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Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:19 am
by Funkydrummer
Particularly Bose. My son in law has a ten year old Bose solo unit which has ceased to work.
Bose won't touch it because it's 10 years old, which I think is ludicrous, but have offered a discount on
a new unit. He's contacted Wilkinson's in Nelson and they won't touch it either.
Does anyone please know of anywhere that might be able to help him out. It's a good unit and sounds well
(well it did) and it seems a shame to just chuck it away.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:22 am
by Jakubclaret
Funkydrummer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:19 am
Particularly Bose. My son in law has a ten year old Bose solo unit which has ceased to work.
Bose won't touch it because it's 10 years old, which I think is ludicrous, but have offered a discount on
a new unit. He's contacted Wilkinson's in Nelson and they won't touch it either.
Does anyone please know of anywhere that might be able to help him out. It's a good unit and sounds well
(well it did) and it seems a shame to just chuck it away.
Is it a Bose wave radio CD, I've got the soundtouch but I've progressed thru all the models? What's the actual problem, not powering up?
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:50 am
by Funkydrummer
Jakubclaret wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:22 am
Is it a Bose wave radio CD, I've got the soundtouch but I've progressed thru all the models? What's the actual problem, not powering up?
Cheers for the reply, yes that's exactly the problem, he says in eager anticipation of a known solution coming his way
Oh sorry, no it's basically a more chunky version of a sound bar, I suppose is the best way to describe it.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:57 am
by Funkydrummer
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:03 am
by snapcrackleandpop
I have one and it does exactly the same, works for a few days then won’t power up, if I unplug it for a few hours it will work. It’s in the loft now can’t bring myself to throw it away.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:14 am
by RMutt
Obvious I know and I am sure he has checked. Internal fuse?
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:17 am
by Zlatan
From the info given it may very well be down to dry solder joints - if it’s broke anyway, then disassembling and using a soldering iron on the power circuit joints may resolve the issue, but do so at your own risk - google is your friend here along with YouTube
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:20 am
by Funkydrummer
RMutt wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 11:14 am
Obvious I know and I am sure he has checked. Internal fuse?
I've had a quick look, checked the power source (ok), took the panel off and checked the live connection
internally at the socket (live) but could not see any internal fuses. I was hoping to see a quick blow fuse
on the outside, and when there wasn't one I checked internally and couldn't see one anywhere.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 1:42 pm
by Jakubclaret
You mentioned in OP about throwing it away, as a last resort I'd list on a auction spares/repairs on eBay somebody with spare parts making a living from fettling will take it.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:08 pm
by Hendrickxz
I think Bose stuff is programmed to self-destruct after so many years. A friend of mine had a Bose soundbar on her telly and it stopped working. She contacted Harry Garlick where it was purchased and they could do nowt about it. For the price of Bose stuff you'd expect a lot more really!
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:35 pm
by Jakubclaret
Hendrickxz wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:08 pm
I think Bose stuff is programmed to self-destruct after so many years. A friend of mine had a Bose soundbar on her telly and it stopped working. She contacted Harry Garlick where it was purchased and they could do nowt about it. For the price of Bose stuff you'd expect a lot more really!
I've had problems with Bose certain products, some of the systems are frustrating, I've never know any other manufacturer having a 2.5 port for a dab external aerial everyone else F connection.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:38 pm
by superdimitri
If it is PCB solder that's the issue there's not going up be a permanent fix. You could try to bake the PCB or reflow it in a reflow station.
This was a common problem with electronics when they moved away from lead solder. Unfortunately lead may be bad for the environment but it got less brittle than the solder mix they use now.
I used to fix my PlayStation 3 with a heat gun by imitating a reflow station and melting the solder a little around the processing unit. Back then both playroom PlayStation 3 and Xbox we're dropping like cherries because of the same issue and anyone that offered repair would only reflow so it was never a proper fix.
You can try the heat gun thing, once I even baked my PS3 PCB in the oven too and it worked for a while longer. If you take it to a proper repair shop where they actually have a reflow station and still do PCB repairs they may be able to get it up and running for you.
Problem may be spare parts or shops not willing to waste the time on it.
Maybe buying another second hand or an alternative second hand would be more viable cost-wise. Bose really aren't all that when it comes to sound quality.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 3:11 pm
by Jakubclaret
Funkydrummer wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:19 am
Particularly Bose. My son in law has a ten year old Bose solo unit which has ceased to work.
Bose won't touch it because it's 10 years old, which I think is ludicrous, but have offered a discount on
a new unit. He's contacted Wilkinson's in Nelson and they won't touch it either.
Does anyone please know of anywhere that might be able to help him out. It's a good unit and sounds well
(well it did) and it seems a shame to just chuck it away.
https://g.co/kgs/knv2ZK
Have you tried him? I've took a few Roberts & sangean stuff to him in past.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:03 pm
by thatdberight
superdimitri wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:38 pm
If it is PCB solder that's the issue there's not going up be a permanent fix. You could try to bake the PCB or reflow it in a reflow station.
This was a common problem with electronics when they moved away from lead solder. Unfortunately lead may be bad for the environment but it got less brittle than the solder mix they use now.
I used to fix my PlayStation 3 with a heat gun by imitating a reflow station and melting the solder a little around the processing unit. Back then both playroom PlayStation 3 and Xbox we're dropping like cherries because of the same issue and anyone that offered repair would only reflow so it was never a proper fix.
You can try the heat gun thing, once I even baked my PS3 PCB in the oven too and it worked for a while longer. If you take it to a proper repair shop where they actually have a reflow station and still do PCB repairs they may be able to get it up and running for you.
Problem may be spare parts or shops not willing to waste the time on it.
Maybe buying another second hand or an alternative second hand would be more viable cost-wise. Bose really aren't all that when it comes to sound quality.
I love people who know stuff about stuff. I don't even understand what you wrote but I'm still dead impressed.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:09 pm
by dushanbe
superdimitri wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 2:38 pm
If it is PCB solder that's the issue there's not going up be a permanent fix. You could try to bake the PCB or reflow it in a reflow station.
Not likely to be the issue with something like this. The old issue with the PS3 was due to it running hot, a Bose sound system doesn’t. I’d suggest that one or more capacitors on the PSU have popped, especially if it powers up for a while and then switches off.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:15 pm
by Jakubclaret
thatdberight wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:03 pm
I love people who know stuff about stuff. I don't even understand what you wrote but I'm still dead impressed.
Well at least give the bloke a like then, & if you don't understand it how do you know it's not a load of old cobblers.
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:32 pm
by thatdberight
Jakubclaret wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:15 pm
Well at least give the bloke a like then, & if you don't understand it how do you know it's not a load of old cobblers.
I know my woofers from my tweeters...
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:27 pm
by HunterST_BFC
This video is worth a watch - a bit long but he knows his stuff.
About on minute 20 it shows the Bose Power Supply chip and how to remove it.
Whole job looks fiddly but doable to someone with skills. Maybe point whoever you get to look at your unit to this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-fEQ-UUNks
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:27 pm
by HunterST_BFC
edit - duplicate post (why does this keep happening?)
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 9:49 pm
by superdimitri
dushanbe wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:09 pm
Not likely to be the issue with something like this. The old issue with the PS3 was due to it running hot, a Bose sound system doesn’t. I’d suggest that one or more capacitors on the PSU have popped, especially if it powers up for a while and then switches off.
Someone mentioned above about similar searches online pointing towards it being exactly like this, that is why I made my post.
I happen to know nothing about this particular sound-system, nor would I have a clue if I inspected it either, but it's really not unusual for audio equipment to run hot, in fact many amplifiers now have to have active cooling because of it.
It takes years for increased temp to take effect. Even if it didn't run
as hot it could have ran hot enough for it to make the solder turn brittle over time. Especially true since the PS3 (or any computer) has heatsinks and active cooling. Probably this BOSE unit has no heat sinks at all, let alone a fan!
Unfortunately we live in a disposable era, perhaps the OP can find a local repair group? Sometimes there are groups with know-how just repairing stuff like this.
It does make you wonder! Make solder more environmentally friendly, but then the appliances don't last as long. Which is really better for the environment?
Re: Sound system repairs
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 10:58 pm
by Funkydrummer
Thank you everybody for all your advice and comments. I will pass it all on in order that
he come to a decision as to what to do.
Cheers