APHEX 2020 REPAIR... HELP?

[boogieman]

Hi all,

I have a community station's Aphex 2020 in need of repair. Aphex have not as yet responded to any queries (I suspect they won't, I've never got an email back from them ever, quite dissapointing given that I've used and recommended many of their products for some time)

The fault is this: Band 4 in the right channel is absent from the output. Left Channel works perfectly fine.

If the crossover point is raised for Bands 3/4, high frequency response is improved slightly routed via band 3 output, but still all frequencies above the higher xover point are still absent in the right channel.

I've tested via AES and the same occurs, effectively this is an analog unit with Digital I/O's.

Does anyone have experience repairing these units - or has anyone experienced a similar fault and might be able to offer some advice or direction?

Thanks, any help appreciated.

 

[RadioMan203]

First off, give them a call - they were always quite helpful to me. You didn't mention what version it it - I currently have a MK I and last year I sold my MK III. I just don't see spending 1K+ to upgrade the unit when I could invest that into a newer and probably better processor.

Depending on if you have the book or not, some manuals have the schematics and diagrams in general. You may be able to localize it to a particular card and then replaced the affected chip(s) if you're lucky. Otherwise you might end up sending it back to Aphex if you don't have the resources available to troubleshoot or repair it.

You should be able to swap positions of like modules and when the symptom moves to the opposite channel you'll know what board it is.

 

[Sgeirk]

I have never, EVER, had a problem getting through to Aphex. This is the second time on here, I've seen this. Are you just e-mailing or are you calling. Ask for Wayne, as I vaguely recall.

 

[boogieman]

Thanks guys, The unit is a MK I. I don't have the manual, but I have downloaded the online manual complete with schematics from the Aphex website. I've already done a fairly reasonable hunt for dry joints, re-seated all chips. The only two swappable boards I can see are the bass/limiter boards for each channel, everything else is specific to it's slot, indicated by the printing on the motherboard below each card.

So far I've emailed Aphex twice regarding this unit in the last couple of years and never received a reply - the first contact was a simple question regarding remote control. This time round I received a return receipt on the email - and then received a 'recipient deleted your email before reading it' message just minutes later. I guess they just don't want/need to support an 11 year old unit. It's hard to call (I'm in Australia) but perhaps I might try calling them instead - I'd even buy a board if that will be cheaper than sending it over for repair and back again.

 

[Sgeirk]

Pick up THE PHONE. Simple.

 

[boogieman]

[EDIT]
, i'm on the other side of the planet - they went to the trouble to publicise tech support via email on their website, so i'll try that first rather then get up at 3am for a piece of 11yr old kit that is not critical to the station's contingency, then i might try the phone second if i think it's worth the trouble - right? it's freakin 2008 in case you hadn't noticed

thanks bill.

[EDIT-namecalling]

 

[RadioMan203]

Unfortunately there are pluses and minuses to Aphex. I ran into the same issue with email support, which is why I suggested a phone call (not being aware of your location). It's too bad they aren't more responsive by email. This may be one of the reasons I'm hesitant in wanting to drop $1100 to upgrade my unit to a MK III.

The plus side was I was running a MKIII on my former oldies webstream and Wayne spent almost an hour on the phone with my tweaking the sound of the processor. While it sounded pretty darn good by the time we were done it was simply blown away when I put the Optimod 6200 in its place. I don't know how well the station you're working for is set for funding but unless it's a simple fix you can figure out with socketed IC swaps it just might make more sense to pick up some sort of alternative.

 

[ddybas]

Recently I repaired a 15 yr old, 24 channel recording console. It had a missing channel on one of it's output buss-es, the problem turned out to be a bad coupling capacitor. The capacitor was an electrolytic and it was obvious by it's popped out black rubber at one end.

I'm not saying that this is the problem with your Aphex 2020 but maybe a good look around the cards may reveal a similar problem. After 11 years it's probably a good idea to replace all the electrolytic caps on the cards, they're at the end of their life cycle.

You'll spend about a hundred dollars but that a cheap price to pay for re-furbishing the unit.

Dr. Dave

 

[Sgeirk]

An e-mail does not ever take the place of a face-to-face conversation or picking up the phone. It may be 2008, but common sense still rules.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Sometimes it takes being the squeeky wheel to get some help. Email is pretty forgetable ya know.

 

[Aphex Systems]

Hello Boogieman and all

I apologize for the problems you have had in reaching us via email. I have checked my inbox and spam filter/box and while I don't know your real name or email address I did search under 2020 and I did not find anything like this.

You and anybody else is free to email me directly [email protected]

With that being said some things can easily be answered in an email and some do require a dialog on the phone. From your description it sounds like the crossover board in your unit has a problem. It could be anything from a capacitor to an IC. The schematic for that unit is in the owners manual. If you are not the original owner of the unit and don't have the owners manual, I can send you the schematic or I can also issue you an RMA number to send the unit aback to us for repair.

Thank you,

Wayne LaFarr
Product Specialist/Artist Relations
11068 Randall Street
Sun Valley, CA. 91352

(818)767-2929 PHONE
(818)767-2641 FAX

[email protected]
www.aphex.com