A400 service/mod in Kent/SE England

[castleview11]

My view is that old amplifier that shows signs of wear is not viable unless you are prepared to service yourself as a hobby exersise. If not you will need to pay someone to fix it for you. Unless your are attached to the specific sound a new amplifier is the way to go.

Pots showing signs of wear best will be to replace them really.

Switches and connectors can start playing up too.

Not to mention the major component that affect sound are the capacitors when they get old. So replacing all of them will be a good exersise.

Beefing up the power supply could also show improvements to sound.

Thanks for the decent advice; I get sick and tired on formus of people beating down other's gear; I'm sure it's a snob thing; some people don't like a certain brand and feel they have to have their say!!! I only asked if I could somehow fix the pot crackle!!! I earn minimum wage at the mo, and don't have any savings so a 20 year old Whathifi award winner is good enough for me!!

I TOTALLY disagree that if any piece of equiment has a minor fault, it means it will lead to more faults....nonsense!!!! I'm sure he's just gutted my amp was cheap and better than his ;-)

Thanks again!!

 

[Dougal1331]

In terms of speakers, the A400 was noted for its synergy with Mission. The A400/ 780 combo is brilliant, and the 75 series (751, 752, 753 and their 'Freedom' siblings) make a particularly impressive combination.

Definitely worth getting the '400 looked at- it's a cracking amp. I have a broken one that's been awaiting TLC for years... I've got weird, squelchy noises coming from mine (through the speakers) that get louder as the amp warms up. I've decided this isn't good and haven't powered it up since.

When my midlife crisis arrives, I'm going to strip it and do a complete rebuild. That's the plan anyway...

 

[castleview11]

In terms of speakers, the A400 was noted for its synergy with Mission. The A400/ 780 combo is brilliant, and the 75 series (751, 752, 753 and their 'Freedom' siblings) make a particularly impressive combination.

Definitely worth getting the '400 looked at- it's a cracking amp. I have a broken one that's been awaiting TLC for years... I've got weird, squelchy noises coming from mine (through the speakers) that get louder as the amp warms up. I've decided this isn't good and haven't powered it up since.

When my midlife crisis arrives, I'm going to strip it and do a complete rebuild. That's the plan anyway...

the A400 is for my kitchen; it's quite a big space probably 12ft x 30ft and at the moment I'm running a set of Kef Crestas until I can upgrade; My dad has always had Mission speakers and across the Net the 75x series are mentioned often.......What I am really after is the lows and highs from the speakers; I listen to a lot of electronic and dance music with barely and vocals so bottom end and tops are essential

 

[Tannoyboy]

The Pioneer A400 is an excellent amp with a lot of audio pedigree and its very very reliable.

The Pioneer A-400 Heritage (link)[/b]

For your musical preferences maybe pair it with 12" Cerwin-Vegas because they have higher sensitivity (93db+) and will play considirably loud with the A400's potent 70WPC RMS. I think the Pioneer solved your amp HiFi dilemas for a while. Now focus on getting good speakers for electronic music. The speakers are biggest factor on your HiFi sound performance. The A400 will drive any speakers up to 500 GBP with gusto.

To fix the crackle in the volume pot and the other 2 selector knobs, spray dry (not greasy) electronics cleaning spray inside the volume potentiometer and selector switches (on the main PCB board). As eggontoast said previously.... its maintanance, not repair.

Take the lid off, power cord out off main socket and dont lean on any electronic parts with bare hands. Just spray with the can straw nosle in the potentiometer and 2 selector switches and work them a bit.

Congrats on an excellent purchase! :cheer:

 

[castleview11]

The Pioneer A400 is an excellent amp with a lot of audio pedigree and its very very reliable.

The Pioneer A-400 Heritage (link)[/b]

For your musical preferences maybe pair it with 12" Cerwin-Vegas because they have higher sensitivity (93db+) and will play considirably loud with the A400's potent 70WPC RMS. I think the Pioneer solved your amp HiFi dilemas for a while. Now focus on getting good speakers for electronic music. The speakers are biggest factor on your HiFi sound performance. The A400 will drive any speakers up to 500 GBP with gusto.

To fix the crackle in the volume pot and the other 2 selector knobs, spray dry (not greasy) electronics cleaning spray inside the volume potentiometer and selector switches (on the main PCB board). As eggontoast said previously.... its maintanance, not repair.

Take the lid off, power cord out off main socket and dont lean on any electronic parts with bare hands. Just spray with the can straw nosle in the potentiometer and 2 selector switches and work them a bit.

Congrats on an excellent purchase! :cheer:

Thanks for your advice it really is helpful, and I am totally pleased with the amp. Do you know the Cerwin's model?

 

[MajorFubar]

I remember reading the WHF review of the A400 like it was only yesterday. At the time I was kind of in the market for a new amp, but I was young and I couldn't bring myself to buy an amp which didn't have a loudness button and tone controls. I held off for a year or two then while WHF were raving about the new Kenwood 3020SE, I bought a Kenwood 5020 instead, which I kidded myself was basically the same amp with the all-important tone controls and loudness button. It wasn't, of course.

 

[castleview11]

I remember reading the WHF review of the A400 like it was only yesterday. At the time I was kind of in the market for a new amp, but I was young and I couldn't bring myself to buy an amp which didn't have a loudness button and tone controls. I held off for a year or two then while WHF where raving about the Kenwood 3020SE, I bought a Kenwood 5020 instead, which I kidded myself was basically the same amp with the all-important tone controls and loudness button. It wasn't, of course.

I did the same in my early twenties!! I couldn't see at the time owning a system without tone controls...I grew up around my folk's late 80's digital equalizers etc and thought you required all that to get a decent sound. I've owned SO much audio equipment over the years, always bought new til recently and have usually been unlucky/poor research I guess!

 

[MajorFubar]

Indeed. Age has matured my taste in a way I couldn't have understood as a young man 20 years ago. Oh and I'd still love to hear an A400.

 

[Dougal1331]

the A400 is for my kitchen; it's quite a big space probably 12ft x 30ft and at the moment I'm running a set of Kef Crestas until I can upgrade; My dad has always had Mission speakers and across the Net the 75x series are mentioned often.......What I am really after is the lows and highs from the speakers; I listen to a lot of electronic and dance music with barely and vocals so bottom end and tops are essential

In that case I'd recommend 734 or 735s...!

 

[Tannoyboy]

The CV I owned were AT-12s. The newer the Cerwin-Vegas are, the better they are. Also good second hand speakers for electronic music and rocking out are floorstanding JBLs and Infinitys. Bigger Mission speakers as well.

However, I think you should seriosly consider the NEW Pioneer SP-FS52 speakers. Great vlaue for money and designed by Andrew Jones.

Their more expensive borthers are the Pioneer SP-FS51. I believe you can audition these at HiFi shops now as they are current models.

Avoid metal dome tweeters.

Cheers

 

[castleview11]

The CV I owned were AT-12s. The newer the Cerwin-Vegas are, the better they are. Also good second hand speakers for electronic music and rocking out are floorstanding JBLs and Infinitys. Bigger Mission speakers as well.

However, I think you should seriosly consider the NEW Pioneer SP-FS52 speakers. Great vlaue for money and designed by Andrew Jones.

Their more expensive borthers are the Pioneer SP-FS51. I believe you can audition these at HiFi shops now as they are current models.

Avoid metal dome tweeters.

Cheers

I had a pair of JBL floorstanders in the past TX series I think...thy went loud but I didn't go much on the bass response. I shall check out the above. Many thanks!

 

[drummerman]

... Avoid metal dome tweeters.

Cheers

Interesting. Why is that?

regards

 

[progwardy]

Hi,

With regard to somebody to fix the amp if the advice here doesn't work (and I suspect that replacement may be the best way forward) and based in Kent I can highly recommend this 'chap' (it does seem to be a one man band):

Scan Electronic Service

64 Cayser Drive

Kingswood

Maidstone

Kent

ME17 3QF

01622 842564 / 843900 and/or info@scanelectronicservices.co.uk

I had a dodgy PCB board in a LInn Klout and he did all the hunting around for a replacement after Linn didn't want to look at it for less than £300 with no guarantee of fixing it. As it was reasonably local it was worth a go (and avoided P&P) and worked very well. The chap (whose name I’m afraid I can’t remember) is an electronics engineer so will diagnose and fix rather than advise on any mods. If you know the mod you want I’m sure he’d do it for you.

There is also an option of charging/payment. The most obvious is a flat fee of £30 (it may have gone up!) non-refundable but any further cost is parts only.

I have also been recommended a chap in Canterbury but I’m at work and haven’t got the details with me

(I have no personal affiliation with either!)

Good luck.

 

[Dougal1331]

... Avoid metal dome tweeters.

Cheers

Interesting. Why is that?

regards

:rofl: :rofl:

 

[Tannoyboy]

As if you don't know why... LOL

I had the A400 paired with various "on the budget" speakers with metal dome tweeters and noticed that it produces fatigueness in longer listening sessions with electronic music and brass instruments. It is a known fact/myth about the A400 I believe. Tannoy Profile 632 did rather well paired with the A400 regardless its aluminium tweeter. So it is an ON&OFF thing and ones hearing (Tinnitus) and preferences has a lot to do with it. Just to be on the safe side I personally recommend soft dome tweeters, especially silk.

 

[drummerman]

As if you don't know why... LOL

I had the A400 paired with various "on the budget" speakers with metal dome tweeters and noticed that it produces fatigueness in longer listening sessions with electronic music and brass instruments. It is a known fact/myth about the A400 I believe. Tannoy Profile 632 did rather well paired with the A400 regardless its aluminium tweeter. So it is an ON&OFF thing and ones hearing (Tinnitus) and preferences has a lot to do with it. Just to be on the safe side I personally recommend soft dome tweeters, especially silk.

No problem. It was more the statement; 'avoid anything using metal dome tweeters' that I found questionable. Way to simple. They have their advantages and disadvantages. Implementation is arguably more important than the material used. I have heard plenty of good and bad examples of either.

I guess its one of hifi's 'general assumption' things ...

regards

 

[MUSICRAFT]

but, to be very honest, dump it and get a decent amp.

Hi plastic penguin

In the Pioneer A-400 the OP has got a truly great amplifier

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[eggontoast]

With regard to somebody to fix the amp if the advice here doesn't work (and I suspect that replacement may be the best way forward)

Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as replacing it which yes, would be the best option. The volume pot in an A400 is an obscure design to say the least and I suspect was a custom build for Pioneer. Plonking another pot in isn't that simple either as pots with 40% loudness taps aren't readily available now either. The one good thing is that the original can be removed, disassembled and cleaned properly though. The one thought I did have from the OP's original post was that someone has already messed around with it as he said it was sensitive, the pots are susceptible to damage during shipping and someone may have fudged it already.

 

[castleview11]

Hi,

With regard to somebody to fix the amp if the advice here doesn't work (and I suspect that replacement may be the best way forward) and based in Kent I can highly recommend this 'chap' (it does seem to be a one man band):

Scan Electronic Service

64 Cayser Drive

Kingswood

Maidstone

Kent

ME17 3QF

01622 842564 / 843900 and/or info@scanelectronicservices.co.uk

I had a dodgy PCB board in a LInn Klout and he did all the hunting around for a replacement after Linn didn't want to look at it for less than £300 with no guarantee of fixing it. As it was reasonably local it was worth a go (and avoided P&P) and worked very well. The chap (whose name I’m afraid I can’t remember) is an electronics engineer so will diagnose and fix rather than advise on any mods. If you know the mod you want I’m sure he’d do it for you.

There is also an option of charging/payment. The most obvious is a flat fee of £30 (it may have gone up!) non-refundable but any further cost is parts only.

I have also been recommended a chap in Canterbury but I’m at work and haven’t got the details with me

(I have no personal affiliation with either!)

Good luck.

Really great post, thanks for your help I have already taken the details down and will keep hold of them! If you do happen to find the Canterbury details, I would also be grateful for these, as I live really close to Canterbury.

It's the first time I have come across the volume pot; a double-jobby....I should say maybe the "sensitive" comment I made was a bit premature, it seems to be just fine (but still the crackle which i will look at with some cleaner)

 

[castleview11]

Another question: With the A400 bing so popular back when it was released, I'm guessing it has been paired up with almost every CD player going? Can any one remember what the best choices were back in the 90's to match the A400 (I'd like to keep the amp and CD player from the same era) Budget (used equipment obviously) up to £80

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi castleview11

Rotel's RCD965BX and Pioneer's PDS-904 are worth a look

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Tannoyboy]

Castleview,

Marantz CD63 II Ki Signature was the popular CDP match for the Pioneer A400, and Mission 751 speakers. You can't go wrong with any Marantz, Philips or Denon CDP IMO.

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/perfect-partner-for-marantz-cd63-ki-signature

 

[progwardy]

Hi Castleview,

I'm in Canterbury too!

The guy in 'Canterbury Rock' gave me these details when I was thinking of having my old NAD serviced:

Graham Jones 46 Downs Road 01227 276 468 - he services/repairs all Canterbury Rock's secondhand hi fi stuff.

Might be worth a chat.

Good luck.

Kevin.

 

[castleview11]

Hi Castleview,

I'm in Canterbury too!

The guy in 'Canterbury Rock' gave me these details when I was thinking of having my old NAD serviced:

Graham Jones 46 Downs Road 01227 276 468 - he services/repairs all Canterbury Rock's secondhand hi fi stuff.

Might be worth a chat.

Good luck.

Kevin.

Kevin. just perfect!! I may call him before the end of the week just for an intial conversation, but sounds good news I'll keep you informed