STR-7065 newbie

[dly66]

Those LEDs probably won't fit. They protrude from the sides too far. You need ones that fit the profile of a standard fuse-style lamp, similar to these:

I used the ones like those from PE on mine. At Parts Express they mention the resistance to add in series with them to use the 8V on the 12V circuit. Theirs being warm white does a decent job lighting up the orange. My dial lights up white which I am fine with. If dial is supposed to be green whatever was responsible for it was gone. Used the 8V fuse lamps at the ends of the dial and behind the meters.

 

[dly66]

Unfortunately Parts Express was expecting to get more around 7/15, about then they changed the expected date to 7/30.

Trimmed back what was left of the reflector material. A little long but can work in the brackets, a little dab of soft adhesive at each end to help keep them there. Had an old roll of rubber electrical tape used two strips of that at each end to block any reflection into the unit on the back side.

 

[50 Green]

The green tint and reflectors both suffer from the heat of the incandescent lamps. The tint fades (or burns off) and the reflectors get holes burned in them eventually.

As I mentioned earlier, the green color can be restored with glass paint from a craft store. Just remove the lamps and the face of the receiver and stand it on its side to apply the tint to one end of the glass. Let that dry and repeat for the other side. In addition to restoring the color, the glass paint diffuses the light some, so it's more even across the dial (lessening the "hot spots" at the ends.)

The reflectors can also be replaced. Non-conductive, mirrored card stock can be found at craft or art stores. It's easy, using what's left of the original reflectors as a pattern, to cut out and fold perfect replacements.

 

[dly66]

Curious what it was supposed to look like originally. Dug through the some of the old archived Stereo Reviews and just found this ad from March 1973.

 

[glend123]

View attachment 2286681 View attachment 2286680
These are the ones I pulled out of mine - they work fine apart from the wrong colour. Approx 30mm length, 6mm width. Hope it helps.

Edit: They are a few mm longer than the holders but fit fine.

Here is my 7055 with the 31mm LED first,(which will not fit unless the tabs are bent up), then the original incandescent bulb in the 2nd pic.. The tabs at the top and bottom of the clips are 24.5mm apart so a 30-31 mm square end LED bulb won't fit.

 

[VintageDutch]

Get those big bulbs out ..please!!!
Your receiver will thank you for it...

Don't skimp on LED 8 volt Fuse Style bulbs..

4 reasons....
1. they look better
2. they don't generate half the heat The none fitting bulb does...(probably even far less)
3. they are readily available in EVERY electronic parts shop... even in the UK!... If not.. let people know and we organize some LED bulbs...
4. they are not expensive. If they cost more then € 1,-- euro you are ripped off (shipment not included)

If you don't not where... send me a PB..I'm gonna order 50 or 100 pieces Warm White Fuse Style 7 volt directly from a manufacturer beginning next week.. 2,5 weeks later I'll have them. I can send you some if you want... although I'm not trying to start wholesaling them Europe wide.
If you really want "original" hot burning fuse style bulbs ... I have some original, old, used, tested (to be working) before shipment bulbs, but NO Guarantee on anything (they are to old) for you....That all I still have


What it looks like ...

 

[glend123]

Get those big bulbs out ..please!!!
Your receiver will thank you for it...

Don't skimp on LED 8 volt Fuse Style bulbs..

4 reasons....
1. they look better
2. they don't generate half the heat The none fitting bulb does...(probably even far less)
3. they are readily available in EVERY electronic parts shop... even in the UK!... If not.. let people know and we organize some LED bulbs...
4. they are not expensive. If they cost more then € 1,-- euro you are ripped off (shipment not included)

If you don't not where... send me a PB..I'm gonna order 50 or 100 pieces Warm White Fuse Style 7 volt directly from a manufacturer beginning next week.. 2,5 weeks later I'll have them. I can send you some if you want... although I'm not trying to start wholesaling them Europe wide.
If you really want "original" hot burning fuse style bulbs ... I have some original, old, used, tested (to be working) before shipment bulbs, but NO Guarantee on anything (they are to old) for you....That all I still have


What it looks like ...
View attachment 2290594

View attachment 2290601

Those are too long for my Sony. Yours are the same length.... 30mm

 

[dly66]

For the longer 31 mm LED fuse lamps you need to bend back the little square tabs on each side at the ends so the fuse lamp can fit down into the curved part of the brackets. I have a mini pair of needle nose pliers for those kind of jobs. The ones I got from Parts Express look like the ones VintageDutch shows just a little longer measure right at 31 mm long. Aligned them so that the three LEDs were in the gap between the clamps.

Did not want to have to take the face off yet again, took a picture in the gap from the end. A little dab of soft adhesive used to help make sure they stay in there. Will sometimes use hot glue when I want to some retention but relatively easy to remove.

 

[glend123]

For the longer 31 mm LED fuse lamps you need to bend back the little square tabs on each side at the ends so the fuse lamp can fit down into the curved part of the brackets. I have a mini pair of needle nose pliers for those kind of jobs. The ones I got from Parts Express look like the ones VintageDutch shows just a little longer measure right at 31 mm long. Aligned them so that the three LEDs were in the gap between the clamps.

Did not want to have to take the face off yet again, took a picture in the gap from the end. A little dab of soft adhesive used to help make sure they stay in there. Will sometimes use hot glue when I want to some retention but relatively easy to remove.
View attachment 2290620

Thanks, I was trying to avoid modifying the clips, one already came loose from trying to do that.

 

[50 Green]

A couple of clarifications:

1) Although they do generate too much heat, the festoon lamps (the large incandescent lamps with "pointy" ends) are the factory stock type of lamp. Fuse-type lamps were not used for dial lighting in these models. (Fuse-type LEDs can be used as replacements, but it's necessary to close up the mounting clips a bit. Best, however, to get the proper length.)

2) It is NOT necessary to remove the face to replace the dial lamps. The lamp holders are designed to be removed from the back.

 

[VintageDutch]

I give up

 

[G7065]

I have taken out the blue/purple LEDs from my 7065 - as mentioned earlier they were put in by a previous owner and are approx 30mm long, fuse type. If they had been the right colour I would have left them in as they worked fine.

I couldn't get hold of warm white versions, so I took a punt on a different LED festoon type (pictured) from Amazon. These are available in a range of sizes, but I went for 27mm as this seemed like it would be the best fit (the 30mm fuse type being a bit long). I am not saying I recommend these or that they are better than any other type available, they are just what I could get - warm white colour, correct length. So far, they work - good colour, no flickering. They are noticeably fatter than the fuse type, so the fit is snug, but they clipped into the holders fine. I did have to take the faceplate off to fit them as I couldn't easily slide them in using the back opening method (although that's a great tip to know about).

And the purple... it's gone! I much prefer this more original look - it could definitely be greener (it looks more green to the eye than in the pics), which I will do with a re-tint in future as per @50 Green's earlier recommendation. I really like how the model number line now lights up in orange, which it didn't before. Some pics so you can all see the bulbs and what it looks like now.

If the new LED bulbs fail or cause any issues, I'll let you all know so you can avoid!



@VintageDutch Don't give up, appreciate all your pointers and offer to supply bulbs, great community support.

 

[VintageDutch]

Now that looks like it should be... Compliments...

For a moment I sounded/looked like You were heading towards the regular bulb side...putting the wrong bulbs everywhere... Why didn't you tell that you ordered those nice looking LED bulbs...

Anywayzz.... really good find... and good job!

 

[50 Green]

G7065, those festoon LEDs are a great find, and the 27mm length should be just about right. Were they the same length as the original, incandescent, festoon lamps? If so, they should fit snugger and better than fuse-style (and not require any bending of the clips.)
The only type of LED festoons available when I last searched for a relamp of one of these units were the type with the exposed, extra-wide board, with 4 SMD LEDs. Those won't fit, so at the time I settled for making fuse-type work.

BTW, the lamp holders can still be removed and replaced from the back, with the larger festoon lamps in them. It just takes a fair bit of perseverance and patience to snake them in and out. It also helps to loosen the retaining nut on the volume/balance pot gang (which can be accessed from the side) and pull the pots back and away from the lamp holder, to get a little more working room. (The other end of the dial is easier.)

VintageDutch, I think the confusion may have come due to the order that glend123 posted his pictures. The image of the incandescent festoon lamp (the actual, original lamp) is posted below the replacement, fuse-type LED, so at first glance it appears he could have replaced the LED with the incandescent. (I had to look at it a second time, myself, to realize they were probably just out of order.)

I have an STR-7055 I haven't gone through yet (still bone stock.) I'll have to keep those festoons in mind for whenever I get around to working on it.

 

[glend123]

G7065, those festoon LEDs are a great find, and the 27mm length should be just about right. Were they the same length as the original, incandescent, festoon lamps? If so, they should fit snugger and better than fuse-style (and not require any bending of the clips.)
The only type of LED festoons available when I last searched for a relamp of one of these units were the type with the exposed, extra-wide board, with 4 SMD LEDs. Those won't fit, so at the time I settled for making fuse-type work.

BTW, the lamp holders can still be removed and replaced from the back, with the larger festoon lamps in them. It just takes a fair bit of perseverance and patience to snake them in and out. It also helps to loosen the retaining nut on the volume/balance pot gang (which can be accessed from the side) and pull the pots back and away from the lamp holder, to get a little more working room. (The other end of the dial is easier.)

VintageDutch, I think the confusion may have come due to the order that glend123 posted his pictures. The image of the incandescent festoon lamp (the actual, original lamp) is posted below the replacement, fuse-type LED, so at first glance it appears he could have replaced the LED with the incandescent. (I had to look at it a second time, myself, to realize they were probably just out of order.)

I have an STR-7055 I haven't gone through yet (still bone stock.) I'll have to keep those festoons in mind for whenever I get around to working on it.

I went back and edited my post to clear it up.

 

[glend123]

I have taken out the blue/purple LEDs from my 7065 - as mentioned earlier they were put in by a previous owner and are approx 30mm long, fuse type. If they had been the right colour I would have left them in as they worked fine.

I couldn't get hold of warm white versions, so I took a punt on a different LED festoon type (pictured) from Amazon. These are available in a range of sizes, but I went for 27mm as this seemed like it would be the best fit (the 30mm fuse type being a bit long). I am not saying I recommend these or that they are better than any other type available, they are just what I could get - warm white colour, correct length. So far, they work - good colour, no flickering. They are noticeably fatter than the fuse type, so the fit is snug, but they clipped into the holders fine. I did have to take the faceplate off to fit them as I couldn't easily slide them in using the back opening method (although that's a great tip to know about).

And the purple... it's gone! I much prefer this more original look - it could definitely be greener (it looks more green to the eye than in the pics), which I will do with a re-tint in future as per @50 Green's earlier recommendation. I really like how the model number line now lights up in orange, which it didn't before. Some pics so you can all see the bulbs and what it looks like now.

If the new LED bulbs fail or cause any issues, I'll let you all know so you can avoid!

View attachment 2290903 View attachment 2290904 View attachment 2290905 View attachment 2290906 View attachment 2290907

@VintageDutch Don't give up, appreciate all your pointers and offer to supply bulbs, great community support.

I'll look into those bulbs, thanks for posting. I actually tried some similar LED's, short and fat, kind of looked like yours, and I felt they were too fat and wouldn't fit correctly. I'll go back and look at them again.

 

[50 Green]

I went back and edited my post to clear it up.

That clarifies it.

(It's sometimes helpful to note the edits in a post if posts following it refer to the original (pre-edit) post. It can make it easier to understand the course of the discussion for someone who may come across the thread in the future.)

 

[G7065]

I'll look into those bulbs, thanks for posting. I actually tried some similar LED's, short and fat, kind of looked like yours, and I felt they were too fat and wouldn't fit correctly. I'll go back and look at them again.

No problem - to be honest, they are a bit fat, measuring 9mm across. However they clipped in fine - I opened up the connectors a touch as they’d been closed down for the fuse type LEDs. If they were 1-2mm thinner they would be perfect but I figured it was worth trying them.

My main concern with them is quality (they seem cheaply made) and heat (always a concern with any new type of bulbs), so I will be keeping a close eye on them to make sure all OK. Will report back if I notice any issues. They are supposedly retrofit for Mazda vanity lights I think.

Here’s where I got mine: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B06X9DBLJB

 

[G7065]

Quite a specific question but does anyone know if the 7065 RCA inputs run at different sensitivities? My bluetooth adaptor works fine through 'Phono' but rubbish through 'Aux'. Also works with the Tape inputs. It could be that my Aux phono input is duff, but I'm aware some amps also have different sensitivity levels specifically designed for use with record players, CD players, etc.

I also took the chance to run it with some nice B&W DM4 speakers yesterday, it sounded great but I noticed the left speaker sounded louder/richer than the right when using the balance adjuster. Is this a normal characteristic or a sign some servicing is needed? When balanced to both sides, it was impossible to tell.

 

[50 Green]

The phono input is more sensitive and also has RIAA equalization. Turntables are the only thing that should be connected to that input.

Due to the fact that you say it sounds OK through the tape inputs but not Aux, and the output is louder in one channel, it's likely not a sensitivity issue but dirty connections and controls. Clean those first. Give special attention to the Function switch, and note that the majority of the switching on that control is done with sliders on the board, rather than rotary switching on the shaft.