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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: orb85750 on March 09, 2010, 07:25:17 PM

Title: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: orb85750 on March 09, 2010, 07:25:17 PM
One channel is extremely loud and distorted.  Any idea what the problem could be?  Would rather not have to get a whole new/used motherboard unless that's the best option and/or one is available at a very reasonable price. Thanks.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: Super TWiT on March 09, 2010, 08:14:30 PM
I had a buzzing problem with my amiga 500, and it turned out to be the the outlet I had my amiga plugged into. Once I changed outlets the buzzing went away. Try changing outlets. Also, make sure all the chips and components are properly seated.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 09, 2010, 08:22:37 PM
Capacitors maybe?

Boards for 600s pop up in the UK for under $20 occasionally.


...that's not the 600 you got from me, is it?
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: orb85750 on March 09, 2010, 10:57:11 PM
Quote from: tone007;546886
Capacitors maybe?

Boards for 600s pop up in the UK for under $20 occasionally.


...that's not the 600 you got from me, is it?


(Thanks for asking.  Nope, this is a machine that I bought
off eBay at the same time.  Seller had never hooked up
audio to test it.)
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: amigaksi on March 09, 2010, 11:09:51 PM
Quote from: Super TWiT;546884
I had a buzzing problem with my amiga 500, and it turned out to be the the outlet I had my amiga plugged into. Once I changed outlets the buzzing went away. Try changing outlets. Also, make sure all the chips and components are properly seated.


Yeah, I had that buzzing sound on Amiga 1000 but it only happens sometimes.  Seem like some grounding issue.  When properly grounded, there's no buzz.  That third wire on the 3-prong plug was the culprit in my case.  If I used that undefined or vaguely defined third wire on the AC plug, I sometimes got that buzz sound.  I don't feel like ripping up my walls in my house to find out where that third wire is going.

Capacitors?  There's some myths to that as well.  I have read that electrolytic capacitors last only 3 years, but my Amiga 600 has been running for more than 15 years.  Someone needs to rewrite some of the crap flying around on the internet or make it more precise.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 09, 2010, 11:14:42 PM
Capacitors do fail occasionally, amigaksi.

If you don't understand that, take a few more electronics classes.

orb85750: if it doesn't get fixed, I've got a lightly molested PAL board I could send your way for cheap (after I test it, of course.)
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: Damion on March 09, 2010, 11:25:22 PM
Quality electrolytic caps obviously last much longer than 3 years. I'm not an expert and can't say what factors contribute to the leaky SMD caps after 15 years or so (poor quality? assembly temperature? age?), but it's a common fault on the A600/A1200/A4000... I and many others have replaced a bunch.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: amigaksi on March 10, 2010, 02:16:24 AM
Quote from: tone007;546918
Capacitors do fail occasionally, amigaksi.

If you don't understand that, take a few more electronics classes.


I didn't say they never fail.  There's "some" myths out there regarding them especially regarding their life-span.  All material things have a limited life-span and capacitors aren't eternal.  If you don't understand that, take a few more physics classes and/or philosophy classes.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: Castellen on March 10, 2010, 04:57:38 AM
Quote from: orb85750;546878
One channel is extremely loud and distorted.  Any idea what the problem could be?

As mentioned already, leaking capacitors are the most probable cause.  I've written an article (http://amiga.serveftp.net/audio_repair.html) on the subject if you want to know more.

If you prefer the repair option, I can repair these faults for you; estimate for all parts, labour and international return freight is US$90.  Contact me (http://amiga.serveftp.net) for more info.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: countzero on March 10, 2010, 06:09:15 AM
Quote from: orb85750;546878
Would rather not have to get a whole new/used motherboard unless that's the best option and/or one is available at a very reasonable price. Thanks.

just to make things straight, there are no 'new' Amiga motherboards anymore, any mobo you'll get will be 15 years old, and will have the equal chance of failing just like the board you have.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: orb85750 on March 11, 2010, 12:38:52 AM
Thanks, everyone, for your insight and suggestions.  -Dave
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 11, 2010, 01:33:07 AM
Quote from: amigaksi;546948
myths out there regarding them especially regarding their life-span.  All material things have a limited life-span and capacitors aren't eternal


..some of them don't even last 4 years, no myth!
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 11, 2010, 01:46:09 AM
Quote from: amigaksi;546948
There's "some" myths out there regarding them especially regarding their life-span.  All material things have a limited life-span and capacitors aren't eternal.


Some of them don't even last 4 years, no myth!  ...and you need a grammar course as well.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: klx300r on March 11, 2010, 02:02:30 AM
yep time to replace the caps!...had to do mine in my 1200 a few years ago too...my advice is once you start you might as well replace all the caps on the board because trust me..they all go bad eventually
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: amigaksi on March 11, 2010, 02:34:39 PM
Quote from: tone007;547109
Some of them don't even last 4 years, no myth!  ...and you need a grammar course as well.


*You* need a grammar lesson before you take your other lessons.  All of my amigas never had their capacitors replaced (more than 15+ years).  There's crap out there stating they last 3 years which is wrong.  That's all I said.  You want to impose something upon me that I never stated-- that's a straw-man argument.  I have evidence in front of my eyes of various Amiga 600/1200/4000s.

If you had understood what I stated and just said "some can die within 4 years" that would be good.  But no, you have to go with your personal attacks.  Some capacitors last a few days as well.  Duh!
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 11, 2010, 04:29:22 PM
Well then, where exactly is the "myth" you're talking about?

n00blet.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 11, 2010, 04:43:46 PM
You've provided me much laughter, amigaksi, thank you.  Keep it up, and the funny ribbon-cable arts and crafts too.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: Tenacious on March 11, 2010, 05:12:20 PM
It's hard to watch good ppl who have seemed so rational and generous over the years go for each others throats.

This is the second knock-down in as many days.  Why is everyone so sensitive?
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: amigaksi on March 11, 2010, 05:41:16 PM
Quote from: Tenacious;547209
It's hard to watch good ppl who have seemed so rational and generous over the years go for each others throats.

This is the second knock-down in as many days.  Why is everyone so sensitive?


He's mocking things he cannot understand and is completely inept at even describing.  Let people determine for themselves rather than take some fool's advice like he is showing himself to be.  One thing you learn if you follow rationalistic thought is don't attack things you know nothing about.  It's a waste of time to even reply to such stupidity.  I can bet all my money he has NO COMPREHENSION of how my cables work nor the software behind it.

Back to the topic, there's no reason to replace capacitiors just because a few years have expired just as much as you would avoid surgery if it's unnecessary.
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: tone007 on March 11, 2010, 05:56:45 PM
Those cables actually do something? Far out!
Title: Re: Amiga 600 audio problem
Post by: amigaksi on March 11, 2010, 06:34:07 PM
Quote from: orb85750;547100
Thanks, everyone, for your insight and suggestions.  -Dave


Hope you get it working soon.