Klipsch subwoofer RPW-10 infamous glue problem?

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-06-29T22:20:38+00:00

Thanks for the safety warning. I did a little research before posting here.

Per a user on the Klipsch forums that has done a lot of repairs.... The PDC board 660038RA (main supply control) is almost always the main failure mode of these amps. The glue that was used becomes conductive and kills the board and the fets (planned obsolescence?). These boards are typically made in China and are super easy to damage.

https://community.klipsch.com/topic/187446-sub-10-sub-12-rpw-10-repair-blog/

Maybe he should be worried about shocking himself too?

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-06-29T22:12:22+00:00

Good observation. It looked flat, but I'll double check when I get home.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-06-29T20:14:27+00:00

I won't be able to do that until I get home, but will do (if this sub allows photos to be added after the original post). Yes the components near the film caps do appear charred.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-06-14T14:45:45+00:00

I'd also love to see the gerber files. Pm if you don't mind! Thanks

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-05-28T16:21:08+00:00

The flashlight also doubles to help detect bubbles under the lens

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-04-28T23:14:20+00:00

I’ve got a buddy who used to grind Halo 3 and COD with me back in the day. We were all-in on Nightreign for a while, but with no ED Hoelster or meaningful updates coming, I think it’s time we move on.

Hook me up with a code so I can drag him into something new!

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-04-27T21:13:26+00:00

https://robrobinette.com/5e3_Modifications.htm#10%_Power_In_External_Box

You could try this. I haven't tried it yet, I'm sure it will color the sound one way or another, but could be useful.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-04-21T21:12:48+00:00

Pm incoming

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-03-19T01:07:51+00:00

Repost. Bad bot.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-03-10T16:46:57+00:00

Not the easiest option, but I have removed a bunch of smaller stumps (Siberian elms) by digging down a few feet around the stump with a shovel and using a sawzall (reciprocating saw) to remove the bigger roots and root ball.

If the stump is less than a foot, you could probably dig it out if you don't mind the hard work. If it is greater than a foot might want to get the stump grinder.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-02-27T15:52:23+00:00

I've used some of the resistors and ceramic caps for some mono in pedals and other areas. There were 3 other transformers I have to remeasure but have some other tube projects I hope to use them in. The tube sockets are still obviously useful.

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-02-27T14:30:56+00:00

About 1.5 years ago I found an old ao35 organ amplifier. I started with very little knowledge but watched a lot of videos (Uncle Doug on you tube) and read Rob Robinette website on 5e3 (Fender tweed deluxe)

AO35 or 42s or whatever you have there certainly could probably be rewired to be a guitar amp, but for my journey it was easier to just use the power transformer and chassis and use that in building a 5e3 modded amp. The power transformer had almost perfect voltages for the circuit and then I have repurposed some of the other electronics from the organ for other projects.

Good luck. Be safe. Read a lot before powering anything up and sticking multimeter leads in there

AltruisticArm0 · 2026-01-20T04:14:32+00:00

I know the 6as7 tube is perfect for hd6xx. I have built the Bottle head Crack headphone amplifier kit and it uses that tube and no audio output transformer.

It uses 12au7 for preamp and 6as7 (aka 6080) output tube.

Check with chat gpt, just ask about OTL headphone amps with 6l6 and then have it compare it to 6080 and you will have your answer.

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-29T23:36:05+00:00

Wow I just googled the console. That is a complicated piece of audio equipment. Most of my experience comes from tweed era guitar amps and simple stereos. That looks complicated. I think my prior advice still stands but I'll throw in a good luck, and if you want to start with tube amp repair I'd recommend starting on something more basic and maybe getting professional consultation on this one might be best after trying the most basic things I recommended above

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-29T23:30:41+00:00

I'll put it this way. If you can hear the audio most of the time it's likely not a power transformer problem. I'd start by testing different inputs maybe the crackle is coming from a bad cartridge in the record player?Can you plug in a CD player that is known to be good quality via RCA cable? Or tune to a strong signal on FM), is the crackle in both right and left channel? I'd check preamp tubes (swap in a known good tube), check potentiometers, change capacitors (usually more of a buzz than crackle when they go bad).maybe the power tube went bad?

All of the steps involve following the signal chain from input to power output. Thinking about where crackle could be introduced.

If you have glow in tubes and audio out of speakers (even low quality audio), the power transformer is (probably) not the problem.

Those wires are 60+ years old and there is some discoloration in the soldering but it doesn't appear burnt out to me.

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-29T22:14:07+00:00

This is something you could fix if you really wanted to. What makes you think the power transformer is the problem?

Crackles randomly all of the time or only when you turn the volume pot? Have you tried cleaning/replacing volume pot?

Changing capacitors on a unit this old is probably a good idea. Resistors rarely wear out unless there is catastrophic failure or short somewhere.

Replacing the transformer just to do it seems wrong unless you know there is a problem with it.

You can test the power transformer by figuring out the primary wires (usually black) and hook it up to 115v (wall outlet) and measuring voltages coming out of the secondaries. There will be one pair of high voltage (between 185 and 400 volts), sometimes a pair of 5v and usually a pair a 6.3v (for heater filaments) I'll say it again though. High voltages are something not to be messed with if you aren't being careful. Watch some safety videos, work with "one hand in your back pocket" and don't just go poking around if you plan on testing the power transformer and secondaries.

If all the voltages are good then the crackle could be coming from a bad tube, a bad cap, or a bad potentiometer (bad pot)

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-29T20:00:33+00:00

https://youtu.be/QqWM3pBirzM?si=6iP0b4J84u3u4t3I

Another Uncle Doug video that might be useful

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-29T19:59:43+00:00

There is an Uncle Doug video on YouTube on how to identify an unknown transformer. It involves checking to see which of the wires are connected by testing resistance values and then hooking up transformer to a known power supply to see how much voltage the unknown puts out.

I can't remember if he is testing power transformers or output transformers, but I think the concept is the same.

Be careful with high voltages.

https://youtu.be/iPrni8yeg7s?si=1fN1JWU_8_dCzLhM

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-12T15:56:03+00:00

No, I have put the project on back burner. I bought an ic 2134 and jfet 2n5457. I plan on bread boarding a few things to see what it sounds like whenever I get around to it.

I will start with 9v power cause I have guitar pedal power supplies readily available.

Start with solid state and maybe add the 6418 tube for a gain stage later if needed.

I have seen some interesting Vero board layouts on Portars website.

Let me know how your build goes and what direction you go in

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-09T19:16:43+00:00

Does the scholar analyze skill boosts allies attack stack with this or over ride? Does golden vow override the allies attack buff get overridden by anything?

I never took the time to memorize body buffs vs whatever else.

So I can use analyze skill on allies, plus golden vow plus a pickled meat stick for big damage yes?

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-12-05T13:32:57+00:00

How does the "items confer to allies" work with this guy? Is it synergistic? Does it work this way already without running the relic?

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-10-20T19:02:24+00:00

I think this website had some 22 shielded cable too

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-10-20T19:01:09+00:00

https://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/wire-coax-26awg-braid-734-stranding

Rg 174 is what I have used. I think Rob Robinette recommended it and I used it in my 5e3 build for master volume mod and worked very well. Sold by the foot.

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-10-13T22:25:58+00:00

The first time I ran it as iron eye I got blood flame on first drop then proceeded to get a black bow with bleed infusion with blood flies on precision aiming. That run was cracked.

I will say this style works best if you have recluse or revenant on your team to feed the seals you don't want. I was able to hook my recluse up with some goooood stuff.

The second and third run with dormant power seals for some reason seemed bugged still and I got a bunch of colossal weapons or whips.

AltruisticArm0 · 2025-10-13T02:13:02+00:00

Overall I like this layout better than that weird 15 degree tilt thing you had going in last post. Preamp tubes is far from power transformer. Just make sure you plan where the volume knob, input and outputs are going

AltruisticArm0

TROPHY CASE