If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It!

Here is a bonus video for everyone! This is the kind of content we usually post for our paying KZbin members.
In this segment, Kevin chats about a video he recently saw about vintage audio repair. Hear his thoughts along with his latest experience in purchasing a vintage receiver from eBay, and potential risks involved.
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#vintageaudio #vintagehifi #vinylrecords

[@acrossthedial]

I went to college in the early 80's to become an "electronics engineering technologist" and my first job was at a stereo shop that sold Yamaha, NAD, Technics, and Luxman in 1985. I was always the new kid wherever I worked. The other techs were older and the college programs changed dramatically away from analogue electronics to IT specialties and digital. I went back to my college in 1988 to install a sound system and all the audio labs were replaced with computer work stations. In 2023, I am the only electronics technician in my city who works on vintage audio and customers get upset when I tell them it will take 3-4 months to start work on their equipment. I refuse to do "just enough to get it working" repairs.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

That's also the case for me. I'm the only one technician in the city I live in, the only one who have a dimploma. I refuse to repair something That's working properly, but when I open something up, then I would replace what need to be replaced to assure another 50 years of service.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

I've been spending myself into the poorhouse refurbishing 9 vintage monster receivers. My technicians use kits I supply to replace most well known troublemakers in my monster receivers. I provide ready made upgraded circuit boards for install when possible. Just providing upgraded and replacement components can cost over $1,000 for a Pioneer SX-1980. Add a sweet $3K deal on labor. I get cost breaks because my techs are friends and I'm a baby whale customer "If it ain't broke don't fix it" is a short sighted investment strategy that cost's far more over time than taking a proactive refurbishment strategy. Vintage audio is a long term investment. Short sighted "Fix as needed" investments in vintage audio turn this fun hobby into a MONEY PIT! Skylabs Audio is a quality shop run by good honest people. I just know quality people and services when I see them. I deal with good people in my vintage audio dealings. 40 year old capacitors have often dried up. Capacitors are like Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, they hang on long past their prime by, working just well enough to keep costing you more money over time. Swooning near Dead or Dying Capacitors let you nickel and dime yourself to death fixing them one by one. Like Norma Desmond Capacitors are ALL DYING FOR INDIVIDUAL COSTLY ATTENTION!! In a system that is not sensibly recapped the strain on the next point of failure is pushed to the next weakest 40+ year old part when you fix only what breaks. By fixing main filter caps and all of the known fail points for a particular brand \ model you do the best job of future proofing your vintage audio short of getting a full recap. You ask why I KNOW Skylabs is a great business staffed by honorable people. If Skylabs wanted to maximize profits he'd fix only what breaks certain you will be a return customer every time a 40+ year old part in your vintage audio breaks. He'd cultivate that profit center by saying "Yeah FIX Only what breaks leave the rest alone". The fact that he says Fix the well known failure points now before we lose all the techs who know first hand how to repair it shows he cares about his customers. Skylabs profits from the quality care it delivers to its customers and when looking for service for your vintage audio that's the most important consideration. Just for the record, I am NOT a shill for Skylabs. I'm an old ugly disabled Autistic Werewolf living in Maryland, light years from Skylabs. I get my vintage audio serviced by a quality local shop staffed by people I love. I love vintage audio and when I see another quality repair shop I make sure the world knows it because finding a great vintage audio repair shop is getting harder. I love this hobby and I want it to bring others the joy it brings me. I share my experiences and opinions in hopes I help folk save money while enjoying vintage audio. That and the fact Autistic Werewolves like me are blabbermouth's that love the sound of their own words spoken or in print

[@jefftobin4034]

Thanks for sharing your perspective on how to approach vintage audio. Here are some thoughts I have on the subject: 1) If you are a DIYer, and lack the skills and attention to detail, doing a restoration/recap could do more harm than good. While conceptually pretty easy, re-capping requires skill and debug skills when you make a mistake. 2) If you're making changes to "upgrade" your system, leave well enough alone. Tweaking vintage gear is a bit of a fools errand. If you want to increase the values of some of the power supply filtering slightly, fine, but don't expect it to change the sound. The one exception is replacing electrolytics in the signal path with good film caps. And don't waste your money on those exotic, really expensive hi-fi caps. They're intended for a totally different appliation. 3) If you're buying a piece of vintage gear, you should either buy a piece that's been restored or you should expect it to need some attention. If you cherry pick and find a unit that is 100% functional and doesn't have scratchy pots, you've found a unicorn. Congratulations. I've never bought a system from the 70s or 80s that didn't need some attention, and some were in really bad condition and needed a total overhaul. It just depends on how they were used over their lifetime. 4) To me, restored vintage audio is some of the most satisfying audio gear out there. A beautiful, cosmetically clean and fully functional vintage amp sounds great. I can't ask for anything more. I get more enjoyment from my vintage integrated amp than from the way more expensive gear I bought in the 2000's.

[@harlest71]

It cost me 40 dollars in packaging materials to ship a receiver. 100 foot of large bubble wrap and some foam sheets. Wrap the receiver front to back with 35 feet then left to right with 35 feet then wrap around all corners with the rest. Place in a 24x24x12 box and fill in all open spaces with 1 to 2 inch foam sheets cut to fit. The receiver cannot move around inside the box AT ALL. I have never had one damage and I've shipped receivers all over the world. I bought a Pioneer once on the Bay and the shipper threw it in a box with some peanuts and WOW!! that was a mess when I opened the box. Thanks again Kevin for more great content.

[@savagedick1462]

100 feet of bubble wrap in a 24 24 12 box? Were you using small bubble? Half inch bubble youd be lucky to fit 20' then you say you used foam sheets in the box too......you used a whole roll of bubble on one receiver?

[@harlest71]

@@savagedick1462 Medium 5/16 x 12 inch x 100 foot bubble wrap from Amazon. Yes I used a whole roll and pieces of foam sheets to fill in the sides where the faceplate could possible bump the sides. The receiver can not move around in the box or it will get damaged. I've packed several Marantz and Rotel amp/receivers this way and have never had damage in shipping. One detail I forgot to mention is that I place the amp in a plastic bag first then wrap with bubble wrap. Bubble wrap can cause marking during shipping on some plastics.

[@EddieJazzFan]

I've been using a Pioneer SA-8100 integrated amp for years. My friends always say to get it upgraded, recapped, etc, but it sounds great to me, so I'm just gonna keep using it as it is.

[@skylabsaudio]

Nothing wrong with keeping it original, it's your gear. Just one distinction I want to make- we do not do any upgrades or "enhancements" to improve the sound. Installing new caps (with the same values as the originals) in the power supply should have no effect on sound quality at all. Just wanted to clarify that.

[@fabieneldridge3414]

I think I might do the same with my old Marantz. Even though I see people sell a complete restore kit for my Model 2325. Thanks

[@mr1enrollment]

I was a tech, then an engineer, now retired. I have done restoration of many antique radios, guitar amps, and audio gear. The old caps NEED to be replaced. If there are no techs to do it, then the equipment will not survive. I am 70, and plan to be around designing new amps, and fixin up old ones.

[@skylabsaudio]

Stick around as long as possible, the world needs you!

[@lobstame]

Kevin, thanks for another very well made video. Shipping these legacy electronics is a extremely risky endeavor. I can say without exaggeration that one half of every “vintage” piece I have received, whether they claim to be competent and certifiable shippers or not, have sustained some damage. Reliable service technicians are rare indeed, and my highest regard to those old craftsmen is justified. I recently traveled six hundred miles and had to find lodging nearby to have my Pioneer SX 1010 taken care of. I did just as you suggested, I asked to take care of everything that is known and replaced everything suspected. I sincerely cannot afford the luxury as I am in my seventies and an a severely limited budget. But, in my defense, I know I’ll never be able to keep my stuff running/spinning unless I do this kind of preventative maintenance. My respect and gratitude goes out to the old guys that perform this service beyond their retirement years. There should be a monument erected somewhere for these dedicated, talented, individuals. Whoa, I think I’m getting a bit misty.

[@skylabsaudio]

Now I'm getting misty! Only because I agree 100%

[@k.givens788]

❤ I have Pioneer SX-434, 535 and 636. I owned 737 but decided to sell it. ♥️636 is next for repairs. In 1974 I was 11. My cousin came home from college with a Pioneer SX-737 Pioneer TT and Pioneer speakers. He told me and his little brother if we wanted to listen to it tell him and he’d play his records for us. 6 years prior we broke his model cars. When my birthday came I wanted a SX-434. It listed for $299. My old man wasn’t gonna pop for $299 and it didn’t even come with speakers and you still had to buy a TT. What I got for my 11th birthday was a General Electric Wildcat drop down record player. No am/fm. I was crushed. I made the best of it though got many years enjoyment out of it. Ten years ago I decided to go ahead a get what I wanted all those years ago. I have plenty of other receivers now, but that one will always be special. I listened to it today.

[@skylabsaudio]

All of those are excellent, IMO!

[@alanmaier]

Audio has been a hobby for me for decades. I could always hear subtle details others could not. I have also been repairing audio as a hobby for as long as the period when vintage audio was new on display. I do not take in repairs, but instead buy audio in need of repairs and do repairs in my garage - again as a hobby. When I start checking caps and find several in very poor condition - I do a shotgun recap. It's a hobby, I am retired, it's my time and caps are cheap. Currently I have a very early 1980's high end Tandy built Realistic apart that I bought for myself. Every single cap I have tested has measured as good as new in terms of value and ESR. Yet I've had receivers apart for a restoration where every cap was way out of spec, high ESR or both. For me, I usually can hear a difference for the better after a recap of the audio path - but I fall back to that "I seem to hear little things others can't". When I do sell items, being recapped seems to sell better - BUT - people don't want to pay a fair price for my time. That's why it is a hobby.

[@tommywingate2220]

This equipment we are discussing is either a passion or a door stop. I’m so sick of hearing what someone found in the goodwill I can puke. This passion isn’t inexpensive neither is the repair and the paranoia is unacceptable. I buy vintage HiFi and immediately take it to my guy who evaluates and let’s me know where I stand. Should I sell that equipment I will know what I’m selling if he repairs or updates I know what I owe. So what is that worth. Well it’s part of the cost of enjoying my passion and worth every cent. I may be in touch in the future just to see if you might be interesting in doing a little business and sharing a similar passion. “ I once found a Sansui 9090 db and the guy who owned it gave me 12 bucks to take away this mint classic.” Hahahaha. Take Care.

[@skylabsaudio]

I hear ya. I make far less money than most plumbers per hour, but it's not all about the money. Or at least it doesn't have to be.

[@skylabsaudio]

I know I haven't. Techs are way underpaid.

[@jordanrussell345]

Labor has gotten so expensive due to many factors including inflation that from a buyer's standpoint it's just not worth it to buy a recapped unit for 2-3x the price versus one that "just works". I can't even argue with that myself! We do not "rebuild" car parts anymore in the United States, we replace them, for this labor cost reason among others. I am like you I picked this up as a hobby but am very new at it, and quickly figured out that I will never get my money back out of anything that requires major repairs, so if I decide to perform repairs I am doing it for myself. Everything else would just be a quick clean, new bulbs, and out the door it goes. The fun/enjoyment is in the resurrection, and the possible eventual sale of passing it to someone else for them to enjoy.

[@raygarafano3633]

Greetings, Yup if it hums I do the filter caps after the rectifiers. I used to do antique radios, sold aoo but an RCA Radiola 60 coffin style. Power supply was a mutha everything in black tar...fun fun fun.

[@MonguzTea]

For my own stuff i always go for a full recap on the amp and power supply section. Recently did a Yamaha full recap and all transistor replacement with matched pairs. The cost was much higher than what the unit's worth but the sound is heavenly.

[@arnoldschloss9634]

Excellent perspective on the subject; No too long ago I was referred by my local McIntosh dealer to a shop they deal with that repairs/restores vintage equipment, locally - I have an original unrestored Sansui 5050 that works absolutely fine. I called them up, explaining that I have an all original/unrestored Sansui 5050, being its 45 years old, that I am interested in having recapped/restored. His only question to me was "what's the problem with it". I responded that it plays fine - no hissing, no humming nor audible distortion. His short verbal response to me was - "if you develop a problem with it in the future, bring it in, ill bench test it to determine the problem, and repair/restore it as necessary".

[@Reflectiveness]

I was told by a repair shop there isn't enough money in recapping. They were only interested in billing me $250 to fix a single issue. Which by the way came back a month later as the same problem. I'm beginning to think a couple pots need disassembled and cleaned.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

​@@Reflectiveness250$ is not expensive.

[@brucecoyle2565]

I really like it when you show the inside of gear. Doesn’t make me want to rip into vintage gear but it’s eye candy to me. Keep up the good work.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks, Bruce!

[@primeanalogrecords]

I have had this happen more than a few times! But many times my guy doesn’t check things that I haven’t specifically talked about! And I don’t know what to ask about! And then, when you get it home and turn it on, and may be a couple of bulbs, go out or light emitting diode‘s go out! I have to drive two hours to get to my guy and then usually wait a couple of months! It’s quite frustrating! I’m honestly thinking about getting another integrated amp or receiver in the interim in case I have to leave my unit with my technician in the future! Another one of the issues by being a vintage, audio enthusiasts!

[@skylabsaudio]

My advice to customers with this dilemma is to grab an AV receiver from the 90s at a garage sale or goodwill for $20 as your back up. I usually keep a couple on hand to lend out to customers as donors. Might not be pretty, but it will get the job done :)

[@bmboldt]

I can only think of a couple shops in Omaha and those guys aren't getting younger. I am 58, retired engineer, who studied electrical engineering in college. I have recapped two receivers so far and fixed up a few other pieces. I have an sx-780 and sx-6000 that seem to be fine and I haven't recapped them. I really don't want to mess with them for the most part since they seem fine. I would love to fix up more gear that is not working but I can't find anything worth fixing that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to begin with. Then there are shops like yours that are completely backed up. 🙂

[@patrickbolmeyer9515]

I just had my Yamaha CR-2020 recapped, refurbished with LED upgrades, my Nakamichi 600 refurbished and my Yamaha CD-805 CD changer refurbished. I'm the original purchaser of all of it back in the late 1970's. Cost me $1,300 for all of it. I'll enjoy it for now but if I sell it in 3-5 years, I'll recoup my money and then some.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

The biggest issue with "upgrading" legacy equipment are the various "rabbit holes" you'll end up going down over time. It goes beyond caps. I ended up re-designing an entire line amp stage (using the existing solder traces and holes) and having to replace just about every component on the board. On another piece of equipment I end up changing the make & model of the 14 pin op-amp so I had to build an external mini-board to deal with the pin-out differences between the two IC's. Both ended up being very rewarding projects over the long term.

[@williamculbreath5443]

Again, another good show. Thank you brother.

[@-elijahriggs-]

Definitely more videos like this, please and thank you.

[@johnbrender7635]

I had one of my favorite receivers’s left channel go out so I brought it in and had my local technician do a full recap. When I got it back it worked beautifully but I feel it lost a little bit of it’s unique sound signature. I regretted doing the full recap and ended up selling it and buying another one. Coincidentally the left channel just went out on this one too and am bringing it in this weekend and will only be addressing what needs to be fixed

[@kwd-kwd]

new caps gave it it's actual sound, new caps are made better than old caps ( meaning when they were new) if your unit had any bad caps in it , you werent hearing it's actual sound, so you lost the sound of a receiver with bad caps. not being mean, but what you said makes no logical sense.

[@chinmeysway]

@@kwd-kwdyou’d have to know what caps were put in it to say that and if they were done. And how can it be actually comparable- the original sound to something newly capped. They’re probably too different cheap or electrolytic or whatever to compare. Point is they liked the new cap sound less so who cares. I chose to buy a receiver untouched but tested well over a totally gutted one that was cheaper. Maybe I’m illogical too oh well.

[@kwd-kwd]

@@chinmeysway caps are better now than they were then, the deterioration happens so slow you don't notice it until its put back in spec, all equipment this age is out of spec at this point. most caps last about 40 years tops, sure a few will keep on living like how certain tubes just keep working and others die quick, but it's best to service this stuff so failures cant cause other bigger problems.

[@richardnantel949]

Very good advice Kevin, and thanks regarding vintage audio maintenance and servicing. 🇨🇦

[@bobe3250]

If you can change capacitors you're golden. I have a lot of equipment and I'm learning how to repair them. Its a fun hobby. I may make some mistakes here and there but that's pretty normal for me.

[@bobe3250]

@Douglas Blake I agree. Many of the ones I owned just needed capacitors. So far it's been enough.

[@mauriceparhamovich5358]

Good video...I agree with your assessment. Be well.

[@crmixman]

Kevin, you have the perfect mindset of vintage audio fan/small business owner. I definitely see both sides of the recap issue. For many of us weekend amateur techs fixing our own gear, it's a great hobby to keep the brain active and play with units we lusted after when we were younger. Recapping can be a way of wading into doing repair work, although I didn't take that path. Most of the amps & receivers I picked up over the last 2 decades needed some minor work. I even bought a few that were DOA just to see if I could bring them back to life. My goal is to find and fix the problem(s) first, then restore (replace most caps & problem transistors, cosmetics, etc.) and enjoy. I'm doing this to all the gear in my collection. With the right care, this stuff will outlast me. I do majority recaps because it's an investment and it sure can make a difference in how a piece sounds. If I wasn't living two hours East of DM, I would seriously think about a career change, if you had any openings.

[@skylabsaudio]

Appreciate it. You never know! Send an email to [e-mail]. thanks!

[@ripjones5294]

Eleven minutes of basic good information. Thanks as always. You should've seen the amazing packing job the guy in Florence, SC did for the SX-780 I got from him. It was completely wrapped in sheet foam, and then encased within a box liner made from foil-backed sheathing, and a top and bottom protection of fiberboard. Fedex then packed all around with packing peanuts, and then shrink-wrapped and taped. It was a thing of beauty, and took me 30 minutes just to get it open. Amazing. Someone should actually do a video on how to pack a vintage component, if you HAVE to ship it for service. I would've never thought of the sheathing material, but it makes perfect sense. Since he knew my audio "history", he wanted to make sure one of his prized possessions made it to its new "home". I'll plan to bring it with us.

[@WindomRettes]

Smashing Video!

[@adsph]

Solid video and explanation. Good techs hard to find in northern Illinois. Had to go to Wisconsin.

[@marcparsons1726]

I always use contact cleaner and rough things up a bit, bend leads and straighten parts. Restore the cord too. Sometimes these things work well. Nice Subject!

[@michellevey9608]

I agree. These things last! Other folks totally go through recapping ect. their vintage gear. All mine work fine. Why mess with it? I'm not an audiophile. If l was , l'd have all the latest super expensive stuff! To me personally, it's about using equipment mostly as old as l am. Still kicking too!

[@Bo-hb3eo]

I’m still learning that’s for sure. But I’m definitely interested in seeing this video how it turns out. The SX 535 is a go to receiver for me. Sansui 7070 is my main receiver that I love dearly. But I have three SX 535s and I gave one to my son. They’re great receivers. They look pretty cool and I think they have all the functions you need. I have one that the left side speaker does not work. That’s my next project to figure that out. I think I know the problem. Thanks for the video. I’ll be watching.

[@hhvictor2462]

Things I have done on my own with vintage gear is clean scratchy pots, clean the knobs and face, replace lights, give the innards a good dusting, and turn screws.

[@lcd2426]

Yeah I'm not a fan of "if it isn't broke don't fix it" crowd when it comes to 45+ year old gear. I have a Techniques SL-1700 and I took it to a guy who has fixed and service my other vintage gear and said hey I would like it recapped to prevent speed issues that are inherent to this unit. He said well bring it when it has the speed issues then I'll do it. Thing is, if that happens the faulty caps can mess up the AN630U chip which is no longer available. Now, I do agree with not tearing down a working unit and doing a full recap but, addressing known problems or things like the power supply that if they go can cause a bigger problems is really just smart on old equipment.

[@jefffoster3557]

You have a great point. I have a JVC DD TT with a runaway speed issue and I'm hoping it's not the chip at fault.

[@paulv22]

You make a lot of great points here. I'd really like to learn to be an electronics tech, but I have a full time job and don't know where I'd go to learn. Also, shameful packaging job.

[@midwestside1969]

I love this format. This particular video gave me an idea. Since techs are getting scarce, why dont you bring an educational series out, like you are already sort of doing on repairs? Sort of like an anatomy of an amp repair, not necessarily the complete play by play , but more of "here are all the parts we used to fix this". Maybe teach us about what basic cap values and transistors to have on hand, perhap a workflow run down, Stuff like that. I know there are other channels out there that do fixing videos, but maybe we could train a new generation of hobbyist audio techs! Thanks for your channel! Sorry, wrote this before the vid finished, maybe you are going to do this on your sunday Vid!

[@skylabsaudio]

@John B. The idea has been kicked around. Between Skylabs and KZbin, I simply do not have time for anything else. Maybe someday.

[@JonPaul]

Hey, a neat format for the video - very relaxed and informal. I like it. I'm a now retired Building Automation controls tech - 30 years there. I do repair efurb a few units a year. And you want to know what I think about this whole replace the cap before it fails issue!? Well I'm not gonna tell you because it's just my opinion! My opinion basically (especially because I'm a hobbyist in the audio world) means nothing on the internet. 10K other people saying other forms of the same damn thing I'd be saying. :) So y'all carry and on enjoy your tunes. EDIT: LOL - OK, here - "If it breaks, fix it" - no one can argue with that!

[@skylabsaudio]

All good man. If people cant handle other people having a different opinion they got more problems than stereo equipment. I don't claim to be correct for anyone other than me. That's just my opinion and it can change tomorrow. Easy :)

[@davidwell686]

Very good points. One problem to consider "can I get those unique parts? A certain transistor...transformer, power supply...etc...in the coming years they won't be available.

[@mat.b.]

Man, it's insane hearing that people drive 4-5 hours to get work done. I can't even imagine that. There's multiple techs in my city, and the one I use right now is a 10 minute drive from me, and he's in his 20s. Same was the guy I used prior, 20 minute drive, young, nice guy. Last guy had super fast turnaround time, recent guy is slammed so it takes a while to get stuff out. Either way, hearing 1 year turnaround, long road trips....I dont know what I'd do in that position. Then again, in the last year I've learned to replace my own parts. The older techs I've dealt with or talked to were jerks, less problems just making a hobby of it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Having multiple techs in one city is not common, consider yourself lucky!

[@mcaddie7]

So as a young (27) electrical engineer who now repairs industrial machines that are mostly analogue. My opnion is that yes, if you plan on keeping a piece repair all caps. A dying cap changing voltage and can put strain on resistors, transistors etc which some can be hard to find replacements for. It’s not a matter of if, but when when it comes to both transistors and caps. Yes, transistors slowly die as well. And having graduated an EE program 5 years ago, they barely taught analogue circuit design so I think as time goes on you’ll have even less techs doing this on the side. I do it for fun though but am going to retire and turn my hobby of repairing the into a job lol

[@jefffoster3557]

I have stated before that I own 4 G 9000s. Back in 2002 when I purchased them they were going on EBay all day long for about 200 to 250. Bought 1 and I screwed it up by poking a screwdriver at the volume control thinking it had a bad solder joint and wiped out a power trans and a couple components on the power supply. That's what led me on to a hunt for another.....then another showed up an hour's drive away. Until I had 4 in my possession for a bit under 300 each shipped. Once I found a good tech here locally who was doing guitar amp work for a music store, I immediately ended up bringing each receiver to be fixed an cleaned with the very thought in mind that I may not ever find another doing this work local this cheap again. Still have less than 450 into each one and they all hum beautifully and I do rotate them as well and put them through the paces. More should heed your warning on the low availability of good techs.......this one passed away a few years ago.

[@havok9336]

There will always be this debate. I'm of the "Peace of mind" comes from a preventative maintenance mindset. For the vehicle it entails regular LOF (Lube, Oil, Filter), brakes when or slightly before the squealers start singing, tires before the wear bars match the tread, blinker fluid always topped off, muffler belt always tight.... 100k miles on an interference engine and no idea if the timing belt has been replaced? It's time if you plan to keep driving it. My life experiences obviously sway my thinking on this subject. HAM radio operator, telephone company career, military with AFSC in electronics and AFX slot car mechanic when I was a young lad. I don't have all of the test equipment to fix all of the issues I may encounter with my HAM gear but I also know my limits. That's when I send things to the experts. That being said, I have on multiple occasions been able to fix/improve performance by replacing suspect/aged components. Relays, caps, transistors, worn switches and pots, etc. So, to each his/her own on this debate I guess? Perhaps it depends on proficiency or the cost? If you're attentive and somewhat knowledgeable as you're replacing components, take it slow, re-test often especially when multiple parts are being swapped out, then you will more likely than not eliminate issues in the future.

[@JayRCela]

Thanks for another great video. I have mixed feelings about the if it aint broke dont fix it way of thinking. As you mentioned changing the oil in your vehicle, some vintage hifi equipment requires regular or occasional maintenance, belts in cassette decks, turntables, speaker rubber foam surround rings, paper cones along with some silk dome midrange , tweeters can be maintained with silicone spray, I have been doing this for 30+ years with good results. This sort of routine maintenance is relatively easy enough for most people to perform. However finding someone qualified to work on vintage hifi gear that requires a thorough inspection and rebuild these days can be difficult. / BTW - the Pioneer 535 is a great match with a pair of original small Advents :_) / Thanks again for your thoughts :_)

[@fabieneldridge3414]

I’ve battled with making the jump and having my old Marantz 2325 restored, it playing very well but it has got a burp sometimes on the right side until it warms up ? I have been watching and listening to your opinions and when you figure I’ve had over 30 years of service without troubles , and believe if it is recapped ect I’ll get another 30 plus years out of it. The sound it produces still hangs with about any other receiver made today. I will be one of the people driving all day to find a technician. I know they sell a kit with everything needed to bring everything back up to specs. I don’t know how it could be any sweeter sounding, but after so many years it’s easy to get use to something that isn’t really up to par . Plus the old Marantz is worth several times the price it was originally . It’s nice to er te information needed to make te correct decisions. Thank you

[@fabieneldridge3414]

@Douglas Blake I have been battling with myself about touching it , I’m old school like you say if it ain’t broke don’t fixit ! It still sounds excellent but maybe I’m I’ve gotten use to it ? Everyone else says it rocks and it does but I noticed my right channel. I took the balance Oran it back and forth several times as to loosen any dust. I do take it’s cover off and blow it out with my air compressor,every few years. The first time it was a very noticeable. It played much better with the dust blown out. I could smell that hot stereo smell, I’m sure anyone that rocks has with a old stereo. It doesn’t smell anymore. It’s a wall of sound ! My Klipsch speakers go past live bar room band music. A pair of Klipsch Horns and Belle’s. Believe me it can get loud but it’s so clean and silent between songs, it has No hiss , silent. Like I said it still plays great. Thank you

[@stevennelson7444]

Kevin caps in a DC circuit are easily tested with the circuit in service using your volt meter set for AC . Put your probes across the capacitor. The voltage you read is ripple and be a very small voltage possibly a few MV. As this voltage gets higher it is a sign of failure. I’ve personally seen capacitors with 30 % ripple still functioning but creating a lot of noise. Steve

[@GenerationXT]

I've seen people get nickeled and dimed to death trying to spot service such old equipment. They would have a bunch of money invested, and still not have a unit that's really working up to spec. I'd rather do a shotgun rebuild than pick around the edges, only to have the customer dump the unit back in my lap 6 months later, with another issue that could have been prevented in the first place.

[@larrydrish8960]

I just had the same thing happen to my Pioneer SX-535! Cracked dial glass behind the tuning knob during shipping. If you know of any replacement glass, please let me know! Through research, I have found that the SX-636 seems to have the same dial glass as the 535. I've been looking for a worthy replacement faceplate from both models to fix my cracked one. Love your videos! You got me into this hobby a week ago, with your video on the 6 best vintage entry level receivers. I chose this model for the same reasons; many available receivers and the hope of plenty of parts. However, this dial glass has eluded me for a decent price. Hope you find one for yours! IF you find 2, let me know and I'll buy the other one! LOL

[@txc500]

I always tightly wrap the receiver in plastic wrap and then add thick cardboard sides that extend beyond the front and back of the receiver and wrap all that. It creates a situation where the receiver cannot move forward or backward and damage the front knobs or glass. I've shipped Marantz 22xx's and even the giant Pioneer 1010 and 1250 this way and no issues.

[@tomreidy1237]

Always good information. And I agree- why fix something if it isn't broken?

[@db3ll]

Because this gear is old and on the verge of failing. I'll give you an example: If you have a Pioneer SA-9100 and you have never done anything with it, then there are a couple resistors slowly overheating and scorching the PC board they're on and they are also melting the caps next to them. If you have a Sansui 5000 w/a certain type of driver board, it may well be working, but it is also considered by many to be a fire hazard. If you have pretty much any old hifi unit you likely have transistors with legs corroding which will eventually seep into the case, the transistor will eventually fail. If you hear unwanted pops when you're moving switches, you probably have failing electrolytic caps that need to be replaced. Does the unit work? Yes, it very well could work, but it probably isn't working like it did when it was new. Both SA-9100s I worked on recently did, in fact, work even with the power supply board issues and a transistor with legs that were so corroded the transistor fell apart when I tried to remove it. But for how long, and what happens if those parts are allowed to fail and THEN the repair is started? What other damage will occur? No one would suggest driving a car until one of the tires blows out. That is exactly what is happening with old gear that has never been serviced. It is working, but it is headed for some type of failure. Whether that is, to continue the tire analogy, a controlled slow flat that doesn't cause much more damage or a high-speed instant blowout on the freeway you won't know until it happens. Finally, through-hole components are probably not going to be around much longer. If you're going to fix this gear, this is probably (IMO) the last decade when the average person could do the servicing him/herself with parts available form trusted vendors (Mouser, etc.) vs. searching online and hoping what you get isn't counterfeit.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

Some need upgrade to correct well known issues, I've the sony TA-8650 Vfet integrated on the top of my head right now, that particular unit have very scarce final output transistors, and some failure prone parts that can cause them to blow up. As for other, I've a different opinion, I won't service anything that's working perfectly fine. But if I have to open it, then I will do the parts upgrade to assure the customer that the device will have another 50 years of service without issues. But only if it's defective in the first place.

[@steve0504]

If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.

[@michaelwright1602]

Repair technicians... Not many out there, just like mechanics and other old school hands on repair work/services. I wish I would have learned electronics back in the day.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Another consideration is dissembly/assembly time. If it takes you an hour to pull a piece apart, you might as well replace some old electrolytics while it's convenient. Disappointed seeing that cracked glass. Future content suggestion, please consider making a 'Proper way to ship vintage electronics ' video. I have a lot of equipment from the past 50 years and would like to find new homes. Got no idea how to pack to protect the switches, knobs and speaker terminals. Looks like bubble wrap ain't it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Hi Craig. Thanks! There are some great videos on KZbin showing how to ship turntables and receivers. I've watched quite a few.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@skylabsaudio I'll take a look, thanks.

[@MrPugsley1961]

Hi Kevin, just recently came across your channel and wanted to say thanks for what you do. I really love your presentation skills, including being thorough in your explanations. Plus just speaking in your normal tone of voice without trying to come across as cool and hip. It's really annoying for me to watch a presenter who's more concerned about being cool and saying bra or dude every few words. In other words I appreciate your style and especially the knowledge you share. I wish I were closer to your shop as I'd love to come peruse your offerings and meet you.

[@kevinomura5251]

Very interesting perspective again! Thanks. As a photographer when electronic flash first came out (yeah I'm that old) we were always told to cycle them up every now and then to reform the capacitors. I'm guessing the capacitors in audio equipment don't 'dump' their 'charge' like that of an electronic flash but I still wonder if using your gear every now and then to keep the components powered up is a good thing, especially for the capacitors.

[@skylabsaudio]

I leave my solid state stereo on all the time unless there is a thunderstorm. Most modern equipment goes into a "stand by" mode and never fully powers off unless you unplug it.

[@kevinomura5251]

Thanks for the replies! Think I'll keep powering things up every week or so to play it safe. I do have the receivers I listen to always plugged into a surge protected computer power bar though have been considering a whole home surge suppressor at the main panel. I do notice with the newer equipment especially ones with remotes that they are indeed always on to some degree. Yes my older 70's era receivers definitely draw a fair bit of current when first powered up.

[@Reflectiveness]

It costs as much to keep shipping as it does doing more preventative maintenance. In the end, you're buying additional peace of mind, and, cutting down the chance of handling damage. Where the latter is of primary concern. And for the record, I own an SX-950 in need of a service call, but dread the thought of boxing for a long trip.

[@kevinyoung2431]

The way this video was filmed reminds me of Monty Python's 'Find The Fish'.

[@chinmeysway]

Public announcement! Always ask sellers to describe or/and photograph the shipping materials before purchasing if they don’t articulate it anywhere. Have to keep ppl up to date on expectations. Don’t worry being annoying you can inform them how to avoid an annoying return.

[@tuantrd]

Yup I recapped my hk 430 and changed the transistors didn’t like the way it sound now I am putting it back to original state.

[@Watcher4111]

Thank God you did that. Vintage should be in original state. Replacing transistors is stupid

[@stevemumbling7720]

I'm not a classic hi fi enthusiast as such, but I do have a Toshiba SA 520 that has been wrapped in bubble wrap since 1995. I'm thinking of unwrapping it and using it. What do you as a classic hi fi enthusiast think of those units? If it's rubbish just say so, I can take it.

[@ivansbacon]

I NEVER assume a seller know the importance of packaging. I insist they learn how to immobilize the unit in the inner box and double box.

[@scottprice8994]

That receiver was sliding around in the box. What were they thinking?

[@freakindawgen]

My issue is timing. I'm in and out of the hospital so often that nothing gets done. If I knew I was going to be out for 6 mths I might have had it ready to go! I had a week at home and finally got my second set of speakers tested. But still not together. Wire kept coming off a speaker terminal. Got something ordered to fix that but went back to hospital nite before it came! Grrrrr.

[@skylabsaudio]

Sounds terrible. Hope things turn around for you!

[@462ANIMAL]

That’s a shame they packaged it like that . I have a Marantz 2238 B I need to go over.. it was working decently , but has developed an issue in one channel when warmed up.

[@hhvictor2462]

Stereoniche is not a fan of blanket component replacement as well. I think he feels a total restore is overkill for most gear. Aside from dealing with bad channels, bad meters, hum, bad lights, scratchy pots and tuner calibration he recommends just power and filter capacitor replacement to get the equipment up to specs as close as can be.

[@andregoulet3446]

vintage is realy good deal ! but i think the most important thing in the first place is to make sure the electronics are safe

[@mat.b.]

Always replace the caps. Always fix it......if you want it to work the best it can.

[@Watcher4111]

Vintage work the best on original capacitors and transistors. You wont make vintage the best replacing it

[@MarvinHartmann452]

I've been asked many times by clients to "recap" and rebuild vintage equipment that has no signs of defects. I outright refuse to do it. "If it's aint broke, don't fix it" is basically my motto as a electronic technician. People would read an article on some forums and would say "but that guy did it and he say it's a good thing" yeah, they might say many things on Internet, but it's what they don't say that I'm worried about. Sorry for the bad English, it's not my language.

[@skylabsaudio]

I'm terrible with english and it is my only language- so no worries. I think, on the flipside, people are worried about finding a technician in the future who can change the caps if (and when) they do fail. A lot of people would rather spend the money now just to know its been done, more than anything. Not saying there is a right or wrong, just trying to see it from both angles. If you live in the middle of nowhere and have to drive your amp 5+ hours away to a reputable tech (which are retiring like crazy), changing out some caps while its with the tech might be a decent idea. Just my 2 cents. Appreciate your comment and point of view as well.

[@patmx5]

Packaging is such a simple concept - immobilize the object within the carton - I don’t understand why people fail at it so consistently and miserably. _This thing is delicate and heavy - one layer of used bubble wrap and a styrofoam egg carton should hold it safely for shipping, right?_ (No joke, several years ago I bought a small vintage digital meter on eBuy and it arrived in a flat rate box secured by the two halves of a styrofoam egg carton. Thankfully it was lightweight and arrived safely, but seriously, what is the thought process behind this?)

[@Audiorevue]

No you know I don't know man I kind of agree but don't agree, I agree from the aspect of having worked in a bicycle shop and having people bring in bikes and them asking us to do things like a full service where we take the entire bike apart and fix it and replace everything, well we can do that but the bottom brackets fine and the headsets good and the wheel bearings are okay, they don't need to be touched. But on the other hand as an amateur technician and I've repaired two amplifiers and numerous turntables, if it's a piece that I'm going to use and enjoy then I want to be able to utilize it and make sure that whenever I go to turn that thing on and any particular time that it's going to work exactly how it should. Now what that means I've got to replace every single capacitor and output transistor and filter cap and resistor in that thing, then time constraints be damned. I said I understand from a business perspective that's quite time consuming and to offer that to customers is only limiting yourself as a business and it'll ultimately lead to customers calling you up all the time asking where their stuff is and when it's going to be done. Personally I think you take a good stance and a good overall philosophy on the situation

[@skylabsaudio]

I can see it both ways as well. It's all a balance. Even 100% brand new equipment and gear can have a faulty component that fails, wipes out 10 other components and results in a critical failure. There is no such thing as bulletproof electronics. There is a point of diminishing returns for everything, IMO. Even if you did completely change every component in an amplifier to make it as reliable as possible, when will it be due for replacement again?

[@kcMan7938]

My pioneer qx8000 is working now but I don’t push the volume because I know it’s never been touched . I really want to go thru it and make it right !!!

[@skylabsaudio]

Finding the right tech is like finding the right doctor. You might have to just go in and ask them their thoughts and see if they seem knowledgeable and trustworthy.

[@doordash-nh1ih]

So which shop pays to train people to learn this stuff? I'd be there in a heartbeat.

[@mr1enrollment]

Packaging really is simple, you just need to want your customer to be happy.

[@skylabsaudio]

Agree

[@mikecampbell5856]

I feel bad for you. I have bought receivers on eBay with disastrous results. One looked great in the pictures but the photos cut off on the left side which was smashed. He disappeared from eBay. One was twisted and bent and the fuses were blown. I got a refund, twisted the frame back into shape shaved some of the front frame off and was able to properly install the mint condition face plate. One caught on fire when I turned it on. I got a refund and said never again!

[@Watcher4111]

As i wrote before. My around 33 year Old pioneer Elite Gear was checked and capacitors didnt need to be replaced. I like my gear to be original and replacing caps ruin this.

[@txc500]

I once received a Macintosh 1700 receiver in a huge box with a piece of squishy foam around it. Needless to say it was a disaster.

[@spacemissing]

If it ain't fixed, don't break it. Replacing parts that are perfectly good is useless. But some parts that are perfectly good today might go bad tomorrow.

[@Watcher4111]

Its useless and you destroy originality in that way.

[@katherinebarlow6446]

Any advice for getting into the industry or learning to do this work if you're someone who is really interested in this stuff?

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Hi Katherine ... if you are serious about learning electronics and messing with all the cool stuff, your best bet is to get into a course at your local trades college. What you don't see when a technician pulls out the screwdrivers is all the training and theoretical understanding that is behind it. So many people skip the learning and go straight to the doing ... and they don't last very long.

[@1GREATDANE]

I am Buying allot o VINTAGE GEAR so if They do Blow n Go - I can Snatch another one off The Shelf and Commission It to Keep My Vintage Wharfedale Linton 2's & Denton 2's and Acoustic Research 48B and Full series IV BOSE SPEAKERS cranking My Tunes 🌴🌵Indian Creek Ranch ⛩ 🇺🇸 🎧 🎩

[@raymiehershey1430]

Had a Technics sa something receiver and the right channel was distorted. Worked and checked and replaced, still couldn't fix it. So i through it in the dumpster. Next up a Sansui, same problem. It was my rca cord. Not only am i a isn't broke don't fix it, im a start with the cheapest thing possible to fix it.

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

I fall on the side of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I made the mistake of trying to upgrade and accidentally destroyed a couple of audio equipment in the process. I have a couple of receivers I will leave to the professionals in that regard.

[@Watcher4111]

Upgrade isnt upgrade. Its destroying original piece of hifi

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

@@Watcher4111 The ones who do the repairing and replacing capacitors usually refer to it as an upgrade. I understand the need to keep everything original, but sometimes the original parts can fail over time. To that end, an upgrade is necessary if the parts for it are unobtainable.

[@skylabsaudio]

@ pioneernut We do not "upgrade" or "modify" anything. I get it, you want yours original- no problem. No one is telling you you are wrong for that. It's ok.

[@chrislj2890]

Morons that pack stuff like that really piss me off. But it's not just eBay, as new things from Amazon can be just as bad, with the item thrown in a big box with a few air bladders or those worthless styrofoam peanuts. One of my first jobs years ago was shipping & receiving and I learned how to do it right. Now if I ship something it's usually double boxed and wrapped like a mummy in bubble wrap. It might take them a half hour to unwrap but it will be in good shape. People just go through the motions these days.

[@chrislj2890]

@@JukeboxAlley Hey, that's a great idea!

[@herbward5240]

Why is it that “recappers” think that replacing electrolytic’s will “fix” vintage audio ? There are so many other issues that can and do occur in vintage electronic devices. Parts that break are often a particular brand, series, or manufacturing date. There are resistors, transistors, and diodes of a particular make and series that seemingly last forever, and conversely, parts of all types that reliably fail with age even in units used for just a few hours a month. How many of this new breed of parts changers can service and align a a front end or properly select semiconductor devices for a 200 wax power amp? As it is , just finding someone with good soldering skills is difficult.

[@skylabsaudio]

Yeah, I usually hear that 10 times a week when people bring a piece in for repair. They say "it should be an easy fix, probably just needs recapped". 7 out of 10 times the repair is due to a transistor, diode or resistor failing.

[@Watcher4111]

Replacing original capacitors, transistors doesnt fix anything, it ruins original vintage Gear. And replacing original transistors to "better" New ones making gear a mongrel which i would never buy

[@danielknepper6884]

Because newbies go to audiokarma and ask what is wrong with my unit? And then 20 other newbies chime in and say replace capacitors.

[@quiksr20]

Im far from a tech but fully capable of basic repairs, Ive fully rebuilt my Marantz 1060 for fun which sounds awesome. With that being said ive also caused issues with working units due to some of these parts being fraglile. For now if the gear is sounding pretty damn good with no issues I tend to leave it alone or atleast just do the recommended fixes like replacing bad known/black leg transistors and any other problematic parts. I have a question for you guys in the comments and also @Skylabs : With gear thats currently working fine ( as far as I can hear ) what would you say would be good caps to replace that are easy for preventative maintenance? Is it safe to say " Replace the main filter big caps + power supply caps "? Would those be a solid move to help this gear keep up truckin? As always love the videos!

[@skylabsaudio]

That's what we do for almost all of the receivers and amplifiers we sell.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

Funny thing about fixing stuff that works .... you most often end up breaking it.

[@quiksr20]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 100% ive fixed many units and and equally caused issues. This gear is 40+ years old and delicate, Sometimes you get unlucky for sure.. But when you get it right WOW you notice it. Sometimes its not worth the risk.

[@Douglas_Blake_579]

@@quiksr20 Sometimes it is, but the game is always to minimize the risk so that you stand a better chance of ending up with a working unit. This is why I strongly encourage those who have the interest to spend about half their time studying and learning the theoretical backing behind the practical fixing. Put the two together and you can do a lot more than just re-cap and rebuild. The guys that worry me are the ones who want to go right past the learning and dig into the fixing... it seldom goes well.

[@quiksr20]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 100% always educate before blindly doing anyting.. Id say I read and read and read and read some more and ask tons of questions before doing anything.. Always grab the service manual etc and do your homework. Im constantly learning the "Right way" to do things , not the shortcuts. I want to understand what im doing. My background is in troubleshooting, Just software & cars. Its been a fun hobby thus far, ive been into stereos forever but just getting started with the repairs.

[@Kevin-wj4ed]

Always double box.

[@swinde]

When you find corroded legs on transistors, it is likely this unit have been stored in a shed without climate control. (heating and cooling). Humidity is a destroyer of electronic equipment.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

My brother brought me a DUAL 1229. I'm sending it to the Dual guy. My new Dual works but needs service. I'm on the hunt for a new plinth and cover. My brother wants to make me a new Marble steel and glass Dual 1229 Plinth using the old one as a template. My brother is NuTZ. We were talking about my new Dual 630 Q. I happened to mention it's said that the Dual 1229 was among the best Dual's ever made. He asked me why didn't I buy one. I didn't even get a chance to answer before he was searching for one. He found one. My Dual 1229 is on its way. My brother is an old Marine Bulldog who never yields. I have Cerebral Palsy! I don't even know if I can handle a Dual 1229. Are Dual 1229's easy to use? Do I have to touch the tone arm?

[@skylabsaudio]

Super easy and fully automatic. Enjoy it!

[@rotaxtwin]

That receiver needs to be double boxed. When I saw the size of the box I was skeptical that it arrived unscathed.

[@skylabsaudio]

Yeah, I was just being hopefull

[@karaDee2363]

It's upsets me when I see poor packaging..... Some of these sellers on eBay charge an arm and leg for shipping and yet go cheap on proper packaging..... A couple sheets of bubble wrap is nowhere near enough to prevent damage..

[@skylabsaudio]

Agree, it's really shocking. Imagine how often this happens on a daily basis. Not good at all

[@karaDee2363]

@@skylabsaudio when you shook the box before you opened it and could hear it moving around, I had a strong feeling you were going to have a problem...

[@dtracy03ss]

1000 percent agree with your stance

[@audiofreq]

Dude what camera is this?

[@skylabsaudio]

Insta360 x3. Still learning how to use and edit with it, but it's pretty damn fun.

[@thomaspancoast275]

The story of 2 amps. I had 2 Au717 amps 1 i recaped the other i left alone. The one i left alone burst into flames one night. So if fire in your rack is cool? Then have fun.

[@raygarafano3633]

Just went thru that myself bought an SG9800 Eq. No.pkg on side of unit. Tape sw. Got broke. It could have been a very nice Eq. Bought from 'random_ things' eBay.cant pack it? don't send it

[@JonPaul]

what a crap packing job! People absolutely suck, what do they think is going to happen with crappy packaging!?? I'd be fairly pissed off. More than annoyed, less than angry. Ya, mildly pissed. Folks, that's why you film all the unpacking in a continuous video. I once sent a Marantz 250 to NY and back - of course it made it just fine because we know how to pack.

[@skylabsaudio]

Painful. Isn't it? Imagine how many are getting destroyed daily.

[@mr1enrollment]

If I was near you, I would work with you just for the fun of it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Come on in! =)

[@mr1enrollment]

@@skylabsaudio A visit will happen, maybe about a month.

[@toddcovington1172]

How are people so stupid? Packing like this is insane!

[@ElderPinto254]

technician i am technician an became a watchmaker much better they dont need older technicians in holland its a poor living as a good tech guy in holland

[@D1N02]

Learn it yourself then. Just take care not to fry yourself and you'll only lose money.

[@Watcher4111]

And changing transistors to other, is simply making mongrel out of amp. Its not original amp any more. I would never buy amplifier that has transistors changed to other

[@jazzkatt7083]

We just don't want guys doing half-assed repairs to these seemingly rare pieces because good techs hate undoing others bad work!

[@lloydfranks1357]

Let me guess parcel post shipping?

[@cirrus1964]

Ain't. is this the Kings English? or Isn't it

[@skylabsaudio]

Hear ye, hear ye. No king here. He done lefted.

[@cirrus1964]

@@skylabsaudio Well you took English didn't you? Oh yes you have a King, Trump! Same problem.

[@robertdavis5714]

Enjoyed the behind the scenes with your Shop, I just do not understand, packaging for shipping, what a 3rd-4th grade education to do correctly? Excellent topic and have got such a variety of opinions.............But, 1 blew me away, was a tech from the 1970's and we got to talking about Elec. Capacitors and his claim.........they lasted 40 yrs, they will last 80 yrs. This really bothered me, this rationality of thinking. Needless to say, found someone much better, less money and better way of thinking.

[@skylabsaudio]

Glad your found the right tech for you! It can take a couple tries to find the right one- I know first hand