Cheap stereo electronics, What do you think of these models?

[Glenn]

DAMAGED KLH R3100 AM/FM Stereo Audio/Video Receiver
NOTE: POWERS UP THEN SHUTS OF


DAMAGED INSIGNIA IS-HC040918 200w AM/FM STEREO RECEIVER
NOTE: When powered on reciever error and powers off.



There are several of these models on Ebay.
What do you think the chances are that the power supply or the audio
power amp cooked? What would be the chances of buying the power out
amp chip?
These can be bought anywhere between US. $15,00 to $25.00 shipped.

 

[Mark D. Zacharias]

DAMAGED KLH R3100 AM/FM Stereo Audio/Video Receiver
NOTE: POWERS UP THEN SHUTS OF


DAMAGED INSIGNIA IS-HC040918 200w AM/FM STEREO RECEIVER
NOTE: When powered on reciever error and powers off.



There are several of these models on Ebay.
What do you think the chances are that the power supply or the audio
power amp cooked? What would be the chances of buying the power out
amp chip?
These can be bought anywhere between US. $15,00 to $25.00 shipped.

If you aren't an experienced tech, you probably would be wasting your money.
These are most likely chinko-cheapie type surround units, relatively
complicated, but with marginal quality. A service manual is normally
required for any but the most basic service. An output IC, easily
replaceable, is pretty unlikely - these days it's a bit cheaper just to use
transistors. Or it could be a digital amp with some weird unknown output IC.
Or the problem may not be in the amp at all, but some unusual data problem,
or some hidden shipping damage.

Good for a learning experience, but if you're looking for a bargain, maybe
not such a good deal after all.

Mark Z.

 

[Kalman Rubinson]

These can be bought anywhere between US. $15,00 to $25.00 shipped.

And you can buy better, new/factory refurbished, for $90. Why bother?

Kal

 

[JR North]

Prolly flood-damaged stuff from the Katrina debacle. Should be plenty of
that junk on Ebay by now.
At least the seller(s) are honest.
JR

 

[Dr. Anton T. Squeegee]

DAMAGED KLH R3100 AM/FM Stereo Audio/Video Receiver
NOTE: POWERS UP THEN SHUTS OF


DAMAGED INSIGNIA IS-HC040918 200w AM/FM STEREO RECEIVER
NOTE: When powered on reciever error and powers off.

What do I think? I think I'm going to save my pennies for about
another three months, and then go buy a Harmon Kardon AV635. ;-)

Now, with that said... If you're looking for a fixer-upper, I
would look at the KLH before the other one. I've never heard of
'Insignia' as an audio brand.

Happy hunting.


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

 

[jakdedert]

What do I think? I think I'm going to save my pennies for about
another three months, and then go buy a Harmon Kardon AV635. ;-)

Now, with that said... If you're looking for a fixer-upper, I
would look at the KLH before the other one. I've never heard of
'Insignia' as an audio brand.

Happy hunting.

I bought a damaged KLH for $10. It had been physically abused: dents in
the cover and one speaker terminal damaged. The amp works fine, but the
tuner controls sometimes lock up. It puts out around a hundred
watts/channel into 8 ohms and uses chip outputs.

I've seen the exact same receiver branded 'RCA'.

The KLH tag is no guarantee that you're getting anything unique...or good.

jak

 

[Dr. Anton T. Squeegee]

I bought a damaged KLH for $10. It had been physically abused: dents in
the cover and one speaker terminal damaged. The amp works fine, but the
tuner controls sometimes lock up. It puts out around a hundred
watts/channel into 8 ohms and uses chip outputs.

I've seen the exact same receiver branded 'RCA'.

The KLH tag is no guarantee that you're getting anything unique...or good.

No, but if the OP is looking for a fixer-upper they're at least
getting a known quantity that they'd stand SOME chance of finding
service info for.

It puzzles me, though, why anyone would go after the fixer-uppers,
unless they're already an experienced tech that happens to like
repairing such units.

And if they're already experienced, why come here to ask what
brand to get? That's self-evident to someone who already knows their
stuff.

Keep the peace(es).


--
Dr. Anton T. Squeegee, Director, Dutch Surrealist Plumbing Institute.
(Known to some as Bruce Lane, ARS KC7GR,
kyrrin (a/t) bluefeathertech[d=o=t]calm -- www.bluefeathertech.com
"If Salvador Dali had owned a computer, would it have been equipped
with surreal ports?"

 

[jakdedert]

No, but if the OP is looking for a fixer-upper they're at least
getting a known quantity that they'd stand SOME chance of finding
service info for.

It puzzles me, though, why anyone would go after the fixer-uppers,
unless they're already an experienced tech that happens to like
repairing such units.

And if they're already experienced, why come here to ask what
brand to get? That's self-evident to someone who already knows their
stuff.

I'm only semi-experienced. I get a good deal of satisfaction in taking
others' castoffs and using them. In doing so, I get some experience,
some satisfaction, some money (not spent); and keep a good deal of
'stuff' out of the landfills.

I occasionally ask questions here. The OP may be looking for a new
hobby....

jak