Question for stereo experts

[i_like_lectric_motors]

It's stupid question time!!! [B)]

My receiver's acting up all of a sudden. I have the balance set in the middle yet the left speaker is much louder than the right. I can also hear a slight hum coming from the right speaker. I've already played around with the speaker wires (disconnecting, reconnecting, cutting them and exposing new wire, switching them, etc.) and the problem persists.

Has anyone ever had this happen? Do you think taking it apart and giving it a good cleaning would fix it?

It's a few years old so maybe it's just time to replace it. [?]

Thanks for any help.

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Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes

[ben_at_work]

Motors? I found out the hard way to never take anything apart.
I've done it succesfully many times but there was one time that cost me a fair chunk of change. [:D]

Hey! Did you ever get that job that you shaved for?

[i_like_lectric_motors]

LOL! Yeah, I'd really rather not take it apart but if it might help I'll risk it. I'm not going to try anything too crazy - just put the compressed air to it.

I didn't get the job I shaved for but I got one just as good and I've grown back the goatee. [8D]

I don't dare say what it is on here though in case the overlords stumble across the place. [:D][:D]



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Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes

[Spit]

[quote]Originally posted by i_like_lectric_motors
[br]It's stupid question time!!! [B)]

My receiver's acting up all of a sudden. I have the balance set in the middle yet the left speaker is much louder than the right. I can also hear a slight hum coming from the right speaker. I've already played around with the speaker wires (disconnecting, reconnecting, cutting them and exposing new wire, switching them, etc.) and the problem persists.

Has anyone ever had this happen? Do you think taking it apart and giving it a good cleaning would fix it?

It's a few years old so maybe it's just time to replace it. [?]

Thanks for any help.

-------
Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes


[/quote]
That's funny because I have the same problem with one of my speakers but in my case I think it's just time for new ones. My speakers are atleast 15 years old .Just might be time to get off my lazy ass and buy new ones . [:D]

[Jefe]

Anytime that ever happened to me there was a short in either the speaker wire connection or the input connector( i.e. turntable, CD player, etc)
Does it happen with radio and CD both?

[Spit]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Jefe[/i]
<br>Anytime that ever happened to me there was a short in either the speaker wire connection or the input connector( i.e. turntable, CD player, etc)
Does it happen with radio and CD both?
[/quote]
In my case it's both the radio and CD.

[KYYX4ever]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Jefe[/i]
<br>Anytime that ever happened to me there was a short in either the speaker wire connection or the input connector( i.e. turntable, CD player, etc)
Does it happen with radio and CD both?
[/quote]
Yeah, I was about to contribute this suggestion too. A short is often the cause of a hum (at least that's what I've found). Have you checked the input connector? Maybe just a shot of compressed air there might do the trick?

[i_like_lectric_motors]

I checked the speakers and they're fine. It does the same thing with cd, rsdio, cassette and turntable so it must be the speaker wire connection in the receiver. Since I'll have to disconnect it anyway to get it fixed or replace it, I'll take it apart and clean it. [:D]

Thanks!

-------
Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes

[Jefe]

Good idea. At this point if you take it apart and break it further or end up with extra parts (that's NEVER happened to me), it's no big deal. You are going to want to replace the receiver anyhow. If money is tight at this point try any thrift shops in your area. A cath lab in a hospital which I frequent had one go down and I found them a replacement for $5 in a thrift store. If money is not so tight you should easily find one in your price range at places like Best Buy or Circuit City.

Just curious. Any thought to losing the stereo and just going with a computer? With the Windows Media Center PC software, a large monitor and some excellent powered speakers, it seems to me that I could live without my cable box, stereo, and TV. Anyone tried this?

[i_like_lectric_motors]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Jefe[/i]


Just curious. Any thought to losing the stereo and just going with a computer? With the Windows Media Center PC software, a large monitor and some excellent powered speakers, it seems to me that I could live without my cable box, stereo, and TV. Anyone tried this?
[/quote]

That might be worth investigating. I listen to most of my music on the pc and really only use the stereo for movies. I hadn't even turned the stupid thing on in weeks. That's one of the reasons I'm thinking dust may be the culprit.[B)]

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Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes

[bowiestation]

Seems to me it could be a capacitor or transistor going bad.Open the hood and see if you can locate where the rca jacks are connected to the amp board.One of those jacks and/or /speaker connections could be shorting as a result of too much pressure when connecting the speaker wire and broke the solder joint.

Look to see if a capacitor is leaking.If so then there's your problem and if your handy with a soldering iron it's an easy fix.If it's a transistor,then it might be best to purchase a new receiver.

In the case of a broken solder joint,a simple soldering iron can be used to re-flow the solder on the right side speaker jack where it connects to the circuit board.

[StormyPetrel]

lectric_motors,

I recommend you go here for more info or to find a replacement:

http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?0&1&t


B
A

-~Obscene dreams in rusty beds.~-

[i_like_lectric_motors]

Thanks Bowie - I should be able to handle that if that indeed turns out to be the problem. [8D]

StormyPetrel - thanks for the link! If all else fails, I'll try there. [8D]

-------
Results:
Too much damage done. Go away. [78%] 63 votes
Yah! Kimiiii is back! Hip hip hooray! [22%] 18 votes

[bowiestation]

Sounds like one channel is definitely going out and hopefully it's not a transistor.So,look closely at the capacitors and see if one is bulging or leaking in the signal path(hard to identify without schematics I know).If thats the case just check out the microfarad value and volt rating such as 470uf 25 volts.If you notice a bad cap,replace it with the same exact values.Do not replace with a lower voltage capacitor.Hope this helps to solve your problem.

I've got a 1989 Luxman preamp that has a power supply problem I have to deal with again when I'm in the mood.I've already replaced 80% of the capacitors with much better quality.Trouble shooting electronics is tedious affair.