It all started with the detection of a bit of noise, which I thought was just some ground/earthing issue, so I continued using it. Also threw away some GE valves because I thought that they were at fault.
Later on, I wanted to test it out a bit further, so ran my test tracks, one of which is the start of a Status Quo track which plays, "There's nothing left," on the right side, followed by, "There's nothing right," on the left side... and back and forth a little. Well, guess what... the P2-1 was wired the wrong way!
On taking it apart to see what I could do, it turned out that two of the 35v 470uF caps had popped. Now, the thing was supplied with an 18v AC/AC transformer, despite the back saying 12v AC. The maker actually said, "
I got in touch with the maker and a replacement came. The left-right issue had been, "sorted," by cutting the tracks and soldering bits of cable across. Ooookkkaaayyyy..... did the job I suppose.
This one too, also blew its caps.
I tried replacing, and re-running... and one of the caps REALLY blew. And I mean it went with a bang and left brown hairy stuff all over the place.
By this time, even after replacing with 50v caps, (and having to cut the cases to pieces to get them in) I was just too scared to run the units. I enlisted the help of a friend who knows her electronics. She was more confident in dealing with the units and straight up, there were components missing! A big resister, and also a capacitor from between the valve sockets. At that point, I gave up on ever getting these working. I've just lost complete trust in the Little Bear range, and what they're doing to the boards.
My boards... (note the larger, 50v caps and missing components)
E-bay picture... note the extra components...
Later on, I wanted to test it out a bit further, so ran my test tracks, one of which is the start of a Status Quo track which plays, "There's nothing left," on the right side, followed by, "There's nothing right," on the left side... and back and forth a little. Well, guess what... the P2-1 was wired the wrong way!
On taking it apart to see what I could do, it turned out that two of the 35v 470uF caps had popped. Now, the thing was supplied with an 18v AC/AC transformer, despite the back saying 12v AC. The maker actually said, "
18V is better for the tube. the heater and other option. make sound more clear." ... Errr..... OK... I'd switched to another 18V AC/AC transformer with a UK plug, rather than using the supplied with the shonky travel adaptor.
I got in touch with the maker and a replacement came. The left-right issue had been, "sorted," by cutting the tracks and soldering bits of cable across. Ooookkkaaayyyy..... did the job I suppose.
This one too, also blew its caps.
I tried replacing, and re-running... and one of the caps REALLY blew. And I mean it went with a bang and left brown hairy stuff all over the place.
By this time, even after replacing with 50v caps, (and having to cut the cases to pieces to get them in) I was just too scared to run the units. I enlisted the help of a friend who knows her electronics. She was more confident in dealing with the units and straight up, there were components missing! A big resister, and also a capacitor from between the valve sockets. At that point, I gave up on ever getting these working. I've just lost complete trust in the Little Bear range, and what they're doing to the boards.
My boards... (note the larger, 50v caps and missing components)
E-bay picture... note the extra components...