Cheap Amp Cheap Fix! Skytronic PA2100 Amplifier Repair

Mark diagnoses a low output channel on a PA amplifier. The fix turns out to be surprisingly easy! Who else would bother repairing a potentiometer?

[@AreTwo2]

When the meteor is on track to hit Earth, your No1 on my survival team list Mark. Just love your extremely inspirational work, and the way you go about it. FYI - You've motivated me to buy an oscilloscope (ta Santa), and I'm going to try it this week. 10 monitors, 2 Tvs, 3 amplifiers, 1 DVD player & a mosquito trap all waiting in my shed. Don't hold your breathe.

[@bertschalk1798]

I was going to say "bloody magic".......but it isn't ! It's just good old fashioned creative craftsmanship that does the trick here.....kudo's Mark !! Cheers....

[@tripsadelica]

Mark, FYI... Skytronic is a house brand for an Australian retailer called "DJ City." Some of their very early stuff was made in Australia but for about ten years now all of it is sourced from China. They also have another sub-brand called Fenton. How this amp managed to get to the UK is a mystery. DJ City have no UK outlets.

[@phaztheaussiebastard]

Electromarket is a UK based site that lists both skytronic and Fenton products

[@666catcat666]

Sold in South Africa as well.

[@georgesnow]

Skytech & QTX sound aswell

[@iliavr]

Skytronic is quite common in the UK. Have their bass amp and a set of active (really harsh sounding) speakers. As mentioned, same as QTX or Fenton or Skytech - probably come from the same factory

[@stroise256]

I enjoy watching all your repair videos. amazing work

[@nigelcollins3437]

Thank you Mark for these really fascinating videos, you have a soothing and well spoken voice i could listen too all day, there are other people that repair on KZbin but they bore me,being to verbose and uninteresting, well done and keep up your great work. Wishing you every success in your channel.

[@musicrepairs]

I enjoy your videos. As a repair for over 40 years I have a laugh at your comments. I consider all the options as well. And like your approach to economics Regarding the repair. A lot people forget in a low budget repair the postage can tip it over the edge. I work from Queensland Australia.

Nicely fixed!!! Never seen such a fault before. Usually when the connection is broken, it is open, not 200k. I think I might have replaced the fan with a quieter one, though. Keep up the good work! Your channel is really great, you always seem to be in a good mood!

[@alphabeets]

Great work, Mark. I love watching your videos. Thanks, Mate.

[@johnmarchington3146]

A nice quick fix. That conductive paint certainly worked well on the pot track. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more videos.

[@plunder1956]

A lovely fix. I did own an MTR 600 PA Amp once. It was insanely heavy at 19.5 Kg The Transformer was gigantic.

[@celestialancaoancaocelesti7445]

You know I love your work on how beautifully done nicely and your equipment too

[@hugh007]

Love to see you shoot the problem not only own to the component level, but the repair the component itself. Thanks.

[@RedHeadGuitar]

Oh that idea with the conductive paint is brilliant. I've had the same problem multiple times when building guitar pedal kits and some pots came new with bad contacts and I didn't have a matching replacement in my stash. I always got lucky and a nice squeeze with some pliers to force the metal contact into the track of the pot did the trick. But conductive paint seems more reliable.

[@lesrogers7310]

Nice quick fix, well done Mark!

[@lloyddavisuk]

Hi Mark! I discovered your channel a few days ago and loved watching evey one of your videos ! You’re great! Just wondered where the video of the BiG Trak is that features on your intro clip on all your videos ?

[@justicelut]

Thanks for that, and I agree with you, you can never have enough oscilloscopes!

[@ProtapDey-gu1tt]

Sir you are genius I like this work

[@radio-ged4626]

It's great when you get little wins like that. Helps me get through the week.😊

[@victimovtalent6036]

the best audio amplifier design in history😌

[@WillisOjode]

I thank you so much for your videos they have help me to grow in electronics field.willis from kenya

[@WayniKlaru14344]

Thank you so much, Mate. A quick fix indeed if you have those nice oscilloscope. Never heard of the amp brand. ✌

[@lesrogers7310]

Skytronic is budget gear aimed at bedroom DJs. They've been around for a while now.

[@RWL2012]

@@lesrogers7310 I think they're a part of AVSL Group I think it is, who use several different brands like Skytronic, Skytec, QTX (with or without a "Sound" suffix), Citronic, Fenton, and (depending on the product category) Chord and Adastra.

[@pilchard2000]

Mark the magician , love your work.😊

[@alphabeets]

That beast sounds like my leaf blower! 😂

[@kaschi47]

Bravo! Mr. Mark.

[@zoltankecse991]

Hi. Nice video. Sorry for the question. Where did you connect the ground probe of oscilloscope (Tektronix) Thank you.

[@hmbpnz]

Absolutely brilliant. Love it.

[@RediffusionMusic]

This may very well be made by Ahuja in India - Skytronic and Adastra were both known for using them as an OEM. Great manufacturer, sadly only available across there and not here.

[@paulmeynell8866]

Great video ,always interesting. Why do you sometimes use a manual desolder pump instead of the de solder station? Second question what do you use when we see you cleaning up pcb’s ?

[@hw4527]

Thank you for posting 👍👍

[@kevinisaac9139]

You are genius Mark 👌

[@btnled357]

Really good.. Do you ever repair anything like that - burned out components - damaged PCB and decide its just too far gone - or blows up when u power it back up ?

[@aryostosantossantos1215]

LINHA AMPLIFICADOR FEITA CAIXAS MUITO FRACAS E COM EFICIENCIA BAIXA DEMAIS

[@shimono992]

I love your smirk xD great video!

[@dmcaudio808]

Where is your loudspeaker Mark? I think it's incomplete to repair an amplifier without trying it with them..

[@luisfrenhan742]

Parabéns sua oficina é bem aparelhada, é seu trabalho é digno de um profissional! Gosto de ver seus vídeos!

[@RWL2012]

1:17 yeah, fairly similar, um, "guts" to the modern equivalent, the Skytec SPL1000 (an amplifier that's "rated" at "2x 500w" but someone tested it as 2x 80w)... the brands are part of AVSL Group I think they're called (same as QTX etc), it's cheapo stuff for the UK (and Europe). A proper 2-channel pro power amplifier will (as you may know) have a bigger power supply in the middle and then separate output sections for the left and right channels, literally on the left and right sides, with many output devices mounted to heatsinks that run the whole length.

[@PhoticSneezeOne]

Nice fix but i would replace that awfully loud fan

[@davidfrankton4139]

Agreed. Sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

[@bobbybiggs4348]

Not sure it would be worth it

[@stepheng8779]

​@@davidfrankton4139 cheap pub/club music amp, even seen em used for mobile discos. You're hardly gonna hear the fan are are you? 😂

[@PD9JDRJOHN]

Good job

[@waynewayne3709]

Hello, mark, yes i know the video clip is over a year now..do you ever get bigger amps on the list of repairs.

[@zbaby82]

Incredible.

[@bobdoritique7347]

Thanks. What is the reference of your metal paint please ?

[@Vapor3D]

My experience of repairs using conductive paint has always been the same. After not too long time, everything fails again.

[@jesuschal3802]

So talented!

[@peterjaniceforan3080]

👍

[@eltonjam]

Hey Mark...I always see you prodding around with a single probe, would you mind telling me where the ground is hooked up to?

[@MendItMark]

The ground makes its way back through either the speaker negative terminals (connected to another oscilloscope ground), or from the signal generator. Not good for high frequency measurements, but for audio frequency signals, it's fine.

[@eltonjam]

@@MendItMark Thank you so much for the answer. I am learning about audio systems. I am interested in building pedals and various other effects units and small audio circuits, so it suits me perfectly, thank you.

[@christopherpowell9218]

Hey sir if a power supply in a amplifier one resistor keep burning SMD resistor 22 ohms can you replace with a 27 ohms SMD and it work?

[@berndeckenfels]

Do you label your fixes with stickers inside like „fixed left volume pot with temporary conductive paint, if happens again replace part“ or something?

[@hancecrawford]

Mark like your style if you can repair componite why not there is to much throw away

[@schummiehugo]

ant olso this amp... good fix happyman !

[@HowardKlein1958]

As the supply from this is rectified and smoothed out to DC in the equipment its connected to, what is the point? Am i missing something?

[@briangoldberg4439]

Hi Mark, do you ever use fader lube on pots like that? I've had pretty results with the stuff myself

[@MendItMark]

Yes I do. It depends on how difficult it is to open them up, and how much time I have. Deoxit F5 is quite good, but none of these come near ultrasonic or manual cleaning. I do use that F5 fader stuff as lube afterwards.

[@petesquid]

Do you work on Russians cab 6.6 units?

[@annierenard5954]

👍👍

[@JSSTUDIO-wr2jq]

😀👍

[@electronash]

I repaired a couple of these in the 00s. All of them were terrible. lol Some of the worst-sounding amps I've ever heard in my life, and almost as bad build quality. They all had this very audible crossover distortion, and were generally underpowered vs the rated specs. I think the only other rack amps comparable to this were from "Soundlab".

[@anthonymorrow6973]

Can you please let me know were I can get a alba sticker for a alba cp-29 and UK manufacturers address stickerin white with red wrighting

[@fabiosoundqualityanguillar6489]

Ciao ti seguo sempre ho un amplificatore lem procon 1250 appena lo accendo salta l automatico mentre con variac no cosa può essere

[@starfishphoenix7352]

I have to ask, What is the conductive paint you used?

[@James_Bowie]

Just Google it. Plenty out there.

[@bjarneanthony1363]

Your Denon amphiler Remember when its in stand by mode just push phono Buttom and the Denon amphiler switch on you dont Need remote.

[@davedrew9328]

Have you ever seen, heard, a Sherwood tuner amp ?

[@davedrew9328]

Yeah I have one and so has my Neighbour we brought them from Richer Sounds in the Eighty’s both still working well today.

[@arunassilkas3207]

How can anyone buy an amplifiers with so noisy fans?

[@celestialancaoancaocelesti7445]

Sir I wished you would repair my JBL ks 4500 amplifier but only wishes beacous we are in deferent country iam In the Philippines so far from your country

[@keithsandlass1019]

I am looking for someone to repair a TPL- PA6-1FE-SMAS Power Amp 20-40w UHF 400-512 . TPL has went out of business and can't find anyone to repair them.

[@joyraphel5058]

Joyraphael

[@Erwinhooi]

No fuse between the transformer and the bridge rectifier!!!😱

[@tiromancino_tt]

this amp is made in china, and imported for the italian market (that's why there are words written in italian, but apparently it's very popular in uk). In Italy such poor electronics has never been produced 😞

[@RGD-Audio-Repairs]

omg thats got to be the cheapest looking "power" amplifier, i have ever seen!!! Not even any large filter caps either hahaha

[@cls9474]

Proof of a good PSRR :)

[@lucdogge7317]

Oh dear, Skytronic...

[@eduardoarturocastroojeda4123]

mejor hubiera cambiado el potenciometro.

[@Keshro]

I think Skytronic is from Sri Lanka. Making shit like that is too expensive in Europe. No doubt they probably target the European market though.

[@antoniobarra2752]

Io l'avrei messo nuovo

[@aryostosantossantos1215]

PRECISA MAIS PAR SAIDAS CADA LADO ERRO GRAVE SOMA CALOR PECA SEM VENTILACAO PROJETO E FEITO SEM RMS QUALIDADE TENHO PLACAS MAELHORES VERDADE AQUI BRASIL PODE TRABALHAR ATE 60 VOLTS 4 PECAS SAIDAS

[@patprop74]

The Chinese wouldn't use a toroidal transformer lol that would be too much quality in one unit lol

[@toG-i9i]

Any audio brand with the word sky in its name is worth avoiding

[@vipcollection7955]

Ahuja 4040s Down volume please upload saolusion

[@tony359]

this must be the cheapest amplifier I have ever seen in my life!

[@peterlee3996]

Being an electronic engineer of 50 years I enjoy your blogs... But please don't smile so much it makes you look creepy... As my wife says😉