phase linear 3000 preamplifier

T-wrecks

T-wrecks

New Around These Parts
Joined
Feb 21, 2015
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45
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Good day gents, wondering if I should try repairing this old PL 3000 series 2. Supposedly this unit had been "recapped" by someone in Wisconsin. It does turn on and pass audio. Some of the weird shit it does include: volume rises and falls on aux and tuner, channels seem to cut out. phono channel is muffled and distorted. i have read all about the relays in this unit. Opening it up reveals only SOME of the caps were replaced.
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i thought this relay had melted at first. they actually glued it somehow to the pcb with some black tar. seems they destroyed the traces.
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here is the solder side of those flying leads
 
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coolest rack handles ever
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phono one and two, more original electrolytes, and some that have been replaced. I suppose I should replace those? I would love to have a working phono channel.
 
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Sealed and detented volume pot. I have to say there is some quality in this unit. Heavy chassis. Thick aluminum front plate.
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futronix type 1
 
In the past I have gotten away with using solder braid and a 15 watt pencil to desolder. I wonder if I might want to invest in a desolder iron, if I take this on. Does anybody have suggestions on how to turn this sows ear to a silk purse? I have some ideas. This is what im thinking;

- replace all the crappy relays, install sockets for easy maintenance (it looks like sockets for this would just be a 16 pin sDIP?)
- replace more electrolytics in the two phono stages
- ?? and then
 
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Be careful messing with the phono stage, what you think are electrolytics may be polystyrene--extremely sensitive to heat---requires a heatsink to desolder or solder. Know which caps you are messing with. Check the service manual for identification. If you don't have a service manual.....GET ONE...
 
ok the polysterenes are the pink and clear silver axial caps I think. thanks you for the warning. I have the service manual. so am I crazy? should I set this thing on fire? launch it out the window? target practice?
 
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Once you get those 14 relays (or 17) swapped out, upgrade some IC's, change out some caps, chase down a bunch of cold solder joints on bad traces.......yeah , it's a keeper...
 
Holy crap I feel amazing today. ordered 10 relays off an shady Ebay seller. Have some 16 pin dip sockets and solder braid coming from digikey.:colors:
 
Yeah T-Wrecks...what he said...sockets are not needed. This will be the last time you replace those relays..
 
Ok so I will be taking yalls advice and NOt using sockets then, except for this one, which will be used to fix the damaged pcb.
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have wanted one of these for a long time, perfect excuse :toothy8:
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That's very nice!
 
Or it could be he wants a coffee table on which it sits.... Or the house where it's sitting.... Hmmmmm
 
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lol yes, yes its the hakko de-soldering gun :love4:
 
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