If you know anything about a Pioneer VSX-406... Options

[godzilla525]

All I know is that it's Dolby Pro-Logic, 4-channel equal power output, natural convection cooled, and fried by lightning.

I haven't done any diagnosis on it yet as I have just been given it, but if the computer controls are nuked, I can probably salvage the amplifier section, power transformer, volume control, etc. and build a separate preamp.

Anybody have any ideas or have the specs on this unit? If it wasn't for the handful of Russian sites with service manuals, I'd swear that this model doesn't exist!

The output resistors are 0.33 ohms, but my 100w X 4 reciever has 0.22 ohm resistors. I'm guessing the VSX-406 is about 75-90w X 4?

[godzilla525]

Nobody knows anything? Now if I had mentioned something like Marantz or Yamaha...

(...but if this was a Marantz it wouldn't be broken right now. )

Well, after a bit of testing, the controller chip is dead, half-shorted and pulling the standby power from 5v down to 1.8v. (simple resistor/zener regulator) Disconnecting the controller board and checking again shows normal voltages at the regulator.

Salvagable items: Transformer, amplifier board, volume control board. Other items such as capacitors and relays can be removed from the mainboard and used on a different board. A few tweaks here and there and it will probably sound better than it was ever designed to. I know I can definitely do a few things to improve the preamp circuits... like lose the 4558 op amps.

(This light blue ribbon cable they like to use for everything is pathetic. Would you believe #24 tinned stranded? They run power and speaker signals through that stuff! :eyebrow: )