Need tools? Here's a video showing what I use (with links!): • Must-Have Tools For Wo... This one was a good lesson for me because what ended up being the issue was something I had not thought of initially.
I have an SX-737 that my father purchased new and gave to me in high school back in 1997 or so. I've taken care of it over the years but it's not getting any younger 😂. It powers on, and most of the time the relay will click in, but it will only play for a very short period of time before it clicks off. Once it clicks off I'm not able to get it to click back in until I let it set for a period of time and come back to it later. I was going to order a relay for it and give it a shot but I'm just not sure. Thanks for posting these videos on here to help out those of us in such a small group of people. I know it's a lot of work!
Not an electronics repair person I'm an HVAC/R tech but thanks for this video. Very helpful. I followed the steps outlined here ad found the same problem. I did not jump the 13v. I just touched the solder joint with my meter lead and the relay clicked right in. Now to re-solder!
I remember buying the same receiver at a garage sale , The person told me it did not work . I took the chance and bought it .($25.00) It did the exact same thing you just encountered . I have been listening to it ever since !
I just picked up one last weekend in PA, the guy bought it new when he was 16, he has never had it open, never serviced, but he took very good care of it. I am going to do some cleaning and inspect for any obvious signs of failure but otherwise I am not touching it. it looks and sounds incredible. I will run it a while, no dc on th outputs.
I own a beautifully clean SX-780 , including the original box, that I bought from its original owner. Unfortunately it seems to have one or more of these same problems. I hope to repair it some day, but for now I'm too busy servicing other people's equipment to work on mine.
Excellent Video! Something similar happened to my Nikko NR 1015 and my friend that fixed it did the same thing with lots of solder. Nothing like hearing that protection click come on again. Nice 👍
Thank you! Just fixed mine which was doing the same thing. You saved me some $ my friend as I was about to take it into the shop. I just touched the 3 points with my soldering iron and...relay began working again.
Thanks man, your video was a huge help. Picked up one recently with the same issues. I switched out a bad Darlington pack qnd it lit up but no sound and no relay click. Re-soldered the resistors and Boom -- IT'S ALIVE! This receiver is a Beast and sounds awesome..
Good video! A lot of 70's era Pioneers have bad solder joints at the 13v supply transistors. Even if you're just giving one a quick tune up, they're worth reflowing. Cold solder joints don't typically form because part of the solder melts, though. It's because there are different types of metals involved that expand and shrink differently throughout the operating temperature range. The push and pull over several thermal cycles eventually creates a small gap where the material is packed together, then drifts apart as it cools
I can't thank you enough for sharing this tip which helped me get my receiver back up and running "Cold Freaking Solder Joint" thanks again my friend!!!
Really appreciate your videos, thank you. I have zero knowledge of how this stuff works or how to fix them but these videos provide a great introduction for me. Thank you!
First, always use a dim-bulb for testing. Second always check the supply voltages. This issue is common on the SX-780, it's a design flaw and will happen again. The real fix is to replace that transistor with a higher wattage one AND replace the heatsink with a larger one. As a matter of fact all 3 voltage regulators should be replaced with higher wattage types and larger heatsinks be installed.
I pray every time I turn on my 780 that I get the click. :-) Hopefully my power packs never go bad. I have seen how you can replace them with a small board of discrete components.
I did the mini board that tony did. Not a technician but tried to learn what I could. Fun little project and it actually worked. I want to borrow my son’s scope to see what the signal looks like and power output. Just from my ear sounds really good.
In my case it was a cold joint on collector of one of the power supply transistors that provides 13V for relay coil. Exactly the same one you resoldered. Looks like it's a common failure and main culprit. It's nice to find out your fix was cheaper than expected - at first I thought it's the power packs that failed
Great video. I fixed my Pioneer SX-1080! I was getting intermittent click no click of the relay. I found 3 cold solder joints. Hit the 3 joints with solder and problem is fixed. If you would consider doing a Pioneer SX-1280 receiver recap repair job for me let me know.
Good afternoon sir I loved your video. I think I have the exact same problem. I do not hear the Click but everything lights up as you should. I'm hoping you can help me out.. Do you have any info on anybody that does restoration on my SX780 Pioneer... I live in Orlando Florida anybody you can recommend I will appreciate it thank you sir have a blessed day.. It's trying to reach out to you I saw your video... I'm a veteran this is what gives me a pleasure I'm just listening to my old records on my receidear thank you again
Thats the only repair I know how to do for the most part on circuit boards & have been fortunate enough to fix quite a few things / dozens over the years I use a non conductive probe/ a chopstick & push on any questionable solder joint also a magnifying glass I first figured this out when I had a TV tech from the shop I worked at try to fix an erratic problem on my $1000 Sony back in the early 90s & couldn't I fixed it the first try & still use it in the spare room now 30 yrs later most recently I fixed an older garbage picked Yamaha reciever & have been using it for over 6 mos.
I recently jumped into the vintage pool with the purchase of an SX-780 and your videos were definitely a motivation. One thing I noticed is that both the loudness and power switches are angled slightly inwards as opposed to sticking straight out. I've never seen anything like this before so I'm assuming the prior owner did this for some reason, but if anyone knows if this is actually supposed to be like this from the factory, I would appreciate your insight. I have resisted bending them back in just in case they are in fact supposed to be like this.
Since no one answered...no, they are supposed to be straight out in front, not angled at all. I would say they probably got whacked at some point and bent. You can bend them easily enough by using light pressure and bend it slowly.
I am no tech but learning, I do Marine and Automotive wiring and electrical components, My question is if you are there and you have a cold joint problem and know that the Transistor has gotten really hot wouldnt you just go ahead and replace the transistor as a preventable measure ? I would of replaced it they are cheap enough .
I had an SX with digital station display with an analog scale and dual radio tuning meters and I think it had analog power meters ..I cannot remember the model number .......Have you had any experience with the new Luxman amps tube or solid state ? That would be one of the few of the new stuff I would buy theses days ..
I just spent half a week tracing down cold solder joints in my Miata's OEM cassette deck. Dismantled the whole complicated mech looking for why it wouldn't engage the tape... and it was a cold joint in the connector all along. Keep an eye out for those bastards. They sneak up on you.
Love your videos. Found my 'cold' solder joint and not I'm back to annoying my neighbors. Life is good! I have a question someone might be able to answer. I have tons of tracks on my usb stick that I would love to play on my pioneer. What's the best way? Ideas? Thanks....
I have an sx 1250... I use a DAC w/bluetooth called Slash6, it's amazing! I connect my TV using audio fiber out to the slash6. RCA jacks on the slash6 to my sx 1250 Aux channel. My TV has a USB port for movies or music. The Bluetooth feature can also connect to your phone or computer for the USB. Hope this helps... Amazon has the Slash6 for $162.00.
Hello sir,I am admirer of vintage high end amplifier, receiver.Sir is it possible to make a pcb of this amplifier.Sir I desperately looking for a pcb of this amplifier,not particularly this one,Technics ,Marantz will also do.Plz help sir
I've been following all your videos but I got a quick question for you please period hoping you can help me out before I do a bad investment I have a Pioneer S780 and took it into a certified Tech and he tells me the preamp circuit board went bad and to repair it's gonna cost me $400 it's that is that a fair price???
After you re-soldered the cold joint, we’re you able to get a 13.5 V reading from either the joint or on pin 1 of the PA3004? I’m experiencing this exact same problem but not able to find ~13 or 14 volts on the Q25 circuit.
Hey! Curious, I have a Pioneer SX680 and in thinking about buying and connecting it to a smart plug. This way, the unit will automatically be turned off and save the bulb life. Is this a bad idea?
Mysterious thing happened with my notebook, notebook on, went to my kitchen to get a cup of tea..after some minutes returned and saw a strange message....that there wasn't a boot device.....restarted the notebook but again the same message. Took the ssd out to check it via an adapter connected to another notebook ....but before that procedure pluged it in the original notebook and? Problem was solved...... Later i remembered my brother had the same with his micro-pc 14 or 16 years ago.
I have the same receiver but I don’t think mine is making as much power as it should be. I know it could be one of a million things but does anyone know what that could possibly be? Maybe the power pack is going bad? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Most likely one of the coupling electrolytics at the input of the pre-amp or power amp. But... that would almost always show in a difference of level between left and right channel, because they will not easily fail on both channels at the same time. Don't think it has anything to do with the power supply.
Ahh yes... Pioneer and their common Cold solder issues :p If i am correct, I have repaired in the region of 30-40 pioneer amplifiers and receivers..... and i'd say, 98% of them have been cold solder joints
In your findings, what would cause my sx1250 on a cold start to take up to one full minute for the second relay to click? On a hot start it only takes 4 seconds. Thanks!
Same with my Father's Pioneer SX-650, Relay s not working. FM is in stereo mode but no output at all. I remember, when you switch-on, after second you hear 'CLICK". This time, I can't hear the sound click
Hi i own a 4270. I also have FOUR acoustic research speakers, all 8 ohm. One pair is AR2AX, the other, AR-12. im going to put them in quad mode, 4x25 watts. Question for hooking it up : one pair of spkrs connected to the FRONT MAIN spkr terminals and the second pair connected the REAR REMOTE terminals ? Or, should it all connect to one side or another, that's to say, all on MAIN, front and rear, or all on REMOTE, front and rear. Much thanks. !
if I may ask , I bought a used SX780 and I cant get a stereo signal on FM. hoping its something simple . I get stereo on all other outputs(headphones,CD, Tape)any thoughts
