Modern Stereo

[twintubdexter]

"vintage" components give me happy feet

I've always had a love affair with audio components. There is some very nice equipment pictured on this thread. Many years ago when my friends had portable stereos with flip-down record changers I saved my money and bought a used Harmon Kardon Stereo Festival receiver from a high-end audio store in downtown San Jose...Alco Paramount. This 24-vacuum tube receiver (my Magnavox Concert Grand has 40) was already dated when I bought it but was totally cool, tons of knobs & lights and a very nice brushed copper front.

notice the independently operated AM & FM tuning dials and the AM/FM spot on the function knob...a reminder when you could listen to stereo radio using an AM radio for one channel and and FM for the other...guess which one sounded better?

 

[firedome]

Joe -

that was the first integrated stereo receivers ever made, had one years ago. I still have the SAMS Photofact with specs, schematic, and alignment procedure if you need it... this one had 4 x 7408 output tubes iirc? a juiced up industrial 6V6GT tube basically.

 

[firedome]

The GE Multiplex

FM standard came in shortly after this H-K was made, around 1961, and made the 2 separate dials redundant. Here one literally had to tune in to an FM and AM station at the same time in order to get a primitive stereo signal, I'm sure tolivac can elaborate on this, being a radio guy.

 

[tolivac]

AM/FM "stereo" Used to have a McIntosh tuner that was set up with the tuning sections independent of each other.A radio station I worked for used to do the AM/FM stereo-the broadcast the left channel on the AM and the Right on the FM.They did not have a stereo generator in the FM transmitter at that time-and before multiplex FM came out.Most FM transmitters at that time had frequency multiplication in the power stages-usually in imtermediate amp or driver-the final RF Amp in the transmitter ran on frequency.Stereo generators could not be used in those old multplier transmitters-lots got junked in those days when multiplex stereo came out.Starting in the early 60's FM transm itter RF power amps were "on frequency" so modern on frequency direct FM exciter and stereo generators could be used with them.
7408 tubes-also rang a bell with me-see these being liked by guitarists-they use them in their "G" fiddle amps that have 6V6GT.Either single end amps or PP ones.

 

[beekeyknee]

Advice on this subject, anyone....

I have an ailing stereo system that I purchased around 1980. The reel to reel was purchased a few years before that. I purchased several different components until I got the combination I thought I wanted. Over the years each piece has gradually deteriorated to the point of uselessness. The HPM-100's are the only thing that still works. I would like to send my components to a reputable person or persons for restoration. 

 

I restored the cassette deck a few years ago. It took nearly a year and a lot of time. I don't have the time or equipment to do all the pieces myself. If I find some reputable people that are in this business I could send the components in one at a time and they could advise whether or not I should have the components repaired or replaced with a comparable unit. Maybe someone in this business could take my old units in on trade for parts. I would imagine there are some people out there that do that. I'd rather keep my old units, but I would consider replacement if repair proved too costly. 

 

If any of you have done this or know someone who has, I would appreciate your input.

 

Thanks.

 

Brian

 

[beekeyknee]

The first patient. A Kenwood KR-9050, which worked fairly well until two summers ago when it was a victim of an indirect lighting strike. Lighting hit the line and there was a surge on one of the legs in the house. After that when I turn it on it will run for about 20 or 30 sec., one watt meter will register and then its over load/protect relay will click off and it will go silent.

 

[beekeyknee]

Some of the function lights are burned out as well as some dial lights. Here the receiver is tuned into a station with a strong signal. The stereo light is working but the FM light is out. It's past the first 20-30 seconds, so it is receiving a signal but not putting out sound as the relay has tripped. This is what started after the lighting strike; the receiving but not producing sound. The panel lights have been slowly going out over the years.

[this post was last edited: 3/23/2013-06:53]

 

[beekeyknee]

It has an FM lock function that is kind of quirky and worked on and off for several years and finally quit working. The idea is to tune in the station and if the lock button is on, the receiver will automatically lock onto the station perfectly when the dial is released. It's touch sensitive. A neat feature, but trouble prone.

[this post was last edited: 3/23/2013-09:03]

 

[beekeyknee]

Finally, the last thing that is wrong; the power switch went out a few years back. I took it to a local shop and they said the switch was NLA, but they could wire past it and it would run when plugged in. I had them do this and bought a small RF, battery operated remote control to plug in the wall so I could turn it off and on easily. The power switch is at the lower left in this photo.

 

[beekeyknee]

Of course there is no surround sound with this system, but the sound was fantastic. And when the Bose 901's were turned on there was a great spacial sound.

 

[beekeyknee]

The second patient. A Pioneer PL-610 turntable. This device has been troublesome for quite some time. When I originally purchased it, it was an out of the box in store display model. The shop owner told me that when he received it, it ran backwards. He said it had been sent back to the factory and repaired and had ran fine ever since. I was young and stupid, saw a neat piece of equipment for a good price and purchased it. Of course I now know that someone else had purchased it and returned it, he probably sent it to a factory authorized service center and put it back on the floor. I know it didn't go back to Japan.

 

It worked fine for probably 10 or 15 years and then started to act up. When I would move the tonearm over the record sometimes it would move an inch or two in both directions and then start turning the right direction. It did this off and on for a few years and then one day it started running backward. It would do this for a few minutes and then run the right direction.

 

Then while playing it began not holding a steady speed. I would turn the quartz lock off and run it with the pitch gauge on and adjust it manually, then I would lock it back on. This worked for awhile, but eventually it would not hold a steady speed in any mode.

 

I took it apart and cleaned the pot that adjusts the pitch. This seemed to help for awhile, but didn't solve the problem completely. When the quartz lock button is pressed, the pitch adjustment needle is supposed to automatically return to zero (center) and the light on the pitch adjustment dial goes out. The light goes out, but the needle continues to respond, even though it's not supposed to and it usually doesn't return to 0% (center).

 

The arm-elevation (cueing arm) quit working properly. It's driven by a belt connected to a small motor. I replaced the belt, but I think I didn't get the exact size needed. It elevates and stops now, but when it's lowered the motor continues to run and it makes a "click-click sound over and over and I can see the arm elevator rod moving up and down in synchronization with the clicking sound. I just turn it off to make it stop. 

 

I don't know about this turntable. It seems very troubled. It seems it would take someone who knows a lot about this type of design to fix it. I think it's over engineered. I like it and it looks cool, but I don't know if there's a cure.

[this post was last edited: 3/23/2013-09:15]

 

[beekeyknee]

Pic 2

 

[beekeyknee]

Pic 3

 

[beekeyknee]

The third patient is a Teac Real to Real. It hasn't worked for a long time either. It's was a really nice machine at one time. It has seven inch reals, automatic reverse, direct drive capstan and outboard Dolby N/R. It was running one day and it suddenly started running extremely fast. It was like Alvin and the Chipmunks jumped in there. All I can figure is the logic circuit that controls the motor speed went out or the servo went out. I think this might be fixable. I found this site. Don't know anything about him. He seems legit.

[this post was last edited: 3/23/2013-09:16]

http://southernreeltoreeltapedecks.com/

 

[beekeyknee]

Pic 2

 

[beekeyknee]

Pic 3

 

[beekeyknee]

Pic 4. So much for my $6000.00 stereo. 1980 dollars at that. Any suggestions on repair people would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[cfz2882]

good old gear

that kenwood is really pretty-hope someone can help you get it going again,the other stuff is pretty nice too and prime era as well.

 

[whirlcool]

Well, you could look at the Dual Reference Website which I operate. We have a Parts/Service list which lists some companies that do service vintage equipment.
I know that the Stereo Exchange in Chicago and Classic Audio Repair do work on most brands of equipment from that era.

Roses Electronics here in Houston is a really great place to have work done, but I'll tell you up front they are expensive $$$$$!

I can personally vouch for all these companies as being very reputable and having a high level of customer satisfaction.

Parts/Service Main Page

 

[beekeyknee]

Thanks for the input, guys.