receiver repair question

magreen

Golden Member
Dec 27, 2006
1,309
1
81
hi

I have a decent harmon kardon receiver that's about 15 years old -- the hk 880 vxi.

It has this annoying problem, and I want to know if it's easy/cheap to repair.
The problem is that one or both channels will cut out sometimes until I wiggle the external processor button in and out and back and forth until it's in just the right place for both channels to come through clearly again. It seems like it's a problem just with that silly button -- if I could just disable/pass-through/bypass it I wouldn't have this problem. And it's driving me crazy!

It's the push-button type (in=using external processor, out=bypass). On the back of the receiver it has external processor outputs and inputs, which seem to be hard-wired together using these metal U-shaped tubes. Anyway, I don't have any need or purpose for an external processor -- I just want to hear my music. Anyone know if this kind of thing is cheap for a technician to fix, or if maybe I could even fix it myself?
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
29,307
106
106
open it up and desolder the old one, post pictures, order new switch, solder in the new switch you should be done
 

magreen

Golden Member
Dec 27, 2006
1,309
1
81
Originally posted by: alfa147x
open it up and desolder the old one, post pictures, order new switch, solder in the new switch you should be done

Ok, now we're talking. Now I'm not really interested in having a functioning switch -- I'd rather bypass it entirely. So I should just be able to solder the wires together, right?

Do I need any fancy audio-grade solder, or will regular electrical stuff do the trick?

Also, are there any capacitors or dangerous components I need to look out for when opening up a receiver?