• 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

Onkyo TX-37 - Fix or buy new?

Ishq

Ishq

New Member
Greetings,

New to AK. Tell me what to buy or do I fix vintage Onkyo TX-37.

I'm the original owner of the Onkyo TX-37. Bought it in high school with money from my first job. I've used her ever since as my only receiver. She still works but channels cut in and out and crackle (mostly right channel) and it's slowly growing worse. The pre-sets also don't save for long periods of time (no biggy). Otherwise when working, she sounds fantastic. I have well over 2000 albums from circa the late 40s to late 70s and this amp does a great job of making those recordings sound fantastic. My 2500 plus CD collection also does well with her as does my connection to the TV for sports and movies along with connecting to my computer/phone for Napster, Amz Prime, etc.

Do I fix or let her die? If I fix, should I use the centers found on Onkyo USA support? (I'm in the Los Angeles, Long Beach, South Bay area). Any guesses on what the cost/bill may look like for the likely repairs?

If I let her die, what do I buy to replace? A phono input is helpful but I can get a phono amp. I would also like an HD tuner to get HD.1, HD.2, etc stations. (Is that standard these days?) Surround would be acceptable and fun but not a must. Budget up to $350. Used ok if reputable.

Tell me what to buy or do I fix vintage Onkyo TX-37.

Big thanks!

~Scott

20161130_095748

20161130_095748

  • Media owner Ishq
  • Date added
20161130_095857

20161130_095857

  • Media owner Ishq
  • Date added
 
Register to hide this ad
They run in the 25-60 range on fleabay. The repair cost would probably exceed it's value, but being that it has sentimental value to it, it's up to you if it's worth repairing.

Regarding a replacement, you'll get a million suggestions.
Anything vintage runs the risk of needing eventual repairs, unless it has been thoroughly gone through with a recap and any other repairs needed.

I'm sending you a conversation regarding an AKer who does great work, and has an abundance of gear for sale.
Glenn
 
Cutting out and crackle might be a speaker protection relay needing replaced or maybe just dirty switches / pots. Loss of memory sounds like a backup super capacitor. If it were me, I would get it repaired. When does the crackle / dropout occur?
 
(in my best wise-guy mob voice): "its totally totally fixable"

and for not much money if you know how to poke in there.

I think I recently did a TX35 which was silver faced and in the same genre of that.
 
I'll agree on the dead super cap and probably bad protection relay contacts. I like Onkyo gear and since you've had it this long I'd lean toward fixing it.

Maybe try turning the volume, tone and balance knobs back and forth a bunch of times with it powered off to see if the crackling noise gets any better. If so then you might just need to deoxit your pots.
The preset issue would take soldering to fix but the part is only a few dollars. If it's the protection relay causing your issue, same thing, few dollars in parts and a bit of soldering.
 
What OMGCat! said all the way.

I had one of those series by Onkyo, forget which. I do remember it was sweet as sugar.

Fix that bad boy, doesn't sound like anything even remotely difficult. I'm betting a deoxit bath, relay contact clean/sanding and she'll respond well.


Oh, and WELCOME TO AUDIOKARMA!!!
 
Somebody gave me a tx-37 and it was pretty much fried including the stk power pack. I'm pretty sure it was stuck in one of those glass coffins and stacked as heat was noted on a few of the ceramic resistors.

However at 0.04 thd and modest wattage I agree it probably needs the pots cleaned up. I also have 2 tx-82's one belonging to a friend and I cleaned that up deox w lube and really made a difference even though it showed no scratchy issues. These have output transistors instead of stk module.

I would clean up as james recommends and see if it improves.

sm here http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/onkyo/tx-37.shtml
 
This is an old post, but just in case anyone else is looking for info on the Onkyo TX-37. They do not have protection circuitry, so if there is an issue with the receiver passing DC voltage or worse to the speaker outputs, you could lose your speakers (there are modules that you can build yourself or purchase and then install to add protection circuitry). Secondly, these do, in fact, have an STK module installed (STK4913 to be exact) to handle both channel outputs. Replacing the STK is not difficult, IF you can find a replacement - that is the difficult part. The STK's are no longer being mass produced, so your options for acquiring one will be used (not a great idea), ordering one online (some are ok, but there are lots of cheap counterfeits out there also), or the better option would be to remove the STK and install two of the TDA7293 modules. There are some YouTube videos showing how to install these modules instead of using the STK. The sound quality is supposed to be excellent from these, and the benefit is that you can build them yourself, or purchase them complete for around $8 to $10 each, for a total of around $20 for two high quality channels of audio. These do not include any protection circuitry, but you could add that yourself as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom