Squeezebox 3 common faults over time?

[mgraves]

I now have five SB3s, one of which was a recent purchase (used) from Ebay. This new (well, to me...) unit powered up fine but appears to have the same issue was one of my older units. The analog output of one channel is extremely low. I suspect that this is a simple matter of a bad capacitor. Perhaps even something that I could repair myself.

Is this something that is known to be a common fault over time? Are there any notes on what to replace if I should wish to do the repair?

I could just add an external DAC and forget about the problem, but that seems like a messy and potentially costly solution.

Thanks,
Michael Graves

[Recoveryone]

I have 2 working still and never had an issue with the analog output channels. Now I will say its been years since I used the analog outputs as I use Toslink now days for my connection, the SB3's I replace with Touches use analog now days.

[mgraves]

Oddly enough, I had one Touch. It was the very first SB to die on me. Of the SB3's (Classics if you prefer) I have one that has the original silver front & Slim Devices branding, and four Logitech models.

The fault is the same on two of them. Loss of level or complete loss of one analog output.

[usbethjim]

You are not alone! I also have a Slim Devices SB3 that has a diminished analog channel. I went with a little optical to analog converter to hang on to the unit. Haven't gone back to the repair idea...

Here are a few links:

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...one-very-quiet

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...-right-channel

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...most-no-volume

Good luck - let us (or at least me) know how it turns out - I might be ready to try a repair?!?!

Jim

[Mnyb]

Yeah the failing capacitor in one channel .

Wifi card that breaks can make the player to reboot .

Failing psu ,can also make it reboot , failing PSU connector .

VFD displays that gets washed out .

The ir led in the remote can get loose .

You also have an odd bunch of software faults that a xilink reset fixes .
It can also forgets it's Mac adress ,so that you have to look at the sticker at the bottom and re-enter it again .

[ralphy]

I've often wondered if using the mono IR emitter in the headphone jack on the SB3 could be the cause of the left channel failure.

Having used IR blaster on one of my SB3s for several years. A few months ago I tried the analog outs only to discover it had developed the left channel volume drop issue.

I have two other SB3s purchased at the same time and the analog outs are fine having never used the emitter with them.

I ordered new caps, but have not yet replaced them as I'm concerned they will just fail again if I continue to use the IR emitter.

Can anyone corroborate or refute my suspicions?

[usbethjim]

I've often wondered if using the mono IR emitter in the headphone jack on the SB3 could be the cause of the left channel failure.

Having used IR blaster on one of my SB3s for several years. A few months ago I tried the analog outs only to discover it had developed the left channel volume drop issue.

I have two other SB3s purchased at the same time and the analog outs are fine having never used the emitter with them.

I ordered new caps, but have not yet replaced them as I'm concerned they will just fail again if I continue to use the IR emitter.

Can anyone corroborate or refute my suspicions?

My SlimDevices SB3 has never had anything attached to it except RCA cable on the analog outs. Yet it has the left channel failure.

So I think your IR emitter theory is not a reality....

Any chance you might detail your repair (photos/words/diagrams) for the rest of us?

Thanks
Jim

[ralphy]

My SlimDevices SB3 has never had anything attached to it except RCA cable on the analog outs. Yet it has the left channel failure.

So I think your IR emitter theory is not a reality....

Any chance you might detail your repair (photos/words/diagrams) for the rest of us?

Thanks
Jim

Thanks Jim for debunking my theory.

I now at least have some incentive to make the repair.

At the moment I'm only using digital out on that SB3.

When/if I make the repair I will take some pics and notes.

I've attached the pdf of the schematic for the SB2 DAC that Sean Adams links to in one of the threads you listed which is no longer active.
It's the same for the SB3 except the silk screen component names are different.

[slartibartfast]

I now have five SB3s, one of which was a recent purchase (used) from Ebay. This new (well, to me...) unit powered up fine but appears to have the same issue was one of my older units. The analog output of one channel is extremely low. I suspect that this is a simple matter of a bad capacitor. Perhaps even something that I could repair myself.

Is this something that is known to be a common fault over time? Are there any notes on what to replace if I should wish to do the repair?

I could just add an external DAC and forget about the problem, but that seems like a messy and potentially costly solution.

Thanks,
Michael Graves

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...p=633195<br />

This post says that the polarity of the output capacitors could be incorrect so check that if you replace them.

[ralphy]

When/if I make the repair I will take some pics and notes.

Well, I finally replaced the C16 and C20 capacitors in my original slimdevices sb3, back when you could by them without the wireless card.

I used aluminum electrolytic 10uF 16V caps, purchased from digikey.

P/N USA1C100MDD-ND NICHICON CAP ALUM 10UF 16V 20% RADIAL

If I had not already ordered the caps, I would have ordered these non-polarity ones.

Opening the sb3 is quite easy, you just need a Torx 10 (T10) screwdriver.

http://lowtek.ca/roo/2011/squeezebox-classic-repair/

Remove the 2 x T10 screws from the back and then remove the front face plate.

With the face plate removed, unscrew the 4 x T10 screws from the front and slide out the "guts". It's one piece.

I cut the capacitor leads down close to the size of the original surface mount caps.




I attached the new caps with the same polarity as the original.

I opened a 3 year newer logitech sb3 to see if logitech had switched the polarity of the caps, but they have not. They were the same as in my original sb3. If they fail again.....I'll try them the other way.

Before.



Original capactors removed.



New ones installed.



All back together now and both the analog out and headphone jack are working great!