Biasing is the term given to the adjustment of the output devices.  Many people believe that only valve amps are biased, this is a bit of a myth.  To understand biasing we need to understand that to make a full wave we need drivers for the plus part of the […]

Heat can cause a big problem in amplifiers, power supplies and in fact all electronic devices. Heat can be caused by and cause drift on tolerances, component behaviour and complete failure as well as sound difference on solid state amplifiers. We now use thermal imaging to show us component temperatures […]

Servicing helps prevent breakdowns by ensuring everything is working within its limits.   Regularly checking of valve biasing can avoid an amp being continually overloaded and stressing the amp out.  This resistor had burned and blew as a result of the valves going short and damaging.  The remaining valve was […]

Capacitors can dry out and fail due to age, and heat.   Capacitors can dry out over time, however can progressively age quicker due to heat.  In Electrolytic capacitors the electrolyte is a liquid and can boil and expand under stress, either heat, drying or excessive voltage.  The picture shows […]