Is this Sanyo DCX3300KA Worth Fixing Up?

[Candywarhol]

I need to preface this by confessing that I am essentially a techno ignoramus. I've never refurbished anything that required a lick of mechanical savvy. That said, I recently found this Sanyo receiver at a thrift store. It powers on, but when I tried to use the headphone ports the sound was VERY weak and crackly. When I connected a pair of speakers, it picked up AM radio signal just fine but when I connected a CD player to the 'AUX' it didn't transmit any sound.

I am oblivious to what this may cost to have fixed. As I said earlier, I am unsure whether attempting to do so myself would likely be a daunting task. I haven't even been able to figure out how to open up this receiver to clean off the built-up dust inside. Is it worth taking to a repair facility? Or should I return it and get my $100 back?

 

[ggregg]

Cleaning the controls may help dramatically but if you can't get the lid off, that's probably out. There are a few things you could do but it would require taking the case and/or the bottom off. If you can't figure that out, it's probably best to take it back.

 

[Candywarhol]

That would be a great segue to my biggest question: How do I remove the case or the bottom? I don't see any screws in the front, back, top or sides. I assumed that meant I should take out the screws on the bottom. I tried that once, but it didn't seem to want to come apart. I didn't force it, because I didn't want to damage anything.

 

[ggregg]

Post some pics of the sides, bottom, and back and let's take a look.

 

[Candywarhol]

Four pictures to add to my earlier front/back pics.

 

[petehall347]

remove the screws in the bottom and the insides will slide out ..or the bottom cover will lift off .

 

[ggregg]

Yep. You may not need to remove the feet. Leave them on and try it. It should slide out the front, once the screws are removed. If it doesn't, remove the feet and try again.

 

[Tim64]

Unless you specifically want a Quad receiver I would return it if it's a option. I would put a little more cash together and get a Kenwood or Pioneer that's fully functional and then have it recapped. I see both on Craigslist from time to time in fact someone has a Marantz SR1000 receiver for sale for a hundred bucks fully functional and yes I'm very tempted.

 

[cashflagg]

That would be a great segue to my biggest question: How do I remove the case or the bottom? I don't see any screws in the front, back, top or sides. I assumed that meant I should take out the screws on the bottom. I tried that once, but it didn't seem to want to come apart. I didn't force it, because I didn't want to damage anything.

First of all, I have the DCX-3300K, which is pretty much identical to the 3300KA...in fact...I've never even been able to distinguish what the difference is between the two. But anyway, I absolutely love the thing. It sounds far better than one would think, especially from a Sanyo product, but they made some quality stuff years and years ago...so it really shouldn't be that surprising. Not sure if the "KA" version is a little more powerful, but I know mine is rated at 20wpc over 4 channels.

As for getting it out of the case, all you have to do is simply unscrew the screws on the bottom. I don't believe you need to remove the feet, but I can't remember for sure. Once you do, it just slides out from the front and everything is exposed and very easy to clean with DeOxit and/or survey what else may be wrong with the unit. If all it needs is a simple cleaning, then I would certainly keep it. However, if it calls for something more labor intensive/expensive, then you might think about getting your money back (I would still keep it personally). No matter, if it ends up working, the unit is a fairly nice one. Enjoy.

 

[ggregg]

Unless you specifically want a Quad receiver I would return it if it's a option. I would put a little more cash together and get a Kenwood or Pioneer that's fully functional and then have it recapped. I see both on Craigslist from time to time in fact someone has a Marantz SR1000 receiver for sale for a hundred bucks fully functional and yes I'm very tempted.

If it was a choice between this one and a SR1000, I'd keep this one and I have a half dozen Marantz recievers. Although it looks similar to the earlier units, there were a lot of changes by the time the SR1000 came out.

 

[Tim64]

If it was a choice between this one and a SR1000, I'd keep this one and I have a half dozen Marantz recievers. Although it looks similar to the earlier units, there were a lot of changes by the time the SR1000 came out.

I'm starting to get the impression Sanyo put some top notch stuff I always thought they were just consumer line stuff, evidently not. Not gonna mess with the sr1000 I don't need another project and have the spares down to a excellent level of WAF.

 

[ggregg]

This Sanyo unit is a good middle of the road receiver, not bad, but not top notch either. They (and their Fisher subsidary, which they owned by this time) made plenty of lousy rack based units, but they are a few years newer than this rig. They were still competing with Pioneer and Kenwood at this time and their gear was pretty comparable.

 

[hnash53]

First of all, I have the DCX-3300K, which is pretty much identical to the 3300KA...in fact...I've never even been able to distinguish what the difference is between the two. But anyway, I absolutely love the thing. It sounds far better than one would think, especially from a Sanyo product, but they made some quality stuff years and years ago...so it really shouldn't be that surprising. Not sure if the "KA" version is a little more powerful, but I know mine is rated at 20wpc over 4 channels.

As for getting it out of the case, all you have to do is simply unscrew the screws on the bottom. I don't believe you need to remove the feet, but I can't remember for sure. Once you do, it just slides out from the front and everything is exposed and very easy to clean with DeOxit and/or survey what else may be wrong with the unit. If all it needs is a simple cleaning, then I would certainly keep it. However, if it calls for something more labor intensive/expensive, then you might think about getting your money back (I would still keep it personally). No matter, if it ends up working, the unit is a fairly nice one. Enjoy.

I have both the K and KA models. You do not have to remove the feet... just the other screws on the bottom... then slide out the receiver from the front.

These can be daunting to work on as I'm finding out. However, these are the best sounding quad receivers I have found yet. And I even have a Sansui QRX5500 and my Sanyo's play quad better than the Sansui... as mentioned in the above quote.

But if you do not think you are up to the task, taking it back might be your best option... and hunt on eBay for what looks like a better working unit.

Good luck.

 

[laidbacklark]

Hello AK’ers, not sure if this old thread will elicit a response but giving it a shot. Came by a nice bit very dirty/dusty unit of this. Cleaned it up fully and turned it on in 2 channel thru Aux. Nice clean sound on the stereo channels. But the speaker switch was very dirty. Then tried the Tape Monitor - that was very crackly/dirty too and there was sound only from one channel. So sprayed it well with DeOxit. There was also oxidation on the speaker contacts so sprayed DeOxit there too. Then turned it on, immediately there was some sort of crackly sound and a spark near the speaker outputs and then one channel is now dead. When I turn it on, there’s some initial static on that channel and it goes dead. The other channel works. Trying to see if a fuse went dead and trying to locate one on the board and can’t find any either on the top or bottom. What did I do to mess this up ? Google says there are speaker protector fuses but I can’t see them - are they an unusual type ? TIA