is it possible to fix your own amp if they are blown?
are there any other problems that an amp could have other than it being "blown"
-Drew
Replies (4)
MrBrownstone on 04/17/2006 18:44:59
Amplifiers are simple devices with complex designs. yes, a person could fix their amplifier. should you? probably not
There are 2 things you can fix without opening the cover of your amplifier. 1) the Fuse, 2) the fuse to the power wire.
Anything else, unless you are a professional, you shouldn't mess with.
There just aren't any serviceable parts on solid state electronics. A cap, coil, etc can be replaced, but if you don't know what you are doing, look for much magic smoke.
swez on 04/17/2006 23:54:15
If one has some background in electronics and has the tools to do so, one can be successful at making basic repairs.
In most cases, the power suppy, output transistors and old electolytics capacitors are the main culprits. In rare cases, I have seen blown out circuit traces and had to hard wire in jumpers to get thing back online.
Some basic repairs on older PC boards can be done as well. Often we see loose RCA jacks, poor solder joints that can be touched up and the like. Basically, the board needs to be removed, cleaned and then fresh solder/flux will often do the trick.
This sounds easy... but if you have no background in such things, better to have it repaired of just toss it and get a new amp.
Swez
newB on 04/19/2006 02:48:19
well... i've got the amps, 2 Kenwood 4ch. 600watt amps, and my first idea was to give them a general clean, i'm in vegas and its dustty, so i opened them up and gave them a shot with the air can, and got all the dust and grim out of the inside of the amp.
heres the problem, the power turns on, but there is no power to the channels, i am under the impression that if an amp is blown then the power will not turn on! whats going on? would that be problems in the channels?
(with both amps, out of all (8) channels, i could get sound from only (2) channels)
thanx for the help
-Drew
swez on 04/19/2006 07:41:32
Chances are pretty good that the output transistors are probably blown out. If the power supply failed, you'd have no sound in any channels at all.
It might be wise to take it in to a repair shop and let them go through it and give you an estimate on repairs. Typically, you're looking at about $60.00 labor + parts per amp.
What kind of setup were you using with these amps? Explain your speaker, subs and how they were wired to each amp. Make and model #'s on the speakers and subs would be very helpful.
Frankly, you might be better off buying (a) new amp(s). Some of the "Buy it now" prices I see off e-bay are pretty reasonable right now. For full range speakers, consider a good 2/4 channel amp. As for the subs, depending on what you have now, a nice Class D amp will be a better choice. They are much more efficient with power usage and very reliable when used correctly.
Say more,
Swez
are there any other problems that an amp could have other than it being "blown"
-Drew
Replies (4)
MrBrownstone on 04/17/2006 18:44:59
Amplifiers are simple devices with complex designs. yes, a person could fix their amplifier. should you? probably not
There are 2 things you can fix without opening the cover of your amplifier. 1) the Fuse, 2) the fuse to the power wire.
Anything else, unless you are a professional, you shouldn't mess with.
There just aren't any serviceable parts on solid state electronics. A cap, coil, etc can be replaced, but if you don't know what you are doing, look for much magic smoke.
swez on 04/17/2006 23:54:15
If one has some background in electronics and has the tools to do so, one can be successful at making basic repairs.
In most cases, the power suppy, output transistors and old electolytics capacitors are the main culprits. In rare cases, I have seen blown out circuit traces and had to hard wire in jumpers to get thing back online.
Some basic repairs on older PC boards can be done as well. Often we see loose RCA jacks, poor solder joints that can be touched up and the like. Basically, the board needs to be removed, cleaned and then fresh solder/flux will often do the trick.
This sounds easy... but if you have no background in such things, better to have it repaired of just toss it and get a new amp.
Swez
newB on 04/19/2006 02:48:19
well... i've got the amps, 2 Kenwood 4ch. 600watt amps, and my first idea was to give them a general clean, i'm in vegas and its dustty, so i opened them up and gave them a shot with the air can, and got all the dust and grim out of the inside of the amp.
heres the problem, the power turns on, but there is no power to the channels, i am under the impression that if an amp is blown then the power will not turn on! whats going on? would that be problems in the channels?
(with both amps, out of all (8) channels, i could get sound from only (2) channels)
thanx for the help
-Drew
swez on 04/19/2006 07:41:32
Chances are pretty good that the output transistors are probably blown out. If the power supply failed, you'd have no sound in any channels at all.
It might be wise to take it in to a repair shop and let them go through it and give you an estimate on repairs. Typically, you're looking at about $60.00 labor + parts per amp.
What kind of setup were you using with these amps? Explain your speaker, subs and how they were wired to each amp. Make and model #'s on the speakers and subs would be very helpful.
Frankly, you might be better off buying (a) new amp(s). Some of the "Buy it now" prices I see off e-bay are pretty reasonable right now. For full range speakers, consider a good 2/4 channel amp. As for the subs, depending on what you have now, a nice Class D amp will be a better choice. They are much more efficient with power usage and very reliable when used correctly.
Say more,
Swez
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