Can I fix a mark Levinson 33 Monoblock thread
Comments
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Well... changed out the 22uf electrolytics... 3 leaking, all way out of spec
Amazing this bad boy even turned on to begin with >.<- 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... 😁
You mean like this….
Inside of my Krell Audio Video Standard before the can of air.
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Well... changed out the 22uf electrolytics... 3 leaking, all way out of spec
Amazing this bad boy even turned on to begin with >.<
The anti-cappers will tell you the old cap standard was +80 or +100% and -20%.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Seriously? Wow. I'm glad we don't have to deal with them here.
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. ~ -
Two measured
.002uf versus 22uf and we're leaking
Another 5.6ud versus 22uf, also leaking
The non leaking was 18uf
In all fairness the replacement kaisai were 20.5 versus 22
20% variance seems to be the norm for sure- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Variances are normal. Tolerance is another. Staying within said tolerance is paramount to the designer's original intention.
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. ~ -
In circuits that are not in the signal path, extra capacitance is rarely a problem. In those cases, the anti-cappers are right, as long as the opposite channel (if it is split) has a similar value.
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This is a 680p 100v ceramic cap... I'm thinking to include this in my capacitor swap as well, am I safe to assume any 680p 100v ceramic cap with h 85c to 105c operating temp is good?
Is there a reason I shouldn't go to a film cap?
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I'd definitely replace it and with with same. Ceramic caps handle high heat better and that one is close to a heat sink.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 -
10 4!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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One fully recapped regulator board and I changed the two transistors that overheated.
I checked continuity thru out the board and all the resistors.
Fun fun fun!
Now time to go to the next board
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
How about this guy who was never soldered from the factory
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Oops!
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Alrighty.. I just ordered 236 parts (118 per board) for the next board! Fun fun!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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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 -
Lol, hilarious the amp to my knowledge has never been serviced since it was built- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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If your board was like that, then likely all on that run and who knows how many more got missed.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 -
I mean there's so many parts it happens right?
Honestly levinson spared no expense in the realistic sense. Very nice parts quality thru out, very impressed and the circuit boards while a pain to remove parts are very very nice to work with- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Nice find. Years ago I purchased a used InnerSound (CODA) Phono stage with a hum issue. They missed soldering the TT ground wire to PCB.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Question for the hive mind - should I change relays while I am doing this? |
Looks to be good quality made in japan NEC relays but they are also 30 years old- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Are they signal or output relays?
I remove and ohm them out. Some are easy, plugged into a base, some were soldered in. I'll apply spec voltage to relay and ohm out the applied contacts. Some of the signal/head relays I've dealt with on tape decks were no longer available new.
On some the plastic cover was easily removable. Some were sealed requiring cutting around base with exacto knife. Cleaned contacts with doubled up Kim wipe soaked with DeOxit. Followed up with 99% ISO. Sandpaper would remove silver plating. I've seen gold plated in some Teac tape decks.
When my Krell amp was experiencing some crackling playing, the ex service manager with his own shop told me to bang on top rear of amp with my hand. It went away indicating dirty contacts on output relays. The ex service manager told me he had a massive load bank. He'd trip the amp into full output to clean them. I had to disassemble and clean.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Interesting!
I was able to locate the model relay from kemet versus NEC. There is alot of nos nec available as well
Looking at the kemet datasheet they appear to be identical so I think I will swap them just for good measure.
These relays are located on the input board which tie into the output boards.
There's 4 total
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Tape recorders use lots of relays, every time a function is selected three or more relays have to click. The relays made by Omron are very well built.
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- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I had a bias trap relay on one of the three X-1000r's that had some residue in it. Some guys get carried away when spraying DeOxit on the mechanical ALPS switches on the bottom board. I don't have any removed pics. Sometimes I just want to get out of what I started and keep going.
There was another narrow relay I had to clean as well.
The Omron's in the Krell were still available. I left them soldered in place and just cleaned the contacts.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
Those are some nice looking relays! I love it.
This has been a fun learning project.
Here is what CHATGPT says about the relays in relation to the rest of the circuit -
These relays are likely used for switching signal paths or power rails, potentially to:
Select or isolate inputs/outputs depending on operating modes or protection logic.
Switch power supply paths, like routing +PREREG or -PREREG to POS_REG / NEG_REG under certain conditions.
Implement fault protection or startup sequences, using logic to control when parts of the circuit are energized.
🔌 Control:
The relays are likely being triggered by transistors or op-amps on the board, based on:
Nearby drivers like MPSA14, TIP122, or MJE15033
Associated fault detection or thermal feedback lines (e.g., FAULT, AMP_ON, THERMAL1/2)- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
The Krell KSA 250 has a protection circuit. If it sniffed any DC on inputs it would trip. I learnt that with a DIY DAC where I omitted coupling caps on the balanced output.
It was common mode DC between pos and ground, neg and ground.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
yes the Levinson has a multi relay start up sequence.
I do believe changing the relays makes a lot of sense given that they have engaged every time the amp has started up over the last 30 years.
Looks like NEC is KEMET now, so basically same brand/model etc.
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I've already changed a good bit of caps in this Pic.
Still have about 20 or so caps and 30 or so resistors to change in addition to the relays
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
Thats quite a hunk of PCB. Obviously your old can caps were just a single value. If you ever run into a project where you have multiple values in one can, Adapt a Cap is one solution. The value symbols are carried over into it. You have the option of jumpering the ground to mounting if the original was.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
