Hi all!
I just got a KB100 (made in 1989 according to a time stamp on the amplifier board) in a pretty good shape - at first I thought dirty potentiometers would be all I have to fix... But once I cleaned the pots, I realized that they are not the only problem.
When I start the amp, it's emits a pretty strong (white?) noise and humming can be heard that gets louder once you turn up one of the three inputs. Apart from that, everything else seems to be working. The noise is on the headphone out as well as on the preamp out.
And another question: Is there a replacement for the volume pots on the three inputs? They are made by Alps and cannot be easily opened and cleaned.
Very noisy KB100
Re: Very noisy KB100
They can be cleaned, you don't have to take them apart. They are not sealed. There is usually a gap where the legs come out of the body, there is usually a hole in the rear cover where it is pushed in to ast as a rotation stop. 99% of the time they clean up. Spray some DeOxit into each pot and turn them back and forth a few times.
If one channel is noisy it is likely a noisy op amp in that channel. If ALL channels are noisy, it it more likely an op amp after the channels merge.
The individual channel volumes are part # 71190522, which may be changed to 31190522. That is for the 1988 version.
The 1984 version uses 10k with pull switch. Does your have pull switches? Those are 71190414
If one channel is noisy it is likely a noisy op amp in that channel. If ALL channels are noisy, it it more likely an op amp after the channels merge.
The individual channel volumes are part # 71190522, which may be changed to 31190522. That is for the 1988 version.
The 1984 version uses 10k with pull switch. Does your have pull switches? Those are 71190414
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Re: Very noisy KB100
Thanks a lot! I measured them yesterday and they do have an impedance of 1 megaohm, so they are the newer kind, I guess.
I poured some isopropyl alcohol into them and turned the knobs a few times, that did help a lot.
Now, onto that op amp: The noise is happening an all channels even with the volume turned down on all three channels. Can you give me any hints which parts exactly need to be replaced?
I poured some isopropyl alcohol into them and turned the knobs a few times, that did help a lot.
Now, onto that op amp: The noise is happening an all channels even with the volume turned down on all three channels. Can you give me any hints which parts exactly need to be replaced?
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Re: Very noisy KB100
And another question: Should the unit be quiet if I remove all op amps? Because there's no change at all if I do that.
Re: Very noisy KB100
No, you need to isolate the problem. We don't even know that it is a bad part, could be a dirty shunt contact in the patch jack.
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Re: Very noisy KB100
After cleaning all the pots, I had a partial success Noise and humming are staying at the same level even if the inputs are turned up fully.
But it is still easily audible if the amp is turned on and sometimes there's a plopping sound if the amp is turned off again.
But it is still easily audible if the amp is turned on and sometimes there's a plopping sound if the amp is turned off again.
Re: Very noisy KB100
Noise depends on the used opamps. Assuming a blue stripe one, I am planning on replacing U1 and U2 with an OPA2134 and U4 with an LM4562. The first two are the input opamps and should cater for reasonable noise performance for both low- and high input impedance, the other is for the reverb which is low-impedance.
Also be sure to check out viewtopic.php?f=21&t=54189 for taming the hum level.
Also be sure to check out viewtopic.php?f=21&t=54189 for taming the hum level.