Ken Nelson's Phase Linear 3300 ser II Pre-amp

[laatsch55]

Beins the PL knob fairy made a recent visit, I can now finish this project that has been a year in queue....

 

[laatsch55]

It will get audio grade electro's, new Burr-Brown op-amps, pots and switches dis mounted and given a thorough de-oxit,all transistors swapped,

 

[derek92994]

Beins the PL knob fairy made a recent visit, I can now finish this project that has been a year in queue....

Does it really need a radiator that size to keep it cool?

 

[laatsch55]

Electro's out, pots and switches out,. This is bar-none the easiest to lift traces of all Phase PCB's, IMHO of course, easier than the PL400C and that's saying something.

 

[laatsch55]

No Derek, that's the AC condenser outta my Sterling 1-1/2 ton work truck. My solder sucker doubles as a vacuum test pump...

 

[NavLinear]

Electro's out, pots and switches out,. This is bar-none the easiest to lift traces of all Phase PCB's, IMHO of course, easier than the PL400C and that's saying something.

So are you saying you lifted some? The single layer boards suck from a rework perspective - especially those special lands that are so tiny and don't connect to anything - yikes.

 

[laatsch55]

Nope those are all BL. I'm not done with it either.

 

[derek92994]

Complex stuff, going way over my head. Interesting read though, will stay tuned

 

[NavLinear]

I have a preamp from Audio Dave - a PL 3000 II that quit working on him that I picked up when I got your Spec. I believe I fixed the problem and I'll post a thread regarding the fix tomorrow. This will be my first switch surgery for an audio component and so far it's gone well. The amp has an ass tonne of switches - just does not seem right for a preamplifier IMO. I now know one of the reasons why you like the PL 3300 II - of course so do I.

 

[laatsch55]

17 relays are just too damn many for any piece of audio equipment...

 

[laatsch55]

Joe, would replacing the ceramic caps in this unit result in any sound improvement? I mean ceramics in the phono section??

 

[Gepetto]

Joe, would replacing the ceramic caps in this unit result in any sound improvement? I mean ceramics in the phono section??

I will have to look at the schematics Lee to guide you. If they are in the sound path, then for sure.

 

[laatsch55]

Need me to post the schematic?

 

[Gepetto]

Need me to post the schematic?

Let me check my manuals folder first Lee.

 

[Gepetto]

Let me check my manuals folder first Lee.

Got it Lee.

If you mean C102, 103, 104 and C202, 203, 204 then absolutely. You will have to screen caps to get within the 2% tolerance to maintain the RIAA curve properly. While you are in there, you should replace R101, 102, 103 and 104 with 1% MF resistors to improve the channel to channel balance and reduce the noise floor.

 

[Gepetto]

Got it Lee.

If you mean C102, 103, 104 and C202, 203, 204 then absolutely. You will have to screen caps to get within the 2% tolerance to maintain the RIAA curve properly. While you are in there, you should replace R101, 102, 103 and 104 with 1% MF resistors to improve the channel to channel balance and reduce the noise floor.

Also OPA1662 is a better choice for Z101 than the present amp. They are SOIC-8 packages however. Every specification is better than the NE5532 except for the input bias current which is slightly higher (1200nA max vs 800nA max). Phase would have been better served to have 2 separate devices for reduced crosstalk but they probably figured that the phono cartridge was so poor in this regard that it did not matter much.

 

[Gepetto]

Hi Lee
The LM4562 is a great choice to swap out Z101 with. Every parameter is much better than the original ne5532 device. It is available in the original PDIP-8 package as well.

 

[Gepetto]

Op Amp substitutes for the PL3300 Series 2

As a matter of interest Lee, you should consider replacing Z101 and Z102 with the LM4562 and Z103 and Z104 with the TLE2072.

Both are major upgrades, you get excellent TI quality in the parts and both are in stock at Mouser.

Sorry I misfired earlier and put PL3000 in the title heading instead of PL3300

 

[laatsch55]

The Burr-Browns sound pretty damn sweet in all 3 locations. I still have a grip of OPA 2134's.

Polypro on the small caps?? Resistors?? Yep I'll get em on the way.....

 

[Gepetto]

The 2134s are fine Lee. They are 3x as noisy as the one I mentioned for the front end devices and did not know what you were after.

The ne5532 is less noisy than the 2134 is but the 5532 is also 2x noisier than the TI sub.

If you are going for the ultimate in low THD+N, use the TI sub mentioned for the 5532 locations and the 2134 for the TL082 locations.