Now it's starting to click, thanks to my vintage Marantz 2230 and my CRS+

sda2mike

this is great advice/\

evhudsons

yes it is good advice, thank you! I've used radioshack's deoxit before and it is like magic on old switches. I brought back my 25 year old Peavy amp with it and it worked very well.


I'm going to have to solder the lamps out it looks like, so I'll start there for the one lamp that is out. I thought at first that the RCA jack was bad before I figured out that it was the jumper connection not being used right. That was a bonus discovery! It initially makes sense to replace the caps if they are old, but it also makes sense with your advice to simply enjoy it as it is and only replace them if needed. You have quite a collection there, so I'm siding with your knowledge unless someone else has differing opinions. I do like the sound now as it is.

Do capacitors change sound as they age? Do they also dry out even when not used? How much sound changes do you think if the caps are changed?

I love this hobby! Thanks again for the knowledge sharing.

nspindel

I thought it's a rule of thumb that all caps degrade over time? Obviously one needs to research/experiment to make sure you're not adversely changing the character of the receiver, but I was under the impression that replacing caps in old gear with suitable new ones is always advisable?

sda2mike

i got a marantz 2220 a couple weeks back from another polkie...finally hooked it up....right away, it's been called into service...in a very short time, it shelved my jolida fx10 tube integrated...very authoritative low end! goes great with my just re-capped imperial 6 speakers from marantz..the 2220 does need some work...even so, it does make some beautiful music!

sda2mike

well..i gave the marantz a stem to stern cleaning and a offset & bias check...i think i'll hold off on that rebuild! originally, i figured the power switch was shot...it was stuck 'on'...happens with these marantz...turns out, someone put a screw that was too long for one of the feet! backed it out a few turns and it's perfect...also, the phono had a bad hum...no more..must have been the power switch? what made me think a rebiuld was imminent was when shutting down, i'd get a real obnoxious scratch...now, that's gone too..oh yeah, the 20 watt rating is a joke! overbuilt for the $300 (back then) market..

mike

cnh

A good point is made above...or rather a good question asked:

Do capacitors dry out and degrade "faster" if they are NOT used or if they are used DAILY. Is their any "difference" that "usage" makes in the life of one's caps. I say this, because a while back, an engineer told me that if you're always using them they can last for an incredibly long time, but if you let the unit sit for long periods of time they'll dry out fast. I am not an engineer so I all I know is what I've read on forums which say about 20-25 years and attention IS necessary.

Don't mean to hijack thread but evhudsons does bring this issue up!

cnh

evhudsons

That makes sense too. Boats and cars tend to dry up and seize up when not in use too.

Don't worry about the thread, this is interesting!

audiocr381ve

sda2mike wrote: »

well..i gave the marantz a stem to stern cleaning and a offset & bias check...i think i'll hold off on that rebuild! originally, i figured the power switch was shot...it was stuck 'on'...happens with these marantz...turns out, someone put a screw that was too long for one of the feet! backed it out a few turns and it's perfect...also, the phono had a bad hum...no more..must have been the power switch? what made me think a rebiuld was imminent was when shutting down, i'd get a real obnoxious scratch...now, that's gone too..oh yeah, the 20 watt rating is a joke! overbuilt for the $300 (back then) market..

mike

My Marantz 1150 integrated is having some issues right now. I've used the unit as an integrated and as a pre-amp and there are problems both ways. I was wondering how to check the offset & bias?

Using the 1150 as a preamp, on loud bass notes the speakers pop. It's not the amp or speakers, it's the 1150 for sure. Also, when using it as an integrated (both pre and amp), the left speaker fades in volume and then comes back to life sporadically. Really weird.

sda2mike

go to audiokarma.org..........you'll get your info there....there's a lot of switches on that unit...did you clean and work each switch, selector, slider and pot? if that doesn't work...it might need more digging..good luck

Tour2ma

cnh wrote: »

Do capacitors dry out and degrade "faster" if they are NOT used or if they are used DAILY. Is their any "difference" that "usage" makes in the life of one's caps. I say this, because a while back, an engineer told me that if you're always using them they can last for an incredibly long time, but if you let the unit sit for long periods of time they'll dry out fast.

For modern caps, in general, yes, use prolongs life...

Old higher capacitance, crystalline ceramics truly "aged" regardless of use. The rate of aging depended upon rating, time and temperature, and was essentially independent of voltage potential. They were relegated to low capacitance duty, where their aging is negligible whether they are used or not, by the onset of electrolytics.

May be what you are saying, but in electrolytics the "drying out" is electrolyte loss and it occurs at the end of very long periods of disuse. That this, total failure, occurs so late is why Variac reforming of old electrolytics in tube equipment, e.g. Dynaco ST-70's, is as successful as it is. Note: Variac reforming in old SS designs is not advisable.

For many chemical dielectric capacitors the problem is not drying out, but that they absorb atmospheric water. The chemicals are often hydroscopic, or water attracting, and the absorbed water forms acid which corrodes he cap from within. Increased temperature generally slows absorption processes and reduces absorption capacities exponentially.

Very large electrolytics', e.g. output caps', life expectancy suffers from rapid onset charging as might occur during start-up. This is why many old farts like me left their early SS amps on continuosly.... something I still tend to do despite most modern circuit designs' utilization of either "soft starting" or maintaining partial power even when the unit is "off".

camp21178

evhudsons wrote: »

I got rid of my avr in order to get a new one. So instead of having several days of no music I hooked up my Marantz 2230 to my SDA CRS+. I had been using my Marantz as a phono preamp.

Wow.......


Wow..Oh my!

Pure bliss! Such simplicity, no subwoofer hooked up, just my Marantz and my crs. That thing has some real juice, as much almost as my dedicated amp. I might try hooking that up tonight just to see the difference but it was so clear, so defined, and I finally heard what must be referred to as "image weight". There it was, right in front and all around me. I have a new avr that just showed up today and I was going to sell my Marantz. Not now, not ever. I think I'll start my 2channel rig as soon as I can acquire another SDA, maybe 1c's. But really, now I understand why folks have one system for home theater, and another for 2 channel.

It was as if my system went "ahem", cleared the throat, and started to get past just warming up and really sing. This, from a 30 year old receiver that hasn't been upgraded? I know most of you already know these things, but it was going over my head until now.

What the heck am I going to tell my wife????? Kidding, she'll just just roll her eyes and plop down to listen to my next change. For now I'll have to stick with the AVR setup for lack of more rooms and speakers, but I'll be working on a 2 channel for the first time.

wow.

What you are hearing is a combination of huge power supplies and true discrete output transistors. Many of today's receivers use one big power IC chip which is prone to thermal distortion. I have an old Onkyo receiver rated at 45 watts and an old Harman Kardon rated for 20 watts. The HK had big transistors, and the Onkyo had an IC. Guess which one sounds better? Enjoy your vintage sound. I have many vintage amps and receivers and I love them all.

michael1947

FOR YOU GUYS IN THE CONCH REPUBLIC, KEY WEST. I was reading a while back that one of you was a wood worker specializing in veneer. This past Thanksgiving one of my gusts left a half full solo cup sitting on top of one of my SDA 1A's and it was all wet. I dried it but now I have a nice ring on the top, it's walnut. what to do to fix it, I am also a woodworker but not savvy with this repair. I would appreciate a tip, thanks, michael.

evhudsons

My wife used to use my CRS+ as a shelf, and did the same due to the aged look. She doesn't anymore because she knows now how important these speakers are to me, and now to her.

I am looking to re-veneer too, in fact I was just looking at veneering sites just now.

If there is someone here in Key West doing it, I would love to know! You have my business!

nooshinjohn

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evhudsons

I helped a friend get outdoor Polk atrium and sub speakers set up, and now he's giving me his old Marantz quad. He's not sure if it works fully so pretty soon I'll be asking for some more advice.

Tour2ma

michael1947 wrote: »

FOR YOU GUYS IN THE CONCH REPUBLIC, KEY WEST. I was reading a while back that one of you was a wood worker specializing in veneer. This past Thanksgiving one of my gusts left a half full solo cup sitting on top of one of my SDA 1A's and it was all wet. I dried it but now I have a nice ring on the top, it's walnut. what to do to fix it, I am also a woodworker but not savvy with this repair. I would appreciate a tip, thanks, michael.

Michael,
I suggest that you PM 'F1nut'... Not to slight anyone else, but Jessie knows more about restoring wood finishes than anyone else I know of around here. I may butt heads with him around here on many things, but his bona fides in this area are beyond reproach.

As for re-veneering, he's helped others here via threads and links. I'm sure he'll steer you and ev straight.