Topic: Aerco MP-2 preamp - Part 2

[goodcooker]

This one had some problems with the internal batteries when I first got it but it ran like a champ on the external power input (which I found out from Jerry is wired around the power switch). I replaced the internal batteries myself the first time but pulled a tiny wire out while doing it. He moved a couple of things around while he was under the hood but it seems to have happened again.

Mine has all the components encased in epoxy. Hopefully I can fix what's wrong with it by figuring out how to get the boards out to get to the power section and see if there's a broken solder connection and loose wire down there. If not, I know someone in town who may be able to take a look at it for me. He fixed my SD 442 for less than half of what SD was asking just to bench it. His main gig is vintage hifi audio - power amps, classic receivers, tape decks, etc.

[prof_peabody]

Well, I’m sad to learn today Jerry passed almost 4 years ago.
I visited him in Austin a few times.  He was an incredibly interesting and nice person.  I still find it hard to believe he was born in 1942.

Sadly, both my Aerco’s now have issues.  One has a loose XLR jack, I can’t seem to get it to “twist and lock” back together.

The other has a very audible hiss on both channels. 

I feel like the one with the XLR issue is probably more easy to resolve, but it’s beyond my skill level.

Does anyone know if someone out there is willing to work on these?

[spyder9]

The website is still searchable on Google, but sadly, it's officially down.  Probably for good.    

[aaronji]

For posterity, courtesy of the Wayback Machine...

[prof_peabody]

Been down the Jerry wormhole in the past day.

Cool that there is a youtube video from inside his house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V217tJo5BLU

It really was like walking into a mad scientist lab - it had a bit of a Doc Brown (Back to the Future) vibe to the whole thing.  He showed me all sorts of cool projects he was tinkering with...

[prof_peabody]

They've kept his house as a meet up space.  cool

https://www.thecmcollective.org/creative-media-lab-summer-2025-write-up/

[audBall]

Cool that there is a youtube video from inside his house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V217tJo5BLU

Uploaded to youtube 18 years ago on Feb 19, 2007. Amazing.

[Myco]

Would any of yall still have a working Aerco? I am having mine worked on by Nick Carbonetta and he was wondering if there might be anyone with a working unit that he might be able to reference in making repairs. With Jerry having passed we don't have his genius to reference anymore.

[dactylus]

I do have one of these that I haven't used in a while.  It was working the last time that I used it.

[Myco]

Would you consider sending it to Nick for him to take a look at as a reference? If you could maybe give it a quick test to see if it does work? If you are in the US I'd even consider picking up your shipping costs to help the process along. If Nick can get a feel for how everything is connected he could possibly become a source to have them serviced. He has mine on the bench and taken apart, but there are some wires that weren't connected that he wants to see what they go to.

[dactylus]

Hello,

I do live in the US and I would be willing to send my Aerco to Nick.  I will get back in touch with you soon, after I am able to test the unit.

thanks,

David

[goodcooker]

Would you consider sending it to Nick for him to take a look at as a reference? If you could maybe give it a quick test to see if it does work? If you are in the US I'd even consider picking up your shipping costs to help the process along. If Nick can get a feel for how everything is connected he could possibly become a source to have them serviced. He has mine on the bench and taken apart, but there are some wires that weren't connected that he wants to see what they go to.

Nick got in touch with me and I'm sending both of mine plus the charger, DIN cables and a set of batteries. He showed me a pic of (I assume yours) with the power circuit card removed and a capacitor that has failed.

If that capacitor is end of life on all of them (most of these are 20-30 years old by this point) then hopefully Nick can come up with a solution. Mine still work on external power but not on battery (they both have had the internal rechargeable battery modification).

There was a fair amount of customization and changes along the time line for these. When you look at mine side by side you can see that a few components are different even though the basic design is the same. Mine have two very different Jensen transformer models - one has model 8815 and the other has 10336.

[aaronji]

^ Some of them are a little younger; mine turns 14 in March!

In my long conversations with Jerry, he confirmed that many of the parts changed over the years, such as the switch from Reichenbach to Jensen transformers. He said that he upgraded a lot of things as newer, better ones became available.

[Myco]

Awesome! Thanks guys! Definitely feel free to hit me up if I can help in any way. Just shoot me a pm and I'll me happy to send you my contact info. For those that don't know me my real name is Mike.

[audBall]

Here's a higher resolution photo of the one I posted on the previous page. Happy to take more if it helps. Glad to see Nick is willing to take a look at these.

https://i.imgur.com/RnZH0tz.jpeg