Troubleshooting / Repair of Audio Equipment -- Introduction

Audio components are easy to maintain and repair, only a few test instruments are needed. Also, it can be a lot of fun. This guide covers practically all the electronic players in the consumer electronics entertainment field.

The purpose of this guide is to acquaint the experimenter, tinkerer, home owner, or hobbyist—whether beginner or intermediate—with how each unit works and how to make simple repairs. Even a TV technician who was only taught how to service a TV chassis can use this guide to learn how to repair other audio electronic products.

The guide has 13 sections dealing with repairs on pocket-size cassette stereo players, compact stereo tape decks, boom-box players, deluxe AM/FM/MPX tuners, deluxe amps (amplifiers), automobile stereo cassette players, turntables, compact-disc (CD) players, automobile cassette/disc players, telephone answering machines, stereo speakers, and high-power automobile radios.

The first section of the guide tells you how, when, and where to make various tests of transistors and IC (integrated circuit) components. Basic test equipment and how to use them is also discussed in section 1. Knowing how to locate the defective component with critical voltage, resistance, and DMM (digital multimeter) tests often allows you to solve most solid-state breakdowns. You can build an audio signal tracer and sine-wave generator to locate the defective stages quickly.

A few hints and tips on servicing the compact cassette portable players are given in section 2 (to be added). In addition to speed problems, simple sound and earphone problems are also thoroughly explained. Troubleshooting the recording circuits in microcassette and compact cassette players are found in section 3 (to be added). How to repair AM/FM/MPX and high-power amplifiers are found in sections 4 (to be added) and 5. Servicing the boom-box cassette player with actual case histories is found at the end of section 4. Repairing deluxe amplifiers and how to build a speaker load box is found in section 6. How to service the auto stereo cassette is found in section 7 (to be added), with maintenance of phonograph turntables found in section 8.

Sections 9 and 10 (to be added) describe how noiseless high-fidelity compact-disc (CD) players work at home and in automobiles. Troubleshooting the various sections with the oscilloscope and critical adjustments often solves difficult repair problems in compact-disc players.

Telephone answering machines are now found hi the home, office, and businesses. How they work, electronic and mechanical problems, and how to solve the problems are discussed in section 11 (to be added). Stereo speaker repairs are dealt with in section 12 (to be added).

How to install, maintain, and repair those latest high-power automobile radios and sound systems are found in section 13 (to be added). The names and addresses of most manufacturers hi the electronics entertainment field covered in this guide is found in the dedicated section.

Besides providing new circuits and data, new photos and schematics are found throughout this revised guide. New audio case histories are found in most sections.

Now let’s begin!

This guide is organized into the following sections:

1. How, when, and where to make tests

[sections 2-4 coming soon]

5. Deluxe AM/FM/MPX tuner tests

6. Repairing the deluxe amplifier

[section 7 coming soon]

8. Turntable repairs and maintenance

[section 9-13 coming soon]

Also see:

Hi-Fi Stereo Servicing Guide