Transistor vs Capacitor noise

[oldvinyldude]

Hi folks:

I just finished a mechanical refurbishment on a Teac A4010S deck. Tape moves fine, pinch roller engages-all good.

I tried playing a known good tape, and I get good level, but the sound is distorted. Heads, switches, pots, and audio jacks all clean and noise free.

The distortion is similar to what one might hear with dirty contacts\pots, as it causes distortion, similar to a poorly tuned FM station-like modulation distortion. No hiss however.

I wondered if my description sounds like faulty transistors, or caps? Obviously, the machine is 50 years old, so having original parts throughout, anything is suspect.

Thoughts?

 

[ecluser]

It point to faulty capacitors. Capacitors are the components with the shortest life expectancy in audio gears. Faulty transistors tend to produce more hiss and scratchy sound.

 

[gadget73]

that jives with my experience as well, hiss or static from transistors.

 

[oldvinyldude]

Thanks folks-I was leaning that way too. I appreciate your confirmation.