Amiga 600 audio problem

[orb85750]

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.

[Super TWiT]

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.

[tone007]

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?

[orb85750]

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.)

[amigaksi]

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.

[tone007]

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.)

[Damion]

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.

[amigaksi]

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.

[Castellen]

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 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 for more info.

[countzero]

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.

[orb85750]

Thanks, everyone, for your insight and suggestions.  -Dave

[tone007]

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!

[tone007]

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.

[klx300r]

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

[amigaksi]

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!