If you look at my past posts on this site I admit I don't tend to keep it brief.
I am on the lower end of the budget. I have tended to collect some vintage units, many needing fix and repair, mostly toward the lower end most acquired $100 or less. Overhaul and fix up vintage pieces and get back in good working order, some simple and straightforward others how should I put it, extended very educational experiences. The most time consuming frustrating units teach you the most about diagnosis and repair. Then swap in and out decide the keepers and periodically part with some either as gifts or sell. Still learning, starting trying to fix them about this time two years ago. Thanks to MarktheFixer for the list on recapping the SX-535. My first effort, the Yamaha CA-610II with badly distorting channel was second, then the Sherwood (barrel full of monkeys, the Scott has been even more fun).
I notice I tend to like the late 60s early 70s vintage units - something about them if I have them in the system (talking the 2000A and 342-C here) they seem to be on a lot more than some other units. If the 3000A passes the initial tests can't wait to put it on the big speakers. The SX-9000 is supposed to be a good sounding vintage one too but a challenge to work on.
Speakers: 1972 KLH Model 17 normally in the workroom, with Polk 5JR with RD0194 tweeters on standby. Swap Advent Legacy II with Klipsch KG 5.2 in living room. Klipsch currently hooked up likely will get Crites titanium upgrades in the future. KLH Model 403 are my test speakers. Fried an original woofer (did not test for dc at outputs) the $6 GRS replacements from PE made the 403s sound so much better.
Unit collection (these are in working condition):
Pioneer SX-535 (restored - recapped , new lights, and many transistors replaced - was loaded with bad 11 list types and originally sounded like it had a bad cold)
Sherwood S-7200 (restored - recapped amp section had bad transistors lots of noise - amp card now has modern replacements - also 250+ F power supply resistors replaced with setup that dropped temperatures to about 140 F - no longer smells like something is burning)
Kenwood KR-7400 (recapped and new lights - hot power supply resistors replaced with cooler setup - got tired of the burning smell)
Sansui 2000A (recapped splurged with Silmics, new lights, and some transistors replaced including new outputs, acquired wood case)
Yamaha CR-800 (new lights, had blown outputs and fusible resistors, busted fuse holder - evidence indicates cola was spilled into it, future recap)
Yamaha CA and CT-610II ($30 GW find, bad transistors replaced and lights in amp, both have been recapped)
Onkyo TX-4500 MkII (acquired in Pleasant Garden, apparently spent long time in attic. Recapped and new lights, rudimentary alignment got tuner working again but now too far off for Quartz lock to work, hopefully just needs an alignment, maybe has a bad transistor hopefully not one of the tuner chips).
Onkyo T-4087 tuner
Current projects (both cheap fix and repair on auction sites - just attracted bottom feeders):
HH Scott 342-C (was a parts and repair unit garbled mess was all it would produce - now sounds very good when working, still sorting out its issues)
Sansui 3000A (just did amp overhaul and service mods - will tweak bias and figure out its other issues from there - no longer missing knob - when acquired both amp circuits would light up dim bulb tester - tuner seems pretty good - shafts bent like it got dumped and someone put it on ebay)
On the shelf future projects:
Pioneer SX-9000 (past home for mice and stink bugs, decontaminated and sanitized after sinuses upset with it in apartment, blown outputs and full of transistors not known for reliability - tuner seems to be good after replacing cap that had top chewed off - AM board and balance control were toast)
Onkyo A-8700 (selector switch repair gone bad - have fix in mind will see it if works, otherwise back to drawing board)
Several speaker projects to test and design crossovers for
The Technics SA-5470 pictured with the SX-535 was sold locally earlier this year - hopefully has a happy home in High Point.
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