The signals at TP501 appear to be ok.
What does the signal look like at the loadspeaker output, with and without a loudspeaker connected?

 

The signals at TP501 appear to be ok.
What does the signal look like at the loadspeaker output, with and without a loudspeaker connected?

The signal shape, with or without a speaker connected, doesn't change when set to a reasonable volume level. However, when playing actual music, the sound is still far from clean.

I can upload a video or audio clip so you can get a better idea of what it sounds like.

 

No. I don't need to listen to an audio clip.
What does the 1 kHz sine wave look like on the oscilloscope at the speaker output?

 

Sine wave is perfect, sound itself as well, until mid volume
After half position sound is like vibrating or like a drill
While The music even at low level is like a woofer with foam gone
And before you ask, yes. Speakers are good.
Thanks

 

Sine wave is perfect, sound itself as well, until mid volume
After half position sound is like vibrating or like a drill

Show it on the oscilloscope.

 

Here is what it looks like on the scope!

Just to clarify, the distortion isn't a gradual buildup —it behaves more like a binary 0/1 toggle switch
Thank you

 

I wonder how it can be that in such a not very long chain, the shape of the signal basically changes...

Check again the signal with the oscilloscope on the following components:
TP501
L501 on both ends
R555 on both ends
R557 on both ends
L503 on both ends
L551 on both ends
JK501

At which point did the signal go from a perfect sine wave to something messed up?

 

The oscilloscope view is indicating distortion in the negative half of the cycle.
To me, this suggests that Q509 is not receiving enough drive (assuming that Q515 and Q517 are removed from the board).
Two possibilities come to mind.
(1) VR403 needs tweaking
(2) Q509 is wonky.

Where did you buy your replacement transistors? Did you buy them from a reputable distributor?

To test DC balance, remove the sine wave input.
Measure DC voltages at TP501 (+) to GND and TP501 (-) to GND.
The measure between TP501 (+) and TP501 (-).

Also measure both ends of R513 with respect to GND.

 

Looking back at your recent oscilloscope photos, I see that your input is set to AC.
Change this to DC. We need to see the DC offset in your signals.

 

I wonder how it can be that in such a not very long chain, the shape of the signal basically changes...

Check again

At which point did the signal go from a perfect sine wave to something messed up?

Shall I measure as usual

I wonder how it can be that in such a not very long chain, the shape of the signal basically changes...

Check again the signal with the oscilloscope on the following components:
TP501
L501 on both ends
R555 on both ends
R557 on both ends
L503 on both ends
L551 on both ends
JK501

At which point did the signal go from a perfect sine wave to something messed up?

Thanks for reply
Shall I measure with 150mv 1Khz as usual with oscilloscope set to AC?
Between points above and GND.
Thanks

 

The oscilloscope view is indicating distortion in the negative half of the cycle.
To me, this suggests that Q509 is not receiving enough drive (assuming that Q515 and Q517 are removed from the board).
Two possibilities come to mind.
(1) VR403 needs tweaking
(2) Q509 is wonky.

Where did you buy your replacement transistors? Did you buy them from a reputable distributor?

To test DC balance, remove the sine wave input.
Measure DC voltages at TP501 (+) to GND and TP501 (-) to GND.
The measure between TP501 (+) and TP501 (-).

Also measure both ends of R513 with respect to GND.

The transistors came from AliExpress, so I'm really sorry—I definitely didn't mean to waste your time!

I can replace them with a couple of 100% genuine 2SA1301 and 2SC3280 transistors.




I just hadn't installed them yet because they were pulled from another amp and I didn't want to risk damaging them, plus I don't have enough to replace all of them.

Should I repeat all the measurements with the oscilloscope set to DC coupling?

I will start tracing the signal on the live circuit: I'll inject a 1 kHz sine wave into the AUX input and follow the signal chain to pinpoint where it distorts or drops off as done previously in AC mode.
thanks
ALberto

 

Show signals at both ends of R513 and at TP501.
Use DC coupling unless we ask you to use AC coupling.

 

An amplifier that is working well will have a very small DC component, just fractions of a volt, so measure it with an oscilloscope in DC coupling mode.

 

Hi Guys!
I repeated the tests using the AliExpress transistors for now. I won't replace any components until you tell me to do so.

I switched the test speaker to an old Acoustic Research AR12, which seems to produce different readings on the oscilloscope, likely due to a heavier/different load.

Here is the reading at TP501 (positive test point relative to ground) with the speaker OFF:



Same with speaker on:


TP501 - and ground. speaker on:


while TP501 + and -


On R513
Left pin looking from front with speaker on

on right pin :

with speaker off:


Thanks!
have a good weekend!
Alberto