Ensoniq VFX SD mainboard troubleshooting

[natere2ster]

Got it working! Turns out that the audio outs were toasted but i repalced the blown trace with some legs off some capacitors! The headphone out is mono (left only) but the mains work! gotta add another jumper for the headphones i forgot its got another connector (TRS) HOOOOOWWWWWWL! Sounds amazing I love Ensoniq!

Don't underestimate visual inspection! First thing to do!

[Ashe37]

check to make sure the keyboard has been bridged.

[Billy Feagan]

WOW !!!
what an awesome post....

I have a VFX SD that is down. will not boot at all ( blank Screen )

this is going to be a blast to read and try out all this info... and learn a but load from this..

i will try to post as i got..

bill

[readymedia]

Hello there!

Thanks for a lot of information here! My VFX-SD is alive but the VFD display is dead because of leakage. The Vbb is there, a ll the chips around also get the Vbb. The 9VAC is here. The VFD is warm.

It is possible to vacuum the VFD again? At least theoreticaly? Or after leakage something inside VFD breaks for ever?



In my case only the "nose" in the middle on the top seems to be broken. Maybe it is possible to glue a kind of valve here?

Best!, Ready

[Rasputin]

It is possible to vacuum the VFD again? At least theoreticaly? Or after leakage something inside VFD breaks for ever?

It's dead.

The good news is that you can still find NOS of the NEC FIP80B5R display which is a bit more generic than the EPS/EPS16/ASR displays. Roughly $70 USD in 2023 which is reasonable.

The bad news is lots of desoldering/soldering is necessary, and most people will not be capable of it.

[readymedia]

Hola here!
Just wanted to inform you here:)
I ordered a display from US and it worked properly after I solderd it in. Sold it and finally got yn TS12 again
Best!, Ready