Harman Kardon Citation 16 Power Amplifier. Vintage Stereo Repair Restoration Testing. Old School HK

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 16 дек 2024

Комментарии • 112

  • @kjartanklein3243
    @kjartanklein3243 2 года назад +3

    I love seeing the old equipment get the love and respect it deserves. When my old Citation 21/22 amplifier set failed, I just bought a cheap h/k amplifier. the old stuff lay in the closet for fourteen years until I got it restored by a professional. Oh boy, it was worth every penny. Thank god that there are still people who can repair vintage equipment. Keep up the god work.

  • @robertwoodworth9463
    @robertwoodworth9463 3 года назад +1

    I’ll try it again , great video . My 1st venture into high end was back in 1978 , I bought a citation 16 amp, apt Holman preamp, DQ 10 speakers . Had a nice kenwood turntable, mc 20 cartridge and step up transformer, then added a citation 19 amp , an advent surround decoder ( don’t remember the model ) and large advert speakers for the surround. You could adjust the delay from 1 - 100 milliseconds. Those were the days! Got married, you know the rest. I bought a used citation 16 amp & 17 preamp, had them slightly upgraded, been in my closet for the last 15 yrs. I’d have to say the 16 & 19 were two of the best sounding amps out there especially for the money. Again great video, brought back some good memories.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  3 года назад +2

      Thanks for watching and sharing your story. For most of us this equipment does bring back great memories.

  • @phonebackup8132
    @phonebackup8132 2 года назад +1

    I got one of these out of a junk pile at a music store that was going out of business, it had no bottom cover and the power switch was broken off. I was going to gut it for the power transformers but I decided to trouble shoot it for fun, ran down the outputs and found nothing wrong so I took a screwdriver and flicked the broken switch on and it powered up, then hooked it up and it played just fine. I work for an Industrial electronics company so I looked through the Mallory catalog for power supply caps and found some that had very low ESR and massive ripple current rating ( they were ment for giant industrial flash units). Redid the caps and rebuilt the low voltage power supply. Hooked it back up and man those main power supply caps woke it up. Ran it hard and the current now available put the heat to the outputs. So I made a fan shroud and temp switch to keep it cool. Gave it a cosign burst test and it did it cleanly at over 1700 watts! This is a very nice sounding amp and has huge dynamics.
    It's a keeper.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  2 года назад

      Thanks for sharing. So much of this old audio gear can live on with a little attention. Good Job!

  • @BobJohnson-xo7hr
    @BobJohnson-xo7hr 4 года назад +1

    I have 2 of these, both since 78.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Nice! Congrats on having them this long. I have some equipment still from my youth myself.

  • @TheDecguy
    @TheDecguy 4 года назад +1

    I had one of these years ago that I got for free. Only one channel was working and I didn’t have the skills at the time to fix it. Parts availability was an issue back then, pre internet days. It seemed like the RCA outputs were not to be found anywhere in the known or unknown universe at the time. So I used it in my recording studio for a while with the working channel driving a sub. Eventually I gave it away when I shut down the studio. I wish I had kept it since with what I’ve learned over the years I’m sure I could get it up and running.
    Speaking of HK and biasing I’m currently heating up a pepperoni pizza on top of a HK 460i receiver. I think it needs a little something when I get to it. In the meantime it’s on the retired list.
    Thanks for the write up on the old HK 16. I really did like those beasts.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Your welcome and thank you for sharing your story. Harman Kardon made a lot of really good audio gear back in the day.

  • @neilstern7108
    @neilstern7108 2 года назад

    Got my avr 65 H K 100 bucks with cd player. Had it about ten years now never had a problem. I'd love to have it rebuilt cuz it really may need it. Thanks for sharing.

  • @AsianFlew
    @AsianFlew 4 года назад

    Most components of that era, whether low or high end, seem to be better built than components today. Nice video!

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Yes, they were. I wonder how many modern electronic devices will still be operating in 50 years? I'm guessing very few. Thanks for watching!

    • @PhuckHue2
      @PhuckHue2 4 года назад

      Not the electrolytic capacitors. The technology is far advanced than it was back then

  • @poormanselectronicsbench2021
    @poormanselectronicsbench2021 Год назад +3

    People tend to freak out about how hot the heat sinks get while idling on Citation 16's, BUT, if if you read a through description of the operation of the amp from the Sixteen A service manual, pages 5 and 6, the bias is set so, it operates under Class A well above where most amps are set, in order to lower crossover distortion.
    The service manual states that the heat sinks, at idle, may be up to 60 degrees C, Sustained 1/3 power usage may rise the heat sinks to 80C, and full output may go up to 75C, thermal protection switches on the heat sinks will open the AC line power to each respective heat sinks power transformer @ 90C. You just need to give it the ventilation it needs to cool itself properly.

  • @wakjob961
    @wakjob961 4 года назад +1

    Love my old '76 H/K 430 twin receiver.
    Warm & punchy!

  • @StewartMarkley
    @StewartMarkley 4 года назад +1

    Really nice video on a really nice amp. The sticker on the back with the engineer's names is great. I had a Bose 1801 amp back in those days that weighed 82 pounds, the power transformer alone weighed 41 pounds! A nice amp with great metering. Then I built the Dynaco Stereo 400 amp which was also very nice but without any metering. Had it for many years.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thank you! Thanks also for sharing your experiences with your equipment. Nice gear!

  • @AudioElectronicsChicago
    @AudioElectronicsChicago 4 года назад +2

    *The classic Citation 16* 😍

  • @zacharymartinez3710
    @zacharymartinez3710 3 года назад

    I love the video. I have 2 citation 16 amps. After watching your video I am going to investigate who in my area could rebuild mine.

  • @glenncurry3041
    @glenncurry3041 3 года назад +3

    Great amp! One of the best ever. However I remember the issue with LED display, yes one of the first, you could hear the stepped trigger points for eaach LED when it would fire. It could even be seen if you expand a sinewave enough on a scope. A slight glitch in the slope as each voltage level tripped.

  • @gordiefrench5342
    @gordiefrench5342 4 года назад +2

    Love this amp
    I have 2 of these from a used online store and they are probucts from my youth so they are very much loved and cared for
    Fantastic amp with any mode of playback
    Thank you for this mention of a great amp

  • @Aleziss
    @Aleziss 4 года назад

    I used to run a single citation 16 on four 15 inches (stereo 4 ohms) for my mobile dj setup 25+ years ago, I have beaten that amplifier and it never failed. I had an engineer in my area where I got it from he had installed a distortion detector in the amplifier that limited the input when distortion was detected, it worked really well and sounded great, lots of good memories and fun when I think of all of that gear !!!

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thanks for sharing. Like you a lot of good memories surround my vintage audio equipment.

  • @jojofex
    @jojofex 3 года назад +1

    Good instructions for the repair works that might be due soon.

  • @aegisofhonor
    @aegisofhonor 3 года назад +1

    I've never listened through a Citation 16, I have listened through a citation 19, I think they shrank it down for the 19; still sounded great. Later they'd make the Citation XX which was one of the best amps of the early 1980s.

  • @ducvinhto7363
    @ducvinhto7363 4 года назад

    I had the same piece of equipment as you had, it provides me atone of powers whenever I need it and so far no any problem all.

  • @aljack9924
    @aljack9924 2 года назад

    Thank you this was so helpful! I truly appreciate this video I need to fix one of the front lights it blinks.

  • @mikecampbell5856
    @mikecampbell5856 4 года назад

    Even properly functioning Harman Kardon amps run hot. I had my PM 650 in a cabinet with a glass door it would be almost too hot to touch. I worked on copiers for over 39 years and when a machine was junked I would often take the little 2 wire fans out. They usually run on 12 volts DC. I have a bunch of old AC to DC adapters laying around from old electronics, and I wire up a 3 or 6 volt adapter to the 12 volt fan and it will run slow and quiet. I plug it into a switched AC output on the amp and it works great.

  • @prestige2000rider
    @prestige2000rider 4 года назад

    I installed 8 of those in a big Venue for permanent house sound plus I owned one of the last ones ever made. (all black with the relay protection and discreet driver boards) Superb unit in the h/k tradition. Sadly it was stolen right from my living room and we never found another one of that production run and condition. I would grab another one instantly , if i could find the same version and fully refurbished. but the chances are slim.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад +1

      Thanks for sharing and watching! Sorry that she was stolen.

  • @harrisfogel6992
    @harrisfogel6992 7 месяцев назад +1

    Thanks!

  • @maxpower78-15
    @maxpower78-15 2 года назад +1

    Fantastic video.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  2 года назад

      Thank you very much!

    • @maxpower78-15
      @maxpower78-15 2 года назад

      @@vintageaudioaddict so i checked a local audio store near me like i do every couple weeks just to see any new inventory. Late last night i found citation 16 for sale. Great shape. Test bench, cleaned up, good price. I went right to your channel and watched this video again. Bought it today and hooked it up. I had a modest kenwood kn 992 150 wpc amp powering my front speakers in my home theater. It was good. I replaced it with the harmon kardon, and there is no comparison. Same watts on paper. But the citation is sooo much better. Thanks so much for your videos. May not have realized what a steal this amp was without you.

    • @maxpower78-15
      @maxpower78-15 2 года назад

      @@vintageaudioaddict now two channel sounds good in that system. Cant wait to test it out more after nascar and dinner. Cheers

  • @glennrechnitzer8704
    @glennrechnitzer8704 Год назад

    I worked for HK when these were being built and had one we employees could buy them at 1/2 price.
    Should have never sold it to a friend who still has it.
    One of the tests was to have it at full power and short the outputs never bothered it at all.
    All units were run at 1/3 power for 24 hours most power dissipation on the transistors is at 1/3 power.
    Loved working there but pay was not so great.

  • @jked7463
    @jked7463 4 года назад

    Great video. Have always appreciated harman kardon. I had a pm655. Was a very good amp.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thanks for watching! Yes, they made some outstanding gear. Your PM655 was a very nice integrated amplifier.

  • @wintech1969
    @wintech1969 17 дней назад

    Very nice video. I've recently come across a model b version that has supposedly been completely recapped.
    My question is... what are your recommendations regarding a pre amp?

  • @bubbleone6526
    @bubbleone6526 3 года назад

    I wish I could find someone close to work on mine. The place I use here has rebuilt a HK Citation 2 (which I own) but not sure if they want to rebuild this one. Have you seen the price they go for now. $800.00 is about the usual going price for a working 16. I might need your parts list if I can get them to rebuild. Oh I have friends with Mc’s and they always say mine sounds better. Great video.

  • @waynebarto3540
    @waynebarto3540 4 года назад

    I have a Harman Kardon 930 receiver that I bought brand new in 1971. Have you ever worked on one or made a video of restoring one? Love vintage and love your work!

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thank you so much for your kind words. Wow, congrats on having your 930 for 50 years! The 930 is a fine receiver. No, I haven't worked on one but I'd love to have one in my collection.

    • @waynebarto3540
      @waynebarto3540 3 года назад

      @@vintageaudioaddict Wanna work on one? I'll ship it to you..

  • @ryanwideman6985
    @ryanwideman6985 3 года назад

    Very nice video sir. I have a 16S and I need to replace the neon lamps. Could you please tell me what you used?

  • @joshtree7118
    @joshtree7118 4 года назад

    Awesome review, I have one I bought new in 1970, would you mind doing a follow up with detail on bias adjustments, I have the service manual, but I'd love to see how you did it, I have one channel that I can't get the bias to calibrate, so I'm going to replace the variable potentiometers with the multi turn ones like you used. I'd also love it if you could show your method of checking the output transistors. I've replaced 2 of the large filter caps as one had gone shorted on that channel. I've also replaced all the electrolytic caps and the relay as I thought that that may have been why I was having issues with one channel initially. Thanks again for your review of the HK Cit 16, I've loved that baby since I bought it, it's driven Carver Amazing Loudspeakers, the originals with the 5 ft ribbon and 4 12" drivers, also the Ess AMT1 A's which I purchased at the same time as the Cit 16. And now it drives Acoustat 1 + 1's beautifully, very inefficient and low impedance, but the HK Cit 16 never complains.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thank you for the kind words. Yes, first replace those variable resistors with muti-turn one's. I think that will make your adjustments much easier. The original variable resistors VR1 and VR2 can get really intermittent and cause a lot of flakey problems. If you can't get the bias correct after that then you would need to investigate further.

    • @joshtree7118
      @joshtree7118 4 года назад

      @@vintageaudioaddict Thanks, I've ordered the Variable Resistors and will hopefully rejuvenate the old girl. Thank you for giving me the push to get her up and running again.

  • @saiprasad8078
    @saiprasad8078 4 года назад

    The dancing LEDs are indicative of input signal strength or output power ?

  • @mikeharman519
    @mikeharman519 3 года назад

    Hi I have a citatation 11 and 12. Have Klipsch forte 1's and OLA i have an opportunity to pick up a nice 16 for $700....But I am tempted to try our the Reisong A12 tube amp for less money. My speakers are real efficient so dont really need the extra power the 12 drives them with ease...what are you thoughts of either goingh tubes, or upgrading from 12 to 16

  • @pauliescustoms2557
    @pauliescustoms2557 4 года назад

    I have a 16 as well, but does not have the l.e.d. display. Solid black face. I run it in concert with a Citation 11 e.q. and a pair of Soundcratsmen PCR800's.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Sweet! Great Gear!

    • @chef223399
      @chef223399 5 месяцев назад

      Hey Paulie! I have the solid black version as well (a gift from a friend). I'm assuming this version with the LEDs is the same inside, but I have no real idea. Do you (or anyone else) know what the difference is (if any)?
      Thanks in advance!

  • @23x31
    @23x31 4 года назад +7

    I opened the case on a vintage amp and immediately died via electrocution.
    Should have taken his advice, although Heaven is pretty cool and I can still watch RUclips.

  • @fortunatosanchez9811
    @fortunatosanchez9811 2 года назад

    I see this is a yr old video. Hopefully you see this message. I have same identical amp. Bought it $100 work perfect. But I would like to restore it cosmetically and have it gone through performance wise. Used it for about a yr. Now It's sitting underneath my pool table. Can you help?

  • @johnnytoobad7785
    @johnnytoobad7785 4 года назад

    I love that retro VU-LED display. When you get it running..you should play "Burning Down the House" by Talking Heads. Dumb idea to use 70's vintage op-amps in the front end of a power amp. No wonder they revised it. As for re-seating the power transistors...de-soldering and re-soldering the power transistors can (and does) damage the original components. (unless they are plug-in)

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Thanks for your comments. These power transistors were plug-in as most were from this era. I've unsoldered many also with no issues but with any task you have to make your own decisions.

    • @StewartMarkley
      @StewartMarkley 4 года назад

      why do you think that desoldering/soldering the transistors damages them?

    • @johnnytoobad7785
      @johnnytoobad7785 4 года назад

      @@StewartMarkley Without using a pro-desoldering tool and heat sink clamps you can easily heat stress these old parts. They may work for while but every time you heat a vintage semiconductor with a soldering tool you shorten its remaining life. It's the heating/cooling cycles over the years that does it.

  • @bobgauthier1569
    @bobgauthier1569 9 месяцев назад

    I’m thinking about buying one the owner said this. Left channel works fine, but right channel is intermittent. I believe it might be something to do with the power button. $290. I have a good tech should I pull the trigger

    • @chef223399
      @chef223399 5 месяцев назад

      hey Bob - did you get it?

  • @robertwoodworth9463
    @robertwoodworth9463 3 года назад

    Great

  • @Dutchamp
    @Dutchamp 3 года назад

    Hi VAA
    Nice video, and comments
    I can get my hands on a HK citation 16.but one channel is fried. So I'll guess the end transistors are done.
    Are they still available and are they expensive? I count 10x per channel.
    If available and not end of the world costs, I can purchase it, replacing all caps and like you mentioned those variable resistors into nice bournse blue ones.
    I bet this amp runs any speaker, even electrostatic ones.

  • @gime3steps
    @gime3steps 4 года назад

    VR1 AND VR2 are those multi-turn pots? Nice work, sweet amp!

  • @DavidBerquist334
    @DavidBerquist334 4 года назад

    I noticed many cd players cassette decks tuners do not have ac primary line fuse in them so i put one in i have many videos putting it in is it a good idea i put disclaimer on those videos consult with a authorized service center before doing do you think its a good idea

    • @jackheinemann8780
      @jackheinemann8780 3 года назад

      there's not really any point in doing that. your observation of CD players, cassette decks and tuners not having fuses is spot on, those types of devices draw such little current a you would be lucky to find a fuse small enough to pop before the transformer fries itself. note how small the transformer is in those devices, compared with something like a power amp, source devices are known as high impedance circuits, they require next to no energy to work

    • @DavidBerquist334
      @DavidBerquist334 3 года назад

      @@jackheinemann8780 but if power supply shorts like diode or power cap goes it can burn transformer and possibly start a fire if cord melts and shorts I think

    • @jackheinemann8780
      @jackheinemann8780 3 года назад

      @@DavidBerquist334 hmm, yes that would certaintly be a concern with an amplifier, which is why they are fused. But the transformer in source devices is only capable of delivering a handful of watts from the wall. This is my thought process, it may be wrong, if there is a short on the secondary side, that is essentially being seen as an infinite load by the primary, and infinite load = short at your wall outlet, that will trip your breaker before you anything happens, well before a fuse would blow. Im not going to be loosing any sleep over the fact there arnt fuses in my cd player.

  • @therealkrystal_k
    @therealkrystal_k 4 года назад

    Hello. My dad wants to get in touch with you to get you to look at some equipment. Do you do that?

    • @wakjob961
      @wakjob961 4 года назад +1

      He's said in previous videos that he will not take on any work, it's his hobby.

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад +1

      Thanks for asking but as Wak Job said It's not my profession just a hobby.

  • @milesdufourny4813
    @milesdufourny4813 4 года назад +2

    It must of thought it was a "Flame" Linear aka Phase Linear.

  • @moodyga40
    @moodyga40 4 года назад

    this is how i rebuild vintage electronics i use 25 turn pots

  • @dh-_1011
    @dh-_1011 4 года назад

    I know it made sense to change the VR2, but could a guy exercise it to try and get it to work? Possibly spray some deox-it in there? Ya know, just to get it to work for testing reasons or whatever?

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Sure, you could try to exercise the variable resistors but you should replace them at any sign of trouble like I had.

  • @axxxxman
    @axxxxman 4 года назад

    ???Made in Norway??? do you have any amps made there?

  • @DavidBerquist334
    @DavidBerquist334 4 года назад +1

    Where i work they collect e waste saw units like this i asked if i could have it they said no it has to go to vendor they shred them

    • @TrevorsBench
      @TrevorsBench 4 года назад +1

      Tragic. These are collectable and should not be destroyed.
      I hate e-waste collection

  • @rubemlimacampos587
    @rubemlimacampos587 4 года назад

    Qual potência de saída?

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  4 года назад

      Rated 150W per channel into 8ohms but is much stronger then that.

  • @moodyga40
    @moodyga40 4 года назад

    you have to innovative and be able to work at component level to fix the old gear

  • @j.t.cooper2963
    @j.t.cooper2963 4 года назад

    👍🏻😎

  • @Radfordperson
    @Radfordperson 3 года назад

    Quad 303 uses RCA output transistors

    • @vintageaudioaddict
      @vintageaudioaddict  3 года назад

      Thanks for the info.

    • @Radfordperson
      @Radfordperson 3 года назад

      @@vintageaudioaddict Actually RCA 38494 hometaxial transistor, a bit difficult to obtain these days.

  • @billd9667
    @billd9667 4 года назад

    The Citation 19 was 90% as good. I owned one. It could power a 2 Ohm load

  • @feedbackelectronics
    @feedbackelectronics 2 года назад

    ♥️💘💝👍💝💘♥️

  • @Roof_Pizza
    @Roof_Pizza 3 года назад

    Any amp with handles piques my interest.

  • @darthbubba866
    @darthbubba866 4 года назад

    Are you sure this wasn't a Tesla amp?

  • @AeroSS87
    @AeroSS87 11 месяцев назад

    Chris Wallace? Is that you?

  • @BrokebackBob
    @BrokebackBob 4 года назад

    All 80s Harmon-Kardon amps ran incredibly hot with insufficient heatsinking. The integrated amps and the power amps and the receivers. Bad design. Even a 35 watt/channel integrated amp with NO bias adjust. Overheating can damage lots of other components and cause failure or premature failure. I have always built my own with Heathkit and that equipment is still working fine today.

    • @ufarkingicehole
      @ufarkingicehole 4 года назад +1

      I have several and all going strong

    • @poormanselectronicsbench2021
      @poormanselectronicsbench2021 Год назад +1

      It's designed to run Class A at a higher wattage than most amps, and it is expected to have heat sink temps up to 60C when idling, the info is in the 16A service manual, which can be found online, pages 5 and 26