becker 1432 rebuilt amplifiers and sound quality

[natejgreene9871]

So I recently had my Becker 1432 fully refurbished. Head unit, both amps, and receiver were sent in to Becker. It was more expensive than I would have liked to be honest.



A couple weeks ago I had an issue where one channel went out on the rebuilt amp, I sent in back to Becker for warranty repair.

While waiting, I swapped in some "working" junkyard amps I harvested from a 400e.



I got the rebuilds back today and compared the sound quality to the old junkyard units. The difference in sound is very noticeable. I swapped amps back and fourth a few times just to compare one after the other and there is a big difference in clarity, distortion, bass etc.

I expected some improvement but not to this degree.

I suspect that a lot of people that poo poo the 1432 sound quality just have old amps with degraded capacitors.


I found this interesting, that is all.

 

[maw1124]

New capacitors changes everything... Becker wasn't doing this back when I did my system or I might have gone that route... might not have... but might have.

maw

 

[bgalakazam]

Is the amp 1914 by any chance? I am trying to see if I want to refurbish my non-Bose SL woofer amp or just get aftermarket one. I already swapped the door woofers and midrange and saw improvement, though only woofer is powered by the amp (tweeters and door midrange by headunit, which I put aftermarket).

This is my amp unit:
1298200489
1145.347-819
1914 MB-Sound System

 

[duuder]

Idk about that... I've been in one of this cars when they were new and the sound system was what I noticed or lack of ..

 

[natejgreene9871]

Idk about that... I've been in one of this cars when they were new and the sound system was what I noticed or lack of ..

I’m not saying it’s amazing, but it is acceptable in my opinion

 

[natejgreene9871]

Is the amp 1914 by any chance? I am trying to see if I want to refurbish my non-Bose SL woofer amp or just get aftermarket one. I already swapped the door woofers and midrange and saw improvement, though only woofer is powered by the amp (tweeters and door midrange by headunit, which I put aftermarket).

This is my amp unit:
1298200489
1145.347-819
1914 MB-Sound System

View attachment 187488

No it’s different. I think you have a later Becker radio.
I have the two silver amps, one for L and R speakers.

 

[Alphasud40]

If someone wants to donate an amplifier with poor sound I will perform the first recap labor free. Only pay for postage and parts. Then report your findings to the forum. Might be a significant savings over sending the unit to Becker.

 

[natejgreene9871]

If someone wants to donate an amplifier with poor sound I will perform the first recap labor free. Only pay for postage and parts. Then report your findings to the forum. Might be a significant savings over sending the unit to Becker.

I cracked open one of the amps that Becker rebuilt out of curiosity and compared to an old one

It appears that they replaced these brown things in addition to the two large capacitors. What are the brown things?

I’d love to reverse engineer and figure out what they are doing, can’t be that hard

 

[Alphasud40]

I’m not sure on that one without doing some tests. Unusual package could be chokes. They might have just reflowed the solder joints and applied silastic to stabilize the components.

 

[gsxr]

I’m not sure on that one without doing some tests. Unusual package could be chokes.

I also was thinking it looks like an inductor/choke coil.

 

[disrupted]

I spent a few minutes with the TDA7260 datasheet. looks to me to be a pwm integrated amplifier IC. looks like each channel would require three inductors. One on the VS input, and then one between each power device pair, and the speaker outputs.

I would agree the brown wrapped devices are inductors.

 

[Ian White]

So I recently had my Becker 1432 fully refurbished. Head unit, both amps, and receiver were sent in to Becker. It was more expensive than I would have liked to be honest.

View attachment 187485

A couple weeks ago I had an issue where one channel went out on the rebuilt amp, I sent in back to Becker for warranty repair.

While waiting, I swapped in some "working" junkyard amps I harvested from a 400e.



I got the rebuilds back today and compared the sound quality to the old junkyard units. The difference in sound is very noticeable. I swapped amps back and fourth a few times just to compare one after the other and there is a big difference in clarity, distortion, bass etc.

I expected some improvement but not to this degree.

I suspect that a lot of people that poo poo the 1432 sound quality just have old amps with degraded capacitors.


I found this interesting, that is all.

Do you mind sharing what it cost you? I'm thinking about this in my 036 and 034.

 

[maw1124]

@Alphasud40 would be cheaper. The parts cost literally nothing. I've been told 20x markup on those parts is standard minimum. If you have someone willing to install the cheap parts for free, well that's your best bet. It's not rocket science but it is profitable for Becker. And I've had them rebuild stuff for my W220 S55 so I'm not knocking them at all.

maw

 

[Ian White]

I image they have to do the Bluetooth upgrade though.

Side question- is it worth servicing a factory pioneer cd changer (stuck CD in the mechanism)? I have a BE 1432.

 

[Johnathan1]

I cracked open one of the amps that Becker rebuilt out of curiosity and compared to an old one

It appears that they replaced these brown things in addition to the two large capacitors. What are the brown things?

I’d love to reverse engineer and figure out what they are doing, can’t be that hard

View attachment 187525

Is that the re-worked one? That one definitely looks all original. AFAIK, the 2 large caps that look like those are no longer made.

 

[Johnathan1]

I also rebuild/upgrade these amplifiers (all amps really) if anyone needs it. I am in Southern California. I have had clients that sent in their Becker headunits to "Becker Autosound" (NOT actually the same company as the OEM) for Bluetooth upgrading AND "rebuilding/refurbishing" and they really only did the BT upgrade, and nothing else from what I could tell. I replaced the original caps in all cases, and it made a tremendous difference in the sound quality.

 

[maw1124]

The new information here is the claim that it's not the OEM manufacturer (not that I doubt it).

@Johnathan1 do you also install BT in the head units? Do you service head units or just amps?

maw

 

[bgalakazam]

Finally found some time to open my Becker 1914 up. Attaching some photos. I will replace the 2x 2200 micro f and 2x 4.7 micro f capacitors. Cleaned the contacts and some solder points. Everything else looks good. Interesting it has a Bose 134499 chip (this is a from a weird non-Bose R129 with only 2 woofer and 2 full range, no dash).

 

[natejgreene9871]

Do you mind sharing what it cost you? I'm thinking about this in my 036 and 034.

It was a lot. I sent in all 4 components. Both amplifiers, trunk unit, and head unit were rebuilt. Bluetooth added. Was about $900

I was a bit shocked at the price to be honest

 

[Ian White]

I'm having my pal and the inestimably talented @Alphasud40 take a look at my amplifiers and trunk receiver to see if he can replace the caps. I plan to send the head unit in to Becker in NJ for the BT module.

 

[duuder]

You guys sure spend a lot of money for BT..

 

[maw1124]

You guys sure spend a lot of money for BT..

Right… if they want to do something they should rewire the cassette mechanism into a USB input.

maw

 

[gerryvz]

Becker's refirbs have always been expensive, but evidently they've significantly raised their prices in recent years. Wow.

 

[Ian White]

$150 for the Bluetooth addition.

 

[natejgreene9871]

I personally would not have paid for the Bluetooth addition if I knew that I had to have a TAPE inserted to use it.

If I have to have a tape inserted I may as well just use a cassette aux adaptor…



In fact, I don’t even use the Bluetooth I paid for, i just connect the aux cord 90% of the time as the sound is better.

When I use Bluetooth I find that the volume is much lower so have have to crank the radio volume up. When I switch back to tuner it blasts me… sigh

I’m not real happy with it and would like to get the CD changer emulator thing I have seen on other threads. Maybe someday

 

[gerryvz]

I personally would not have paid for the Bluetooth addition if I knew that I had to have a TAPE inserted to use it.

If I have to have a tape inserted I may as well just use a cassette aux adaptor…View attachment 189809

I know from personal experience that the one-piece BE-1480 (which immediately preceded the 1432 two-piece unit) and the BE-1492 used on the facelift cars DO NOT require a cassette to be inserted or used with the Becker Bloot mod. I just tune both radios’ units to the radio function and the Bloot connection does the rest once I hit play on my music player device (typically phone).

Too bad that the 1432 requires a cassette.

I still also use the CD changer emulator cable on the back of my 1492, for the iPod (which at 80 GB contains a LOT of music). I use both the Bloot and the iPod for music in my E500.

 

[Ian White]

That's good to know; bummer... In that case since I have a 1432 I might just go with an Aux tape adapter. What does the $150 get you then?! A Bluetooth enabled tape? lol

My main goal is to be able to stream my phone because I use Spotify.

 

[natejgreene9871]

That's good to know; bummer... In that case since I have a 1432 I might just go with an Aux tape adapter. What does the $150 get you then?! A Bluetooth enabled tape? lol

My main goal is to be able to stream my phone because I use Spotify.

Yes, you put the tape in. It starts playing whatever is on the tape. Then you push play on Bluetooth and it overrides the sound.

No tape inserted, no Bluetooth.

Thankfully the previous owner of my 400e left me a full set of all 27 books of the New Testament on cassette (and a handicapped tag). Works great for this purpose.

So I’ll be listening to my 80’s rock music and every so often the New Testament goes blaring out the speakers, much to the confusion of my passengers. It’s a wonderful setup…

 

[maw1124]

That's good to know; bummer... In that case since I have a 1432 I might just go with an Aux tape adapter. What does the $150 get you then?! A Bluetooth enabled tape? lol

My main goal is to be able to stream my phone because I use Spotify.

You're MUCH better off with a corded connection. But that's a LOT more work and it won't look factory anymore.

For me, that's just a choice of whether you think you have some "collector" car where 1992 stereo bits will matter for "originality" purposes. Or whether you just have an old great car that you'd like to drive with a modern sounding stereo system.

Of course, some people like that old "aesthetic" better, and go to GREAT LENGTHS to change the sound while keeping the aesthetic.

But this is where "people have decisions to make." To thine own self be true, and all that fun stuff.

maw

 

[Ian White]

Yeah good points. I think balancing both approaches is good. Although putting an external speaker on the seat next to me or headphones in wouldn't be that big of a deal.

If only the 1432 and its systems were not such an antiquated albatross.

 

[natejgreene9871]

You're MUCH better off with a corded connection. But that's a LOT more work and it won't look factory anymore.

For me, that's just a choice of whether you think you have some "collector" car where 1992 stereo bits will matter for "originality" purposes. Or whether you just have an old great car that you'd like to drive with a modern sounding stereo system.

Of course, some people like that old "aesthetic" better, and go to GREAT LENGTHS to change the sound while keeping the aesthetic.

But this is where "people have decisions to make." To thine own self be true, and all that fun stuff.

In hindsight I probably should have gone with the Bremen sqr 46.

I considered it but it’s just such a mess having to redo all the wiring and such. Adding an amp. I just hate hacking up the factory wiring.

Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB

Digital media receiver (does not play CDs)

www.crutchfield.com

 

[Johnathan1]

The new information here is the claim that it's not the OEM manufacturer (not that I doubt it).

@Johnathan1 do you also install BT in the head units? Do you service head units or just amps?

maw

I do both!

 

[rupak_hsa]

Folks - I have a BE1432 that is giving me intermittent issues. It works sometimes and then it starts giving me Error 2. I have replaced the head unit and replaced the trunk unit (got one off ebay). Also tried to check the 8 pin din cable. Today my stereo guy swapped the trunk unit and everything was working great. I came home and after a few hours turned on the car and again - Error 2. I am ready to lose my mind!!

 

[niz93]

Folks - I have a BE1432 that is giving me intermittent issues. It works sometimes and then it starts giving me Error 2. I have replaced the head unit and replaced the trunk unit (got one off ebay). Also tried to check the 8 pin din cable. Today my stereo guy swapped the trunk unit and everything was working great. I came home and after a few hours turned on the car and again - Error 2. I am ready to lose my mind!!

radio unit clacking (relay sound) in the trunk ~5-10 sec after press power on, or not?

 

[rupak_hsa]

radio unit clacking (relay sound) in the trunk ~5-10 sec after press power on, or not?

No - it is just static when I used any of the buttons like the volume control. Funnily enough the system has now started to work on it's own. Seems like it is fuc**ng with my mind

In the meantime I have sent the original head unit and trunk radio to Becker.

 

[niz93]

No - it is just static when I used any of the buttons like the volume control. Funnily enough the system has now started to work on it's own. Seems like it is fuc**ng with my mind

In the meantime I have sent the original head unit and trunk radio to Becker.

if radio unit no click after press power on, check power wire, fuse and connector in first, after check bus cable

for power up unit, two wires are enough, BUS+ and BUS- (and power in power connector)
connect head and tuner pin to pin any short two wires for check without BUS cable