• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Marantz 2325 Right Channel Issues

OP Music

OP Music

Active Member
Hey guys I purchased a Marantz 2325 not 4 months ago from a guy locally, he told me the guy he had bought it from 6 years ago had done a complete re-cap and everything before he purchased it from him. Well, every time I listen to it, the right speaker always takes longer to "detect" the sound coming through. When I turn a few of the knobs on it there's definite crackling, almost purely from the right side. I have not experienced any issues with the left channel at all. To be frank, everything else about the receiver seems to be absolutely perfect!

I'm new to the audiophile scene and was just very fortunate to get my hands on this fine piece of machinery for the price I did. So to preface this thread, let me say, I don't know what I'm doing, or what could be wrong with it.

That being said, I have a strong desire to learn what is going on inside of the receiver and would like to fix it myself. If that is not a possibility, I understand and I would totally go and get it professionally redone. The only problem right now is that I'm in school and just don't have much time to tackle this problem at the moment. I just have a feeling I could save a lot of money if I did it myself, and would feel like a total badass of course :p

Let me know what you guys think! As always, thanks for your time, consideration and help!

I'll upload a few photos so you guys can see this beauty!
 

Attachments

  • IMAG0483.jpg
    IMAG0483.jpg
    34.7 KB · Views: 16
  • IMAG0485.jpg
    IMAG0485.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 17
  • IMAG0488.jpg
    IMAG0488.jpg
    44.2 KB · Views: 14
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Welcome to the vintage life - this stuff, as cool and as well made as it is has lots of years on it.
The first thing that everyone is going to tell you is to clean the controls and switches - which is a good idea but I suspect your problem is a failing signal transistor.

Pull out the jumpers on the back panel and crisscross them with an RCA cable. If the problem changes channels it's something in the preamp section. If it stays on the same channel it's a power amp issue.
 
2325 doesn't use external jumpers between Pre Out and Main In on the back. But the connections are there. Take a pair of RCA cables and put one color on left Pre Out going to right Main In. Then put the other color from right Pre Out to left Main In. If the bad channel stays on right, it's a power amp issue. If it switches to left, it's likely in the preamp section. However, the most likely cause at this point is still a dirty connection in a switch, potentiometer or relay. Some of those are easy to clean, and some not so much.
 
On the back of the receiver, there are pre-out and main in connections. These connections allow easy access to the signal coming out of the preamp section (where the loudness, bass, mid treble take place) of the circuit as well as inputs to the power amplifiers (main in). By removing the jumpers and criss crossing rca cables allow you to feed the left channel signal into the right channel amplifier and the right channel signal into the left amplifier module. This is done to determine if the problem is in the preamp section or the amplifier section of the unit.

After crossing, if the problem stays on the same side, you have an amplifier problem. If it moves to the other side the problem lies in the preamp section.

Heed the advice on deoxit and cleaning every switch and pot. Doing this usually clears up 60% of issues and will become common practice to you after a few years of vintage ownership.

There are many many threads here on AK about cleaning contacts. Radio shacks usually carry deposit but there it's like 15 bucks a can.
 
Last edited:
There is a bonus to doing the crossing of the Main In/Pre Out jacks. It also tests to see if the problem is the jacks themselves, or rather the switches behind the jacks. These are the ones that automatically connect Main to Pre if nothing is plugged into them. The contacts on them get dirty and can be like a dirty relay contact.

That said, the symptoms you describe call for cleaning all the front panel controls as suggested. This requires a lot of disassembly of your 2325 including both covers, the face plate, and removal of a circuit board. To get to every single front panel control requires even more disassembly.

Start by simply cycling each control 30 times, listening as you do so. Well, maybe it will be best if the 2325 is not turned on when you cycle the volume control! But by working the other controls you may narrow it down to one or two of them. And cycling them will often improve how they work, although a cleaning ultimately will still be needed.
 
Might aso be a good idea to check the speaker relay by tapping it with a screwdriver handle or other nonmetallic tool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom