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Leaking capacitors?
mark_b
22-02-2015
My Onkyo TX-SR606 is not outputting sound on any outputs. The amp switches on and goes through the menu options but otherwise nothing. It did this a while back and I left it unplugged for a couple of days, after which it came back to life and I thought it must have over-heated (even though it has good ventilation etc) but this time no such luck. I unscrewed the top and spotted what might be some leaking capacitors but I am no expert and I was wondering if someone here could please take a look. Is it worth taking this amp to the repair shop or do I need to buy a new one? As a student I can't really afford to mess about. I can't really afford to buy a new amp but the need for good audio for my music and films comes higher! If you need different or better images, just say so and sorry but the last one wouldn't focus any better. Thanks.

https://imgur.com/a/t7ZAb
LCDMAN
22-02-2015
Not leaking caps IMO, just the goo to keep them stable - they're some big 'uns. Main sign of cap failure would be "doming" of the tops, even splitting in extreme cases.
chrisjr
22-02-2015
It's not that clear from the first picture if that black gunge is leakage or not. Without seeing the actual physical capacitor it's difficult to say.

The second image with the white substance round the base of the cap is more like the stuff they use to hold caps in place.

But as said above if the top of the cap is bulging upwards instead of being slightly concave then that is pretty much a sure indication of a dead cap.

On the other hand I have replaced dead electrolytic caps that show no outward sign of distress. It's only the side effects of the cap not working that point at the culprit, for example excessive noise on a DC power supply output due to the smoothing caps failing.

There may also be another cause of the problem. The speaker protection circuits may be triggering. With my Onkyo there is a definite clunk as the speaker relays drop in. If there is a short on any of the speaker leads or the speaker itself the relays disconnect the speakers to protect the amplifiers.

So check through all the speaker leads and connections carefully and make sure there is nothing amiss with anything. It only takes a single strand of wire to short the speaker or amp + and - terminals to trip the protection. And that can take some spotting (I know from experience! ).
mark_b
22-02-2015
OK Thanks. I did hear a click the first time it happened, which I thought was the protection circuit, but not the second.

I did have a good look at the connections round the back for stray wires and at the speaker end but didn't spot anything. It's all disconnected now so I will re-strip and reconnect the cables tomorrow and see if that does anything.
chrisjr
22-02-2015
One trick I have used. With all the leads disconnected use a small paintbrush or similar to brush round the speaker terminals. If there are any stray strands of wire lurking there that should get rid of them.

Also check the condition of the cables from end to end. Make sure there is no damage anywhere.
mark_b
23-02-2015
Well I re-did all the cables tonight and checked for damage etc but still no audio. I have also reset the amplifier to defaults (vcr + pwr). Looks like I'm heading to the shop tomorrow unless I get a last minute idea. Does anyone know a decent repair shop in Manchester? Otherwise I'll go to Richer Sounds on Deansgate, I'm fairly sure that they have a repair department.
Nigel Goodwin
23-02-2015
Originally Posted by mark_b:
“ Otherwise I'll go to Richer Sounds on Deansgate, I'm fairly sure that they have a repair department.”

As far as I'm aware RS don't have any service facilities?, but they will have people they can put you in touch with (probably the people they use for their warranty repairs?).
mark_b
23-02-2015
It says here (at the bottom of the page) that the service headquarters is in Manchester.

http://www.richersounds.com/information/service
Nigel Goodwin
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by mark_b:
“It says here (at the bottom of the page) that the service headquarters is in Manchester.

http://www.richersounds.com/information/service”

So one small service department then
1andrew1
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“So one small service department then ”

Yes. Looks like they have eight service staff in total. Four staff in Manchester and one person in each of Sheffield, Romford, Bristol and Reading.
mark_b
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“So one small service department then ”

I did ask if anyone has any better ideas but feel free to laugh at my predicament.
Nigel Goodwin
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by mark_b:
“I did ask if anyone has any better ideas but feel free to laugh at my predicament.”

Sorry, I wasn't laughing - just commenting on the relative lack of service facilities at RS. However, I did suggest that they would be able to put you in touch with a service agent, and by the sound of things may be able to return it to their own (small) service department for you.
Nigel Goodwin
24-02-2015
Oh, by the way, the title of this thread most probably isn't your problem - I'm presuming that the PSU in your amplifier isn't a switch-mode one?, and the massive cheap capacitor failure problem is almost exclusively in switch-mode supplies (due to the high frequencies and harder life for the capacitors).
mark_b
24-02-2015
Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin:
“Oh, by the way, the title of this thread most probably isn't your problem - I'm presuming that the PSU in your amplifier isn't a switch-mode one?, and the massive cheap capacitor failure problem is almost exclusively in switch-mode supplies (due to the high frequencies and harder life for the capacitors).”

Yes we fairly quickly realised that the capacitors look ok but you can't always tell so thanks for that info, I didn't know (you're right, the PSU is not a switch mode one).

I have until Friday to decide whether to try and fix this amp or put the money towards a new one. RS want £40 to look at it which possibly includes a simple repair.
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