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Thoughts on helping me trouble shoot a wido's syst

Hello all,

I have been helping a local widow try to get her deceased husband's system back up and running again. She is fairly local, but not just around the corner. Victor Khomenko of BAT put us together through a distress call on AA.

System is Quad ESL 63 speakers driven by Threshold S300 amp, CJ PV6 preamp, with several sources. The first visit I found a blown rail fuse in each channel of the Threshold amp. I replaced them and the rig was up and running again. However, I noted some static occasionally during playback, and recommended a tube change for the CJ preamp. I am not sure whether it was preamp tubes or the Quad speakers that were the cause of the static though, as I am unfamiliar with Quad speakers. They did sound very good aside from the static though.

Anyway, I am still waiting for the new tubes to come in when she e-mails me that the system went down again. I suspect the rail fuses blew again,as I noted from the paperwork that her late husband left behind that it looks like the rail fuses are an ongoing issue.

My question is this, for those more knowledgeable than myself (Al, hint, hint). I have heard that Quads present a difficult load, and that she is driving them through 40 foot runs of smaller gauge speaker cable from across the room. Now I do not know for sure if she has blown rail fuses again, but I suspect that she has. If she has blown rail fuses again, would you suspect that the long speaker cable runs could be the issue, or possibly she is not using proper sequencing when turning on/off her system? I'm thinking she may be turning her amp on first, and the CJ may have leaking coupling caps that may be leaking DC, so when she turns the preamp on after the amp is already on, she is blowing the fuses.

She says she is using proper sequencing, amp last thing on, first off, but when pressed about the importance, she cannot be totally certain of the order.

Anyway, bottom line, there could be many issues here, as far as I know. Quads may need service, long cable runs may be the issue, as might leaking caps from the CJ. Is there anyway to test the caps? What do you folks think the main cause would be?

I do plan on going back to replace the tubes when they come in, and will not be surprised to find more blown rail fuses when I do. I am pretty busy, and can't afford to go running over to her house on a regular basis, but I want to help as much as I can. Is there anyway to test the output of the CJ for leaky caps for DC with a DMM? How about anyway to check the Quads? I have very little experience trouble shooting electrostatic speakers.

Thanks all for your feedback.

Cheers,
John
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Showing 3 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2 OP
6,346 posts
 
Thanks for the replies so far. To answer some questions, by smaller gauge I'm guessing 16 gauge or maybe 14 gauge tops. I also agree that this system is too much work for this woman. I did try to suggest moving to something simpler last time there, because working on this system is very difficult, and yes, the gear is older and has high maintenance history. She doesn't seem interested in changing anything, as when this system plays it brings back many memories of good times she had with her late husband.

I do not have time or energy to take all of her components and ship them out for proper repair/inspection. She doesn't seem inclined to pay for expensive repairs either. Bottom line is that I got dragged into a bad situation. I was told that there was probably just something unplugged or a switch turned off, but it has turned out to be much more than that. I ordered the tubes for her, and when they arrive I will go over again and replace the tubes and check the fuses. I will suggest that she have her system professionally looked at, but I have no recommendation for her.

It's a bad situation. He left her with a high maintenance system that she desperately wants to use but does not have any idea how to maintain. She is a nice woman, and I don't want to hang her out to dry, but I can't donate the rest of my life to maintaining her audio system, it has too many needs.

Perhaps someone else in the Southeastern part of Pennsylvania with more knowledge, time, and money than I have can be of assistance to her.

Maybe I will suggest that she just leave her system on all the time, since it seems that most of her issues flare up when turning the system on and off. Thanks again, sorry for just thinking out loud here.

So far the variety of responses are what I expected and feared. Some think preamp, some amp, some speakers. Thanks anyway fellas.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2 OP
6,346 posts
 
Thank you for the tip Al, I will talk to her about lengthening the time between power up/down, even when using proper sequencing. I still think she would be better off leaving the system on 24/7, and I will address that subject too, though I'm sure she probably won't want to do that.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2 OP
6,346 posts
 
Well I stopped by today and put in a fresh set of tubes. No dice, no change. The volume level is still very low and distorted. My first visit there was no sound at all, when I changed the blown rail fuses in each channel of the amp the sound came on as normal. It sounded pretty good aside from some occasional static.

Now I'm guessing after sitting dormant for over 5 years, that little bit of excitement was just too much for some of the capacitors, and they gave up the ghost. At this point I do not know if it is the preamp, amp or speakers that are at fault, and I do not have the time or energy to continue to fight her battle for her. Her son doesn't seem to care.

She asked me if I could sell the gear for her, she said she would split the profits 50/50. I have never sold questionable gear before though, I would not even know where to start. How do you sell something if you do not know if it works or not? I was thinking of calling a couple of local dealers, who may or may not be interested. I told her that she may get very little money, if anything at all for the gear.

I don't really want any money, but I don't want to waste any more of my time on her audio system either. My life is hectic enough as it is right now. I just want this to end.

Cheers,
John
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