Frequently asked questions about the service and repair of hi-fi electronics, vintage hi-fi gear, how and when repairs are viable, warranty etc.
I’d be happy to, but hopefully you read this before blowing anything up! If you’ve purchased equipment from Japan and it has blown up, though, we will need to establish what damage has been done. This is done through a careful hands-on assessment of the unit in question. Line Voltage Different regions use different AC […]
I purchased equipment from Japan and it blew up, can you help? Read More »
Yes, everything human-made requires some form of periodic maintenance, the more complex, the more maintenance, Nothing is exempt from this need. Maintenance, such as cleaning, lubrication, adjustment, or parts replacement, is simply a designed-in element. Complex electromechanical equipment, containing hundreds of parts and often operating decades beyond its intended design life, has the greatest need
Based on what I’ve seen over the years, most people shouldn’t even take the lid off hi-fi electronics, let alone spray anything into it! Sorry, but not sorry really, because remember what my job is – SAVING classic hi-fi equipment! Now, let’s qualify this and note that if you have access to good commercial-quality products
Should I spray contact cleaner into my equipment? Read More »
I use various cleaning techniques, depending on the equipment make and model, the parts I’m cleaning and how dirty it is, some of which I’ll briefly describe here. Exterior For most metallic, painted, plastic and composite exteriors, I recommend starting by carefully dusting the surfaces to be cleaned. Then, a microfibre cloth and mild detergent/water
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
That depends on the circumstances. Properly installing and setting up a cartridge with the right hardware and precisely calibrating overhang, azimuth, tracking force, anti-skate, VTA, arm lifter position and height using the correct tools is not a 5-minute job. It can take significant time with a complex deck/installation, and doing this work correctly requires time
I’m told it’s mostly because of our trusted approach, integrity, passion, professionalism, and results. I suggest asking our customers, hi-fi retailers and the broader hi-fi community, but the short answer is this: Liquid Audio is a small, specialist business, focused on quality rather than turnover, and delivering class-leading knowledge, professionalism, service, and results. In an
Well, like most people, I understand that cheap rarely equates to good. Cheap builders, cheap Chinese motorcycles, cheap hi-fi gear, cheap professionals and technical personnel – adages like “the poor man pays twice” exist for a reason. Growing up, my Dad always used to tell me: You get what you pay for, Mike. AJ Fitzpatrick
I’m thinking of using the cheapest repairer, what are your thoughts? Read More »
Eventually yes, if you want to keep it running. Watches, power tools, motorcycles and electronic equipment all eventually need to be overhauled and/or restored, and this applies to everything built by human hands. This is not to say YOU need to have your equipment overhauled, but eventually, someone will, assuming they see the value in
Very simply, this type of equipment is often almost worthless after just a few years and therefore not worth repairing. If you add in poor serviceability and poor audio performance, compared to even modest hi-fi stereo gear, you end up with very few reasons to repair this stuff and why mjuch of it is simply
