Sony TA-F3A Quiet Channel

[OmegaAuds]

Hello, I've had a Sony TA-F3A amp which I have loved and used everyday however the left channel is EXTREMELY quiet. I can hear the audio signal very quietly if I turn up the volume to 40-50%, normally I use it at minimum volume level. I checked inside, the caps don't appear to be leaking, and the working channel has good sound still. Sometimes the channel does cut back in for awhile, but soon cuts out after maybe 20 minutes of working.

I've searched google for this issue on a Ta-F3A, nothing. When I broadened my search to general reasons for a channel to be extremely quiet I started getting hit with irrelevant results everywhere (mostly home theater posts).

Could someone direct to a forum thread addressing issues that cause quiet channels, or give me a few things to check here? (I haven't tried deoxit because none of the controls are scratchy, should I try it anyways?)

Thank you!

OmegaAuds

 

[ryuuoh]

It could be dirty switches/controls, maybe the speaker relay. Bad solder joints as well.
I'd start with tapping on the relay when it acts up to see if the channel comes back. Cleaning of the controls would be next.

 

[OmegaAuds]

I'll give that a try, thanks!

 

[mhedges]

Does it do this with every input?

 

[OmegaAuds]

well, I am very embarrassed it turns out one of the brand new cables was defective (it was ok for a few weeks). Anyways, I ended up cleaning all the pots...can't hurt it.

Thanks for the help! I panicked a little as this amp was suppose to have been "serviced" by the person I bought it from.