Replacement Parts for Marantz 2325

[Googol_Plex]

I am new to AudioKarma and this is my very first post. I apologize in advance if I am posting in the wrong place, or asking something that has been asked and answered many times before.

I have a Marantz 2325 receiver that requires attention. :tears: I have spoken to a technician who says that it is possible that the mode switch is the culprit - the one used to select LEFT, RIGHT, STEREO, REVERSE, MONO. He also said that this is an ALPS switch that are no longer available and hard to find.

I am hoping that someone on the forum can direct me to a person/company who sells these ALPS switches for Marantz 2325 receivers. In addition to the mode switch, I am also looking for the selector switch - the one used to select AM, FM, PHONO, AUX, TAPE1 and TAPE2.

Any advice/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jailtime]

If the mode or selector switch are actually bad, you would need to find a parts unit. Some other Marantz may share the same part, research service manual part #s. http://akdatabase.com/AKview/thumbnails.php?album=1

However, I've never seen a bad selector or mode switch. How did the tech come to that conclusion? What are the symptoms? Have you tried Deoxit/Faderlube treatment? http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207005 Trust me, you don't want to replace either of those switches unless you are 100% sure that they are the problem.

BTW, welcome to Audiokarma!

 

[Googol_Plex]

Thank you very much. To be fair to the tech, he simply mentioned it as a worst case possibility. He had encountered a Marantz 2325 before that had similar symptoms as mine. That one turned out to be a faulty mode switch and he could not get the replacement part. The tech told me that he is only mentioning it to prepare me for a worst case scenario.

I have only spoken to him over the phone and he has not yet looked at my receiver. He told me that once he looks at it, it is possible that the problem can be fixed without replacing the switch. The tech is very experienced, had worked for Marantz and does regular work on vintage Marantz receivers. In fact, I got his name via a recommendation made by an AK member.

The problem that I am experiencing is that the sound level in the right channel is a lot lower than the left channel. There is sound from the right channel, but it is very soft compared to the left channel.

This issue has made me worried about replacement parts. I guess that I should have thought about that before purchasing a 36 year old unit :scratch2: Ah well, hopefully I'll be lucky and will not have to replace a hard to find part.

================================

If the mode or selector switch are actually bad, you would need to find a parts unit. Some other Marantz may share the same part, research service manual part #s. http://akdatabase.com/AKview/thumbnails.php?album=1

However, I've never seen a bad selector or mode switch. How did the tech come to that conclusion? What are the symptoms? Have you tried Deoxit/Faderlube treatment? http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207005 Trust me, you don't want to replace either of those switches unless you are 100% sure that they are the problem.

BTW, welcome to Audiokarma!

 

[bktheking]

There could be many things that cause that, i'd wait to hear back on the diagnosis, at this point he is guessing.

 

[sssmokin99]

I wouldn't let "worst case scenarios" put you off of this or any other quality vintage piece. There are really very few parts inside a 2325 that cannot be rebuilt or somehow improvised, if it comes to that. Much easier than todays equipment will be in 40 years. But regarding that switch, if one cleaning/treatment cycle doesn't completely do it, try it again. And again. You may have to rinse and repeat several times, but I bet you can get it.

 

[Googol_Plex]

Thank you very much for the encouraging words. I am feeling a teeny-weeny little bit depressed because I purchased the receiver very recently and got to enjoy it for only 1 day and then the right channel issue occurred. The sound was just great during that 1 day when it worked. I put it into my system in place of my Rega Cursa 3 and Adcom GFA-555II pre/power setup, and I liked the vintage Marantz sound much, much more. I had my Time Warner Cable box connected to it and the familiar voices of newsreaders, interviewers, etc simply blew me away. I am definitely hooked.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the problem turns out to be one that is fixed easily and the receiver will be as good as when I first heard it.

===================================

I wouldn't let "worst case scenarios" put you off of this or any other quality vintage piece. There are really very few parts inside a 2325 that cannot be rebuilt or somehow improvised, if it comes to that. Much easier than todays equipment will be in 40 years. But regarding that switch, if one cleaning/treatment cycle doesn't completely do it, try it again. And again. You may have to rinse and repeat several times, but I bet you can get it.

 

[skibjr]

Sorry, but no way in hell it's a defective mode switch. Like Jailtime, I've never ever seen a bad one in 35 years of doing this work. (Okay I take that back - I had a shaft "key" fall out of a Marantz 2500 about ten years ago, but even that was easily fixed.)

My first guess is that you simply have dirty switch contacts, dirty relay contacts, or dirty potentiometers (like the Bass, Treble, Volume, Balance controls, for example). These are easily cleaned, in fact you could probably do it yourself. There are tons of threads on this site regarding how to do it, but here's one of my favorites:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=207005

Good luck! :thmbsp:

 

[rBuckner]

What happens when you wiggle the switch a bit, without actually changing modes? Any noise? Also play with the tape monitor button(s) and speaker selector buttons. Any of those could be an issue.

 

[Jailtime]

If it worked for a day, there's exactly 0% chance that the mode or selector switch failed. I'd put money on that 2325 needing a good Deoxit job. Follow up the D5 with Faderlube. Read up at CAIG's website - http://store.caig.com/.

Follow that guide skibjr posted, and report back.

 

[Googol_Plex]

Nothing happens if I wiggle any of the switches. All controls and switches are absolutely quiet with no hint of hiss, static, etc. I noticed that the MAIN speaker selector switch is a little bit sticky i.e. sometimes it does not deactivate properly and needs a slight tug.

I also did some testing by using the REMOTE speaker outputs instead of MAIN. There was no difference. I also swapped the speaker connections to verify that there is nothing wrong with the speakers.

One of the AK members recommended Tom Ishimoto as the person to go to if one lives in the Los Angeles area. I checked it out and his business is a 20 minute drive from my place. I am going to take my receiver to him and have him look at it. While he does that, I'll ask him to do thorough cleaning, checkup and service. I'll also ask him to replace all the lamps with LEDs (I've already ordered a full set from Don Haywood)

I am feeling a lot better after all the comments and feedback from a number of AK folks. A big and heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone.

============================================

What happens when you wiggle the switch a bit, without actually changing modes? Any noise? Also play with the tape monitor button(s) and speaker selector buttons. Any of those could be an issue.

 

[audio3000]

Try to jam RCA plug into the power amp input RCA connectors to see if it makes any change. !!!! Disconnect you speakers when doing this or power down the whole unit !!!!

I found in mine that it would pop loudly once in a while. After some trouble shooting, I found that the cuprit is one of the power amp RCA input connectors. In normal operation, the pre-amp out is connected to the power amp input thru a piece of metal tongue inside. If interconnect is plugged into the power amp input, the internal pre-amp output will be cut off by disconnecting the metal piece. The connector is silver plated. It's okay when it's new. But over time, it develops a silver oxide/sulfate type layer (black), making poor contact. I removed the connector completely from the amp and cleaned it completely. And the problem has been cleared up.

Hope this helps.

 

[Googol_Plex]

Thank you very much for the reply, but I had already taken my Marantz 2325 to Tom at Northridge Electronics and he sorted it out for me. I'm taking it back to him in a few weeks for a full restoration. At the very least, all caps will be replaced. I am very impressed with my unit and it is definitely a keeper http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/images/smilies/banana.gif

======

Try to jam RCA plug into the power amp input RCA connectors to see if it makes any change. !!!! Disconnect you speakers when doing this or power down the whole unit !!!!

I found in mine that it would pop loudly once in a while. After some trouble shooting, I found that the cuprit is one of the power amp RCA input connectors. In normal operation, the pre-amp out is connected to the power amp input thru a piece of metal tongue inside. If interconnect is plugged into the power amp input, the internal pre-amp output will be cut off by disconnecting the metal piece. The connector is silver plated. It's okay when it's new. But over time, it develops a silver oxide/sulfate type layer (black), making poor contact. I removed the connector completely from the amp and cleaned it completely. And the problem has been cleared up.

Hope this helps.