What Do Radique’s Service Levels Mean?
What we did to get it perfectand why the number doesn’t mean what you might think.
Every used and vintage component at Radique goes through bench testing and servicing before it’s listed for sale. Our audio equipment service levels tell you how much work that took — not how good the finished product is. Whether a unit needed a quick clean or a full restoration, it leaves our bench meeting the same performance standard. Here’s exactly what each audio equipment service level means, and what our bench standard covers for turntables, decks, disc players, tuners, speakers and subwoofers.
The short version
- Audio equipment service levels = work required, not final quality
- Level 1 needed the least work. Level 3 needed the most. Both work perfectly.
- Every unit — at every level — is covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
- Every unit — at every level — is eligible for our Perpetual Trade-Back Program
- Sources, speakers and subwoofers each have their own bench standard, listed below
- Don’t let the number talk you out of a great component
Do Audio Equipment Service Levels Indicate Quality?
⚖️ Is a higher service level better quality?
No — and this is worth saying clearly. Audio equipment service levels indicate the work required, not the quality of the finished product.
A Level 1 unit is not inferior to a Level 3 unit. It simply arrived in better shape and needed less intervention to reach the same standard.
Think of two cars leaving a detailing shop — one needed a wash, the other needed a full paint correction. Both leave in the same condition.
Don’t let a lower service number talk you out of a great component, or a higher one make you nervous. By the time it leaves our bench, every unit is held to the same bar.
Audio Equipment Service Levels Explained
Levels 1, 2 and 3 apply to amplification: integrated amplifiers, power amps, preamps and receivers.
🔧 Basic Service & Testing
The unit was already well-maintained or needed minimal work to reach perfect condition.
- Thorough testing of all inputs, outputs, and controls
- Deep cleaning and deoxidation of all pots and switches
- Blown indicator lamps replaced
- Power supply wiring checked and cleaned
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off testing
Level 1 units are often the hidden gems in our inventory — components that were well cared for and simply needed a fresh check-up to confirm they’re in top shape.
🔩 Moderate Service
The unit had persistent issues requiring component-level work before it could meet our standard.
Everything in Level 1, plus
- Capacitors, resistors, and transistors checked and replaced as needed
- Internal chassis, transformer, and ground hardware inspected, tightened, and verified
- Bias and DC offset measured, adjusted, and confirmed within spec
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off testing
After this work is complete, a Level 2 unit performs to exactly the same standard as a Level 1 unit. The extra work happened so that it could.
🛠️ Full Restoration
The unit required comprehensive restoration. This is our most labour-intensive service level — but the outcome is identical: a component that works perfectly and meets our full performance standard.
Everything in Levels 1 & 2, plus
- Complete re-cap — all electrolytic capacitors replaced (mains caps replaced if required)
- Re-flow soldering on cold or suspect joints
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off testing
A fully recapped and restored vintage receiver isn’t just working — in many cases it’s performing better than it did when it left the factory. Level 3 is a lot of work. It’s also a lot of receiver.
Bench Standards for Sources, Speakers & Subwoofers
Levels describe amplification well, but not the very different work a turntable or a pair of speakers needs. So each of these gets its own bench standard: the checks every serviced unit gets, then the work we do only when that particular unit needs it.
CD & disc playersCD, SACD, DVD and Blu-ray players
Every player we service
- Laser lens cleaned
- Disc tray and loading mechanism cleaned
- Controls and switches cleaned and deoxidized
- Every function tested: play, skip, search, program and repeat, tray, display, and analogue and digital outputs
- Disc playback tested, including CD-R on players that support it
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off
And, as each player requires
- Tray and loading belts replaced
- Laser focus, tracking and output adjusted
- Laser pickup replaced
- Mechanism and sled cleaned and lubricated
- Power supply capacitors replaced
- Display lamps replaced
Cassette decksSingle and dual-well decks
Every deck we service
- Tape path, heads, capstan and pinch roller cleaned
- Controls and switches cleaned and deoxidized
- Every function tested: play, record, fast-forward, rewind, stop and eject, noise reduction and meters
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off
And, as each deck requires
- Drive belts replaced
- Heads and tape path demagnetized
- Mechanism lubricated
- Tape speed and playback level adjusted
- Lamps replaced
TurntablesBelt, direct and idler drive
Every turntable we service
- Platter bearing cleaned and lubricated
- Speed checked and set at 33⅓ and 45 rpm
- Tonearm balanced; tracking force and anti-skate set
- Cueing lift, auto-return and any automatic functions tested
- Cartridge and stylus inspected
- Tonearm wiring, signal cables and ground checked
- Post-service play test and sign-off
And, as each turntable requires
- Drive belt replaced
- Motor, idler or drive mechanism serviced
- Cartridge aligned
- Stylus or cartridge replaced
- Tonearm cables replaced
- Suspension adjusted
- Dust cover restored
TunersFM and AM tuners
Every tuner we service
- Controls and switches cleaned and deoxidized
- Reception tested across the FM and AM bands
- Stereo decoding and indicators tested
- Signal and tuning meters checked
- Muting, filters and outputs tested
- Post-service burn-in and sign-off
And, as each tuner requires
- FM alignment and stereo separation adjusted
- Dial and meter lamps replaced
- Dial cord restrung
- Capacitors replaced
SpeakersBookshelf, floor-standing, centre and surround
Every pair we check
- Every driver tested: woofer, midrange and tweeter
- Surrounds, cones and dust caps inspected
- Crossover and binding posts checked
- Level controls cleaned and deoxidized, where fitted
- Cabinets cleaned
- Listening test and sign-off
And, as each speaker requires
- Foam surrounds replaced
- Drivers or tweeters replaced
- Crossover capacitors replaced
- Level controls replaced
- Binding posts or terminals replaced
- Grilles repaired
SubwoofersPowered subwoofers
Every subwoofer we check
- Driver tested and inspected
- Amplifier tested at volume
- Controls cleaned and deoxidized: volume, crossover and phase
- Line and speaker-level inputs tested
- Auto-on and standby tested
- Extended play test and sign-off
And, as each subwoofer requires
- Surround replaced
- Plate amplifier repaired or re-capped
- Controls and switches replaced
“As required” means exactly that: we only list work on a product page when it was actually done to that unit.
Our Bench Process: From Intake to Your Door
Here’s how a component moves through our shop, with more than one set of eyes on it before it reaches you.
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1
Intake triage
Every component is assessed when it arrives, which decides its path through the shop.
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2
Full bench test
Every function is checked. If it passes, it moves on to processing. If not, it goes to service.
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3
Service, if required
The work that unit needs, following the bench standards above.
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4
Second bench test
Every serviced component is tested again by a different tech. Most pass; any that don’t go back for another round.
↺ Back to service if it fails -
5
Processing
Cleaning, detailing and cosmetic touch-ups, with cosmetic repairs by our master woodworker when needed. Then our photography, kept consistent across our listings.
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6
Pre-shipment test
Anything we ship gets one more round of testing before it goes out the door.
We’d rather pause or cancel a sale than ship a component that will cause a problem for our customer.
What You’ll See on a Listing
We describe what was actually done to that unit, and nothing more. That’s why listings read a little differently from one another.
Serviced on our bench
The listing names the service: a Level for amplification, or the bench standard above for everything else, with any “as required” work that was done.
Tested well as-is
Some units arrive in excellent shape and need no service. We say so plainly:
Arrived already serviced
Some pieces come to us recently serviced. We don’t claim that work as ours:
How Audio Equipment Service Levels Affect Pricing
💰 Does a higher service level cost more?
Generally, yes — but not because of the service level itself. A Level 3 unit typically required more parts and more bench time to reach our standard, and that investment is reflected in the price. A Level 1 unit needed less work, and that’s reflected in its price too.
What you’re always paying for is a component that works perfectly, is fully tested, and is backed by our warranty — regardless of how much work it took to get there.
The service level is transparency about our process, not a quality tier or a pricing formula.
If two units are similar in spec and condition but one is Level 1 and one is Level 3, the Level 1 unit may actually represent better value — it arrived in great shape, needed minimal intervention, and is priced accordingly. We’d rather you know that than assume the higher number means the better buy.
Warranty & Trade-Back
🛡️ Does service level affect my warranty or trade-back eligibility? Not at all. Every component Radique sells — regardless of audio equipment service level — is covered by our full Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and is eligible for our Perpetual Trade-Back Program.
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
The warranty exists because we stand behind our work at every level. See what it covers.
Perpetual Trade-Back Program
The trade-back program exists because we want you to enjoy great audio for life — and we’ll always help you upgrade when the time comes. See how it works.
More Service Questions
Why don’t turntables, speakers and CD players have Levels?
The Levels were written around amplification: bias, DC offset, re-capping. A turntable or a cassette deck needs very different work, so each component type has its own bench standard instead. You get a clearer picture of what was actually done.
What does “as each unit requires” mean?
The first list for each component is what every serviced unit gets. The second list is work we do only when a particular unit needs it, such as a new belt or a replaced laser. We only mention that work on a listing when it was actually done to that unit.
Some listings don’t mention a service. Why?
Some units arrive in excellent shape and pass every test without needing service, and some arrive already professionally serviced. Either way they’re thoroughly inspected and tested in-house, and the listing says exactly which it was. Every one is covered by the same warranty and Trade-Back Program.
How much service history do you keep for each unit?
For most components, our internal service notes record the issues the unit showed at intake, the tech who serviced it and when, and the post-service test result: either a pass confirming those issues were corrected, or the unit goes back for another round of service. For higher-end components (over $2,000), we keep a more detailed service history, and we’re happy to share it.
We don’t keep a detailed service log on every piece. Our goal is a fully working component every time, and our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program stand behind that, so you’re covered either way. Questions about a particular unit? Email sales@radique.com, call 613-416-9995, or use the Ask a Question button on any listing.
Can you service equipment I already own?
Yes. We service customers’ own equipment too, and billable work comes with a detailed record of what we did, even for small jobs. See our audio service page for how it works.
Questions about a unit’s service?
Have questions about a specific unit, or want to know more about what was done before you buy? Just ask — we’re happy to walk you through it. 😊
📧 sales@radique.com | ☎️ 613-416-9995
Or hit the pink Ask a Question button on any product listing.