Forum Topic

Repairs to old hi-fi??

I know mending things is out of vogue, but can anyone direct me please to a person or firm, preferably local, who can fix old (70s) hi-fi equipment? I have a cherished tuner amp that's gone (semi) belly up.

David Dix ● 6505d6 Comments

There's a tiny shop,Fuselodge at 267 Acton Lane W4 tel.0208 994 6275 who can probably help you.  Don't be put off by the appearance of the shop,it's a proper old fashioned electronics shop,(a place for everything,and everything all over the place).  It'll be a question of balancing how cherished it is with his hourly rate.  What make is it,and the symptoms? 

Tony Wood ● 6505d

I can also recommend this place.  He repaired a television/video for me.

Pat Kingham ● 6505d

Blimey - thankyou both for the advice. I'll give them a ring tomorrow.To answer Tony's question: it's a Sansui 210, like the one pictured herehttp://www.classicaudio.com/value/san/210.htmlAll of a sudden the sound is very muffled. The treble's all gone and there's a marked loss of volume. Sounds like something's blown. I'm fairly sure it's the amp that's at fault and not the speakers as it sounds the same through headphones.

David Dix ● 6505d

Hi David  A couple more questions, do both channels go at the same time,and does it only happen when using the tuner,or does it also happen when using it as an amp for an external audio source CD/tape etc?  Three faults spring to mind,most likely is a "dry solder joint",at it's age (32) it's entitled to a few,any repairer worth his salt would just resolder everything in sight,the problem would most likely vanish.  Secondly,an electolytic capacitor in the tuner has dried out,once again at that age you'd expect that.  Thirdly,it could be a dirty control knob,(potentiometer),if you feel up to it you could buy a tin of contact cleaner and give each pot. a short squirt,then rotate it backwards  and forwards a few times.NOT WHILE IT'S CONNECTED TO THE MAINS please. Each pot. will have a hole in its body to allow this.  If Fuselodge can't help,or are uneconomic,then I should be in Ealing some time over Christmas and could probably have a look at it. (gratis)

Tony Wood ● 6505d

cripes tony. thanks for your advice and interest. I shall mail you offlist as I'm sure the rest of  Forum won't be hanging on every word of this.

David Dix ● 6504d

You could also try "scrubbing" the backs of any pcbs with a used toothbrush (the bristles are softer). This may jiggle any cracked solder joints to make, or break, contact.

Alan Brainsby ● 6504d