Restoration Project with Pics

[admin_exported]

As some of you may have read, I recently purchased a Pioneer A400 GTE from ebay for a very reasonable price. However, when the amp arrived and i took the case off to confirm it had been modded I was confronted by 18 years worth of dust inside the amp.

Having previously cleaned the innards of another A400 and being aware of the subsequent sonic benefits this produces I immediately set about cleaning this latest arrival. It took my about 10 hours in total but i think the results speak for themselves:

On Arrival:

After:

 

[Superaintit]

That's just incredible! What did you use to clean it?

 

[El Hefe]

Nice work. You must be a very patient man.

 

[John Duncan]

Whoa, flashback........

 

[idc]

Eighteen years worth of dust? That looks like someone has been grating their skin over it! Hope you had a mask on.

 

[Andy Clough]

John, don't go there!

 

[John Duncan]

Andy Clough:John, don't go there!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh

 

[Superaintit]

JohnDuncan:Whoa, flashback........

 

[John Duncan]

Superaintit:
JohnDuncan:Whoa, flashback........

I've said too much already...

 

[Andy Clough]

Time for a tea break John. Go and have a lie down and a HobNob.

 

[Superaintit]

JohnDuncan:Superaintit:
JohnDuncan:Whoa, flashback........

I've said too much already...

Ah. I think I've found what you were referring to. Don't worry, I'm not into DYI projects. Much too lazy and demanding (edit: I mean: impatient) for that.

 

[chebby]

Andy Clough:John, don't go there!

Don't go where?

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the positive comments guys! Dont worry - vanman i am not!

I first dusted it with a soft brush whilst using a vcuum cleaner to remove the bulk of the dust. Then it was a brush damped with methylated spirit for the stubborn dust. I treated all necessary parts with Caig Deoxit so none of the pots create any noise. The front fascia i cleaned with slightly soapy water and an old toothbrush!

 

[Anonymous]

BTW, it sounds incredible! review to follow soon...

 

[Superaintit]

Thanks, Chebby, but I already found it. I can't believe that guy was for real!

 

[Superaintit]

ifitsoundsgoodlistentoit:Thanks for the positive comments guys! Dont worry - vanman i am not!

I first dusted it with a soft brush whilst using a vcuum cleaner to remove the bulk of the dust. Then it was a brush damped with methylated spirit for the stubborn dust. I treated all necessary parts with Caig Deoxit so none of the pots create any noise. The front fascia i cleaned with slightly soapy water and an old toothbrush!

Thanks.

Edit: I wonder how good these amps sound compared to 'modern' equivalents...? Do you have anything to compare it with?

 

[Anonymous]

That's awful for only 18 years old! My 30 year old JVC wasn't anything like that when I opened it up, and it hadn't been opened before because the inner seal was intact. How big are the vents on top? They must be huge!

Lovely amp now though! Good job!

 

[chebby]

Hughes123: My 30 year old JVC wasn't anything like that when I opened it up...

Your JVC probably spent a lot of it's working life in a rack stacked with other equipment making it more difficult for dust to get in.

 

[Anonymous]

chebby:Hughes123: My 30 year old JVC wasn't anything like that when I opened it up...

Your JVC probably spent a lot of it's working life in a rack stacked with other equipment making it more difficult for dust to get in.

Actually, that's probably true, but the A-400GTE was probably also...

 

[Anonymous]

Superaintit:
ifitsoundsgoodlistentoit:Thanks for the positive comments guys! Dont worry - vanman i am not!

I first dusted it with a soft brush whilst using a vcuum cleaner to remove the bulk of the dust. Then it was a brush damped with methylated spirit for the stubborn dust. I treated all necessary parts with Caig Deoxit so none of the pots create any noise. The front fascia i cleaned with slightly soapy water and an old toothbrush!

Thanks.

Edit: I wonder how good these amps sound compared to 'modern' equivalents...? Do you have anything to compare it with?

i recently demoed a group of amps circa 750-1000GBP to replace my other non-modded A400 and found that whilst they did offer more detail, they could not match the A400 for musicality and sheer enjoyment. the amps i demoed were the cyrus 8vs2 (no bottom end to speak of), arcam A28 (very nice all round) and the Nait 5i (the best of the bunch but just didnt gel with the rest of my system when i tried it at home). im not saying that you couldnt buy a better amp for that kind of money - what i am saying is that even against more expensive modern rivals the A400 holds it own.

as for the A400-GTE, i havent had a proper session with it yet but from what little ive heard it has been more detailed, punchier and faster than the A400.

 

[Anonymous]

Hughes123:
That's awful for only 18 years old! My 30 year old JVC wasn't anything like that when I opened it up, and it hadn't been opened before because the inner seal was intact. How big are the vents on top? They must be huge!

Lovely amp now though! Good job!

thanks hughes. vents are standard size. i guess dust depends on the amps environment - pets, carpets, position etc. for 85GBP i stoked!

 

[JoelSim]

ifitsoundsgoodlistentoit:As some of you may have read, I recently purchased a Pioneer A400 GTE from ebay for a very reasonable price. However, when the amp arrived and i took the case off to confirm it had been modded I was confronted by 18 years worth of dust inside the amp.
Having previously cleaned the innards of another A400 and being aware of the subsequent sonic benefits this produces I immediately set about cleaning this latest arrival. It took my about 10 hours in total but i think the results speak for themselves:On Arrival:

After:

ÿ

Can you indicate which were before and which were after just so I can be sure.

ÿ

By the way if ever you want to earn a little extra cash you can come to mine and have a go on my amps.

ÿ

 

[John Duncan]

JoelSim:By the way if ever you want to earn a little extra cash you can come to mine and have a go on my amps.

Cool!

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:

Is that John trying to weld old Primare knobs onto his DacMagic?

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:JohnDuncan:

Is that John trying to weld old Primare knobs onto his DacMagic?

Oxy-acetylene and knobs don't mix.