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Tantalums in SX-636

c.coyle

c.coyle

Fighting the Dunning-Kruger effect.
I'm working on an all original (as far as I can see) Pioneer SX-636 made in November, 1975. There are 4 tantalum caps on the AWF-014 Equalizer Amp board, and they are in the signal path: C1, C3 are 3.3uf/10v. C13, C14 are 0.47uf/35v. The service manual parts list shows them as electrolytics. No big deal, they are going to get replaced with films. Just wondering if undocumented tantalums are common in the SX-636.

I see 4 more tantalums on the AWK-035 AF Amp board that are shown as electrolytics in the service manual.
 
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I understand that tantalums are a subset of electrolytics. Most service manuals I've encountered list them specifically as "tantalum", not generically as "electrolytic". So I learned something today.

EDIT: And it seems that most people here make a distinction between tantalums and regular old aluminum electros.

IMG_20160413_124723.jpg
 
ive seen them both ways. the manual for the 1280 i am finishing up lists them all as electrolytics. most people do make a distinction between the 2. i was just saying that the manual is correct.

it almost seemed as if the question was phrased as you wondering if they had been changed at some point.

no worries. seems like i learn something new in this hobby almost daily!
 
moewillis said:
ive seen them both ways. the manual for the 1280 i am finishing up lists them all as electrolytics. most people do make a distinction between the 2. i was just saying that the manual is correct.

it almost seemed as if the question was phrased as you wondering if they had been changed at some point.

no worries. seems like i learn something new in this hobby almost daily!
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Exactly. Parts get changed in subsequent production runs, etc. The fact that they are in the signal path is interesting. Many say they sound like crap in the SP.
 
When Recapping the SX-1050 and SX-1250...these had Blue tantalum's.

I had replaced with Nichicon KL
 
I'm doing a little reading on Pioneer caps, since I don't feel like working. Apparently these are solid aluminum caps that Pioneer designates as "CSSA" on their parts lists.

Mark The Fixer (who else?) has this to say about them on another thread: ". . . all those sky blue sanyo 'solid aluminum' caps (cssa) that turn into resistors." So it sounds like they are not tantalums, they just look like them. The ones in the signal path are getting replaced with WIMA or Kemet films. The non-SP CSSAs may just get electrolytics.

This SX-636 is the first piece of Pioneer gear I have rebuilt. Seems like every manufacturer had its own little quirks.
 
c.coyle; The sky blue Sanyo caps that MTF is referrring to ARE Solid aluminum electrolytics and look exactly like a regular wet electrolytic. They are not the tantalums that you are showing in post #3. The sanyo's are valued at no more than 4.7uf, and are physically tiny.

Echowars, I believe, coined the term capsistors when referring to them, as when they started to go bad they acted like a resistor not a cap. They are usually found on the tone control board, Eq board, and amplifier board or that area on a single board chassis.

In the attached picture are 2 Sanyo sky blue caps circled in yellow. This is what MTF is referring to. These are on a sx-939 amplifier board.

Larry

4006 modded.jpg
 
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Just recently I had this same inquiry for my 535 eq amp board. I ended up going with nichicon UKL bad of a recommendation here. Now I'm just waiting for my parts to arrive!
 
larryderouin said:
c.coyle; The sky blue Sanyo caps that MTF is referrring to ARE Solid aluminum electrolytics and look exactly like a regular wet electrolytic. They are not the tantalums that you are showing in post #3. The sanyo's are valued at no more than 4.7uf, and are physically tiny.

Echowars, I believe, coined the term capsistors when referring to them, as when they started to go bad they acted like a resistor not a cap. They are usually found on the tone control board, Eq board, and amplifier board or that area on a single board chassis.

In the attached picture are 2 Sanyo sky blue caps circled in yellow. This is what MTF is referring to. These are on a sx-939 amplifier board.

Larry

View attachment 719329
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Thanks. Yeah, I misread MTF's thread.

So, if I am understanding this correctly (and probably making a mountain out of a molehill, since anything 4.7uf and down is going to be replaced with a film or low leakage electro), the tiny blue bead caps shown in the photo in Post #3, are in fact "real" tantalums? They are designated "electrolytic" and "CSZA" on the service manual parts list. The solid aluminum caps in your photo and in MTF's thread are designated "electrolytic" and "CSSA".
 
Exactly. Replace both with film as 1st choice, or if room is tight, Nichicon UKL.
 
I went through the service manual before I bought it to see if there were any suspect or hard-to-find parts in this unit. I didn't see an express reference to tantalums, and was surprised to find them. That's what got me bolexed up and over-thinking in the first place.
 
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