Tascam service & repairs

[studiodrum]

Hey guys, . . Got a quick question. I called the Tascam service center at the Montebello office, and asked they what it would cost to service an MH-40 headphone amp, and bring it up to spec. (cause its been sounding a little weak, lately, and one of the volume pots are intermittent). . .

So, they told me that they couldn't give me an estimate on the phone, and that I would have to send it in to determine the trouble (which I understand-- sounds reasonable) and that they charge 40. bucks to determine what the cost would be,..However, if I choose to get it repaired -- that the 40. charge would be waived. . .Anyway, sorry top make a short story long. . .I was just wondering, if anyone had an idea, what those techs at Tascam usually charge for something like that-- I realize that its hard to tell without knowing what's wrong with the unit,..But, I was just curious what I might expect, if it was just a simple cleaning,..and replacing a few worn parts.

[The Ghost of FM]

Factory bench rates to the public are usually around the $75 an hour mark plus parts so with a couple of hours of shop time and a few parts, you could easily be looking 200 bucks with the tax all together.

What problem are you having with the unit?

Answer; (cause its been sounding a little weak, lately, and one of the volume pots are intermittent). . .

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If its just an intermittent pot, that can easily be cleaned with a contact cleaner spray like Caig Laboratories Deox-it which sells for about 13 bucks for a can.

The issues of it sounding weak don't make a lot of sense to me in that solid state amps, like the ones used in that unit either work or don't work. They rarely just weaken or fade away.

Have you considered its possibly a headphone issue or possible hearing loss?

[The Ghost of FM]

It could also be a feed level issue in that if you send the unit a weaker signal, it has less to work with and amplify.

Check your levels and sensitivity specs of your headphones. The problem may lay there and not in the MH-40.

Cheers!

[studiodrum]

That's a little more than I wanted to spend. . . Thanks for the insight 'Ghost'. . . Well, you might be right! I might have the thing hooked up properly,..I have the MH-40 hooked up to my 424mkII. Its hooked up via the LINE OUT jacks, . .

The unit just doesn't have the same sound clarity, or fidelity as the headphone jacks in the 424. . . maybe I'm not adjusting the pots correctly. . .? What knobs on the 424 might I try adjusting that would effect the LINE OUT jacks?

Also, the guy who sold me the unit, said that he sprayed the knobs with some sort of contact cleaner, . .But, maybe I should buy the stuff from Craig Labs, and do it myself, . . they are kind scratchy,...and one or two the actual 1/4" phone jacks (where the headsets plug into) might be loose.

Thanks, Ray 'Studio'

[studiodrum]

. . .how I might start to troubleshoot this unit. What controls should I try and adjust on the 424's MONITOR OUT plugs, that might improve the quality of the sound mix to the headphone amp, or atleast maybe improve ?

Thanks

[The Ghost of FM]

What controls should I try and adjust on the 424's MONITOR OUT plugs, that might improve the quality of the sound mix to the headphone amp

Looking at the owner's manual I have on the 424 Mk II, there is only really the monitor out volume control that will be the last gain stage before the output jacks that are feeding to your headphone amp so, ensure that the level of that control is at the one o'clock position for unity gain.

When setting your individual track volumes on the mixer, ensure that they are set for healthy levels too because they feed the monitor out section.

It's all like a chain and each link is responsible for feeding the next one after it so if one primary level is weak or low, all the ones that follow it will be low too. It's all a matter of "gain staging"; keeping things healthy, level wise, at all points and you should experience less issues like you have described.

Cheers!

[studiodrum]

, . .as always, . I appreciate the help.