Harman Kardon 730 Twin Powered - problem

OnlyPolk

no output on right channel (tested with different speakers). I'm a novice, so is there anything that I can look for after opening (like a fuse)?. This was part of my very first system (circa 1976) together with BIC turntable and large Advents (still have those). I don't want to trash it. Thanks.

mhardy6647

THere are fuses, and they're well worth checking. Use a meter (or a continuity tester) if possible -- they don't always look bad.

If it's been with you its whole life, there could be dirty switches or controls. Well worth fiddling with the various knobs and buttons, and listening for a glimmer of life from the bad channel.

It's also, unfortunately, quite possible that a driver or output transistor(s) have failed. It may be worth fixing (it's a very good piece) -- there are several good solid state repair/restoration folks.

Don't forget to make sure all cables are still OK -- is the bad channel out on ALL sources?

Finally -- the 730, as I recall, has "pre out/main in" jacks with jumpers. Make sure both of those are properly installed (remove and re-seating them wouldn't be a bad idea).

Texas42

I've heard the old HK 730s are a very sweet sounding receiver. Hope you can get it back in service.

OnlyPolk

Thanks guys! I will check the jumpers, didn't think about that. I think I eliminated the source by switching speakers, although I did use the same cable. Yes I have had this receiver since 1976 and there have been issues with cruddy speaker selector and volume buttons that needed spraying. The problem with taking it to the shop (and there is a good one nearby) is that they won't give you an idea of a price range without seeing it first and charging you for diagnosis, and I'm not sure if I should spend over a $100 on it.

Since I want to go back to listening to stereo and since the 730 did not have CD inputs, I ordered an HK 3485 from Amazon (via J&R) - my 3rd HK receiver!!. The second one from 1985 (don't remember the model) was gifted to my son and is still in service. My BIC turntable went to the trash earlier this year (replaced with an At PL-120), so only the Advents remain in working order.

mhardy6647

If you're in New England, I'd be happy to take a look at it for you (although my diagnostic skills on solid state equipment are pretty meagre).

OnlyPolk

mhardy6647 wrote: »

If you're in New England, I'd be happy to take a look at it for you (although my diagnostic skills on solid state equipment are pretty meagre).

Thanks for the offer, I live in SC

mhardy6647

ahh, well :-(

Spacedeckman

I'd spend the money on it. That's a pretty good old unit, well worth $100.

The controls on those old h/ks get real dirty. I had my 330c apart a few years ago and cleaned it up inside, replaced bulbs, and cleaned out all of the controls. I'd rather have that one than the new one.

Mark

OnlyPolk

Spacedeckman wrote: »

I'd spend the money on it. That's a pretty good old unit, well worth $100.

.... I'd rather have that one than the new one.

Mark

The 730 doesn't have a CD input. How would you compare it with the HK 3485 that should be arrriving in the next day or two?If I could reminisce, 30 yrs ago we had all of these small retail stores run by audio geeks who packaged systems together for various budgets and sold it by mail order. I think the 730 was the receiver in many of these packages. I bought my system at a small store which was finally bought out by Tweeter. They sold the HK-Advent-BIC package and had an Infinity on demo to show you why the Advents were better. Further down the street another store featured the same Infinity and had the Advents on demo to show you why the Inf.'s were better. The good old days!!

{Edit} - forgot to mention: I don't hear the right channel on headphones either. Is that significant? Thanks

mhardy6647

The AUX or TAPE MON inputs on a 730 are equivalent to a "CD" input -- standard line-level inputs all.

Spacedeckman

OnlyPolk wrote: »

The 730 doesn't have a CD input. How would you compare it with the HK 3485 that should be arrriving in the next day or two?If I could reminisce, 30 yrs ago we had all of these small retail stores run by audio geeks who packaged systems together for various budgets and sold it by mail order. I think the 730 was the receiver in many of these packages. I bought my system at a small store which was finally bought out by Tweeter. They sold the HK-Advent-BIC package and had an Infinity on demo to show you why the Advents were better. Further down the street another store featured the same Infinity and had the Advents on demo to show you why the Inf.'s were better. The good old days!!

{Edit} - forgot to mention: I don't hear the right channel on headphones either. Is that significant? Thanks

Don't tell my 330c that it doesn't have a CD input, it played one for years and years. Drove a pair of Maggie 2.5Rs for a couple of years too until I could afford a better amp. Any input but the phono is fair game. BTW, the phono stage isn't half bad on those either. I used the phono stage in my 330c for a short while when I was between phono stages. It was far better than I thought it would be. Of course, back then, phono stages counted for something, as did tuners.

Do a "head to head" with the new one. The new one will be brighter, the old one will sound warmer, more filled out, bigger, and more substantial.

Mark

OnlyPolk

Spacedeckman wrote: »

.

Do a "head to head" with the new one. The new one will be brighter, the old one will sound warmer, more filled out, bigger, and more substantial.

Mark

Well the 3485 is here and first off the tuner section is more powerful than the 730, pulled in FM stations I wanted to hear with just the supplied antenna. One of these is a jazz station in my town and I had problems with the 730. I can't find anything obviously wrong with the 730 so I've decided to take it to a repair shop ($30 for diagnosis).

Meanwhile I discovered that the foam surrounds on my large Advent woofers had disintegrated away so till that gets fixed the only spare speakers I have that are not in use are a pair of Sony's from a boom box set.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of speakers. What speakers would you recommend within $500/pair to mate with the 3485 ? I listen to mostly pop-oldies and classical. Any rock music that I listen to is Pre 1980 (BS&T, Chicago etc.). Any from the Polk line (I have a pair of SDA 2's )

Also I have a very live room 22 ft by 15. We just had it refloored and used vinyl. Thanks for your input.

Spacedeckman

OnlyPolk wrote: »

Well the 3485 is here and first off the tuner section is more powerful than the 730, pulled in FM stations I wanted to hear with just the supplied antenna. One of these is a jazz station in my town and I had problems with the 730. I can't find anything obviously wrong with the 730 so I've decided to take it to a repair shop ($30 for diagnosis).

Meanwhile I discovered that the foam surrounds on my large Advent woofers had disintegrated away so till that gets fixed the only spare speakers I have that are not in use are a pair of Sony's from a boom box set.

I'm thinking of getting a pair of speakers. What speakers would you recommend within $500/pair to mate with the 3485 ? I listen to mostly pop-oldies and classical. Any rock music that I listen to is Pre 1980 (BS&T, Chicago etc.). Any from the Polk line (I have a pair of SDA 2's )

Also I have a very live room 22 ft by 15. We just had it refloored and used vinyl. Thanks for your input.

Crap, I forgot, I had the tuner cleaned and re-aligned on mine by a friend of mine. That was nearly 15 years ago. It had reached the point where it wasn't picking up much of anything. Didn't take long to do, then the meter pegged out on all the good stations and I was getting all kinds of stuff I couldn't get before either. Something to keep in mind if you decide to go ahead with the repair.

One of my favorite speakers in that price range is the Energy RC10. I think they list for $550, but you should be able to score a pair for $500. Triangle has one down there too, I think it is the Titus that is worth a listen.