rooms, and if one becomes unrepairable you'll still have the other.
Using a dedicated AC line filter to protect the equipment will go a long way to extend their useful lives. All my equipment has one.
https://tripplite.eaton.com/isobar-8-outlet-surge-protector-12-ft-cord-3840-joules~ISOBAR8ULTRA
There are many reasons why older equipment breaks down.
Solder joints, caps and mechanical parts such as switches and potentiometers are the most common, apart from parties.
If you keep these things in mind and maintain accordingly, many good brands can last very long.
Solder joints, caps and mechanical parts such as switches and potentiometers are the most common, apart from parties.
If you keep these things in mind and maintain accordingly, many good brands can last very long.
Yeah those things I can take care off no problem but say like my preamp has a microcomputer ic how likely is it that this will fail? My brand is Technics by the way
My system is not used at parties only at moderate volume 75 to 90 db.
From what I've seen, smt parts can develop bad solder joints more often than you'd think. But those can be fixed.
I very rarely saw a microprocessor fail, certainly in comparison with other common faults.
Enjoy the good times you have with your equipment, take care of it and accept that in the end, nothing lasts forever. 🙂
Enjoy the good times you have with your equipment, take care of it and accept that in the end, nothing lasts forever. 🙂
I been thinking and it all boil down to that’s the power/pre amp and speakers is the most important to me, Technics su-c800/se-a900s to have with me.. cd players i can buy new. My turntable i think will outlast me.. my minidisc deck and cassette deck I’m thinking about selling.. (even that I love minidisc)
Having a backup system is the way to go. And if something breaks and you can't fix it you can buy something newer and better.
Hi Kim666,
All I do is repair / restore old electronics.
Equipment should be run, not stored. Turn it on when you are using it, not "24/7" and give it a lot of ventilation so it runs cool. AC line filters are only useful if they have voltage surge/spike protection. That is what saves your equipment, not the filter part.
I have seen Technics / Panasonic processors fail. Especially in their turntables.
If your system (you didn't give the model) has a box with a fan at the back, buy something older. Those units don't sound very good anyway and are prone to more problems than normal. Earlier units (some) sounded way better, and were a lot more robust (reliable).
Keep your equipment maintained. If it starts to do anything odd, get it to a good audio technician and stop using it immediately. Have it looked at every 10 years. Do not "recap" it. Just replace parts that are under stress, like regulator sections or in areas with high heat. Do not pump noisy controls full of any cleaner, don't clean controls that don't need it.
Care and feeding of anything you value 101.
All I do is repair / restore old electronics.
Equipment should be run, not stored. Turn it on when you are using it, not "24/7" and give it a lot of ventilation so it runs cool. AC line filters are only useful if they have voltage surge/spike protection. That is what saves your equipment, not the filter part.
I have seen Technics / Panasonic processors fail. Especially in their turntables.
If your system (you didn't give the model) has a box with a fan at the back, buy something older. Those units don't sound very good anyway and are prone to more problems than normal. Earlier units (some) sounded way better, and were a lot more robust (reliable).
Keep your equipment maintained. If it starts to do anything odd, get it to a good audio technician and stop using it immediately. Have it looked at every 10 years. Do not "recap" it. Just replace parts that are under stress, like regulator sections or in areas with high heat. Do not pump noisy controls full of any cleaner, don't clean controls that don't need it.
Care and feeding of anything you value 101.
I have a su800c preamp and se-a900s power amp and it’s the unit whit a fan.. and that’s the amp i really like.
The problem with those is the fan blows directly into the heatsink and not along with the fins. The fan doesn't start until it gets pretty warm, and the PCB to fan connections usually open up. That means the fan doesn't work. The heatsink is undersized and too thin on top of that.
Well, that is the reality of that type of construction. You can't tell if the fan doesn't work in normal use, you simply aren't listening for it. So your amplifier has built in failure mechanisms. Too bad, it is a really pretty amplifier. The cooling is even worse. In that one the fan blows across the ends of the fins.
Well, that is the reality of that type of construction. You can't tell if the fan doesn't work in normal use, you simply aren't listening for it. So your amplifier has built in failure mechanisms. Too bad, it is a really pretty amplifier. The cooling is even worse. In that one the fan blows across the ends of the fins.
yes I know, I have therefore replaced the fan with an 80mm pc fan that is controlled by a temperature sensor, the fan runs at 40% all the time until the temperature reaches 35c and then increases the speed, when the temperature is 45c the fan runs at 100% and keeps the temperature at about 45c compared to how it was originally, the temperature was at 65-70c
Hi Kim666,
Okay, fantastic. I'm glad to hear that.
... now if you could only direct the airflow so it at least cools the entire length of the heat sink assembly ...
Failure rate doubles every 10°C rise in temperature. Just do the best you can and tha twill really extend the life of your amplifier.
I repeat, it is very pretty.
Okay, fantastic. I'm glad to hear that.
... now if you could only direct the airflow so it at least cools the entire length of the heat sink assembly ...
Failure rate doubles every 10°C rise in temperature. Just do the best you can and tha twill really extend the life of your amplifier.
I repeat, it is very pretty.
the fan is an exhaust fan so it. pulls the hot air out of the amplifier.. I've lowered the temperature by 20-25c and I think it helps a lot with the lifespan, and I don't push it hard. just moderate the volume.
I completely agree, you made a huge difference.
It is amazing how some engineers haven't a flipping clue about the basics. Why they put these products on the market so improperly designed is well beyond me. The fan could be so much more effective!
The type of box I was talking about earlier is even worse than yours was. A small metal box hung on the rear panel blowing directly into the fins in the middle of the heat sink. Cheap fan motor. Exhaust is better since it doesn't turn your stereo into a vacuum cleaner.
It is amazing how some engineers haven't a flipping clue about the basics. Why they put these products on the market so improperly designed is well beyond me. The fan could be so much more effective!
The type of box I was talking about earlier is even worse than yours was. A small metal box hung on the rear panel blowing directly into the fins in the middle of the heat sink. Cheap fan motor. Exhaust is better since it doesn't turn your stereo into a vacuum cleaner.
I think Technics has a design flaw on all their amplifiers/receivers that have a fan, the way the control works is at a volume that most people don't listen at, and then the whole point of the fan is gone, why Technics didn't have a temperature controlled fan I don't understand.
I'm talking more about airflow. Of course thermostatic operation would be more intelligent in conjunction.
In my view, Technics had a total design fail for cooling in their product line. Failed in every direction. What should have been done is well understood. They didn't, but what they did was done in the most economical way possible. What they did was to keep stuff running through the warranty period, but the elevated temperatures have caused many to fail before they should have. Panasonic has the knowledge and skill to have done this correctly.
I do applaud what you have done. I don't know how to reduce running temperature more than you have. I would have to play with one.
In my view, Technics had a total design fail for cooling in their product line. Failed in every direction. What should have been done is well understood. They didn't, but what they did was done in the most economical way possible. What they did was to keep stuff running through the warranty period, but the elevated temperatures have caused many to fail before they should have. Panasonic has the knowledge and skill to have done this correctly.
I do applaud what you have done. I don't know how to reduce running temperature more than you have. I would have to play with one.
If you favor these amplifiers already sounds like your becoming knowledgeable on mods to keep them alive.
Alternative is explore past your comfort level or what you favor.
Maybe there is something else that would do the same for you.
Otherwise owning multiple copies is a way to acquire working units or parts in the future.
Nothing new, I am guilty of buying 3 or 4 devices myself that are vintage in nature.
Was not to do with failure rates, if you have a favorite you have a favorite.
Having lost many things to moving and relocation. Eventually did have to find new things.
My favorites tend to go up in price over the years so buying back certain things is expensive.
Almost insulting at times.
If your location is stable then buy as many as you can.
Constant worry is stressful, I would also recommend finding pleasure in new things as well for relief
Alternative is explore past your comfort level or what you favor.
Maybe there is something else that would do the same for you.
Otherwise owning multiple copies is a way to acquire working units or parts in the future.
Nothing new, I am guilty of buying 3 or 4 devices myself that are vintage in nature.
Was not to do with failure rates, if you have a favorite you have a favorite.
Having lost many things to moving and relocation. Eventually did have to find new things.
My favorites tend to go up in price over the years so buying back certain things is expensive.
Almost insulting at times.
If your location is stable then buy as many as you can.
Constant worry is stressful, I would also recommend finding pleasure in new things as well for relief
maybe another fan that blows at the fan?
I have a Sony Ta-f570ES amp with a fault in the preamp and some groud issues that I’m going to try figuring out soon, maybe Sony es is more reliable choice, compared to technics? But then again I love this technics amp