Denon HA 1000

[Ali Tait]

As I'm currently using an HA 500 and liking how it sounds, when I saw a 1000 for sale on Ebay at a good price I though I'd have a punt, hoping for more of a good thing. Once it arrived, I decided to give it a good going over before use. Good job I did, as I discovered that several of the electrolytic caps inside had been leaking.

I considered returning it, but as it was in good cosmetic condition and seemed to be in nice shape otherwise, I decided to replace all the 'lytics and hope for the best. I didn't dare try it first as it may have self destructed - the seller had told me it had been stored away for a number of years.

This is a well built bit of kit, and has shielding internally to keep interference to a minimum. It was an expensive unit when new--

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1246_zpsvbvoy2pr.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1246_zpsvbvoy2pr.jpg.html)

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1247_zpsaskxwcsx.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1247_zpsaskxwcsx.jpg.html)

Caps duly arrived, so work was commenced-

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1250_zpsdp16y8cc.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1250_zpsdp16y8cc.jpg.html)

Leakage can be seen here-

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1249_zpswlvj5ueo.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1249_zpswlvj5ueo.jpg.html)

And here a bit more clearly-

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1251_zpsyh5ry03h.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1251_zpsyh5ry03h.jpg.html)

All the 'lytics now replaced-

http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a616/aliballybee1/IMAG1254_zps1jvsnbfe.jpg (http://s1286.photobucket.com/user/aliballybee1/media/IMAG1254_zps1jvsnbfe.jpg.html)

So how does it sound?

Promising on a quick listen, I'll get more of a chance at the weekend, and the caps will need to settle in too.

[walpurgis]

Looks good.:)

[Ali Tait]

Cheers Geoff, I'm hoping it turns out to be a worthwhile exercise.

[kcc123]

Congratulations for your new toy! What caps are you using?

[Ali Tait]

I used Elna Silmics for the majority, as Hi Fi Collective had all the correct values, and they are good caps at non foo prices. Also Nichicon Fine Gold, as the Silimcs were too large in that value.

[kcc123]

Elna Silmic caps, no doubt, are a good choice and I used them very often in the past. I slightly prefer Blackgate bi-polar caps, however, they are not available any more; fortunately, I still have quite a few of them in stock.

[Ali Tait]

I seem to remember reading production was going to start again a while back, not sure if anything came of it.

[Barry]

Does it have an external power supply? What are the square cans near the rear of the unit?

Certainly looks well made and is in excellent cosmetic condition. Well done. :)

[Firebottle]

Good find Ali, seems to be a lot of components inside for 'just' a head amp.

:)

[Barry]

Good find Ali, seems to be a lot of components inside for 'just' a head amp.

:)

Agree - especially the two relays (muting of switch-on 'thumps'?) If there is an off-board power supply, maybe it supplies a low voltage AC to the unit which has a sophisticated and beefy power circuitry.

Perhaps it is a phono stage with RIAA equalisation, but then again, the MM/MC switch could just be to simply bypass the amp.

[Barry]

The guys here seem to think well of it: http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18716 . :)

[Ali Tait]

It has two gain switches, a pass through MM and also a high cut filter.

Barry, thanks, yes, it's in good nick, I'm pleased with it. Yes has an external supply, sends 17v AC to the unit. It's a 110v version, so have a step down trannie for it. Yes the relays are for muting.

Not a phono stage, just a head amp. The 500 is similarly busy inside, albeit including an internal power supply.

Dunno what's in the cans, not had a look as yet. Was just happy it still worked!

[Ali Tait]

The guys here seem to think well of it: http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18716 . :)

Yes indeed, saw that when I was doing a bit of research.

[bergui45]

I used Elna Silmics for the majority, as Hi Fi Collective had all the correct values, and they are good caps at non foo prices. Also Nichicon Fine Gold, as the Silimcs were too large in that value.

Hello,
I'm just doing the same job on my vintage Ha-1000 bought on ebay at $225: it is on 110V like my vintage amp Mc225. When checking inside i discovered a lot of chemical Caps leaking and was puzzled since the Ha-1000 was still working well!
I'm currently trying to get the Caps from Hificollective since i previously got from them 4 Auricaps for the Mc225...
Could you copy/paste the detail of the caps ordered.
Thank you in advance
PS
I was told to also replace the tantalum caps?
Bernard

[Ali Tait]

Yes, probably a good idea to replace the tants, that's next on the list for me.

If you can PM your email, I'll send you the service manual - it lists all the components.

[Ali Tait]

I may also replace the ceramics, these can also fail short circuit.

[reddish75]

Just a quick one as I maybe missing something but I can't see any caps leaking in the pics, only thing I can see is that horrible brown glue used to stick caps down in vintage gear.

[Ali Tait]

Not glue, it was leaking caps.

[struth]

its dielectric fluid. nasty stuff and can be very harmful. clear it up carefully.eventually it will harden to a resin style hardness and can be difficult to remove.

[Ali Tait]

Thats why I left it. It was coating other components. Too difficult to clean without risking damage..

[struth]

its an insulator so wont short anything but it is toxic. back in the day the damned stuff was everywhere lol.

[bergui45]

Hello Ali
i'm looking for replacing the Tantale caps but until now i could'nt find the 470µF 3V and the 220µF 6.3V...
I also had to clean and rebuild some tracks that have been damaged by the acid leakage...
After replacement of all the chemical caps with Elna Silmic RFS and some Nichicon the Ha-1000 performs brillantly!
I have also a concern aout the Starquad Canare cable having only a fork GND spade at only one side...?
I had to add an extra GND cable from the Ha-1000 GND Plug to the SP8 GND Plug to remove an unexpected HUMM noise...

[KONDO]

hi are the cans at back step up transformers

[Ali Tait]

No, transistors. Doesn't use SUT's, instead it amplifies the signal actively.