[DefectiveAudioComponent]

My Pioneer A449 power amplifier is getting a bit old, and now I have to turn up the main volume (it has only one volume knob used also for headphones) a bit for the left channel to kick in. The right channel sounds fine at once, but first there is some static on the left, and then it it sounds likes it physically goes through something and then it sounds fine.

Does anybody recognize this issue?

 

[Zorander]

A dirty pot, maybe? Applying contact cleaner on the rotating mechanism (assuming this is an analog pot, not a digital one) should solve this.

Cheers!

 

[Penchum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zorander /img/forum/go_quote.gif A dirty pot, maybe? Applying contact cleaner on the rotating mechanism (assuming this is an analog pot, not a digital one) should solve this. Cheers!

X2! I have had the exact same thing happen and it was a dirty pot. The channel imbalance is what fools you. Its a super easy fix and you'll be up and running fast.

 

[QQQ]

Bettter not to mess up with crappy pots from the start. Change it to some good one.

 

[DefectiveAudioComponent]

I think I fixed it. I put some electronics oil on the moving parts. There are some moving parts along the edge on the right side of the photo here, and also in the middle of the board further away.
(The headphone jack is not shown, but is on the boards on the closest part of the picture.)

Maybe it can be seen better on this photo.

The main volume pot is on the front right, and the moving parts on the board are in the back, to the right.