Frequently asked questions about general hi-fi stuff including various types of equipment, technical concepts and advice for getting the best results.
We neither use nor recommend kits nor do we offer parts lists BOMs, or retail sales of parts. Repairing and overhauling electronic equipment involves much more than swapping parts. For the average owner, attempting to overhaul a complex piece of hi-fi electronics via a kit is as silly as it sounds and usually creates more […]
Can you provide me with a kit, parts list or BOM? Read More »
I’d be happy to, but I hope you read this before needing my help! If you are here because your equipment has failed though, we will first need to establish what damage has been done. Careful inspection will reveal the answers. Know Your Voltage Different regions use different AC or mains supply voltages. For example,
I purchased equipment from Japan and it blew up, can you help? Read More »
No, you should never do this. Japan has a different FM band frequency allocation, spanning 76 – 90 MHz. The Australasian, European and North American FM broadcast band spans 88 – 108 MHz. That means that with a Japanese FM tuner, you’ll see a tiny 2 MHz overlap. You’ll be lucky if you can pick
Yes, all electronic equipment needs periodic maintenance. Pretty much everything made by humans needs some form of periodic maintenance or service, so this should come as no surprise. I regularly have to de-scale my coffee machine and kettle for example, but not everyone does or even knows they need to. Complex electronic equipment often containing
Class A is the gold standard and always used where cost is not a factor. Based purely on performance and sonics, the highest-fidelity amplifier design is class A. Speaker sensitivity, combined with your amplifier’s power output, determines the system dynamic range, an important consideration not to be overlooked though. No Compromise Nothing sounds better than
Class AB amplifiers offer many advantages that make them the most commonly found designs in the mainstream hi-fi space. For example, class AB amplifiers offer lower cost and cooler operation than class A designs, with some of the finesse and high fidelity, but with some of the punch and brute force power of class B
Both electronic and mechanical components experience wear over time. Electronic Components Many will know that capacitors degrade over time, specifically wet aluminium electrolytic types. Wear rates vary according to type, quality of construction, thermal loading, age and hours of use. I’ve seen capacitors fail after 5 years and older parts that are still perfect after
