Can I fix a mark Levinson 33 Monoblock thread
VR3
Posts: 29,003
So one of my monoblocks will not turn on... I have sourced over a hundred pages of schematics and service documents and I own a multi meter
Challenge accepted, long term journey
I suspect the regenerator which supplies clean power to the amplifier has malfunctioned. It is a lengthy process to remove said regenerator so I started at the top and will inspect as I go. First post involves the regulator board, I spotted two faulty transistors. Ordered all new caps and those two transistors for this board and the party begins!
Challenge accepted, long term journey
I suspect the regenerator which supplies clean power to the amplifier has malfunctioned. It is a lengthy process to remove said regenerator so I started at the top and will inspect as I go. First post involves the regulator board, I spotted two faulty transistors. Ordered all new caps and those two transistors for this board and the party begins!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Comments
-
Better do some dusting while you're in there😉😁
-
Nooo doubt! I went to HD to pick up some compressed air and felt like I was buying uranium
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Soft china bristle brush will help😂
-
WARNING: DO NOT ATTEMPT REPAIR UNLESS WEARING PINK CROWN!!!
-
I would leave it to the professionals. It's never "the transistor failed". There is always a daisy chain of failures brought on by one hidden random something or other caused by shipping damage.Gustard X26 Pro DAC
Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)
There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus -
This is just the start of my troubleshooting, I am just taking it one board at a time.
I am fully expecting to find many more issues and parts plus I'm changing every capacitor- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Boy that will be pricey, I'm guessing those are biggin'sI'm changing every capacitor -
I've already sourced the big ones. I found a guy who ordered the super expensive dubliers for the larger board value and then I have chemi con for the cans. I ordered audio note kaisai for the electrolytic and new wima comparable for this board
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
That is one amp I would never open up... If you have not already done so, join one of the Levinson forums as there will likely be someone there that has been there and done that already.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
There are numerous threads on diyaudio of several guys who rebuilt them... Invaluable so far truly. One of the members sold me the hundreds of pages of info he had for 50 bucks... From all service bulletins to assembly and disassembly instructions etc. Literally everything Harmon ha so these amps. Blown away when I received it as I thought it was just schematics.
Will see how it goes, it will be a learning experience and given the modular nature of the amplifier I could ship a piece to a tech if I felt I was missing something.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
That was a small miracle to get the service info for those amps. The few times I looked at getting Levinson schematics or bulletins, it was like hitting a brick wall. Their circuits are not easy to follow. Good luck!
Hopefully you still have backup(s) to power the system in the meantime. I remember the feeling I had when my LSA was out of commission. Not fun.
-
No joke, pure gold. It even has a dozen page document of every part number in the amp and their location, it's amazing
I honestly don't get to listen much lately between being a dad, husband, work etc
I have a secondary office rig that sees way more use- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Go for it Trey.
FYI, you can order canned air from Office Depot. It's the best on the market. I buy it by the case.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Interesting, is it cheaper than a left kidney and a shake down?- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
-
Interesting, is it cheaper than a left kidney and a shake down?
I think so, although the price seems to have gone up slightly since the last case I bought.
https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/337994/Office-Depot-Brand-Cleaning-Duster-10/
Ha, cheaper here.
https://www.officesupply.com/technology/computer-accessories/cleaning-maintenance/air-dusters/cleaning-duster-pack-cans/p785312.htmlPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Canned air will also remove warts. Turn upside down and spray into a Q-tip, Press Q-tip on wart, it will freeze it off.
Doctor approved.... -
Skin tags too.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
One approach would be to disconnect the power supply from the rest of the circuit. Then connect each section and see which connection causes the unit to not turn on.
-
We use DataVac
https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Powerful-Electronic-Environmentally-Friendly/dp/B01FWSYOME?th=1
But there are cheaper alternatives. Just buy a corded one as rechargeable quit charging after awhile
https://www.amazon.com/Compressed-Cleaner-MECO-ELEVERDE-Watts/dp/B088M6FZH2/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=YcGi7&content-id=amzn1.sym.255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e:amzn1.symc.a68f4ca3-28dc-4388-a2cf-24672c480d8f&pf_rd_p=255b3518-6e7f-495c-8611-30a58648072e&pf_rd_r=EZ7F5E8EGY2VV0PZFSX4&pd_rd_wg=QbABp&pd_rd_r=101f694a-84ba-4921-a9b4-7ae7aa146981&ref_=pd_hp_d_atf_ci_mcx_mr_ca_hp_atf_d&th=1
2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a -
Tom had sent me a link to one for 60, I ordered that and will see how it works and return the uranium.... Error.... Compressed can of air- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
-
That Levinson mono block has a regenerator?
I had to buy a ps audio regen…. -
Does this particular mark Levinson amp have any ribbon cables? Sometimes this can be an issue to look at also.
-
It does have multiple ribbon cables.
There are signs of smoke from the regenerator, which essentially supplies power to the whole amplifier. You have to completely disassemble the amplifier to arrive to the regenerator unfortunately.
Given my limited schedule and my desire to have the amps completely rebuilt previously, I took this as a sign it was time to rebuild!
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
You can see the black residue on the back of the faceplate, which is in front of the regenerator
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Journey begins, first 2 caps changed. Originals 20% out of spec 400uf versus 330uf. New dublier cap measured 335, this should be fun... 😁
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Please clean the boards while you are at it. That much dust can't be good.
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I am, the air gun should be here tomorrow- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
-
Does this particular mark Levinson amp have any ribbon cables? Sometimes this can be an issue to look at also.
From the ribbons or the pins?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~ -
Any pin/socket connection should be cleaned and re-seating as part of troubleshooting. I wouldn't suspect the ribbon itself unless it showed cracking. -
Given the visual signs, I am pretty confident it is not a ribbon cable. Especially already finding the burnt transistors on the regulator board. I do plan to deoxit any ribbon/mechanical connections.
There are also some known things to do with these like replacing the surge resistors and replacing relays associated with the shut off/on sequences.
In my research and experience so far, the issue with levinson ribbons is that the connections do not actually lock, they are simply seated and easily removed/connected.- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
