KEYWORDS: Albany Berkeley El Cerrito Kensington Richmond East Bay A/V Installation TV repairs service Video Discontinued VCR parts part heads in home repair
A L B A N Y V I D E O S E R V I C E
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Albany Video Service offers consumer electronic repair with reasonable prices, since 1994
We feature repairs on CRT Televisions and can sometimes repair Video Cassette Recorders, VCR/DVD Combinations, DVD Players, and Audio Equipment.
We also offer home theater installation!
Please note that we no longer have a store-front
location
We sometimes perform in-home repair on Televisions. Arrangements can be made for "smaller" electronics..
Please telephone or email us for more information: FutureSounds@hotmail.com / 510.524.4447
(We return telephone calls promptly, typically Tuesday through Friday.)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do we repair DVD players?
Yes and no. We recognize the fact that DVD
players, like
most electronics, were expensive when new. Now that the format has been
on the market for over a decade (and phasing-out), the cost of players
has dropped
radically. Most models are less than fourty dollars with all of the
features one would dream of in a player. Repairs on DVD players are
only economical a small fraction of the time. We recommend Albany
merchants such as Target
and Radio Shack
as being good places to consider the purchase of a new DVD player.
Perhaps now would be a great time to upgrade to Blu-ray that "streams"
video such as Netflix; Blu-ray players can be found in the
hundred-dollar range!
What type of televisions do
we repair?
Our repertoire is relatively limited (by
choice). We
only repair the CRT type - no plasmas, LCD's or rear and front
projection units. Basically, if it has a glass screen that is 36 inches
or under in diagonal size, we can handle it. We can also work on
Televisions with VCRs built into them (TV/VCR Combinations) but the
ones with DVD AND VCRs built into them are EXTREMELY DIFFICULT to work
on for a host of reasons. We are selective about which model /
malfunctions we do battle with. Contact us for details. Keep in mind
todays Televisions (particularly with LED technology) save enough
energy to pay for a replacement/upgrade. Television prices dropped
dramatically in 2010. Recently (2011) we have been able to repair
certain "flat screen" units that have power issues (that sometimes
start out as intermittent).
How about VCRs or VCR/DVD
combinations?
Manufacturers make it problematic to get
parts. Most do
not provide parts for "cheaper" electronic devices - meant to be
"disposable". That being said, we have some VCR repair parts in stock,
including video heads. Most older VCRs offer better performance. So if
the repair is reasonable, and we have the part in stock, a repair may
be justifiable. As far as VCR / DVD Combinations, the general rule is
that as long as it is not a media/Disc "reading" issue, we may be able
to fix your combination unit. When DVD players stop reading media, it
usually represents a failure of the "optical pick-up" or Laser,
rendering the player cost ineffective to repair.
I have a VCR with an analog
tuner / is my
VCR worth keeping [perhaps] to transfer videos?
Modern day DVD/VCR combinations do not have
"tuners"
built-into them and so if you record from a "cable" source you will
find that to get a VCR that records you must buy a DVD-recorder (with a
built-in VCR). This option is significantly more expensive than your
average DVD/VCR combination. You may want to keep your "old school" VCR
for a host of reasons, backing-up or "digitizing" your valuable VHS
cassettes ranks amongst the top. Time is an enemy of magnetic tape.
(Others include exposure to magnetic fields, mold/moisture and others.)
"Newer generation" VCR's may not have the quality that you would expect
from your older VCR. Perhaps your older VCR is "S-VHS". Explore your
options. Keep in mind that interfaces that allow your computer to
accept the signal from your VCR are everywhere. Tranfering directly to
your computer can lead to a seamless transfer that can
be digitally edited and archived. Perform an Internet search for "usb
video capture devices". Perhaps you would like to have your VCR
professionally maintenaced prior to the transfer process.
Here
is a link to a thorough discussion on the mechanics of video tape
construction
Do we repair damaged video
cassette or audio tapes?
We are capable of repairing physical breaks and other minor damage to
magnetic tape, however mold damage or wrinkles that require the tape to
be repaired "inch-by-inch" is not our bag. Tape with decayed/poor
quality or otherwise damage of an extreme nature can only be addressed
by "forensic data recovery" specialists. Most of them only do
hard-drive data recovery and can be extremely expensive.
Do we repair camcorders /
digital cameras?
No, and we have no recommendation at this
time.
Audio equipment?
For the most part yes. As a general rule,
we avoid, and
do not recommend repairs on most items manufactured in the 1970s or
1980s. We do not do turntables, reel-to-reel units, tube amplifiers, or
"High End" audio. These units are best serviced by The
Sound
Well
in Berkeley. We can perform limited repairs on cassette decks and
Compact Disc players and would recommend that you call us for more
information.
Do we install Roku and/or other streaming devices ?
We have the skills and capability to install devices that require advanced computer networking. Please contact us for detials.
How long is the warranty on
your repairs?
Albany Video service has gone above and
beyond with its
repair warranty. We trust our work, and this is why we offer a stunning
ONE YEAR warranty on VCR repairs, and SIX MONTH warranty on televisions
and audio equipment. The warranty covers the entire unit, not just the
completed repair! (Naturally some exclusions may apply.)
How about other types of
equipment and
services?
We charge $60.00 per hour for repair time.
So some
devices are simply not worth the investment. We definitely avoid the
items listed below. But for a fee, we may be willing to consider out of
the ordinary jobs on an individual basis. Please call for more
information. Portable/laptop (small DVD players with screens) are
better off sent to the factory, where they will typically replace it
with a refurbished one. We can not repair Hard-drive based "DVR" units
like TiVo's. Video game consoles and hand-held gaming platforms must go
to a "factory authorized" or "factory certified' repair facility.
Various Contacts - What we do not repair, and who we recommend:
We have no recommendations for camcorder or digital camera repair.
Vacuum cleaner experts: Berkeley Vacuum Center in Berkeley. 510.540.6248
Electronic parts and accessories: Al Lashers Electronics in Berkley. 510.843.5915
Professional audio, including instruments: Leos Pro Audio in Oakland. 510.653.1000
Audio equipment (that we can not handle): The Sound Well in Berkeley. 510.549.2126
Electronic recycling: Alameda County Computer Resource Center in Berkeley. 510.528.4052
Computers: DJ computers 510.527.7696 and Payless Computer 510.527.4905, both in Albany
Home control and theater installation (high end): Music Lovers Audio in Berkeley. 510.558.1000
Video duplication and reformatting: Solano Copy Center in Albany. 510.527.1111 / AV Consultants in Oakland. 510.839.2020
When in doubt, we advise our clients to see who the factory recommends for the repair of their products.
In other words, locate a "factory authorized" or "factory certified' repair facility whenever possible.
Please telephone or email us for more information: FutureSounds@hotmail.com / 510.524.4447
(We return telephone calls promptly, typically Tuesday through Friday.)
Thank you for visiting our home on the World Wide Web! We look forward to serving you.
(Our previous home in Albany, California)
(web-links)
Website
managed by Albany Video Service,
Albany California - USA
Contact us for information and/or to report malfunctioning/dead links -
thank you.
Version 8.1 / 07.2011
