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New member Username: NornironpetePost Number: 4 Registered: Sep-11 | Hi guys, after trying to do a bit of d.i.y. maintenance on my Akai AM2250 I have lost the left hand channel. I have been having a problem with my volume control, i.e. no volume on the first two clicks, only the right channel on the third and from there on it's fine. So I removed the cover and sprayed some WD40 on the volume control and thought while I was at it I'd spray the rest of the controls (pots?). I know, please stop yelling. As it sits I only have the right hand channel and the only thing that gets any reaction from the left channel is if I turn the amp on while my cd player is already playing a disc, when I get a split second of sound, and if I turn the bass control almost all the way round when the same thing happens. Turning the balance and treble controls has no effect. I left it sitting open overnight hoping that the WD40 might evaporate and that everything would be magically ok. Ehhhh, surprisingly this didn't happen. Any help would be much appreciated. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 16811 Registered: May-04 | . Not much to say other than the unit needs to be serviced by a dependable, reputable technician. The main issue will be we are again discussing a thirty year old piece of equipment. Putting any amount of money into the Akai IMO would be less than the most promising way to spend your cash. And finding any technician who would care to take on a 30 year old Akai should prove deterent enough. Some gear can warrant such expense and a few techs are happy to work on vintage equipment which has attained a "classics" status. Unfortunately, most equipment never manages to make it to "classic" and forever remains labeled as "plain ol' old". To most techs I would venture a guess the Akai will fall into the latter category. As you've obviously discovered a large part of what makes WD40 a successful product is it doesn't easily evaporate. So your chances of the Akai healing itself are fairly slim. You may have dislodged a chunk of crud that has now found a new resting place which is causing the problem. Or you might have drowned the switches with too much fluid - a common issue with DIY maintenance. There's even the posibility the current problem is unrelated to your cleaning and the amp has just selected now as a good time for a part to fail. If the amp has output relays - usually square, clear boxes with parts which open and close mechanically - you can very carefully look at the functioning right channel to see if both channels are opening as they should. If the left channel relay isn't opening, then you might find a new relay to use as a replacement. But I get the feeling you're not that techincally inclined to go poking around inside an amplifier and replacing a relay usually requires some extensive dismantling of the chassis to solder in the new part. Rebuilding an old relay is just about as much work as replacement. I would certainly encourage you not to put your hands inside the open chasis of a functioning amplifier if you're not absolutely certain what parts can kill you when touched. Under no conditions should you ever stick your hands inside an amplifier that is plugged into a live AC outlet unless you are certain you know what not to touch. And power supply capacitors can hold a very nasty, arm/jaw numbing sting for hours after being shut down. So, unless you understand how to safely drain a cap of stored voltage, this is a job best left to a technician. Try Atlas Audio Repair (atlasaudiorepair.com/(412) 681-2092} to get another opinion on repairs. At an average of $60-75 per hour labor rates I doubt you'll really want to invest in repairs but you need to have your options in front of you before you make a decision. The good news is modern audio gear seldom requires the same type of maintenance as the old Akai and you'll have a warranty again. . |
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New member Username: NornironpetePost Number: 5 Registered: Sep-11 | Thanks Jan, you are of course right. Although its 30 years old it's the best amp I've ever had and I'm bummed at myself for ruining it. Unfortunately I can't see a replacement on the horizon any time soon. I realise you're in the US but your knowledge base seems so extensive I'm hoping you might point me in the direction of a reliable UK supplier of second hand/refurbished higher end audio. By the way I didn't see anything like the output relays you mentioned. |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 16814 Registered: May-04 | . I don't have any sources in England but let me contact a friend in London and possibly he'll be able to help. |
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Gold Member Username: John_aLondonU.K. Post Number: 4861 Registered: Dec-03 | Hello nornironpete and Jan. Here's a link: http://www.londonsound.org/Armstrongrepairs.htm He lists Akai. I had my Armstrong FM tuner (also ~30 years old) fixed most expertly a couple of years ago by an Armstrong ex-employee who runs the shop in Walthamstow listed on the right on this page: http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/linkspage.html Personal recommendation from me on that one! I promised to take in my matching amp, too, he seemed keen to see it, but I've not got it out of storage yet. I recall framed certificates on his wall with names of classic Japanese makers as well at UK and US, too, can't remember if Akai was one but I would guess so. Worth a phone call. There is always Yellow Pages. That's how I found Armstrong Hi-Fi and Video Services Ltd (see above). As regards buying second hand/refurbished, well, there were ads not so long ago in HiFi News. That's where I found the dealer from whom I bought a pair of Quad ESL 63s in 2005, about which I banged on about in this forum. It was a good thing - the purchase, I mean. I've just Googled and they are still in business: http://www.hifitradingstation.com/ I know there are others. I had one good experience there, that's something. Wouldn't swap the Quads for anything. I had to get one fixed and was able to take it to the original factory in Huntingdon where they are just brillliant, and also now do part-ex, I think, but possibly only on brands now part of IAG. |
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New member Username: NornironpetePost Number: 6 Registered: Sep-11 | Many thanks Jan and John A. Haven't decided what I'm going to do yet, whether to go for a repair or just save my pennies and upgrade. I'm using a little Sony amp at the moment which should tide me over for a while and, no, I won't be bringing WD40 anywhere near it! I will definitely be checking out hifitradingstation. I'm in Belfast and apart from Richer Sounds I can't think of any other specialist retailers. I think the hardest part is going to be my "research". I listen to just about anything from metal to motown. I guess I'm also wondering, when building a system on a limited budget, where do I start......amp, speakers...........speakers, amp? (a little bit of Tommy Cooper humour there Anyway, thanks again guys. |
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Gold Member Username: John_aLondonU.K. Post Number: 4863 Registered: Dec-03 | It's a pleasure, nornironpete. Good luck! |
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Platinum Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 16818 Registered: May-04 | . "I guess I'm also wondering, when building a system on a limited budget, where do I start......amp, speakers...........speakers, amp?" If you're buying on the used market, you don't have the same capacity for matching components as you would on the new market. If both components are on your shopping list, it really makes no difference which unit you select first. However, how you select the components is of a much higher value. The best advice would be to always select a speaker which is very easy for any amplifier to drive. Multiple threads have dealt with what this actually means to the speaker's specifications; https://www.ecoustics.com/electronics/forum/home-audio/694077.html#POST1974742 and you can do further research on your own. If you can determine the speaker will not present a strain on the amplifier due to either its low sensitivity, low or dramatic impedance swings or its high phase angle, then any amplifier you select should have the best opportunity to do well with that speaker. In that case it makes no difference which component you select first - just follow the rule that the speaker must not be difficult for any amplifier to drive. You know how you will use the system and, depending on your needs, this will determine where you can fudge the speaker specs. A low sensitivity speaker such as a LS3/5a can still perform well with a modest amplifier if the user needs are also modest. A speaker with very low impedance and/or high phase angle will, however, be more difficult for most amplifiers and certainly any budget amp. Wattage alone in the amplifier will not make up for a difficult to drive speaker load. So do your research and take your time. It's always better to have the luxury of not needing a new component when shopping for used gear. I would caution against buying something just to have something. There should be a fairly good deal of used gear to choose from at any one time and, should you not see what suits your needs this week, wait until next. . |