VU meter problem on Panasonic/National RX-7000

Tryed to search the forums for this, but could not find exactly the same problem. Didn't find it solved anyway.

The thing is, both VU meters are dead when it comes to radio or phono/aux. When I play cassette they work just fine...

... so I draw a conclusion there's nothing mechanically wrong with the meters. Anybody got any idea what could cause this? And more important how do I fix it?

Thanks.

Hm, this is interesting problem. Try this:
Insert blank cassette, press record button and select radio or line in.
What happen - VU meters work or not ?!?

I would clean the long record switch on the PC board with Deoxit and see it that solves the issue.
Before that try pressing the record button several times with a blank cassette and see if it works.

Wow! When I put the tape player on record, the meters work just fine. Both with the tuner and the turntable...!

What the hell? I dont understand it... What does this mean?

I don't know how the RX7000 works, but many meters don't work when you're using the radio. They only work when you press the "battery check" switch.

OR, they might only start moving when you increase the volume very loud.

It depends what the manufacturer designed them to measure.

Thanks, dude. Some meters are VU / Battery check. If the the VU is gone, the bc might still be working. They dont go hand to hand in any case.

It's not the volume thing either, cause the meters work just fine with the radio and/or aux/phono IF the tape player is set on REC.

Would you have insight on this twist of things, why dont they work w/o the REC on?

Cheers

goodman said:

Hm, this is interesting problem. Try this:
Insert blank cassette, press record button and select radio or line in.
What happen - VU meters work or not ?!?

Click to expand...

Where are you my Bulgarian friend? Dont leave hanging, man...

TheDogHouse said:

Where are you my Bulgarian friend? Dont leave hanging, man...

Click to expand...

Hi. I'm here again and glad to help you.

Reli said:

many meters don't work when you're using the radio.
They only work when you press the "battery check" switch.
It depends what the manufacturer designed them to measure.

Click to expand...

VU meters on some Philips work by the same way - work on cassette, on radio or line in don't...

TheDogHouse said:

Would you have insight on this twist of things, why dont they work w/o the REC on?

Click to expand...

This is conception of manufacturer:
Work only when you make recordings to adjust rec level...
I prefer VU meters work always.

So, are you saying that they are not even suppose to work if you are not recording something or playing the tape?

Really?

TheDogHouse said:

So, are you saying that they are not even suppose to work if you are not recording something or playing the tape?

Really?

Click to expand...

TheDogHouse said:

So, are you saying that they are not even suppose to work if you are not recording something or playing the tape?

Really?

Click to expand...

My Sanyo's work the same way too.

Many JVCs are also designed that way.

Someone with an RX7000 needs to speak up.
You could also search Youtube for a video to see how they're supposed to work.

Mine is at a family home for storage if not I would have cleared the doubt.
I believe it worked all the time. I could be wrong

AE Stereo got one. My be he can clear this...

Yes VU meters work in play mode

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdMBiR4DAYE


Works on radio and tape

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwfOUqU-ovY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC-hL3w6Ni8

Here is what I can see on mine. Meters work always.

RX-7000 has a dedicated switch for toggling between 'Sound Level' and 'Battery Level + Tuning strength' (And a separate switch for lamp On-Off as well). The switches are toggle type, means they remain on in the desired position.

At the sound level position, it works normally on all 4 sources (Cassette/Radio/Line-In/Phono), though I haven't checked with Phono.

So for TheDogHouse, it is clearly due to loose contact in one of the switches leading signal to the VU. Please DeOxit all the switches well and most probably the long Record-Play switch on the board.
Opening the box is very easy and all switches are readily accessible.

Thanks guys! I will pry it open tomorrow and do the magic...

I'll let you know.

Thank you everybody, you're the best!

Cheers

TheDogHouse said:

Thanks guys! I will pry it open tomorrow and do the magic...

I'll let you know.

Thank you everybody, you're the best!

Cheers

Click to expand...

If you don't know how to open the box, please note the following.
Remove the Cassette door cover by unsnapping it out, upwards. Remove all the rotary knobs. No need of removing any on-off switches.
In addition to the back side screws, there are two big hexagonal Nuts on two of the rotary faders (Treble control & Rec Level control) at the front side too.

BoomboxLover48 said:

I would clean the long record switch on the PC board with Deoxit and see it that solves the issue.
Before that try pressing the record button several times with a blank cassette and see if it works.

Click to expand...

In the very beginning I mentioned about cleaning the long record switch and all

AE_Stereo said:

If you don't know how to open the box, please note the following.
Remove the Cassette door cover by unsnapping it out, upwards. Remove all the rotary knobs. No need of removing any on-off switches.
In addition to the back side screws, there are two big hexagonal Nuts on two of the rotary faders (Treble control & Rec Level control) at the front side too.

Click to expand...

Great advice there!

Be careful not to break the cassette door.
I think we only need to unlock, slide up and remove the face of the cassette door for RX7000.

BoomboxLover48 said:

Mine is at a family home for storage if not I would have cleared the doubt.
.....

Click to expand...

RX-7000 sent for storage? Retrieve it back and send some other crap like a M90 for storage to the same place .
I love to see and pat my 7000 everyday.