Pioneer SA-9100 Service/Repair.

[nuff]

Ok,
I was going to change my setup and go down the valve route but I've now decided to stick with my Pioneer SA-9100.. It a beautiful looking amp with awesome sound quality too but I have 1 problem.

The balance is slightly out on the left Chanel so I need to adjust the balance as I turn up the volume. As soon as I get to 1 o clock the Balance level equals again.
I've tried cleaning the volume pot and balance control with Servisol but with no success. I also had a friend of a friend look at it but I think he just tried the same.

I work all week plus most weekends so I've not really the time to travel.
Can someone either recommend me an electronics engineer very close to Bristol or is there someone on AoS local who can carry out the work for me??

Any help would be appreciated :cool:

[struth]

Decent amp in the day Nathan, and still pretty good. Had a fancy for one once myself. Hard to say what the problem is, but maybe an out of spec cap is most likely. Probably could do with all the electros being changed so maybe a job to do yourself or as you say to get done whether its the problem or not. Sure some of the Bristol area boys can steer you in the correct direction, or you could try Jez Arkless, who is a good engineer

[nuff]

Decent amp in the day Nathan, and still pretty good. Had a fancy for one once myself. Hard to say what the problem is, but maybe an out of spec cap is most likely. Probably could do with all the electros being changed so maybe a job to do yourself or as you say to get done whether its the problem or not. Sure some of the Bristol area boys can steer you in the correct direction, or you could try Jez Arkless, who is a good engineer

My problem is though grant I'm not electronically minded. I'd hate to srtip it down and bugger it up.
It is a very good sounding amp, I was listening to it this morning and thinking how much I enjoyed it, hence the reason I want to get it sorted.

Thanks for the recommendation but maybe a little far for me. Not to sure I want to trust the couriers with it too at the moment. I think I'll see what happens first before making a decision.

[allthingsanalogue]

Great looking amp but there's an awfull lot of wires in there to disconnect for a recap, etc!

http://bilder.hifi-forum.de/medium/45729/imgp4583-f_40410.jpg

http://monkey.org/~becker/91001.jpg

[nuff]

Great looking amp but there's an awfull lot of wires in there to disconnect for a recap, etc!

http://bilder.hifi-forum.de/medium/45729/imgp4583-f_40410.jpg

http://monkey.org/~becker/91001.jpg

I know. I was shocked when I decided to clean the volume pot with Servisol. I soon placed the cover back on hoping it would sort itself out :doh: this is when I decided it's way out of my capabilities.

[Firebottle]

Try it with the Loudness switch in the other position and see if the effect is the same. It might be the components associated with this function.

:)

[nuff]

Try it with the Loudness switch in the other position and see if the effect is the same. It might be the components associated with this function.

:)

Hi Alan,

I just tried your suggestion but it was still the same unfortunately.

[allthingsanalogue]

Hi Alan,

I just tried your suggestion but it was still the same unfortunately.

This YT video is quite interesting


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdNRg5NhEFI

[spm]

I've never used them but have been looking at getting a tape deck serviced (it can't cope with large cassettes e,g, pre-recorded double albums) and found some good reviews for Electrofix on Alma Vale Road. Haven't got round to taking it in. Much better to get personal recommendation especially for such a cracking amp but if you are struggling might be worth giving them a call.

[Mr Kipling]

Has it always been like that? Or has it just gone like that? Is it the same on all inputs?

If you have a spare set of leads you could connect them to the Tape Out and Tape In and connect left Tape Out to right Tape In with right Tape Out to left Tape In to see if it changes.

If you can get to the volume control and have a soldering iron, have a look at the connections. If there's no contacts for the loudness circuit, there will be 6: middle (wiper) goes to the poweamp input, one goes to earth and one is the pre-amp out (same again for the other channel). IF! you could swap the L & F connections of the preamp and it now changes over, it's a fault in the pre-amp. If it were to stay the same, it would be the volume pot or power amp.

Does look quite "busy" inside!

If it sounds THAT GOOD NOW!! Imagine what it would sound like without all that miles of wire, dodgy caps, mylars and old carbon resistors!

[hifi_dave]

How about Jez at Arkless for a repair ?

[allthingsanalogue]

I hear John Sampson has a superb reputation.

http://jsaudiorepairs.co.uk/repairs/

[twotone]

I hear John Sampson has a superb reputation.

http://jsaudiorepairs.co.uk/repairs/

http://www.hifiwigwam.com/showthread.php?125386-Help-needed-to-contact-John-Sampson-of-JS-Audio-Repairs

[orbscure]

...and briefly discussed here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?41019) too although it appears from the WAM thread there might be two sides to the story. Although I've only made brief contact with John before, I've heard nothing but praise for him...

[vinylspinner]

Hi Nathan,

I have sent you a PM.

Nigel

[karma67]

if you do need to send it off for repair i can highly recommend this guy from personal experience,he fixed my sony 700es amp,turnover was a week,very helpful and his price was very reasonable. he does a lot of work for hifi hanger on ebay too.

http://www.vintagetech.co.uk/

[nuff]

I'd like to thank everyone who has replied and tried to help.

I'm in discussions with Nigel (Vinyspinner) at the moment and it looks as if he can help me! A big thanks again and I'll keep you all updated.

Cheers all and have a great weekend :cool:

[Patrick Dixon]

How about Jez at Arkless for a repair ?

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=174858