Carl1024 wrote:
Volume is giving me trouble as i can hardly hear it when turned on , anyone out there in the electrical field know about vtg stereos?
Find an electronics repair shop that specializes in the restoration of old receivers. The first things that go usually are things like potentiometers (volume, bass, treble, balance, etc.), switches or buttons, and rotary selectors. The RCA jacks on the back usually get loose and dirty, too. Most of these devices can be cleaned and lubricated with a special spray product from DeOxIt.
Beyond that, CAPACITOR failures are common. When capacitors fail to block DC current, they are said to be "leaky." They are used to block DC power and transmit audio, which is AC. They may physically bulge or leak, too, but by then, they've probably been "electrically leaky" for some time. Electrically leaky capacitors can lead to transformer failures, blown fuses, blown output transistors, etc.
Resistors sometimes drift in value due to heat, which can lead to tonal imbalances and other problems.
Transistors can fail, too, but that is less likely than the problems mentioned above.
A good repair tech will download a circuit diagram, and test voltages throughout a circuit. (S)he will also know what to look for in specific models or model families of equipment, to rule out the most common problems.
I have an old Harman-Kardon 330-B receiver from the early 1970s. It was working very intermittently, and ALL the controls were scratchy and noisy. I opened it up and looked for blown fuses, leaky capacitors, and other issues. After blowing it out thoroughly with compressed air, and vacuuming gently with a brush and crevice tool, I used a spray circuit board cleaner to remove 50 years of hardened dust and filth. After inspecting it again, to see if I could see any burn marks, bulging capacitors, or loose solder joints, I concluded that it was physically okay. Then I used DeOxIt on all the controls, jacks, and switches, and the tuner blades. I let it dry overnight, then put the case on it and powered it up. It was just dirty! It now works perfectly, even at relatively high volume. But at some point, I'll have a pro go through and "re-cap it" — replace capacitors.