General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

Return to General Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Boat Anchors, Door Stops...

68.126.185.97
Posted on October 21, 2014 at 13:38:15
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1364
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Just returned from the repair shop. Not encouraging. What do you do with your boat anchors and door stops? That is unless you really need boat anchors and door stops.

Looks like I've got 3 non repairable pieces of gear now. Any suggestions?

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
What type of gear is NON-REPARABLE?, posted on October 21, 2014 at 13:47:41
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Usually, CD players becomes obsolete AND/OR just unreparable because of part sourcing and technology changes.

Preamps and amplifiers should be less so.

Tube gear should be the easiest to keep going, although solid state gear is typically far more reliable in general.

[I've put CD Players out of their misery by taking them apart and preserving their power supplies. A/V gear, well, they may work, but can be obsoleted rather quickly. Usually craigslist takes care of these items.]

 

RE: Boat Anchors, Door Stops..., posted on October 21, 2014 at 13:58:27
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4384
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 I have a few myself - some I hope to repair - one other - A Nak Receiver - I think that I have given up on.....

Happy Listening

 

any with proprietary parts that are no longer available, posted on October 21, 2014 at 14:24:52
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16013
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 It's really common in the "HT" marketplace -- yes, the idea is that one'll upgrade to the new "best ever" technology from the old one slightly before (or just after) the component dies.

So far, redbook CDs are still extant (if on death's door) so I don't know of any CD technology that's gone obsolete since 1984 (except, I suppose, CD-I "interactive" CDs and Kodak's PhotoCD).

A couple of the more grizzled veterans still kickin' around here...

Technics old CDP
Sony old CDP

Both of the above, rather amazingly, are happy to play a burned CD-R.

all the best,
mrh

 

Rack in the storage room, posted on October 21, 2014 at 14:25:49
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8475
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 Where equipment goes to pasture.
Gsquared

 

awaiting the Receiver Rapture, posted on October 21, 2014 at 14:34:57
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16013
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 I've got a few of those myself...

all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Boat Anchors, Door Stops..., posted on October 21, 2014 at 14:59:25
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46280
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
What gear do you have that is not repairable? Who says it's not repairable?

- If it's consumer electronics junk, I would throw it out or send it off to be recycled.

- If it's a power amp or other 'hefty' piece I would part it out and keep the transformer(s), heat sinks, heavy duty chassis, faceplate, knobs, etc.


 

RE: Boat Anchors, Door Stops..., posted on October 21, 2014 at 15:16:54
middleground
 Oh please tell us what they are!

 

I use a 5 lb transformer as my office door stop, posted on October 21, 2014 at 15:24:44
Byrd69
Audiophile

Posts: 2881
Location: East Syracuse, New York
Joined: August 23, 2004
 Just a suggestion.....


Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)

 

RE: Boat Anchors, Door Stops..., posted on October 21, 2014 at 15:36:50
three_sox
 ... I don't have a single portable door stop in my home. I have several boat anchors, but I mean real boat anchors :)

Broken down gear I simply give away to young enthusiasts or store away till someone comes along who wants it.





 

I just take a big hammer to my broken gear. Makes me feel good. nt, posted on October 21, 2014 at 16:08:20
Nuit
 .

 

For the Curious, posted on October 21, 2014 at 17:04:05
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1364
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Yes, One is a cd player as someone below nailed. An original Rega Planet with a failing laser "assembly" not a simple repair and evidently the proprietary parts cost more than worth spending.

The other was actually a surprise. A old Wavelength 300B integrated. It's not clear what the problem is. Wavelength thought it was a bad high voltage cap, but that measured fine. The local tech (with a great rep here on AA and elsewhere) said even if he could isolate the particular issue there were so many other issues he could see that needed to be repaired, and even then he didn't think it would be safe to operate. Suggested sending it to Wavelength, but last time I asked about that it was a looooooong backlog and a hefty cost to evaluate it, plus shipping back and forth. Not really a boat anchor per se, just not sure its worth the repair cost and safety risk.

Lastly one I didn't even bother having him look at. A Supratek pre. It's a jumble of wires that I don't think anyone wants to touch. Bad volume and input selectors, with the mfr. defunct more or less. I suppose it's repairable by someone who can DIY, that ain't me though (no skills and bad hands).

So I learned my (expensive) lesson on these (at least the last two): mainstream or bust I think for those of us with limited or uh, non existent repair skills.

All in all though I got a few thousand hours out of them, and they sounded great when they worked, but I think my money would be better spent on more reliable gear that is less choosy about repair options.

Hmmm, maybe Sim Audio?

 

Bingo, posted on October 21, 2014 at 17:05:33
Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1364
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Rega cd player with a Sony "audio quality laser assembly"

 

RE: For the Curious, posted on October 21, 2014 at 19:26:48
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 Well, Wavelength Audio is supposed to have a good reputation. If it is THAT old, it will make a terrific DIY rebuild project for someone I suspect. It is so hard to do chassis work, that someone will take it on as an electronics project and be happy to preserve the chassis.

Sorry about those Planets. I would be very reluctant to buy something so unusual looking at full price unless their factory was just around the corner. Most of us have had good luck with SONY, Luxman, Marantz, for their upscale models, as they appear to be well-made.

 

Any with surface-mount component boards NT, posted on October 21, 2014 at 20:32:34
Alpha Al
Industry Professional

Posts: 2958
Location: N. Carolina
Joined: February 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: December 3, 2015
 /

 

Vacuum Tubes.... [nt], posted on October 21, 2014 at 20:47:23
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000

 

Expensive doorstops, posted on October 21, 2014 at 22:21:35
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 I feel for you. The Wavelength may be worth repairing if it originally sounded great. It's quite old isn't it? (I've never seen an integrated in his offerings). I was turned onto Supertek about ten years ago, but backed off for just the reason you mention.

 

RE: Boat Anchors, Door Stops...care to decipher what you mean? [n.t.a.], posted on October 22, 2014 at 00:45:18
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 .

 

Sell them "as is", and state the issue(s) in yoru sales pitch, posted on October 22, 2014 at 05:46:59
Dman
Audiophile

Posts: 7211
Location: Kansas
Joined: January 28, 2001
 I'm sure there is at least someone out there who is willing to get their hands dirty, even if just for the salvageable parts (transformers, etc.).

As my mentor says, "EVERYTHING is repairable, IF you are willing to spend enough money!"

You might be able to at the very least get some (insert drink of choice) money out of it!

Cheers,

Dman
Analog Junkie

 

RE: For the Curious, posted on October 22, 2014 at 07:08:50
Inmate51
 A friend of mine is restoring an OLD Marantz tuner. I was at his place recently, and saw it. Wow, what a maze of resistors, caps, etc. He's determined to "make it go", and has the skills necessary to do it. But holy moly, what a project! I have a photo of it, but it would give y'all nightmares.

I, on the other hand, have more mundane issues. An Integra CD carousel changer where the laser sled don't slide. An H-K 505 with crackling knobs and switches. A Sony combo CD/VCR where the CD drawer won't open (fortunately, I like Mozart's Eine Kleine Night Music, which is in the tray). A Tascam 44 with a pinch roller that won't pinch. None of these are boat anchor issues... I just haven't found a roundtuit to help get me started.

Several years ago, I donated an HP Laserjet Series II to Goodwill, and took a $50 tax deduction, which kinda sucks since it cost me $1,500 new.

:)


 

RE: For the Curious, posted on October 22, 2014 at 09:00:42
Ralph
Manufacturer

Posts: 4769
Location: Minnesota
Joined: April 24, 2002
 Supretek would have done really well for themselves to have invested in about $5.00 worth of terminal strips inside their product.

If the original piece used glue to secure the parts (which is unethical), repair of it without correcting that would be unethical too.

 

RE: For the Curious, posted on October 22, 2014 at 10:25:12
Richard P
Audiophile

Posts: 476
Location: Upstate NY
Joined: October 8, 1999
 Sorry for your loss, but IMO tube gear has to be the easiest of all equipment to repair (point to point or PCB based). Barring failure of a power transformer or fried OPTs, there's really not a lot to them. I think your tech was being lazy for not wanting to tackle the project because 'it's a jumble of wires'. That's a crock of BS if you ask me.

 

Metaphor...., posted on October 22, 2014 at 16:26:20
three_sox
 `

 

Perhaps a new forum is needed?..., posted on October 22, 2014 at 19:01:15
DeKay
 For those who feign to have a language barrier?

 

RE: Metaphor....for what? thanks [n.t.a.], posted on October 22, 2014 at 20:17:40
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 .

 

why not stay home?...., posted on October 22, 2014 at 20:18:25
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 and do yourself some good?

roger wang

 

RE: Metaphor....for what? thanks [n.t.a.], posted on October 22, 2014 at 20:35:48
tedk.
Audiophile

Posts: 401
Location: chicagoland
Joined: July 7, 2004
 Google is your friend,friendo.

 

RE: For the Curious, posted on October 23, 2014 at 09:20:46
Palustris
Audiophile

Posts: 2408
Location: Cape Cod
Joined: September 12, 2008
 I am definitely interested in the Wavelength. You may contact me through PM if you are interested in selling it.

 

Page processed in 0.052 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]