Dirty contacts

[Mark]

No, not the MSN/email/dodgy website kind. Put the smut away. :p

My hi-fi amp has got a severe case of dirty contacts, or at least I hope it's just that. I can't afford replacement right now, and it's a good amp for it's size.

It was confined to the volume control (which now has one setting - extremely loud), but I can get around that using the remote. I'm not sure if that's dirt or not, because it's apparently a common fault with this model.

However, tonight I discover the headphone socket has started acting up as well. Plugged in headphones, unplugged them, no sound. After several attempts with the headphone plug, I got the sound back.

What do I need to do to try and improve things? Bear in mind taking it apart isn't an option (although if someone here has the expertise needed, posting it might be - wouldn't be the first time).

It's an old amp (well over five years old), but it's at least a Denon, and I'd rather not let go if possible.

[Flibster]

One of the most common methods is to do what you've done.

Plug - unplug - plug - unplug - plug - unplug *repeat until works...*

With the volume control - just turn it up and down a lot. Should help.

Simon/~Flibster

[kaiowas]

Bear in mind taking it apart isn't an option

Taking things apart is always an option. It's usually an option even before something has broken. Hell I struggle to wait for the guarantee to expire before I get the screwdriver out :p

You'd be amazed at the amount of things I've fixed via the age old technique of "Open it up, have a poke around, wiggle some wires then put it back together"

[Mark]

Correction - not an option for me. Well, actually it is - I can take PCs apart and put 'em back together just fine, but anything smaller than shoving a plug in a hole is out.

I've already done the volume up/down thing loads of times (with the power off first :eek: ). No joy. I think it's fubar'd.

As for the headphone socket. I don't want to do too much of that. If it's not dust, but rather a problem with the contacts that cut out the speakers getting brittle, then I'll break it.

Just had a look around Richer Sounds to see what it'd cost me to replace with something at least similar. Answer - £200, and I'd lose several functions in the process (but gain several new ones).

I know a former TV repairman lives around the corner. He's no good with the modern stuff (who is), but something like this might be a good one for him.

[Dr. Z]

Trip to maplins, contact cleaner spray should see if its a contact problem or whether the PCB track that the connector is soldered to has started to crack (most likely).

As for the volume control, it sounds like it isnt connected to a calibrated pot, more like one of those types that you can turn around and around infinitely. I am not 100% sure on how the back end of those works other than it is connected to a microprocessor (which is still working, hence why the remote works still).

Some cleaning spray behind that (you will need to have the lid off to get at it though) ought to do the trick if its just dirty contacts. If they have worn through though, it could mean you have to use the remote forever.

[Mark]

Yup, it's one of those microprocessor-controlled thingies. Trip to maplin for some contact cleaner may well happen. I'll have to see how hard it is to get the top off.

I don't use the headphone socket much, so wouldn't have expected a circuit board problem, but then again, you never know.