Soundstream in need of repair

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 5:56 am

I have just taken delivery of a Soundstream Reference 500 amplifier. It has a fault in the right channel and crackles. It is not the source or speakers, after a lengthy process of elimination.

So who do you suggest to repair this? Ideally a UK based operation that backs their work up with a warranty...

Thanks!

Post by **Eric D** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:18 am

That actually might be a simple fix you can do yourself. I fixed several SS amps several years ago prior to getting into fixing PG amps. Take the best photo you can of the over all board and post it here. I can mark up on it with paint and give you some direction as to what you can look for.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 6:54 am

Thanks for your kind help Eric, it's much appreciated.

I already have these pics taken, provided by the seller...

Aside from this niggle it's mint. Note the position of the switches has changed since photo. NO fault light is shown

Post by **Eric D** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:34 am

I don't think I understand that last bit. You changed the position of a switch and the fault light went out?

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:41 am

No, misunderstanding

Under no circumstances does a fault light occur.

The pictures above were taken by the seller, prior to me receiving the amp. I was merely pointing out that the position of the switches in the pictures above was incorrect. They have since been moved to Stereo and High Power positions. Forget I said anything

marko · Post by **marko** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:49 am

switches in these amps are prone to being dodgy, jandrelectronics on ebay has all the parts you neep as chips!

try spinning the gain knobs for a few minutes too, they get bunged up a bit..

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:05 am

I'm not convinced anything is wrong with the switches. I'll have a fiddle, but were talking major crackle here, not barely perceptible.

Post by **Eric D** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:49 am

Do you have the amp in your possession right now? If so, does it draw a lot of current? (You could try a 10A fuse with no speakers connected and see if it blows it).

Marko has a point about the gain pots. And switches. The problem is probably more severe, but it is worth it to work the switches back and forth several times, and work the gain pots as well. Oxidation does build up on these devices and case things like static.

It it does not draw much current, and the pots and switches are to blame, then we need to do some testing of some things on the board.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:02 am

Ok I will have a fiddle with everything suggested tomorrow morning and see if it helps. Thanks so far

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:49 am

I rotated all the dials and moved the switches a hundred times to no avail. There is still a slight crackle from the right channel. Also there is no midbass at all on the right channel now. Just a scratchy sounding treble. Worse than yesterday!

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:14 am

I have managed to locate an amp guru here in the UK a short drive from me, so he'll have a look over it for me.

His initial thoughts over the phone were possibly a dry joint on the pre amp stage.

Thanks, Paul

shaheen · Post by **shaheen** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:23 am

was just going to say , sounds like either a bad track or loose component

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:39 am

I just bought four brand new pre amp stages for the Reference amps. Two for this amp if required, plus some spares too. Also picked up some brand new gold screws for it. Got to love new old stock!

Post by **Eric D** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:39 am

I have some of the white plastic parts surrounding the terminals if you ever need them.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:05 pm

Great thanks. These look pretty mint, although if I pick up another who knows I may be in the market for some replacements

I have to say these old SS do sound lush. I listened in mono to the good half and it's very smooth and warm. Very easy to listen to. I was getting really drawn into the music and just sat there lapping it up. Two channels will be bliss!

Shame I got ripped off with the original purchase though, but I'm going to make the best out of the situation now. I'm will spend some coin on it and get it back to new condition with pro help. Poor thing has probably been passed around owners with no one wanting to fix it, just punting it on. Oh well, another saved.

marko · Post by **marko** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:27 pm

sounds like it'll be an easy fix but you need to be handy with a multimetre and soldering iron, i would start by putting some fresh solder on any suspect looking grey solder joints anywhere on the preamp circuits and on the switches/pots too.

i'm confidant the PS is fine and the outputs should be ok too but it's worth checking the immiter resistors just in case, think they should be 0.27ohm.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:50 pm

Thanks Marko, but I'll leave it to the expert who'll be going over it on monday. He used to be a soundstream engineer. I'll ask for the repair and any other precautionary measures while it's there, so it'll be thorough. It'll come with a test certificate too

marko · Post by **marko** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 12:59 pm

it's a very clean amp, everything looks very fresh, i would just change/repair what needs to be done and leave it at that. caps in these don't need changing like the pg ones do. all the resistors look clean and not burnt which a good sign in these amps too

Post by **Eric D** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:07 pm

I know this is the PG forum, but I really like old SS amps as well. I currently use one in my truck, a Reference 705s.

If you get a chance to pick up a Class A Picasso, grab it. I had one and it was hands down the best sounding amp I ever heard. I still like my PG amps, but the Picasso had an obvious lead in the A/B testing I did vs some PG amps. I would have kept mine, but cosmetically it was not up to par. the polished Class A line of amps are hard to keep looking nice, and your average person who does not take care of their stuff is a sure fire way to end up with an ugly amp.

KUB3 · Post by **KUB3** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:52 pm

I didn't want to have caps changed, as they look so good in yellow. It wouldn't be SS without those

God knows if you could even get something cosmetically the same now days?

I just meant ensuring the whole amps is checked over and it's a thorough health check, no stone un-turned. May as well do it properly. Hopefully the new re-birth test sheet will recoup some of the unexpected lost costs in added value.

Back in the day the only amps I ever wanted was PG and SS. I kind of fell into PG as that's what my nearest dealer stocked. So this is my first ever SS amp. I'll certainly keep an eye out for the model you mention.