How old should a Japanese receiver be when audio starts failing?

[shortylickens]

Sony STR-DE597

https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38388/c/65,66/p/41901,43145,43965/

Had it about 16 years, I think. Maybe less. The right speaker channel is intermittently cutting out on both the A and B outputs. Its not the speaker. I have rotated all 6 of them and the speakers are fine. Its the amp.
Am pretty sure I could do it myself. In addition to being a deck hand in the Navy I was also an electronics technician. I worked on many radios and RADAR's of varying size and complexity. Am certified in micro and mini PCB repair. I dont think this is going to be a major job. Though I am often told that cheap consumer electronics are usually not worth repairing, I think thats with the assumption the owner doesnt know anything and doesnt have the skills or tools handy to do it himself.

But thats not my question. My question is should it be considered normal for one audio channel on low end consumer amps to slowly start dying after 16 years? Did it do well? Poorly? Average? Assuming my warranty has run out is it worth the time to pop open the case and start fooling around in there? Can I get both schematic and parts diagrams from Sony or somewhere else? Now that Radio Shack is gone where can I find parts for a reasonable price? Should I take that trip to Niagara Falls in winter or wait for the spring? What if God changed Coke to Pepsi? If some of you have sent items back to Sony, did they do a good job and charge a reasonable price?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[snoopy7548]

Sony STR-DE597

https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38388/c/65,66/p/41901,43145,43965/

Had it about 16 years, I think. Maybe less. The right speaker channel is intermittently cutting out on both the A and B outputs. Its not the speaker. I have rotated all 6 of them and the speakers are fine. Its the amp.
Am pretty sure I could do it myself. In addition to being a deck hand in the Navy I was also an electronics technician. I worked on many radios and RADAR's of varying size and complexity. Am certified in micro and mini PCB repair. I dont think this is going to be a major job. Though I am often told that cheap consumer electronics are usually not worth repairing, I think thats with the assumption the owner doesnt know anything and doesnt have the skills or tools handy to do it himself.

But thats not my question. My question is should it be considered normal for one audio channel on low end consumer amps to slowly start dying after 16 years? Did it do well? Poorly? Average? Assuming my warranty has run out is it worth the time to pop open the case and start fooling around in there? Can I get both schematic and parts diagrams from Sony or somewhere else? Now that Radio Shack is gone where can I find parts for a reasonable price? Should I take that trip to Niagara Falls in winter or wait for the spring? What if God changed Coke to Pepsi? If some of you have sent items back to Sony, did they do a good job and charge a reasonable price?

Inquiring minds want to know.

It's probably a dirty pot or loose connection. They just tell you it's not worth repairing because they want you to buy a new one.

I think reliability is a crapshoot, mostly depending on environmental conditions. I've got a Sansui receiver from the 80s that has absolutely no problems; I also have an Onkyo from around the same era that has one channel out. I have a Fisher Studio Standard from I don't know when that sometimes cuts out, but it's a power switch issue. An Onkyo, my main receiver, from the early 2000s that I bought refurb'd in 2005 had issues with one channel cutting out. Banging on it would fix it, but I ended up opening it up and fixing it for good; I don't remember what the problem was, though.

Some of these cheaper models probably have poor sealing, so dust and dirt gets in where it shouldn't and causes issues. There's certainly a substantial difference in quality and feel in the volume control knob on the Sansui vs. the Fisher, for example.

I would certainly at least try to fix the problem if you still like the receiver and don't feel the need to upgrade.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

The answer to all the questions is yes.

FWIW my previous receiver was a similar Sony. Got about 12 years out of it before the front panel display went dark. Time to get a new one anyways as the oldies don't have the HDMI capacity needed.

 

[crashtech]

I've seen stuff like that be cracked solder joints that can be re-flowed really easily, usually right at the amp output terminals. It's worth a look.

 

[Thebobo]

Dirty pot can be a problem.

 

[Lewy]

A lot depends on build quality but in general almost all old electronics suffer from heat, age and leaky capacitor failures. I'm a retired technician/engineer and I like class-d receivers and amplifiers because you not only tend to get excellent sound for your buck but they are very efficient and run cool. Heat is the biggest enemy so make sure your hot running equipment is well vented and it will last a lot longer. My main system is a I5-3570K PC running through a Gustard x-12 USB Dac to a Crown XLS-2000 Class-d amplifier and NHT 3.3 speakers. Crown amps tend to last forever and this one sound great too. But an XLS-1500 is enough to drive them cleanly too.

 

[shortylickens]

The answer to all the questions is yes.

FWIW my previous receiver was a similar Sony. Got about 12 years out of it before the front panel display went dark. Time to get a new one anyways as the oldies don't have the HDMI capacity needed.

This is for my computer. It only needs one analog input to work.

 

[Rifter]

check for a cracked solder joint on the amp output terminal for the failed channel, most likely issue IMO.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

This is for my computer. It only needs one analog input to work.

Might want to consider a dedicated amp for your PC instead of a re-purposed AV unit. Seems like you are going to be in the market for one soon....

 

[shortylickens]

Might want to consider a dedicated amp for your PC instead of a re-purposed AV unit. Seems like you are going to be in the market for one soon....

Well I bought this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049P6OTI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 many years ago and it still works. Its decent enough but no headphone jack and kinda low power compared to a proper home theater. Besides, for the quality and output, a receiver is by far the best deal for the money.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Besides, for the quality and output, a receiver is by far the best deal for the money.

A small class D (not for headphones) works really well for computer setups. Paired with a small pair of bookshelf speakers it blows most of the junk that is marketed as computer speakers out of the water. If you can find a receiver that is a better deal I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

[Lewy]

I like class-d small or large. You are right about using a small class-d amp for a desktop PC with small efficient speakers you can have what amounts to a professional musicians mixing platform for less than $200 or a fine sounding student/home office system for less than $100 My main system is for entertainment in a large room but I also use a Topping TP-32 amp and small efficient but old Klipsch speakers for my working desktop.

 

[Rifter]

A small class D (not for headphones) works really well for computer setups. Paired with a small pair of bookshelf speakers it blows most of the junk that is marketed as computer speakers out of the water. If you can find a receiver that is a better deal I'd be interested in seeing it.

Agreed, thats what i do.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Well... In my honest opinion, it's not about the age of the device, it's about design, build and corporate policy on planned obsolescence.

As someone who's been fixing electronic devices for three decades, I find that Sony-branded devices are among the worst. When they go bad, they're usually too hard/too costly to repair.

On the other hand I've seen many Denon, Yamaha and Technics/Panasonic audio devices work just as well after 25 years of use.

 

[crashtech]

I'm a Yamaha guy myself, have yet to have any serious problems with their stuff.

 

[Harry_Wild]

My Sony STR 1000ES is going on 14 years I think and it still in perfect shape. Of course, no way to catch up on the new input and outputs but I just use RCAs and optical for sound. No digital ARC or new HDMI Arc, etc... Sony refuses to update firmware too. For a $1,600 AVS receiver, I would think Sony has an obligation to keep these AVS of their sort of current but no. They do not! I would not buy another Sony for that reason along!

 

[shortylickens]

Unhooked the system, brought it up to the dining table ready for some repair work. Took it apart. Nothing wrong. Tried it again with my smartphone, listed to music for a while. Left and Right channels work fine, no issues. Put it back together, back downstairs, no issues all day. Thats weird and annoying. How long till it screws up again?

Oh, and I decided to move it sideways. Now its not cooking my monitor any more. And the fiber optic connection keeps noise to a minimum, which is always nice. Forza sounds great, as does Fallout. New banana plugs make everything easier as well.