From: cd@notformail.com   
      
   On Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:27:07 +0000, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
   (Liz Tuddenham) wrote:   
      
   >Cursitor Doom  wrote:   
   >   
   >> On Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:32:29 +0000, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
   >> (Liz Tuddenham) wrote:   
   >>   
   >> >Cursitor Doom  wrote:   
   >> >   
   >> >> Hi all,   
   >> >>   
   >> >> I think it might be a good idea to replace all the tantalum caps used   
   >> >> for coupling and decoupling purposes is Uher tape deck I'm fixing up   
   >> >> with new ones as I gather tants can go flaky over time.   
   >> >   
   >> >Is there any evidence of failing capacitors?   
   >>   
   >> Just generally poor audio which I can't pin down to a specific stage.   
   >> Tantalums are not noted for their reliability and seem to be the prime   
   >> suspect in cases like this.   
   >   
   >If the DC voltages on the various transistors are correct, the volume   
   >control isn't noisy and there is no hum when working from the mains, I   
   >would leave the capacitors alone and look elsewhere for the problem.   
      
   I'm going to have to start from scratch again, anyway. The reference   
   tape I made which I had implicit faith in despite not checking it for   
   fidelity first turned out to have every bit as much distortion as that   
   which the fault itself was giving rise to. Assumptions. The mother of   
   all fuck-ups!   
   So now it's back to square 1. :-(   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)