Thank you for the awesome repair video and frequency testing demonstration. I bought my DRA-545R new around 1992 (for a whole lot more than $10 - LOL) and still use it with my Infinity SM-122 speakers. It is an amazing combination with awesome sound - firm bass with crisp highs and no distortion that I can perceive at volume levels that don't cause hearing loss. That is, when I can get it to turn on. When I press the power button, the main relay works (tested for continuity) and I measured 122V AC going into the transformer. The front panel sometimes starts to flicker on, but it goes dark before the main power relay makes it's click... except in the 1 out of 50 to 100 times that it actually stays on, and then it works perfectly until my electricity goes out again. Since the latest power outage I can't get it to stay on at all. I just bought a DRA-545R on ebay today for $100. Even at 10x the price you paid for yours, I am addicted to this model and consider it worth the money. I hope it is not rude to ask, but if anyone thinks the cause of my problem is obvious, I'd love to hear an opinion. I would not be disappointed to have a 2nd working DRA-545R in my basement!
Nice repair and great job removing that sticker from the unit. I love seeing stuff like this saved and restored! I have a Denon DRA-325R that a friend gave me around 6 tears ago. It lived its life in an exec's office where he only listened to AM news radio.. through a rather expensive set of speakers I might add. So it's had an easy life. My particular unit works and sounds as new. No scratchy controls, relay is totally fine, tuner works well and the sound quality is quite good. The late 80s to early 2000s were great years for Denon. I am using mine in my office.. My computer is connected to an external DAC that then goes to the v.aux input on the Denon. It's also paired up with a Denon CD player and also a Denon cassette deck, all of which works with the receiver's remote. Quite a happy accident!
Loudness compensates for the ear's loss of sensitivity to bass at low volume levels. A variable loudness allows you to compensate for speaker efficiency to get the proper loudness level based on the volume setting. As you know, loudness compensation is weaker the higher the volume setting is. Properly functioning loudness only is applied to low volume and not when you turn it up.
I have this unit in my garage bench system. Running 2 channel. The tuner is great and the flatness is a nice touch. I have had many units through, but held onto this one. Picked it up for $20. It was going into protection. I scraped off some crappy hard yellow glue on the circuit board and have been using it for about 6 years now. Bass EQ is a bit much for my ears.
Come to flavor country! Nothing like a nice coating of nicotine glaze. Even when you hose it down, it will take years for the skank scent of nicopiss to wear off. I imagine the previous owners all sat around watching episodes of Trailer Park Boys or listening to Garth Brooks blowing smoke rings through the front of that thing while puffs of cancer wafted out the top grille!
Hi thanks for the video I used to sell Denon products and I have a color brochure for the models of that year which was 1992 if you like I can send you a copy of that brochure or just that one model with the specs. I still have a price list for that year the dra 545 had a US retail of $350. As for the wattage it was rated at 60 watts for Channel 8 ohms 20 to 20. If you would like through email or regular mail. How about then the the higher-end model dra835 unfortunately was struck by lightning years ago but I still have it hoping to get it fixed someday.
I just can't bring home smoky, stinky electronics anymore. No matter what you do, you can never fully get rid of the smell. The only Goodwill stores left in Canada are right here in London, but they don't put out the decent electronics anymore. Now they auction them online and make a killing.
I hear you. Cleaning them does make them more tolerable, especially if it sounds good! Here in the Edmonton area we have lots of stores but they are regularly cruised buy a couple of people that buy the good stuff and try to flip them on Kijiji or Facebook for profit. The deals are getting harder to find
I sill own the same Denon receiver (DRA 545r from the 1990s) and still use it to stream music from my smartphone to the (KEF) speakers vus Logitech’s Bluetooth audio adapter. Sound is still phenomenal, but I now have an issue: the sound from the left speaker is no longer coming out fully (the right speaker is unaffected). When I fiddle with (or press on) the balance button, the sounds returns to the left speaker. When I no longer touch the button, it tones down again. Any suggestion as to how I can fix this issue? Thanks in advance !
I don't get hung up on brands of caps. I buy the best capacitor I can find for a specific application.. At a minimum they are rated at least 5000hr @ 105c, mostly better than that
Great video, I just picked up one of these and it seems to work, I had actually got it for the transformer and it was a great price for that, but I may simply clean it up as it seems like a nice older audio amp. Mine was $19 at a thrift store. I really enjoyed your repair of the relay, I've never seen that done before and I'm really glad I got to see that. I'll try to be more careful when I pop mine out. Thanks again!
Trevor, thanks so much for this excellent video. Exactly what I needed to disassemble my DRA 335R to give the pots a good cleaning.
Thank you for the awesome repair video and frequency testing demonstration.
I bought my DRA-545R new around 1992 (for a whole lot more than $10 - LOL) and still use it with my Infinity SM-122 speakers. It is an amazing combination with awesome sound - firm bass with crisp highs and no distortion that I can perceive at volume levels that don't cause hearing loss. That is, when I can get it to turn on. When I press the power button, the main relay works (tested for continuity) and I measured 122V AC going into the transformer. The front panel sometimes starts to flicker on, but it goes dark before the main power relay makes it's click... except in the 1 out of 50 to 100 times that it actually stays on, and then it works perfectly until my electricity goes out again. Since the latest power outage I can't get it to stay on at all. I just bought a DRA-545R on ebay today for $100. Even at 10x the price you paid for yours, I am addicted to this model and consider it worth the money.
I hope it is not rude to ask, but if anyone thinks the cause of my problem is obvious, I'd love to hear an opinion. I would not be disappointed to have a 2nd working DRA-545R in my basement!
Excellent amp. Superb sound. This era of Denon sound fantastic
Nice repair and great job removing that sticker from the unit. I love seeing stuff like this saved and restored!
I have a Denon DRA-325R that a friend gave me around 6 tears ago. It lived its life in an exec's office where he only listened to AM news radio.. through a rather expensive set of speakers I might add. So it's had an easy life. My particular unit works and sounds as new. No scratchy controls, relay is totally fine, tuner works well and the sound quality is quite good. The late 80s to early 2000s were great years for Denon. I am using mine in my office.. My computer is connected to an external DAC that then goes to the v.aux input on the Denon. It's also paired up with a Denon CD player and also a Denon cassette deck, all of which works with the receiver's remote. Quite a happy accident!
I'll be watching this in full very soon. Always great content and it's a joy to watch you work. Thanks a bunch for sharing!
Loudness compensates for the ear's loss of sensitivity to bass at low volume levels. A variable loudness allows you to compensate for speaker efficiency to get the proper loudness level based on the volume setting. As you know, loudness compensation is weaker the higher the volume setting is. Properly functioning loudness only is applied to low volume and not when you turn it up.
Had mine since 92. It blows I mean blows multi channel avrs Away with double the power. Get your hands on one if want great stereo.
I also own one such receiver and I am completely satisfied with it, thanks for another great video.
Excellent value amp! Thanks so much for the relay tutorial. All the best.
I have this unit in my garage bench system. Running 2 channel. The tuner is great and the flatness is a nice touch. I have had many units through, but held onto this one. Picked it up for $20. It was going into protection. I scraped off some crappy hard yellow glue on the circuit board and have been using it for about 6 years now. Bass EQ is a bit much for my ears.
Thank you great video, enjoy the repair done to the relay.
Thanks
Nice, hope it gives ya years of enjoyment. Thank you for the video. God bless.
Thank you Steve
Would love to see some of denons better receivers like 4311 or 5308 something along that line
I have one of these and was very happy with it until the FM tuner stopped working one day.....
The board you think?
Come to flavor country! Nothing like a nice coating of nicotine glaze. Even when you hose it down, it will take years for the skank scent of nicopiss to wear off. I imagine the previous owners all sat around watching episodes of Trailer Park Boys or listening to Garth Brooks blowing smoke rings through the front of that thing while puffs of cancer wafted out the top grille!
Hi thanks for the video I used to sell Denon products and I have a color brochure for the models of that year which was 1992 if you like I can send you a copy of that brochure or just that one model with the specs. I still have a price list for that year the dra 545 had a US retail of $350. As for the wattage it was rated at 60 watts for Channel 8 ohms 20 to 20. If you would like through email or regular mail. How about then the the higher-end model dra835 unfortunately was struck by lightning years ago but I still have it hoping to get it fixed someday.
I just can't bring home smoky, stinky electronics anymore. No matter what you do, you can never fully get rid of the smell. The only Goodwill stores left in Canada are right here in London, but they don't put out the decent electronics anymore. Now they auction them online and make a killing.
I hear you. Cleaning them does make them more tolerable, especially if it sounds good! Here in the Edmonton area we have lots of stores but they are regularly cruised buy a couple of people that buy the good stuff and try to flip them on Kijiji or Facebook for profit. The deals are getting harder to find
I sill own the same Denon receiver (DRA 545r from the 1990s) and still use it to stream music from my smartphone to the (KEF) speakers vus Logitech’s Bluetooth audio adapter. Sound is still phenomenal, but I now have an issue: the sound from the left speaker is no longer coming out fully (the right speaker is unaffected). When I fiddle with (or press on) the balance button, the sounds returns to the left speaker. When I no longer touch the button, it tones down again. Any suggestion as to how I can fix this issue? Thanks in advance !
What caps did you end up using for this one? (Did you say once that you use a variety of brands?) I’ve been liking Pana FC’s
I don't get hung up on brands of caps. I buy the best capacitor I can find for a specific application..
At a minimum they are rated at least 5000hr @ 105c, mostly better than that
I have same receiver but tuner doesn't work,any ideas?
This amplifier appears to look at LOT like a Nakamichi design to me. Perhaps one is a clone of the other?
Great video, I just picked up one of these and it seems to work, I had actually got it for the transformer and it was a great price for that, but I may simply clean it up as it seems like a nice older audio amp. Mine was $19 at a thrift store. I really enjoyed your repair of the relay, I've never seen that done before and I'm really glad I got to see that. I'll try to be more careful when I pop mine out. Thanks again!