technics receiver

ndrwcn

hey-
i just found my dads old technics receiver, model sa-300. after doing some searching, i have found that it is a 35 watt/channel stero rig, and i am wondering if it is worth keeping and using for a second system, in my bedroom. thoughts/suggestions? are old technics receivers any good?
thanks,
andrew

aaharvel

hey Andrew (that's too funny, that's my name).
for a bedroom system it's fine- just don't expect too much.

If you ever decide to upgrade- go for Harman Kardon, Denon or Marantz.

AND STAY AWAY FROM SONY!
welcome to the forum.

ohskigod

my first stereo of note was a 35 wpc technics, cant remember the model number. I kept it for nostalgia, since it was my first legit piece of gear. its currently on loan to a friend.

mhardy6647

My NSHO: The Technics SA-x00 and SA-x0x lines (latter 1970's) were perfectly OK but lagged behind their Japanese massmarket peers both in terms of intrinsic physical quality (not QC) and in sound. My wife had an SA-303 (the next-year's model version of the SA-300) when we got married. Once (ca. 1989), due to a problem with my Yamaha CA-610II integrated amp (the only service it's needed, from 1978 to present, BTW), I swapped in the SA-303 and I was surprised at how thin, harsh, and 'two-dimensional' it sounded.

That being said, the Technics receivers were nice looking and pretty robust (yes, we still have the SA-303), so, as a second system, I think it'd be dandy. Come to think of it, I used ours in my office in a previous job for about a year (mid-1990's).

Pointless aside: My wife bought the SA-303 to replace an SA-300 which was stolen. I like the SA-300 better than the SA-303 (at least cosmetically).

All the basic specs for Technics components are available online at:
http://www.vintagetechnics.com/menu.htm

ndrwcn

unfortunately, when i wired up the technics receiver, the left channel doesnt play. and since i am guessing the cost to repair would be more than the cost of replacing, does anyone have any thoughts on the cheapest way to power a set of polk monitor 7's and/or monitor 30's and still get a good sound?
thanks,
andrew

mhardy6647

Doesn't the SA-300 have speaker output fuses on the back panel? The SA-303 does. Before you give up, check for bad fuse and replace.

I found an SA-500 with a bad fuse and nothing else wrong with it at the "Yankee swap pile" at our town dump once, so it's worth checking.

ndrwcn

i checked the fuses as soon as i saw them, and they still are both good. if i switch them, the problem is the same, the right channel works and the left doesnt.
only the "phono" input has both left and right channel working, but there is an amazingly loud buzz/hum/feedback/distortion if that input is used. so there has to be a problem with wiring somewhere, and i wouldnt even know where to begin in fixing it, i wouldnt know where to go to get help. which is a bummer.

mhardy6647

Hmmm... if you can get sound through two channels on ANY input, it suggests the problem might be dirty contacts on the function selector switch and/or dirty "pots" (e.g., the volume, balance, etc. controls) or even the toggle switches!

A little judicious 'wiggling' of all controls might bring your bad channel back

As to the distortion on your Phono input -- did you feed a magnetic phono cartridge to it, or did you use a "line level" input (e.g., a CD player)? The phono is a very high gain, equalized input and will only work right with a magnetic phono cartridge. Anything else will be loud and narsty sounding.

Just a couple of thoughts... that ol' receiver may yet be worth salvaging!

ndrwcn

yes, i did use a cd player connected to the phono input, which explains the narsty sounds. i did not know the inputs for record players were set up differently- is this true of modern phonographs or for phonograph inputs on modern receivers? i am having some problems with the phonograph on my high(er) end rig.

what would be the procedure for cleaning up an old receiver? take the cover off, use compressed air? something else?

thank you again for your time,
andrew

mhardy6647

You'll need to buy some contact cleaner to clean the switches and "pots". CAIG DeOxit is about the best there is, as far as I can tell.

As to how to do it:
Take a look at this thread from audiokarma.org:
http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=40548&highlight=cleaning+pots

Also, maybe this one, which discusses the often-encountered problem of DC on the outputs of "direct coupled" (output capacitor-less) solid state amplifiers: http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=5634&highlight=cleaning+pots

also:
http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=39450&highlight=cleaning+pots

http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=39815&highlight=cleaning+pots

http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=38096&highlight=cleaning+pots

http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=38933&highlight=cleaning+pots

http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=36096&highlight=cleaning+pots

That ought to get you started.

If you are uncomfortable with "going inside" this receiver, find a local mentor to help you out!