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To open most amplifiers, look for screws holding the cover to the chassis.
Once the chassis is open, look for obvious damage such as loose or burned wires.
Besides fuses accessed from the back of the cabinet, many amplifiers include one or more internal fuses.
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An amplifier is an electronic device that magnifies and controls audio signal sources from a built-in AM-FM receiver as well as an external CD player, tape player, or other audio home-entertainment device. The output signal is fed to audio speakers.
Amplifiers are made up of many of the same components as other appliances, so fixing basic things is similar. For example, cords may not consistently deliver electricity, switches and controllers can cause problems, and fuses may need to be replaced. Frequently, what the amplifier needs most is a good cleaning.
The first step in fixing internal parts in an amplifier is to open it up. Most have a two-piece housing—top-front and bottom-back.
Disassemble an amplifier:
- Make sure that the electrical cord is unplugged from the wall receptacle.
- Remove screws on the side, back, or bottom to separate the cover from the chassis.
- Slide the two halves apart to expose the internal components mounted on the chassis (lower frame).
- Inspect the internal end of the electrical cord for looseness or damage caused by being pulled (a common problem) and replace as needed following the directions in testing electrical cords.
- If there is no power, but the cord works, look for an internal fuse. Test the fuse and replace as needed.
- Use a can of compressed air to carefully blow away dust that is attracted to electronic components. If excessive, use a vacuum cleaner with a plastic tip (so delicate parts won't receive static electricity) to clean the inside of the unit.
- Use electrical contact cleaner to clean the input jacks and speaker terminals. If one of the input jacks is disconnected from the wires, either reconnect or resolder it.
If none of these measures solves the problem, seek professional help. Modern audio equipment is built using delicate components that cannot be repaired; instead, they are replaced. Your audio professional will know which ones to replace, where to get them, and how to do the job.
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