Absolutely Gorgeous Phase Linear 3300 Ser II

[laatsch55]

Mornin Kev!~!~ Wassup in Va.??

 

[kevin]

Nutton !!!! Just another hot as hell day !!

 

[laatsch55]

Here too. 100 plus today.

 

[kevin]

Well... Maybe its not hot here !!! upper 90's....

 

[laatsch55]

Been listening to the 3300, gotta say, what a peach they are. Missing a lot of bells and whistles of say like a Spec 1, but they sound every bit as good , maybe a little better, hard to say. In a blind AB test I doubt if I could tell the difference. VERY LOW component count, and that's always a good thing ina pre-amp. All in all a great value and a solid piece of gear.


BUT----there's always a but, The traces on this "fudder mudder" board are easier to lift than a PL 0171, or a PL400C board , AND THAT IS SAYING S OMETHING!!. DAYAM!! Lifted 3 myself just on the pots, 2 on the TIS's and one on a cap----AND I TRIED DAMN HARD NOT TOO!!! If your iron hot enough to melt butter it can lift these traces.

 

[laatsch55]

And, if we ever got around to White Oaking a pre-amp, this would be my choice.

 

[NavLinear]

Looks like I'll need to be careful when removing components from the Fudder Mudder. I'll keep you posted on events regarding the recap and contact cleaning.

For the thread - did you swap out the four op-amps? If so what was your replacement choice? Did you use the same op-amp for all four existing IC's?

One thing I' curious about - did you change out the tantalum caps? If so what did you use as a replacement?

You know - I'm still waiting on the service manual. Oh well - some things just take time.

Thanks for the great thread - you do a great job documenting your effort.

Thanks - Dennis

 

[laatsch55]

The tants were changed out with Nichicon "Muse" albeit 50 volters.All opamps wetre changed out with Burr-Brown OPA 2134's, And thank you Sir. It does take time and effort.

 

[ksrigg]

I's got to be the best "sounding" preamp I have ever heard. It is dead quiet, and is just so crystal clear and transparent. The channel spepration is great. Instruments sound like they are real and not a reproduced instrument. Whatever you did, and whatever you replaced were the right choices. Or Bob Carver (or the Pioneer folks) made a really nice preamp. I simply don't understand why components which are so damn good go out of production. I guess we think everything must get "new and improved". I wish audio components and their consumers would get the same mindset as COLA drinkers. Remember the NEW COKE fiasco? Thanks again Lee for making this preamp what it is. I am thoroughly enjoying it.

 

[laatsch55]

That's why i do it Sutton, for exactly those reasons. I am tickled you like it as you do. I think you have expectations that are a weebit different than others and I'm glad I exceeded them. Pretty easy to do when you start with a unit like that.

And you are very welcome. Anything happens to it, send er back, no charge.