How Much Does It Cost To Repair Vintage Stereo Amplifier
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Our turn-around time is typically 10-12 weeks for restorations. We work on gear in the order we receive information technology at the shop. Please note: cabinet refinishing may add upwardly to two weeks to the restoration. Due to our refinishing store raising their prices, nosotros have had to heighten the toll of cabinet refinishing to $110. Veneer piece of work on the cabinet may add up to iv weeks to the process.
Sansui Restorations:
We originally started out just restoring the QRX9001/etc. series, just over the years we have been asked to restore about everything that Sansui has made before almost 1980. At this betoken we have restored hundreds of Sansuis, and nosotros know them, inside and out. We do most 150 restorations a year.
There are a lot of techs out in that location that don't want to do restorations. They peculiarly don't desire to practice recapping, I think mainly because they brand mistakes so have a whole new problem to trouble shoot.
It'southward a shame, because repairing an sometime piece of Stereo gear without doing a epitomize/restore merely means that more problems volition appear soon. In add-on to the repair, many parts should be replaced.
All these one-time Sansuis are near 40 years one-time or more at present. We don't do repairs per se because with electronics this old, the customer will have another problem within a few months to a year, and information technology's very upsetting when that happens, later on paying aircraft, and repair costs. It'south unremarkably only a bit more than to restore the whole matter, which is much better in the long run.
The thing well-nigh doing a restoration, is this… we don't trouble shoot whatever is wrong with your Sansui, which can accept hours to find the specific problem. We merely bound in and outset recap and then practise all the other replacements, repairs and fixes we have learned for each model over the years. When nosotros're washed with all that, 85% of the fourth dimension, the original problem has simply disappeared. And then… we didn't rack up a whole bunch of hours trying to notice the problem, we spent that time instead renewing your unit, giving it a new lease on life. We expect, and our customers seem to be getting, many more years of like new performance.
Another thing… y'all retrieve you know what your particular model Sansui sounds like, but in reality, yous don't, not really. What yous are familiar with is the style it sounds after 40 years. Information technology has steadily degraded in performance and sound quality from about the fifteen-20 yr marking til now, and when renewed volition stun you with the new, or likely better than new, sound and performance. We know this is true, considering we constantly become emails and letters from our customers all the time, telling us just that.
Nosotros know what we're doing, when information technology comes to these archetype Sansuis. And nosotros really do what we say we exercise, unlike a lot of shops that give you lot some song and dance and really don't change out ALL the caps. Hither'southward our proof…
At least 250 lb of old electrolytic caps we accept removed from hundreds of Sansuis that we have restored. Do nosotros really supervene upon all the caps? Yes we practice.
Now available, Mylar Pic caps from input to output
Nosotros have recently added something new to our restorations. Information technology is the replacement of all coupling caps from input to output with Mylar film caps, as Sansui did on a few of it's early amps. We will quote a cost for this for each individual model. I suggest you become here and read all almost this new addition to our services.
Services and Prices
descriptions below
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| Sansui QRX-9001, QRX-8001, QRX-999 recap/restore – $1385 |
These are the Holy Grail of quad. No other unit ever built in Japan comes close. With i of these restored and upgraded by us, a well set up organisation will literally shock audiophiles who may have a modern high cease $25K stereo system at dwelling. We've heard that story from our customers many many times. We accept customers who say it's similar listening to their treasured recordings for the first fourth dimension, information technology'south not speakers making sound, you are in the sound field, enveloped by the music and the reverberant field. With the improved quad alignments, normal stereo recordings are merely as impressive. And this is from a receiver designed in 1976, with all analog processing. You have to hear it to empathize. Read the website to see what we practice to these quondam quads.
When we piece of work on this series, we make extensive repairs to the F-2624 driver boards. Nosotros replace all fusible resistors, and alter the boards for increased bass response and lower noise. This series also gets an LED modification to the radio dial, voltage regulation for the quad processors. Nosotros bias and align the amplifier section and we tweak and align the quad processors for maximum performance. Popular modifications are listed below. If y'all want something specific, but ask. We're happy to assistance!
upgrades/modifications:
Differential Amp Modification – $200
Mylar Capacitor Upgrade – $126
Wood Cabinet Refinishing – $110
Full LED Conversion – $85
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| Sansui QRX-7001, QRX-6001 recap/restore – $950 These units have the same quad processing boards for Hall, Synth, QS, and SQ equally the 8/9001. The CD4 processing is an earlier version, though. If you exercise non need CD4 and 25/35 watts per aqueduct is enough, you can be very happy with i of these. The 7001 has some design errors in the output section that we correct, so the divergence is pretty impressive. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Early QRX models: Sansui QRX-4500, QRX-6500, QRX-5500, QRX-7500 recap/restore – $950 People call about restoring these receivers all the time. We can do it, simply be forewarned that the quad processing is nix like what is in the X001 series. These were the early quad units, and evolution was still going on. They are a lot of work, only accept a very sweetness and musical sound, not much quad processing. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui 9090, 8080, 990, 890, 9090DB, 8080DB, 990DB, 890DB recap/restore – $575 DB models – $620 For more on the 9090, get here. With the DB versions, there is often a problem in the Dolby section, causing intermittent channel dropouts. We disable the Dolby section past bypassing completely. It's a complicated fix, as the tape ins/outs have to be substantially rewired, out of the dolby circuitry, in lodge to yet be available. We have become quite experienced with this series, and replace output transistors with matched pairs. Nosotros purchase power transistors in quantity. Almost shops don't and when they don't use matched pairs, channels accident again soon afterward. Nosotros also sell these pairs in our parts section. Optionally, the Diff Mod can exist added to these receivers to enhance the sound quality even more than. These are the all-time stereo receivers ever built in Japan, in my stance. The combination of high power, splendid tone controls, and Sansui tube-like sound brand for an unbeatable combination. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui AU-505, 555, 555A recap/restore – $225 These amps, especially the 505, are just amazing little amplifiers. They used old engineering science (for the time) with capacitive coupled outputs. With todays 10X ameliorate quality caps, and increasing that output cap to a very large value, these amps actually shine. If you only demand xx-25 watts, this amp will astound and really evangelize. I've had a 505 on a pair of B&W 802S speakers, off and on, for years and other enthusiasts just cannot believe it. If yous've got some efficient speakers, these are the amps for you lot. These amps are very simple inside, and and so require a minimum of work to rebuild. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui AU-999, AU-666, AU-777, AU-888 recap/restore – $450 The AU-999 is my favorite two channel amp, ever made, of whatsoever brand or cost. There are a agglomeration of people on Audiokarma who feel the aforementioned fashion. Audiokarma is a techie Audio newsgroup, with some of the sharpest vintage audio guys I know. There are several blueprint mistakes in the AU-999, not surprising, as it was way back at the beginnings of the solid land amp revolution, and many design issues had to be worked out. Many early amps are this style, merely the basic sound of the 999 is and so fantastic that a bunch of people on Audiokarma, including me, accept put a lot of attempt into fixing all the piddling things that are wrong with it. When made right, it is very clean and musical, with outstanding imaging and detail, and a low end that sounds like it is a DC amp. The changes are many: removing the protection circuit, re-biasing the tone amp stage, adding additional coupling caps to extend the low terminate, and a mod to the input of the amp section. First and foremost, though, is a complete recap. As is, the amp volition only put out about xxx watts per channel before going into serious distortion. All these mods make the total 70 wpc available. The models AU666/777/888 are fairly rare, but take pretty much the same sound quality as the 999. Same price to restore. upgrades/modifications: |
Sansui BA-2000, BA-3000
recap/restore- $650
Often paired with the CA series preamplifiers, these amps feature a toroidal coil winding power transformer, and certainly put out enough of power. On the BA-3000 we add in-line fuses to rail voltage, as often we see blown output transistors. These models can be hard to to work on due to the board mounting way, just have some of the best looking VU Meters around. That being said, we've occasionally seen fried VU meters on BA-3000s, and information technology's adjacent to impossible to discover replacements.
upgrades/modifications:
Mylar Capacitor Upgrade – $12
Sansui CA-2000
recap/restore- $525
For those who desire command over every attribute of their audio, the CA-2000 preamp offers accurate and extensive tone and amplification adjustments to arrange nearly any audio desired. Designed to be paired with the BA-2000.
upgrades/modifications:
Mylar Capacitor Upgrade – $42
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| Sansui AU-9500 recap/restore – $450 The AU-9500 is the factory upgraded version of the AU-999. The 9500 lacks the Mylar coupling capacitors of the AU-999, which we can add back in, making for a stellar sounding amp. The 9500 is very powerful and probably has the most uncolored, neutral audio of any Sansui, while maintaining the warm and musical nature that is the Sansui signature sound. If that'due south what you want, this is the amp. Sansui made a lot of very expensive looking separates and integrateds after on, but none of them can best this amplifier. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui AU-717 recap/restore – $525 Sansui AU-819 epitomize/restore- $675 Sansui AU-919 recap/restore – $675 |
| The 717/919 has an absolutely irreplaceable IC/dual FET in the amp section that no one has figured out how to supercede. If it'southward bad, in that location is non a ready that we are aware of. These are very powerful amps with big expensive caps, and are difficult to work on, with no plug in boards. Worth the attempt though, if yous want that large sound. The AU-819 and AU-919 cost more because they contain the notorious "Blackness Flag" polystyrene capacitors, which must be replaced. Additionally, the 919's oval ability supply caps have no direct replacement. The ability supply lath is mounted on the caps and the 919 diamond differential circuit requires actress alignments. We empty the tin can and put new caps in, allowing the ability supply lath to mount unremarkably. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui AU-9900, AU-11000 recap/restore – $725 |
| Sansui AU-20000 recap/restore – $775 These are large and very beautiful amps. They are also quite difficult to work on, with no plug in boards, and a rewiring nightmare to rebuild the amp section. The 9900 and 11000 toll more than the 20000 because those two models use the large power supply caps every bit mounting for a PCB. Thus we can only use the caps with spiral terminals which are $sixty more than expensive for four of them. These units are also hard to troubleshoot, equally board accessibility is but nearly nil. We take rebuilt quite a few of them, and they are definitely worth the hassle. Probably some of the best looking amps ever made. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui M-9000, G-8000, Thou-7000, Thousand-6000 recap/restore – $795 This is probably the most complicated stereo receiver ever made. Some parts, like the big oval caps, have to exist replaced with components that exercise non look the aforementioned. Although, we have recently found a procedure to open up those caps up and put the new ones inside, for aesthetics. About twice the ability of the 9090 series. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui AU-7700, AU-7900, AU-5500, etc. recap/restore – $425 At that place are many in this line of mid 70'southward amps. They sound very adept, and are especially attractive to wait at. They put out manner more power than they are rated for. They are somewhat difficult to work on because of the strange method of estrus sink mounting. My first Sansui that I rebuilt was an AU-7700. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui 5000, 5000A, 5000X epitomize/restore – $475 These are prissy stereo receivers with a DC amp stage. About 55 wpc – these make a practiced compact amp for a medium room size. The "X" model has 2 phono inputs, while the others have both a "record head" and a phono input. We increase the value of the output capacitors to allow for more depression-end. When restored, the bass is quite impressive. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Sansui Seven, Eight, Eight Deluxe, 7000 recap/restore – $575 The Eight is ane of Sansui'southward most amazing early receivers. Probably the most overbuilt receiver ever made, and probably the finest receiver from Nihon in 1969-70. It is too very difficult to work on. The dial cord can take hours, if it gets away from yous!! Y'all should talk to usa nigh the big caps. They can be hollowed out and new caps put inside for an original look, very labor intensive, though. This unit has amazing sound. Information technology really has half of the differential electric current balance mod already built into the ampflifier section. It's quite difficult to adjust, but we take simplified the procdure. The amplifier section is practically identical to the AU999 with the same kind of warm and musical audio. Easily eighty+ watts per aqueduct, with a very authoritative depression end. This was the beginning of Sansui's domination of the quality receiver market from Japan. upgrades/modifications: |
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| Early Sansui Receivers epitomize/restore – $325 to $575 These include models such as the 881, 2000, and many others. We take rebuilt practically all of these and the price varies depending on difficulty for the states to restore. Send the states an electronic mail for an gauge. |
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| Early on Sansui Tuners recap/restore – $125 to $225 Models include the TU-666, TU-999, TU-7700 and more. Over the years Sansui made several stand-alone tuner models. The restoration on these is fairly straightforward and definitely worth doing if you are having your amp restored. Please email for more than details. |
Clarification
The post-obit mostly applies to the 9001, but will give you lot an idea of how thorough we are.
Repairs that do not become fixed in the restoration volition be generally done at no charge + the cost of parts. This is because most problems get worked out by us in a few minutes. If y'all have diddled outputs or some other serious problem that takes considerable additional fourth dimension to repair, we will charge our $75/hour rate + parts.
Nosotros change a lot of parts. On the 9001, the about complicated of all these units, we change out over 250 with over 500 solder points addressed,including the two sided board vias… and luckily, nosotros have withal to crusade whatsoever harm with our mistakes, as nosotros practically always grab them before the unit is powered up.
Recap, restore and align
For a list of the steps nosotros go through when doing a restore, get hither.
This is pretty self explanatory. We use Nichicon capacitors, UKW'southward and UKT's in the bespeak path. Others for power supply functions. These caps sound silky smooth and are simply amazing electrolytics for sound. There are a couple places where we add in polypropylene caps, even though that is an additional selection to do the whole receiver, the output caps on the CD4 board, for example.
Electrolytic capacitors are the about troublesome parts in vintage audio gear. Here's my treatise on electrolytic reliability, here.
The 4 big x,000μf power supply caps are replaced with four computer course 15,000μf caps, that have a 50% longer life rating than conventional electrolytics, made past CDE. This ups the total to 60,000μf for an comeback in power supply stiffness.
On the other Receivers and Amps, such equally the 9090 and the AU999, we increase the size of the large smoothing caps by approximately l%. To increment much more than this can put quite a load on the power supply components, specially the transformer, at start upward.
We will replace the fusible resistors, remove the alloy resistors on the quad boards, do the Holy Grail alignment, fix bias and beginning on the outputs, exercise all other adjustments, and make clean and lube all the switches and pots, for silent, non scratchy operation. You volition have a like new 9001 (in many ways, better) that should last for many years without any maintenance.
The blight of the 9001 is the double sided quad part board. Virtually every 8001/9001 always made has this problem. 90% of existing units have already failed. If you find one that has all four channels working as they should, and not intermittently dropping out, I can pretty much guarantee that with a months worth of use, it will fail also. For a description of the double sided board repair, become here.
We understand that this is a lot of money to invest in your Sansui. Ane of the points to be made, though, is once this work is done, the value of your unit of measurement is increased commensurately. Sansui enthusiasts recognize the value of a restoration/upgrade such equally this and prices for restored units, especially if done by u.s., reflect the work done. Look at it equally an investment. The value volition non rapidly subtract, the way any new gear bought these days would depreciate.
Differential Amp modifications
Transistor amplifier design was an evolutionary process that occurred from the late 60's through the end of the 70's. A lot was learned during that time and a lot since. Most all designs were a re-create of the bones topology of the Crown DC300 amplifier released in 1967. I of the big problems with older amps is that the disquisitional input section of the power amp used five% (or even x%) parts. Also, a crucial phase in the pattern was left out. Current flows should be balanced out in the differential input transistors. We do this and actually hand friction match resistor values to 0.ane%.
All this can be washed without altering the warm, very musical, and tube similar sound of the early Sansui amp. It adds spatial focus and detail to the sound. You tin actually hear parts of the music and spatially locate these details, that were seemingly lost before. This modification gives the maximum bang for the cadet. If you just take so many dollars to spend, this is highly recommended and will go you lot more improvement than the poly cap additions.
Technically speaking, measure distortion is reduced past i or two orders of magnitude, or reduced to 0.1 or 0.01 of what information technology was earlier, depending on the individual amp. IM distortion products, and dynamic distortion products such as TIM are reduced by the same amount. It is this reduction of the dynamic IM that makes the divergence you can immediately hear.
A complete clarification of how this modern came to be is hither.
We tin also practice this for any QRX x001 Sansui, along with nearly of the AU units and receivers made before 1980, whether we do other piece of work for you , such equally a recap/restore, or not. In many cases you don't demand to send the whole unit, but the output driver boards, which are hands removed. We then install them in one of our units here to do the modification and send it back to you. We can as well recap that lath and change out fusible resistors, if applicable. Y'all so just reinstall the board(due south), and bask.
We are so confident you lot will like this modification that we offer this guarantee. Subsequently we do this modification, if you don't think the modification was worth it, ship the driver board(s) back to us and nosotros will render the board to the original configuration and refund your coin, no questions asked.
Add 25v regulator
We practise this as part of the QRX9001 restoration. It is added protection for the irreplaceable quad boards. The integrated circuits on these boards cannot tolerate much variance and they blow.
Disable 2X ability switch
We don't feel that this is necessary. It is a modification recommended past others, that we meet no reason to do. The idea backside it is that an unknowledgeable person might hook up a four ohm speaker and then try to run the 9001 in 2X power way. This is not likely to happen, as this amp is not going to be owned by a neophyte, specially after all this work is done to it. Also, most of these amps have survived 30+ years of use with no damage to the outputs. If you do desire to run 8 ohm speakers and double your power, 2X will work well. It spreads the load of high ability operation over the entire r channels of heatsink, and will give double the slew rate to boot. If yous want the mod, we will do information technology. It'due south very easily done.
Aircraft: Shipping this gear around the country is scary. I actually am always in a worry way until I hear back from a customer that he has gotten the unit of measurement we sent him, and that it is in skilful shape. We had a unit of measurement dropped and terminally damaged, some time ago, and information technology took 5 months to become a settlement, fifty-fifty though it was fully insured.
We've started making custom boxes to send your receiver in. You tin find more information on our custom boxes here.
If you go to home depot or some of the others, you can buy sheets of 2″ foam, which make great packing material. Here'southward some boxes made up using this foam.
This is a 9001, in a blackness plastic bag, that we recently sold to Arno, in Ca. It has a two″ slice of foam on the bottom, and 3″ on the two sides and rear, and 4″ for the front panel. We then insert a 1″ slice of foam on top, as in the following picture:
And then add another two″ across the top, making the top thickness iii″ like on the sides and rear:
Thanks to Ken in Seattle for the thought for this box. He fabricated his ain shipping box out of heavy duty foam similar this, and blew u.s. away.
Polypropylenes added to a Volume and Balance board. The poly mod gets more than than 40 added to the whole receiver.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair Vintage Stereo Amplifier,
Source: http://www.qrxrestore.com/services/
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