Recommendations for a High End Vintage Audio Electronics repair?

ErVikingo · 10-20-2023, 10:23 AM

Looking to have one of my vintage pieces looked at and updated (capacitors, etc).

Don't know who to use.

Ideas?

pwd72s · 10-20-2023, 10:31 AM

What piece of equipment? I know a guy in the Bay area who is great on Nakamichi tape decks, but that's all he does.

Ayles · 10-20-2023, 10:39 AM

What kind of gear? I would first see if its still supported by the factory. Audio Research still supports and repairs their vintage gear. Otherwise, every city has a hand full of vintage electronic or tube audio gurus.

ErVikingo · 10-20-2023, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

What piece of equipment? I know a guy in the Bay area who is great on Nakamichi tape decks, but that's all he does.

You are probably referring to Willy Herman. I do have a Nakamichi Dragon that I want to get brought up to speed.

Do you have current details? Thanks

I am looking to have an Infinity Servo Controller checked out and corrected/updated as needed. Its my spare unit

ErVikingo · 10-20-2023, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayles

What kind of gear? I would first see if its still supported by the factory. Audio Research still supports and repairs their vintage gear. Otherwise, every city has a hand full of vintage electronic or tube audio gurus.

Yes AR is great with that. It is an old Infinity Servo Controller from my IRS Betas. Infinity does not service them anymore. They were made way back when by PS Audio but they dont service them. I have asked Paul (P) for recommendations also.

Edit to add that Manley is also great on that. Theta is long gone and Mike Moffits new company (Schiit) does not service their DACs.

pwd72s · 10-20-2023, 11:13 AM

Welcome

To Contact Us:

Willy Hermann Services

925-376-2146 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday

Pacific Time Only Please

email willy@willyhs.com

Shipping Address:

1480 Moraga Road

Suite C #167

Moraga, CA 94556

ErVikingo · 10-20-2023, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

welcome

to contact us:

Willy hermann services

925-376-2146 9am to 5pm monday through friday

pacific time only please

email willy@willyhs.com

shipping address:

1480 moraga road

suite c #167

moraga, ca 94556

thanks much!

Chocaholic · 10-21-2023, 05:19 AM

Post your inquiry on DIYaudio.com. You’ll get many suggestions.

SiberianDVM · SiberianDVM's Garage

I can vouch for Norman's Electronic in Atlanta. Many pieces of gear repaired there.

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

I just got the EQ for my Bose 901s refurbished at the factory for $50.00 including shipping.
If you can get the factory contacts for your equipment it's the way to go (I think)

ErVikingo · 10-23-2023, 01:03 PM

@Chocaholic posted on DIY already. Following up

@SiberianDVM will call Norman's! (BTW my son just started PreVet!)

@911 Rod No one at Infinity has a name for a tech.....

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

ErVikingo, It looks like the four power supply caps will be an easy enough swap for a decent tec, straight forward electronic crossover just looking at a pic. You should probably figure out what you want brand and grade you want to replace the caps with and order some. Were there updates that were offered later? The other capacitors in the signal path are likely ok, easy enough to test with the right equipment. Testing the servo circuit likely harder. It looks like there is a company that specializes in these but are in Europe Bayer-soundwerks.de.

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I just got the EQ for my Bose 901s refurbished at the factory for $50.00 including shipping.
If you can get the factory contacts for your equipment it's the way to go (I think)

Cancel this. I received my EQ from Bose yesterday and they did ***** all.
They taped instructions on how to hook it up. Yes, that is what happened. After using the speakers for months suddenly they are not hooked up right. Idiots.

jhynesrockmtn · 10-24-2023, 05:38 AM

I recently had a Pioneer SX-939 receiver and a SA-9500 amp fully restored by a guy in Spokane WA. Couldn't be further from you though. If you want to check with him send me a PM. He doesn't advertise so I hesitate to post his contact info.

Ayles · 10-24-2023, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Cancel this. I received my EQ from Bose yesterday and they did ***** all.
They taped instructions on how to hook it up. Yes, that is what happened. After using the speakers for months suddenly they are not hooked up right. Idiots.

So they did no technical or repair work?? Just gave you a set of instructions for $50??

ErVikingo · 10-24-2023, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Cancel this. I received my EQ from Bose yesterday and they did ***** all.
They taped instructions on how to hook it up. Yes, that is what happened. After using the speakers for months suddenly they are not hooked up right. Idiots.

^%$@&*!(

Deer Creek Audio works on the 901 Equalizers and have a good reputation.

Check with them

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayles

So they did no technical or repair work?? Just gave you a set of instructions for $50??

Yup. A letter with them saying it works fine.
And call us if you want to be on hold for an hour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErVikingo

^%$@&*!(

Deer Creek Audio works on the 901 Equalizers and have a good reputation.

Check with them

I'm in Ontario and I've heard mixed reviews about the replacement EQs.

ErVikingo · 10-24-2023, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 908/930

ErVikingo, It looks like the four power supply caps will be an easy enough swap for a decent tec, straight forward electronic crossover just looking at a pic. You should probably figure out what you want brand and grade you want to replace the caps with and order some. Were there updates that were offered later? The other capacitors in the signal path are likely ok, easy enough to test with the right equipment. Testing the servo circuit likely harder. It looks like there is a company that specializes in these but are in Europe Bayer-soundwerks.de.

Thanks for your time. I have spoken with Hartmut Bayer a couple of times. He is a wealth of knowledge on the IRS series. I suggested sending him the servo controller and having him make me some custom crossovers.

He said that he would like to do the crossovers with my speakers there so he could make every detail works and matches his curves. Then he said (and i agree) that shipping costs are prohibitive for me to send over my "Stone Henge" (that is what my speakers have been referred to by a friend).

I have all circuit diagrams.

Regarding the crossovers, to test the components I need to desolder every driver and I am reluctant to mess with them too much but, after all these years some of the caps etc will be out of spec. I have debated if I should make replica crossovers and mount them at the bottom of the crossover cabinet (the original crossover hangs from the cover of said box). This way, all original stuff is still there untouched.

Ayles · 10-24-2023, 07:50 AM

Building the crossovers might be a fun project if you are into that sort of thing. I recently recapped the crossovers on my jukebox and am pretty happy how it turned out. Solved an intermittent failure due to a cold/broken solder joint on one of the old caps.

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

Sending your speakers there would be fun, lol. How about wait for winter and buy him a plane ticket to Florida? You could get some software and a calibrated mic and test on site yourself, or likely some high end car audio places have all the equipment.