Sony KV-2000UB Mark 2 vintage TV set

[@glpilpi6209]

My landlord had one of those in the late 80s. It never missed a beat for years . The greyscale altered as it aged but it was an easy fix .

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I can get some more of these sets .

[@briantamburelli7573]

I have an Electronics Lab. It is so much fun watching you repair vintage TV'S . I remember when I was 3 watching the TV repair man fixing the TV in the living room with awl. I was so fascinated.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I'm really enjoying this myself , takes me back to much better days when it was easy to make a living .

[@richardhalliday6469]

I remember this model Michael, yes it was easier to work on than some of the earlier sets and yes, the mains on off switch was prone to arcing contacts usually rendering it o/c. When I worked at Serviscope ( Visionhire) we had the Sony contract to replace all the on/offs on a model later than this as part of a nationwide safety recall, the mains switches seem to have been a bit of an Achilles heel with Sony and usually a sod to get easy access to. Always enjoy the vids Michael . Regards

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I had forgotten about the recall, Sony sets always had serious problems with things burning up, I don't know how they managed the BEAB approval, I remember one set but not the model number, and it was something like KV2092.? where a dry joint on a couple of power resistors caused a big hole to be burnt in the pcb, Sony produced a mod kit which I think we use to get free of charge on receipt of the sets serial number and it came with some new pcb board to fasten above the big hole on two plastic screws, I don't think today you would get away with a mod like that anymore, I also seem to remember Sony issuing very high melting point solder to re solder and sets that came in for repair that had not yet burnt up, happy days.

[@video99couk]

Even much later models had recalls for power switches, such as the KV21XRTU.

[@pauldavies6037]

Yes were recalled

[@paulb4uk]

Superb work can hear the whine of the crt tv my oldest sony is 1984 semi portable 18 inch from a local charity shop for £10 about 4 years ago .

[@michaeldranfield7140]

when you think about it you cant beat CRT technology , far better than this flat screen crap that is designed not to last .

[@TheCrakkle]

Great blast from the past Michael, Worked on more of these than I would have liked. Same here with the output mod. Main thing I remember about sony's other than the silly prices for parts, was the weight of the Trinitron tube ! Probably still have a few mains switches knocking about too.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

That was one of the reasons I didn't favour Sony, parts with strange numbers that had to be ordered specially at very high prices.

[@andymann1231]

I have just come across your channel over the last few days and I am enjoying your videos it's good to see someone keeping these old tellys going I did some tellys back in the day but I was and still am mainly audio repairs like i'm always saying its a great hobby and its nice to see a shop like yours still open and still undertaking repairs for the public keep up the good work Michael

[@matthewgriffin4761]

Thanks for another great video Michael.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

No problem, glad you liked it, a trip down memory lane for me too.

[@jamesatkinson6480]

In Australia, the KV1830 was a very popular model (VHF-UHF twin rotary tuning), and repaired several in the early 1990's. I learnt much about swapping circuit boards, but managed to repair many with electrolytic capacitor replacements. The SG-613 was $A30.00, which also was expensive. If there was a horizontal coil/transformer failure, the power supply would switch off through excessive current, relying on a 'kick' signal from the horizontal stages to remain on. As the horizontal parts are in separate circuit boards (transformers, EHT), a diagnostic technique was to series-wire a 60/75 W incandescent light globe, and leave 'on' for several minutes, and check which transformer 'heats up' the most, where the set does not stay on...

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I have this feeling I use to use a different and cheaper part for the SG-613 , SG-633 seems to ring a bell , but here in the UK someone published in a magazine a BU-208 modification for these sets so it was possible to use just a cheap line output transistor and I did this in the past and it worked very well .

[@jamesatkinson6480]

@@michaeldranfield7140 The line output transistor BU 208 was used extensively in 'Philips' (Mullard equivalent) TV's, which used to short when a (green) 10nF, 1500V capacitor across it went open circuit. I can't remember replacing a light blue high voltage capacitor in the Sony, across the SG 613, but once came across one which coupled line output to the yoke that went short circuit, but perhaps 1 in 100 repairs... Did it only once...

[@Jjgov68]

When this was advertised by Sony on tv in the day it used to show horses and other animals being taken into the back of the set. Then on the tv they had horse racing and zoo programs showing how real the colors were.

[@monteceitomoocher]

Great sets, done more than i care to remember, and yes that power switch was very troublesome, i think because the degauss circuit took a huge chunk out of the mains at switch one, didn't do the poor old switch any good at all.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Sony made a lot of good sets but there party trick was always the same, big burnups on either the pcb or the on off switch.

[@andybonneau9209]

The Sony Trinitron was the epitome of CRT TVs.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

A very popular make used by the BBC and the likes, I still use 3 x 14 inch Sony TV s as monitors in my workshop and the picture quality is outstanding.

[@AnalogueGround]

I remember these very well, especially the power supply, although I did more KV1320s and KV1810s. Also did a fair few of the CVM1320 which looked identical to the KV1320 but had video and audio inputs and used a mains isolation transformer internally. Outstanding picture quality on all the Trinitrons compared to other TVs of the day.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Sony were a premium brand in the day but parts were very expensive and as you say the Trinitron tube was a ground breaker , even if you could see the platinum tie wires in the CRT , its a long time since I saw a KV1810 but my friend has more sony sets so he may have an 1810 for a future video .

[@andygozzo72]

innards look familiar, think i repaired one once, wasnt the gcs though, cant remember what! used to have a kv1820ub that used the gcs, luckily it worked ok so checked it over and sold it off fairly cheap!

[@Tarquin23]

This set was part of a SONY recall in 2019 which was as follows: “In Sony colour CRT TVs manufactured before the end of 1990, a particular inner component has been found in some cases to suffer age deterioration following very long term usage and thus overheat. This overheating may, in rare cases, cause the component to catch fire and result in a burn to the TV set, and possible damage to surrounding property.” Is the part that causes the issue known and would this be replaceable? I have one of these TV’s myself! Love your video by the way, it’s so great to see these TV’s getting love!

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I would assume there referring to the ON/OFF switch as loads of these burnt up in sony TV sets, however the switch in this particular set is different to the grey ones that use to burn up so I would say the bulletin you have come across does not affect the one you have .

[@f.k.burnham8491]

Here in my area of the U.S. Sony sets were initially seldom seen. I knew many techs that had massive problems repairing them, as they used "universal" semi's to replace the Sony OEM parts. Only later did I find out that one absolutely had to use Sony OEM parts- at a very high price- to fix the sets. The exception being power supply diodes. I absolutely hated working on the Sony sets. The biggest problems I saw were that the H. driver transformer would have cracked solder, and the small 'lytic on it opening. This caused the H. output transistor to release all of the factory smoke. I did see a few FBT's fail and the focus modules were higher failure items also. Next common failure were the CRT's. The most common failure was the CRT would internally short causing a green screen. I never had a customer want the CRT in a Sony replaced either. They usually bought another brand as a replacement. Towards the end of the CRT sets, probably 85% of the Sony sets I serviced had shorted CRT's.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I must admit I was never a big fan in thd 80s, over complicated design combined with unusual circuitry and as you say sky high prices for spares, I don't think many people liked Sony sets for these reasons and I don't remember anyone re gunning the trinitron tubes, but I guess in the 70s and 80s Sony was the rolls Royce of the TV market.

[@pauldavies6037]

Yes in the Uk Sony was getting a bad name due to CRT failure

[@Oldgamingfart]

Indeed, the modular internal layout must be very pleasing from a servicing point of view. Perhaps they got design cues from the construction of their professional video monitors, as the build quality seems above consumer-grade ..well, apart from the power switch!

[@michaeldranfield7140]

The build quality is amazing and everything has been well thought out, it's a far cry from the rubbish that Sony make today, but then in the 1980s this set would have been a lot of money to buy.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Interesting, do you have a video about reforming capacitors? Do you also have a general link to how a Colour TV actually works?

[@michaeldranfield7140]

not at the moment but may do in the future.

[@kyle8952]

I like the newer ones, no style whatsoever with their anonymous black plastic cases, but they got sense in their heads at that point and use much more sensible philips parts everywhere. Still run a kvm1400 and kvm1450 at home.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I have a couple of later Sonys in the black/grey plastic cabinet you mention for a future video, not sure what model they are though.

[@rectify2003]

Wow, memories

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Yes, very happy days the 1980s,now just a distant memory but doing these sets helps bring those memories back, I even remembered the Hstat was not the focus control!

[@rectify2003]

@@michaeldranfield7140 I remember getting my first shock from a KT3 Tripler 😀

[@renegeijtenbeek7457]

Briljant my British friend

[@ianedwards468]

Thanks for another great video. The KV2000 was a fine set. Generally reliable, excellent picture quality and (for a Sony) quite easy to work on. I beleive these were actually on sale in the late 1970s, being Sony's first 'large-screen' offering in the UK. Less prone to devouring gate controlled switches than the earlier KV1810 in my experience. I picked one up from work in the mid 80s, written off with a duff CRT, only to discover that it nothing more than poor contacts on the tube base! Became the family set for several years. That's an impressive desoldering system you've got there - which one do you use?

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Yes , I had a look in my radio TV servicing books when I got home that night and it dates the KV2000 at 1979-1980 . Soldering station is a Pace MBT250 , I bought it new about 20 years ago for £1600, I believe its modern day replacement cost about £3k ,

[@robtitheridge9708]

Hi Michael was it you who wrote the artical in the telyvision mag about changing the GCS to a BU208 ? because if it was not for that artical we would of given up with these sets becaus of the cost of repair.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

No I wasn't the author of that modification but it worked fine with a cheap BU208, I seem to remember using a cheaper GCS in some Sony sets SG633 seems to ring a bell but I could be wrong.

[@andygozzo72]

convert it it use transistor?! how did you do that!?

[@Synthematix]

Yes these sets were great but a sodding nightmare to work on, especially the transistors blew all the time with one simple mistake and the parts were very expensive, also the bolts on the flybacks sometimes broke off

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Everything from Sony was expensive, it still is today , not unusual for a new board to cost as much as the customer paid for the set .

[@ralphj4012]

Fascinating. I am trying to contact you regarding repairing a Sony Trinitron TV but your email forms (on your shop website) show an invalid URL I'd appreciate an alternative means to contact you (your phone rings but no answer, I appreciate you are busy).

[@michaeldranfield7140]

some stuff on my website is years out of date so that's prob why things don't work , try my e mail [e-mail]

[@ralphj4012]

@@michaeldranfield7140 Thanks Michael, have emailed you directly.

[@MrBullay]

👍👍

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Thanks for watching.

[@repairitdontreplaceit]

those kv sets were brilliant , sgs used to be the killers but othere than that sony would last 20 years

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I seem to remember a GCS was about £18 , a lot of money back then and if you got something wrong it would just blow at switch on .

[@repairitdontreplaceit]

@@michaeldranfield7140 yes thats what used to happen . used to change the sg613 for a bu208 or something

[@michaeldranfield7140]

@@repairitdontreplaceit I did that mod in Television magazine and it worked well .

[@SuperHornetX]

why is this recommended.

[@lomochojohncarlon.8413]

Same. Because it's interesting to watch? (Yep, this man is so genius at this kind of stuff)

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I guess because there are not many of these sets still about.

[@video99couk]

I never had the pleasure of working on one, fortunately. This TV seemed to be the subject of a lot of attention in Television Magazine back in the day, including modifications as you have mentioned. See August and September 1984 for an article on these (or rather, the MK1 I think): worldradiohistory.com/UK/Practical-Television/80s/Television-Servicing-UK-1984-08.pdf worldradiohistory.com/UK/Practical-Television/80s/Television-Servicing-UK-1984-09.pdf

[@michaeldranfield7140]

I will take a look as I have all the paper copies of Television, just had a look at my radio and TV servicing index and it seems to date this set at 1979-1980.

[@video99couk]

@@michaeldranfield7140 I have paper copies too (all nicely boxed in per year) but that archive is great because it's searchable. By the way, ever worked on a Philips V2000 VR2324? Spent some hours recently on one of those, just to come unstuck for a custom IC. This old kit is hard to source parts for.

[@michaeldranfield7140]

Someone gave me one a few weeks ago and I do have the service manual but not looked at it yet, what is the part number you need, I have even have it but if not I deal with a couple of specialist suppliers in obselete and un obtainable parts, they can be very pricey though, I once paid £600 for just 20 chips that no one else had.

[@video99couk]

@@michaeldranfield7140 It's IC location 7153, part 8049, the DTF processor, which seems to be at fault (though location 7154 DAC chip TDA1462 in the manual but actually a different part number on the board, can't be ruled out). Really want the whole servo/DTF PCB. See my channel where I've been working on this hideous machine, but did make progress too. It's got a self-test service mode but not sure that 100% worked, didn't get the DTF DAC ramp. It also had a bad POR hybrid circuit, I had a spare for that but it was also bad, so that's clearly unreliable, I made a new POR circuit. Honestly a VR2324 will drive you mad.