SA-8800 or SA-9800. Decisions decisions.

[Combwork]

Out of the blue, a man I've done business with before `phoned and offered me his mint complete with original box and paperwork SA-9800. Problem is it died on him and the local Pioneer specialist, having initially said he could repair it for £100 ($200) seems to have lost interest. Symptoms are it switches on, after a short while goes distorted then the protection relay shuts it down.

I already have a DOA SA-8800. Do I want to spend £50 plus postage an another DOA Pioneer? I know; hypothetical question; it's my decision but can anyone advise me? Ideal thing would be to get the 9800, fix both amps then sell the 8800 to cover my costs but is this practical?

 

[cp2buy]

Contact echowar! Just an unqualified guess is that it is the SA 9800 has a power regulator problem which has to be rebuilt by a very qualified tech. I would fine the right tech and fix the highly desireable SA 9800.

 

[markthefixer]

I can offer a technical observation:

The 9800's output transistors are not packed together as tightly as the 8800's so IF the replacement of the output transistors was necessary, the Sanken transistors I talked about would be more likely to fit.

BUT if you have somebody that could make eight 35mm x 10mm x 5mm (approx) hold down bars with 2 holes in them, we could use a very plentiful modern power transistor case style for EITHER of them.

Since the unit initially plays, the chances of needing output transistor replacement IS lower, but the diagnosis of the problem may be a bit more difficult, especially by remote, BUT that's not for certain.

I don't blame the tech, the 8800 and 9800 have the Pioneer Non Switching Amplifier circuits which can be very discouraging to troubleshoot for those not experienced in that type of amplifier circuitry, and that is complicated by the fact that on both there is also the power limiter circuits as part of the driver stages.

This attached picture shows the approximate style of the hold down bar, this one's details (no center connection) and dimensions are different, but the general idea is the same.

 

[Combwork]

Thanks guys.

I'm waiting for a callback from the gentleman with the 9800. He's a nice guy; I told him that if it were mine I wouldn't sell it. The 'tech' operates from a Pioneer Service Centre and the last thing he said (a few weeks back) was he needs a service manual. This is odd as according to customer service, Pioneer U.K. still have the manual available. Kind of backs up the idea that his 'tech' wants a reason to walk away from it? I'm trying to persuade the guy to join AK as a subscriber; then he would have legitimate access to the library store of manuals, plus access to the brains on here but the kicker is, he's "Visually Impaired". This is one of the few times where this PC phrase actually fits; he can walk across a room ok and differentiate between light and dark but cannot read. He has a good friend down South who's helping him with this.

If his 'tech' really is trying to do the job but is stuck for a manual, I'll see if I can get him one from one of the free download sites but it's odd that Pioneer hasn't supplied one. Unless it's one of those instances where Customer Service says one thing but Stores says another........................

Like I said, this started with a 'phone call out of the blue saying he was thinking about selling it. I don't want to take advantage of the man, but neither do I want to pay silly money for something that might have a minor fault, but might equally well have something terminal wrong with it. His 'tech' says a service, including replacing "all the capacitors" would cost £100 ($200)........ Is this right?

Oh yes. Little hold down bars for the transistors. At last, technology I can deal with Do they have to be aluminum? If not, I'd use brass for no other reason than that I have this in various thicknesses in my workshop.