16-12-2011, 11:18 PM
Just a quick tip here.....
If anyone is lucky enough to own a MkI Quad 606 power amplifier, then like me, they may experience an increase in mains hum over a longish period of time. The problem is mechanical hum (NOT electrical hum from the speakers!).
The MkI amplifiers used a C-core transformer and in mine over the years, the 'join' in the core had become a gap because the wire strap clamp was no longer capable of keeping the two halves tightly together. I could make the noise reduce by squeezing the halves together, but this transformer runs hot in use, making the problem worse after 30 minutes or so.
The MkII version was fitted with a toroidal transformer and I decided to retrofit this if possible. The guys at Quad really are helpful, and were honest about the pricing policy.
Now here is the bottom line -
It was cheaper to return the 606 for a full service which included upgrading the power supply to the MkII version and also replacing the associated electrolytic capacitors than it would have been to buy a replacement transformer and fit it myself.
How refreshing that this company remains honest with it's customers and is still able to offer a service for equipment that is approaching 30 years of age. Fantastic!
If anyone is lucky enough to own a MkI Quad 606 power amplifier, then like me, they may experience an increase in mains hum over a longish period of time. The problem is mechanical hum (NOT electrical hum from the speakers!).
The MkI amplifiers used a C-core transformer and in mine over the years, the 'join' in the core had become a gap because the wire strap clamp was no longer capable of keeping the two halves tightly together. I could make the noise reduce by squeezing the halves together, but this transformer runs hot in use, making the problem worse after 30 minutes or so.
The MkII version was fitted with a toroidal transformer and I decided to retrofit this if possible. The guys at Quad really are helpful, and were honest about the pricing policy.
Now here is the bottom line -
It was cheaper to return the 606 for a full service which included upgrading the power supply to the MkII version and also replacing the associated electrolytic capacitors than it would have been to buy a replacement transformer and fit it myself.
How refreshing that this company remains honest with it's customers and is still able to offer a service for equipment that is approaching 30 years of age. Fantastic!
