[NJARC] "Brand New" 1970 caps

[oldradio at comcast.net]

Steve,

If you want the joy of building and enjoying your treasure - Do it!

Forget the so-called unbuilt value and comparing it to new sets - enjoy it for what it is!

Every kit I built gave me lots of satisfaction of accomplishment.

I built a few tube Heathkits starting in 1955 and Eico test equipment back then.  Great fun.  When computers came along in 1976 I built a 22 slot IMSAI and still have it. It's like my child, as is my 1965-66 Heathkit SB-101 transceiver.  I'll never sell them.  My last big kit was my (computer-radio-related) "Station Control II" I use with my vintage Collins Station.

So as you can figure out by now, my vote is to build it.

Take lots of pictures along the way.

73, John

----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Klase" <ark at ar88.net>
To: "NJARC" <njarc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 8, 2016 2:10:17 PM
Subject: Re: [NJARC] "Brand New" 1970 caps

Just remember
Reply = Poster
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Hello Steve, 

Yes, I think replacing the electrolytics would be a good move. Old rosin-core solder should work just fine. 

Now, some other things to consider: 

The unbuilt kit is likely worth 5 times what the finished product would bring. 

If you really want to be THE GUY who has the pleasure of assembling such a hi-tech unit, GO FOR IT! 

If you want to sit and enjoy listening to it, FORGET IT, and sell the thing on Ebay. Transistor amplifiers of that era sound terrible. This isn't audiophool claptrap. The are sound technical reasons for this. Read up on Transient Intermodulation Distortion (TIM). 

As an owner of a Dynaco Stereo 120 and a Sansui 5000 back in the day, both highly touted but solid state, I'd make the unbuilt kit into money, and buy something with tubes in it. 

My two cents, 
Al 
Al Klase – N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/ 
On 3/8/2016 7:04 AM, Stephen Cafiero wrote: 



Radio experts, 
I am about to build a brand new, out of the box, 1970 Heathkit AR-29 stereo receiver. I have not even unpacked it yet. The plan is to check all resistors and change any that are out of tolerance, and replace all of the electrolytic caps. I have an ESR meter, and did consider just replacing the bad ones, but I have read that the worst thing you can do to electrolytic is not use them. 
Also, does rosin core solder go bad after decades of storage? Anything else I should be aware of? 
I appreciate any and all opinions. 
Steve Cafiero 





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