Fixing common issues on the Sony DA-555ES Receiver

Our old "friends" heat and metal fatigue are up to their dastardly deeds as usual, this time in my late mother's Sony DA-555ES! In this video, you'll see what issues I encountered and I also discuss why a nearly 20 year old A/V receiver can still be relevant in today's 4K HD world.

[@Nahuekeys]

Hi! Greetings from Argentina! Thanks for your Wisdom! I have a Da555es, and some time ago i have to oportunity to test it against a classic NAD 3020i. I hear more control tightness and dynamics on the bass Región in the sony ES. But the Nad have more clarity, microdetails and bigger soundstage and i really love that. I wanna ask you want you think of upgrading the opamps on the mainboard and pre for burrbrown 2134. It’s very dificult to do? Or maybe using a better stereo amp section and connect it to the preout of the sony. Thank you for your help. Best regards from Argentina.

[@viktork.8737]

Replace them without hesitation, and listen... ;-)

[@thuaarntuvan5905]

Can you show me how to mix the sound from the mixer with the music to sing

[@pattersonproductions380]

Where can I send mine into for repair? I have the same exact model and after it shut down and went into protection mode, I can’t get any sound out of it again.

[@robertgaddis]

Do you still repair these? Which state are you in?

[@nickfatsis9607]

I have a DA50ES which looks to be very similar to that 555ES, on it's power board there's a cap that's by itself, it sits next to the two bridge rectifiers, when the cap is in circuit, the voltage is about 18volts, it's higher than the cap is rated for, when I take the cap out of circuit the voltage drops to about 12 volts, it's a very odd thing.

[@MadScientistsLair]

That sounds like filter caps doing their job. The filtered DC voltage with light loads becomes near the peak of the pulsating DC from the rectifier. Now, the question is why is it high...For that, you're going to need to figure out. Id suspect abnormal line voltage but it could be a shorted upstream semiconductor as well. Resistors failing low are rare but I have seen if a few times.

[@ikeda926]

How to fix my V55es ( Protector Fan is in the screen)

[@MadScientistsLair]

If its complaining about a fan, the fan may have failed. You'll need to test the fan. If it's good, you have more complex issues that I won't be able to diagnose remotely.

[@johnalenwork53]

Where can I send mine my friend??

[@Johny666EU]

nice video. ive got strange issue with my sony receiver. is str-db 798 QS series. basicly the soud pop in or out during turn on relays and then during power off is like ''pic'' on speakers. i did full cleaning, i repair all cold solders, i clean swithes and potentiometers, i dont see anything burn or strange. i have replace relays as well. and still is pop soud during activating the speakers and turn off the receiver. any idea?

[@johnalenwork53]

So a have one of those receivers exactly the same it clicks when you tap on the top of it Like maybe a bad relay. It has been sitting a while, so I tried it again this morning and no clicking but I'm afraid it will come back. I live in Warrenton Oregon 97146. There's a place in Portland Oregon to get it repaired I just don't know where do you have any ideas, I appreciate anything. Have a great weekend!!

[@johnalenwork53]

120 watts per channel @ 4 ohms 100 watts per channel @ 8 ohms RMS @ 0.05 THD

[@4486xxdawson]

So just replace everything start from fresh and build your own is what your saying , jeese seems easier to just buy new one if every cap is bad .

[@MadScientistsLair]

It's not every cap and the caps that fail are cheap. It's about a 2-2.5 hour job start to finish.

[@johny2199]

I have a Sony V444ES and sometimes when I turn it on it will continue to click without the display coming on and sounds like a relay. It doesnt do it all the time one out of ten times turning on. What do you think the fix is and what would you charge to fix and turn around time. If I decide not to fix it and buy another new receiver should I buy another Sony or search for a different brand?

[@MadScientistsLair]

The problem is likely the same issue we saw here, likely involving a similar failure to the one I patched on the 555 power board. We are closed until October due to a move. I got an absolutely insane deal on rent at a new place so I'm moving out in late August but I won't be able to set up the shop immediately because the necessary infrastructure has to be installed beforehand. That's going to be a heck of a job. Turn around time varies by shop load. I have a loaner unit available however. Cost is likely around $75-150 depending on how deep the rabbit hole goes. Initial diag fee is $45 and includes the first 30 min of repair labor. As for new receivers...Get another Sony ES, Yamaha AVENTAGE series or a Denon. The new rounded face Yamaha RX-A series is too new for me to be familiar with but I absolutely hate that relatively low contrast LCD they went to; the old VFD was much better looking. Denon has been consistently outperforming Yamaha lately in terms of *measured* distortion and noise in Audio Science Review tests. Will you hear this difference? Probably not but better is better. Onkyo is still on my "s**t list" due to noticeably higher failure rates than the other aforementioned brands.

[@johny2199]

@@MadScientistsLair Just order new Sony 5000es. Put me on the list and I will contact you in October and send it to you. It is a great receiver and I want to keep it for a spare for another room or garage.

[@johny2199]

I just noticed this receiver the Denon AVR-X6700H would you stick with the Sony or go with this and why?

[@MrSilv55]

@@MadScientistsLair Thanks for the video , i have an old Sony receiver str k850 that won't memorize preset radio stations no more, i have to manually put in frequency in order to tune in station ,but if i try to set up another frequency it looses the first one and so on, this might be old caps, what you guys experts on radios think i should look for, thanks

[@MadScientistsLair]

@@MrSilv55 It's probably a bad super capacitor. These are usually small caps that are coin shaped (diameter much largert han height). Typical value is 5.5V 0.047F.

[@johnalenwork53]

Do you fix these?

[@MadScientistsLair]

I do but if you're not in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or near a friend's place in Abilene, shipping both ways may equal the price you can find a working unit for.

[@soloM81]

@@MadScientistsLair is it worth fixing a Sony-STR-DE615 i think it was a lower end unit sound cuts in and out i hear popping sound. iam guessing bad joints

[@MadScientistsLair]

@@soloM81 Those are really only worth doing if you have some sentimental attachment or if you're DIYing. Even my low labor charges on a unit like that will exceed the value of the device.

[@soloM81]

@@MadScientistsLair pretty much what i thought better off to upgrade now

[@MadScientistsLair]

@@soloM81 I recommend Yamaha. The DSP is excellent and they're reliable.