Old Amplifier requires fixing
Discussion
Hello
Bit of a long shot…
I have an old Hitachi HMA-6500 power amp, which works fine, except the LHS VU meter works intermittently, and the bulb in it has now admitted defeat. A mate has said he can make the VU meter function again and fit a new blub.
The real issue is that the power button on the left-hand side broke off years ago, and as the amp is now considered valuable, I would like to have the amp as it should be, with the proper knob on it.
I've been googling for a few days now, is there anywhere that sells parts?
Thanks in advance.
This is a library picture – it’s not my amp.
Bit of a long shot…
I have an old Hitachi HMA-6500 power amp, which works fine, except the LHS VU meter works intermittently, and the bulb in it has now admitted defeat. A mate has said he can make the VU meter function again and fit a new blub.
The real issue is that the power button on the left-hand side broke off years ago, and as the amp is now considered valuable, I would like to have the amp as it should be, with the proper knob on it.
I've been googling for a few days now, is there anywhere that sells parts?
Thanks in advance.
This is a library picture – it’s not my amp.
You won't find genuine parts like switches - anywhere.
It's also worth noting that the Mosfets this amp uses are long obsolete.
I suspect the amp will need a thorough service, and possibly even recapping.
Ensure that whoever you choose to work on it knows their stuff, otherwise you will end up with hefty doorstop.
It's also worth noting that the Mosfets this amp uses are long obsolete.
I suspect the amp will need a thorough service, and possibly even recapping.
Ensure that whoever you choose to work on it knows their stuff, otherwise you will end up with hefty doorstop.
I recently threw away something looking awfully like that, when I scrapped a sony receiver.
There are a few people selling various amp parts on ebay and some FB groups, if you make enquiries you may get lucky.
Also keep an eye on spares/repairs amps on ebay.
While many of these old amps attract significant prices when working nicely, it's easy to rack up a big repair bill and if the amp is cosmetically tatty, it will never attract a high price.
Possibly modifying the switch lever to go on a common switch might be a way forwards, depending on what level of authenticity you want/'are happy to pay for'?
I modified one of my amps to turn itself off after a period of non-use, and to turn on from a remote control, rendering the front panel on switch a bit ornamental. I'm more concerned about the PA silicon than the purists' aesthetics, but each to his own.
There are a few people selling various amp parts on ebay and some FB groups, if you make enquiries you may get lucky.
Also keep an eye on spares/repairs amps on ebay.
While many of these old amps attract significant prices when working nicely, it's easy to rack up a big repair bill and if the amp is cosmetically tatty, it will never attract a high price.
Possibly modifying the switch lever to go on a common switch might be a way forwards, depending on what level of authenticity you want/'are happy to pay for'?
I modified one of my amps to turn itself off after a period of non-use, and to turn on from a remote control, rendering the front panel on switch a bit ornamental. I'm more concerned about the PA silicon than the purists' aesthetics, but each to his own.
I have used a guy to repair amps before he is highly skilled and knowlegable, specialises in cars but loves an intersting challenge might be able to help probably has a wide variety of sources for parts
https://www.facebook.com/Barevids/
https://www.facebook.com/Barevids/
I’m amused at the thought of one of these bringing up a “big bill”!
They were made at the height of the Japanese quality era - they’re built like tanks, they won’t need recapping as they used high quality components and unless you do something particularly stupid with them, the output devices are largely bombproof.
No, you won’t get a new power switch without a parts unit but if that’s the only issue with the unit, then I wouldn’t worry. Switch it off at the socket when you’ve finished using it!
They were made at the height of the Japanese quality era - they’re built like tanks, they won’t need recapping as they used high quality components and unless you do something particularly stupid with them, the output devices are largely bombproof.
No, you won’t get a new power switch without a parts unit but if that’s the only issue with the unit, then I wouldn’t worry. Switch it off at the socket when you’ve finished using it!
The last one on ebay sold for £395.
Any decent tech repairing amps is going to want a reasonable hourly rate, parts are not cheap and you never know what might have failed. These are old amps, components don't always last forever and sometimes amps get abused.
Anyone working on an amp will probably want to test it thoroughly before sending it back, but even then there's not much warranty.
So in my opinion, you don't need a big problem or much bad luck to rack up a bill that's a significant slice of the value.
It's OK for people like me, I've bought non-running amps for peanuts and enjoyed fixing them where possible.
I've got a Hitachi integrated amp of similar vintage, it sounds really sweet, on the left channel. The right channel has an elusive fault!
I like vintage amps, but I think there are increasing problems these days with mains quality and other EMC issues.
Lots of harmonics and noise on the mains, lots of 4G and 5G and Wifi which wasn't around when these things were designed.
Any decent tech repairing amps is going to want a reasonable hourly rate, parts are not cheap and you never know what might have failed. These are old amps, components don't always last forever and sometimes amps get abused.
Anyone working on an amp will probably want to test it thoroughly before sending it back, but even then there's not much warranty.
So in my opinion, you don't need a big problem or much bad luck to rack up a bill that's a significant slice of the value.
It's OK for people like me, I've bought non-running amps for peanuts and enjoyed fixing them where possible.
I've got a Hitachi integrated amp of similar vintage, it sounds really sweet, on the left channel. The right channel has an elusive fault!
I like vintage amps, but I think there are increasing problems these days with mains quality and other EMC issues.
Lots of harmonics and noise on the mains, lots of 4G and 5G and Wifi which wasn't around when these things were designed.
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