I just had this same problem, minus the overheating and discoloration in the cap. But that fuse blew when I swapped out preamps and the driver tubes would not light. Thanks for posting this. Saved me a few hundred bucks at the shop I’d bet.
Purists would probably replace the tubes in pairs (L&R channel). Note: I didn't see you clean the "arcing" marks from inside the fuse clips, not that it would have made a difference. Great repair job !
An article I found said that thing sold for $2795 back in 2002-3. Wow! They also made a "Special Edition" that had some Sovtek EL34 output tubes for people with discerning ears. That one was $2995. Bigger Wow!
That thing was running exceedingly hot. Even the fuse holder was so hot over time that the holders metal fatigued from heat to such a point that it lost a fair amount of it's spring tension and created even greater heat stress on itself. Thus the arcing. I have a mv60se it uses 6550 power tubes it does get hot. The tubes in mv60 are el34 ,pretty sure. That unit in the video could have benefited from a fan or a really good open air spot when being driven hard.
I have to say this amp looks far older than it actually is this model is from the mid to late 2000’s. Not only that it would be a crime to put this in a landfill. This is one of the finest audio amps I ever listened to. I was a CJ dealer and used to own one of these. It’s an amazingly detailed nuanced and powerful amp for it’s price and power on the right speakers. The imaging and soundstage on it is incredible. This thing had such a good input stage I was able to run it without a preamp with a DAC that just had volume attenuation. Please tell your customer to use matched tubes in it. I was shocked he didn’t replace the 12AX7 with a mirror replacement. Also with how they voice these amps a brighter sounding tube like an SED or Sovtek would be best in it. Maybe even some tubes like Shuguang Treasures or PSVane.
I am the owner of this great amp. I usually have Winged C 6550s, Sovteks 6sn7s and Telefunkens 12ax7s in it. I also have a Conrad Johnson preamp. They are a great match for my Vandersteen speakers. Steve did a great job.
@@quaner60 CJ preamps are the best I have heard add one in any system and it blows open the sound stage and adds so much tangibility to the sound plus musicality. Yes teléfunken, SED =c= tubes are by far the best in their gear. I am glad it plays well on vandersteens, surprised by the pairing, but not surprised it sounds good. I can tell you CJ told me they used Wilson audio to pair with their equipment, so brighter speakers tend to synergies really well with them, the best I paired with this amp were amphions.
@@zacharydoering313 I'm not a fan of "bright" sounding stuff at all hence a vinyl guy. I have a Merrill Heirloom turntable and hope to listen to all my 7,000 plus records one day. The Vandersteens have enough detail for me that I can listen for hours without fatigue.
@@quaner60 I am no fan of etched or bright sounding gear, and I love vinyl a lot, but we are talking about not overly bright, but approaching neutrality if you take gear that is slightly brighter than neutral and combine it with stuff like Conrad Johnson which is neutral but has some romantic warmth it’s a great combo. One evens out the other. So you get lots of musicality, but also lots of realism and transparency. It’s the closest thing to true neutrality I can think of.
Iv'e got quite few of those NOS 12 series tubes in stock.... Lot's of tube type guitar amps down here ........My friends dad was a tech also, and I have access to a couple hundred styli for the older record players.....VCR Heads ETC ETC ...
Well, just wondering if that capacitor is going to hold up given the stress it seemed to display.. I was always told those paper caps etc should be replaced just due to the age and manufacturing process I'm not sure of the age of the unit, but, again it's just my opinion. Nice work Steve.
Valve 2 is toast !...................vacuum leaked ! Build quality and service friendly are below standard with CJ ! They sound good but working on these is a pain in the A......... Leave repairs to a good technician if you don't know tube technology !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just had this same problem, minus the overheating and discoloration in the cap. But that fuse blew when I swapped out preamps and the driver tubes would not light. Thanks for posting this. Saved me a few hundred bucks at the shop I’d bet.
These are highly underrated amps and preamps.
Purists would probably replace the tubes in pairs (L&R channel). Note: I didn't see you clean the "arcing" marks from inside the fuse clips, not that it would have made a difference. Great repair job !
An article I found said that thing sold for $2795 back in 2002-3. Wow! They also made a "Special Edition" that had some Sovtek EL34 output tubes for people with discerning ears. That one was $2995. Bigger Wow!
tubes are fascinating - great fix! 👌
i prefer tube equipment cant stand the modern chinese made crap thats made today
That thing was running exceedingly hot. Even the fuse holder was so hot over time that the holders metal fatigued from heat to such a point that it lost a fair amount of it's spring tension and created even greater heat stress on itself. Thus the arcing.
I have a mv60se it uses 6550 power tubes it does get hot.
The tubes in mv60 are el34 ,pretty sure.
That unit in the video could have benefited from a fan or a really good open air spot when being driven hard.
The "coating" is getter compound that absorbs impurities over time. See Mr. Carlson's Lab on RUclips. He is a genius.
very cool amp and repair,neat bias adjust feature!
I have to say this amp looks far older than it actually is this model is from the mid to late 2000’s. Not only that it would be a crime to put this in a landfill. This is one of the finest audio amps I ever listened to. I was a CJ dealer and used to own one of these. It’s an amazingly detailed nuanced and powerful amp for it’s price and power on the right speakers. The imaging and soundstage on it is incredible. This thing had such a good input stage I was able to run it without a preamp with a DAC that just had volume attenuation. Please tell your customer to use matched tubes in it. I was shocked he didn’t replace the 12AX7 with a mirror replacement. Also with how they voice these amps a brighter sounding tube like an SED or Sovtek would be best in it. Maybe even some tubes like Shuguang Treasures or PSVane.
I am the owner of this great amp. I usually have Winged C 6550s, Sovteks 6sn7s and Telefunkens 12ax7s in it. I also have a Conrad Johnson preamp. They are a great match for my Vandersteen speakers. Steve did a great job.
@@quaner60 CJ preamps are the best I have heard add one in any system and it blows open the sound stage and adds so much tangibility to the sound plus musicality. Yes teléfunken, SED =c= tubes are by far the best in their gear. I am glad it plays well on vandersteens, surprised by the pairing, but not surprised it sounds good. I can tell you CJ told me they used Wilson audio to pair with their equipment, so brighter speakers tend to synergies really well with them, the best I paired with this amp were amphions.
@@zacharydoering313 I'm not a fan of "bright" sounding stuff at all hence a vinyl guy. I have a Merrill Heirloom turntable and hope to listen to all my 7,000 plus records one day. The Vandersteens have enough detail for me that I can listen for hours without fatigue.
@@quaner60 I am no fan of etched or bright sounding gear, and I love vinyl a lot, but we are talking about not overly bright, but approaching neutrality if you take gear that is slightly brighter than neutral and combine it with stuff like Conrad Johnson which is neutral but has some romantic warmth it’s a great combo. One evens out the other. So you get lots of musicality, but also lots of realism and transparency. It’s the closest thing to true neutrality I can think of.
5:12 Doesn't that solder joint above the fuse holder look cracked too?
Iv'e got quite few of those NOS 12 series tubes in stock.... Lot's of tube type guitar amps down here ........My friends dad was a tech also, and I have access to a couple hundred styli for the older record players.....VCR Heads ETC ETC ...
amazing
NICE JOB
Thanks!
Thank you I Really appreciate it.
how does this compare to the Conrad Johnson Premier 11 A or
Conrad Johnson Premier 140❓
Well, just wondering if that capacitor is going to hold up given the stress it seemed to display..
I was always told those paper caps etc should be replaced just due to the age and manufacturing process
I'm not sure of the age of the unit, but, again it's just my opinion.
Nice work Steve.
Conrad Johnson should have stuck to NASCAR.🤣
Have same unit .. also sound issues. Ive just emailed you. Will definitely PayPal you if you respond.
wooooooooo
Power tube 6L6cg?
They are 6550s
Valve 2 is toast !...................vacuum leaked !
Build quality and service friendly are below standard with CJ !
They sound good but working on these is a pain in the A.........
Leave repairs to a good technician if you don't know tube technology !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do know tube technology as I have been repairing tube units since the early 80's. Usually the getter becomes white if air is introduced to the tube.
v2 Dead