Hello,

I just won a HS-PX1000 on eBay and received it today. I replaced the belt tonight and got the player working. What's strange is the spectrum display doesn't work. When you change from flat to rock, jazz or pop, the display shows the change, scrolls the words across the screen and shows the EQ, but no spectral display. The battery level doesn't show with the LEDs on the left either. Finally, the display button doesn't seem to do anything.

This player came only with the AAA battery box. There is no remote or headphones and I'm wondering if the spectral display works only with the remote connected. I know that's probably a stretch, but it's just bizarre how the display would work when changing sound modes, but not otherwise.

Could you please confirm that I'm right or wrong about this?

Here's a few photos showing the unit disassembled along with closeups of those pesky areas you must desolder to access the mechanism. If you work on Aiwa units like this you must be extremely careful with the two solenoid pins. Heat the pins as you pull the board up or you will possibly pull the pin out of the solenoid and break the 40 AWG wire connected to it. And believe me, these are not fun to strip and resolder. I learned this the hard way on another unit.

Thanks,

Cameron

Okay, I feel lame now

Right after I posted this, I found the switch inside the cassette door to turn the display on and off for power save. I'm now thinking maybe there are some bad caps in the unit because the output is rather weak and the spectral display rarely goes over 50% for any frequency.

The display button still seems to do nothing and the battery indicators don't light up.

Thanks,

Cameron

I wonder if that was the PX1000 that I saw with a BIN on eBay by the infamous seller Mediterrano?

I did think about buying the PX1000 that I saw, but as tempting as it was and having seen so many examples of duff JX707s I thought best to keep the money instead, especially given the reputation of the seller.

I agree the solenoids Aiwa used in that type of tape mechanism just plain suck. Too much heat and the mountings on the solenoid pins just turn soft like butter and the inevitable happens.

As Minty has already suggested, if you are getting volume output issues, then it is highly probable that you have bad caps on the board. I have seen this on quite a few Aiwas across their entire range, even ones where there is no apparent board or component damage. I suggest you change all the elctrolytic capacitors. Guessing from your profile, Digi-Key in USA has a very good range of low voltage caps in the correct form factor.

Love the pictures. Would it be possible take a shot of the electrolytic caps and to detail what values and positions of each capacitor is on the board as well for everyone on the site when you have it opened up again?

Great pics, nice and clear close up shots!

How you guys can work on walkmans like this TRULY amazes me...great pics...

Hi Cameron,

I have seen your interesting pics of PX1000 player. Now I have some questions to the inside pictures. There is a green wire going from external battery contacts to the inside battery pins. Is this an original wire or a mod from your side?
Furthermore on one of the pictures this green wire is not connected to inside battery pins, but to another component. It looks like a (Schottky) diode. Is this a mod to use alternative inside batteries (2 small NiMH rechargable batteries)? If yes, could you explain it and tell me the type of diode?

Thanks
kerni99

The SMD labelled 'AEG' would appear to be a PNP 2SA1362GR transistor. The green wire does not seem to be attached more rather just next to it. It does look like an original wire added by AIWA and probably as a last minute board revision.

Thanks for reply. I was only wondering, why on one picture (IMG_9244.jpg) the green wire is connected to the battery Minus pin and on other picture (IMG_9249.jpg) to the "AEG" component.

Hi,

The green wire is just hanging in space in the one photo. I had to desolder it to lift the board. There are no mods, this is all factory.

Thanks,

Cameron

Hi Cameron,
thanks for the photos and for the tips about the selenoid in PX1000,
it's way more fragile than Sony's - the whole unit is more fragile I must say.
(and yes I did pull out the pin and broke the wire - but I've managed to repair it

I've a question about the capacitors. I can see the leakage around them and sound level is low - so I think I have to replace it, but I'm not sure what are the correct values for these 6 caps. I have  two caps signed "A4 22 6V" (I guess it's 22 µF)
one "i2 47 4V" and three "13 220 4v" .
shall I put same type or can I go for tantalum (more "time" resistant)?

I have yet another problem - no spectrum analyzer - I've checked every position
of every button inside and outside and analyzer does not work.
the LCD is ok though - it shows all settings it should and even the animation
works perfectly when I change the sound effects, also the battery indicator.

I've just bought an almost unused unit, and I'm trying to make it shine again.

thanks in advance
pawel

Pawel,

In answer to your question about the capacitors.

If you can get electrolytic capacitors then replace them with the same. From what you describe of each it does appear that they are 22uF 6V, 47uF and 220uF 4V. I am guessing these all surface mounted. Are there any through hole type electrolyte capacitors too? Tantalum capacitors can be used, but with caution. From various reports, some tantalum capacitors do not give as good an audio sound especially where they are used on the audio path.

Yes, it's been awhile since I've done any Walkman work... I'm busy learning Drupal for a rebuild of the Tesla Universe website.

Anyway, I decided that the sound issues with my PX1000 weren't to the degree that would warrant an immediate need to replace the caps so I ended up only replacing the belt.

Good luck with your repair and let us know how it goes.

Later,

Cameron

Nice work! Thanks for sharing... Would you be so kind as to provide your source for the replacement caps along with their part numbers?

Cameron