Marantz background hiss

[spranto]

Hi to you all!

I have an old marantz PM-54 II amplifier that I took out of my dad's basement to begin listening to amplified music. It's not a state of the art amplifier but it is "my" first one.

I use a nano 2g as a source and as headphones Sony's MDR-EX71. The problem is that i notice a lot of hiss even with the volume in the minimum.

How can i solve this?
Should i take it's cover out and use a compressor to blow the dust, and add some sort of a product? WD-40 like I do in my PC?

Thank's in advance.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spranto /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi to you all! I have an old marantz PM-54 II amplifier that I took out of my dad's basement to begin listening to amplified music. It's not a state of the art amplifier but it is "my" first one. I use a nano 2g as a source and as headphones Sony's MDR-EX71. The problem is that i notice a lot of hiss even with the volume in the minimum. How can i solve this? Should i take it's cover out and use a compressor to blow the dust, and add some sort of a product? WD-40 like I do in my PC? Thank's in advance.

1. Under no circumstances use WD-40 on an amplifier, you probably shouldnt use it on a PC either, it doesnt disperse it just gums up as it congeals, there are proper contact cleaners available such as de-oxit but Radio Shack almost certainly do one as well.

2. It might be worth while to clean the amp out with compressed air and clean the controls - but are they staticky i.e do they crackle when you adjust volume balance and so on , if not they are probably okay.

3. Most likely your problem is due to the fact that the headphones are very low impedance i.e 16ohm. If you can borrow some higher impedance headphones you can see if the problem remains. If the problem goes away you might consider getting an in-line attenuator, Shure makes one and it helps with the hissy headphone out on some devices, but it wont work miracles.

 

[spranto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hciman77 /img/forum/go_quote.gif 2. It might be worth while to clean the amp out with compressed air and clean the controls - but are they staticky i.e do they crackle when you adjust volume balance and so on , if not they are probably okay.

Yes, they do crackle a LOT, when I try adjust either the volume or the balance. Does it worth the trouble of fixing it? If it does what can I do?

Thank's one more time!

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spranto /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, they do crackle a LOT, when I try adjust either the volume or the balance. Does it worth the trouble of fixing it? If it does what can I do? Thank's one more time!

If you are lucky the controls are just dirty and a good clean out with a contact cleaner will do the trick, if not it means a bit of troubleshooting. Being optimistic you can invest in a can of contact cleaner - ~ $10, make sure it comes with a thin straw like attachment that fits into the nozzle.

Take the amp to a well ventilated room but one where you dont mind having the smell of contact cleaner hanging around for a few days, a garage is a good choice. Carefully remove the knobs, a teaspoon can be useful for this, make sure the knobs are at 12:00, noting the position of the spindles when the controls are at 12:00.

Now if you are lucky you will be able to spray directly into the guts of each control i.e into the potentiometers (pots), small burst are suffifient, after each burst move the spindle fully clockwise then fully anticlockwise, do this lots of times. Repeat this for each control. If you cant get direct access you will have to take remove the lid of the amp and do this from the inside.

Leave the amp for at least 12 hours, then put the lid back on and try it out. It may be necessary to repeat this routine a few times. If all goes well the controls should be nice and quiet. If not then you need some proper troubleshooting which might be costly and may not be worth the bother.

Good Luck.

** Having said the above it may not fix your hiss problem **

 

[spranto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hciman77 /img/forum/go_quote.gif ** Having said the above it may not fix your hiss problem **

I've given me a great idea. Many thank's for the detailed instructions. By the way do you have any election brand for the contact cleaner?

 

[santiclaws]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spranto /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've given me a great idea. Many thank's for the detailed instructions. By the way do you have any election brand for the contact cleaner?

Use the one he suggested - De-Oxit. Available online and at RatShack.

 

[WalkGood]

I have the same problem with my Marantz 2265B

and I’m planning on trying the fix myself this weekend. Read my issue/problem here.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have the same problem with my Marantz 2265B and I’m planning on trying the fix myself this weekend. Read my issue/problem here.

I used to own a 2226 (not B), I had the exact same problem, I never did quite fix it completely by cleaning, I got rid of maybe 90% of the static, the OP's amp is quite a lot newer so it is a pretty poor show that it is acting up already

 

[memepool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have the same problem with my Marantz 2265B and I’m planning on trying the fix myself this weekend. Read my issue/problem here.

Switch cleaners can be something of a mixed blessing with vintage kit like this as they slowley gunk up themselves and then solidify often breaking the contacts completely and causing shorts.

With a classic Marantz like this you should really get it professionally stripped down and serviced ( a few times a century at least

They don't build them like that any more.

 

[WalkGood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by memepool /img/forum/go_quote.gif ......With a classic Marantz like this you should really get it professionally stripped down and serviced ( a few times a century at least They don't build them like that any more.

I know it’s a long shot, but would you or anyone have a good recommendation on someone to take it to in South Florida


BTW, I’m looking forward to CanJam '08! \0/