When was the last time you fully exercised every control on your rig?

[Blue Shadow]

I talk about renewing connections in the rig on an annual basis around Christmas/New Year because @Grainger49 mentioned he cleans all connections around that time of year. Good time to do it as it is at the beginning of the long inside hours in the northern hemisphere.

Now comes this tidbit from a book I'm reading, rotating controls through their full cycle a few times every so often to keep the wipes clean and dislodge non-conductive material. Doing this could postpone a deoxit treatment a few years or more. It will sound better but many won't be able to tell.

My rig is off right now, listening to the new to me NHT SB3s and the receiver that came with them. Maybe I'll go twist some knobs full range.

 

[lokerola]

Not a bad idea. I've never done it, but it would probably a good spring cleaning type of thing to do (as well as pull the cover and vacuum all the dust bunnies out).

 

[davidb1]

This was an absolute neccesity with my HK430. Those little buttons could generate a nasty pop.

 

[AlTinkster92]

Saw this and got up, worked all the controls on my Fishers, thanks for the idea!

 

[Aerobat]

The worst thing you can do to a machine is to not use it, like leaving a classic car sitting in a warehouse!

 

[Roadrash]

I do this on every system on a regular basis. It's a habit I got into when the Onkyo A5 was at the heart of my then only system, if you don't work the switches and buttons on those A series integrateds regularly they get really noisey.

 

[likebike23]

I exercise the knobs and switches pretty often actually. I think it keeps things running better to use them. I use an amp switch box to toggle between 6 different systems with 7 turntables hooked up. They all get used on a regular basis.

 

[Harvestor]

Every few days or at least once every two weeks

 

[bluesky]

For all my equipment (3 rigs with 3 extra speakers): It usually ends up once a year.

I really do need to do it right now! Thanks for the reminder.

 

[mashaffer]

Good idea. My current rig doesn't have many controls so ought to take about 4.6 seconds.

 

[David_NC]

On my components that have real physical controls, I do it almost every time I use them. I love pushing buttons, flipping levers, and turning knobs! I always have. Whether it's a filter (let's see how much of a difference the high filter makes), the loudness (I wonder if that added bass is better or worse), the mute (so that's a 20dB reduction!), or the tone controls (this recording needs a little more highs), I enjoy them all. It's good to know that it actually benefits the equipment. Sadly, the systems that I use most, at this time, have electronic controls, so it's not as much fun. At least my current main receiver has a real, motorized volume control.

 

[Robisme]

I do it every once in a while, even on the gear that is not used. I also recommend it to folks I repair gear for.

Rob

 

[twiiii]

Every time I use the analog pre-amp. Less often on the tuner, tape machines, and other analog sources. The HT power amps don't have controls any more. But the older amp that does every time I use it. The seven parametric EQ channels are checked every 90 days, and if necessary the controls cleaned and recalibrated. Same goes for the electronic crossovers.

 

[4-2-7]

In my main system all my switches are sealed, micro processors, they don't need exercising.

But with old gear you get you need to do this all the time. In fact I just helped two people who needed this done. One was new to them the other was a system cleaned and in use for years. But just because it's being used things like balance and speaker selector switches don't get used much and cause problems.

Don't forget your speakers if they have an adjustable cross over.

 

[GChief]

The only controls on my stuff that are not bypassed are the power, Volume and balance. I do multiple full sweeps anyway while it’s shut down a few times a year. Habit I picked up in the Navy.

 

[Markoneswift]

I don't cycle the controls of my gear but after reading this thread, I will try to remember to do so! I picked up a decent-ish Akai amp as part of a bulk deal recently and true to form it sounded like absolute garbage to start with. I quickly found hideous crackles when working the balance pot, so it got the cleaner drench straight away. After working it for a minute or two, the difference in sound output was like night and day. It never fails to amaze me how good gear gets thrown out because it has 'failed', when all it needed was basic servicing.

It's a bit like my pet peeve - vacuum cleaners! I used to find, back in the UK, absultely incredible numbers of really decent vacuum cleaners thrown away at the recycle dump. Admittedly not high value items but a few of them I took home and fixed. All they ever needed was a damn good clean out - filters, bin etc - and sometimes a new drive belt on the brushes. 20 mins work and a $5 belt, good to go again.

 

[MaxxVolume]

In addition to the already-mentioned good ideas, another one is to remove, then replace all RCA jacks a few times, it helps maintain their conductivity/integrity as well. (Like you didn`t already have ENOUGH to do, right ? )

 

[cason]

I did it about a month ago.

 

[Bill Ferris]

In addition to the already-mentioned good ideas, another one is to remove, then replace all RCA jacks a few times, it helps maintain their conductivity/integrity as well. (Like you didn`t already have ENOUGH to do, right ? )

You, I suspect, meant un-plug, then re-insert the RCA interconnects "PLUG`s" MaxxVolume , instead of "Replacing ALL JACK`s", as to replacing 'ALL RCA JACK`s" would be somewhat of a monumental task !! = YES/NO ?

Just trying to make sure I`m not more confused than I`m normally on a Monday !!

 

[goodolpg]

In addition to the already-mentioned good ideas, another one is to remove, then replace all RCA jacks a few times, it helps maintain their conductivity/integrity as well. (Like you didn`t already have ENOUGH to do, right ? )

What he said ^. Sort of. Remove and reinsert cables.

Another thing I do is tighten the screws holding each individual driver to the speaker cabinet once or twice a year.
Don't over tighten as it can damage plastic or strip out the wood threads.