Harman Kardon Citation A transistor help.

hifinatic · 10th February 2010, 03:50 PM

Hi everyone,
I have a very nice Harman Kardon Citation A Solid State Preamplifier I bought from the original owner a short time ago. I recently started having problems with the left channel and using freeze spray have tracked the problem to a transistor (HKT-11-IND 323) in what appears to be a TO-18 package.

Unfortunately it looks to be either a repackaged third party or proprietary component as I can't find any information on it. There are (2) of these (HKT) transistors on this board and both having different ending numbers (323 and 10-3). There is also a third transistor which is an RCA 531-7403d VPYD3G (can't find any info on this one either). There is also a variable resistor which I assume is a bias adjust. There are a total of 11 of these boards with 7 of them being amplifier modules and 4 emitter follower modules.

My main concern is finding the replacement or equivalent of the aforementioned transistor. I've tried finding service manuals and Sams Photofacts but to no avail. I also contacted Harman International and spoke to a young man who was their "Senior" tech and he had no clue as to what I wanted. I suspect that he was born 20 years after this preamp was produced. I do have the schematic and the transistor numbers on the board are Q5316803, Q5316804 and Q5316864. Since the two are in sequence I figured they aren't going to be useful to me. I can email the schematic to anyone who can be helpful in ascertaining possible replacements. Any information on this preamplifier would be greatly appreciated.

Bruce

kenpeter · 10th February 2010, 07:20 PM

If all else fails, you might pull good right channel transistor and measure HFE.
At the very least, you would learn if the mystery transistor was NPN or PNP?
And measuring VBE drop can determine if a transistor that old could have
been germanium? ( I'm looking at a 2N1373 germainum in TO-18 as I type.)

djoffe · 10th February 2010, 11:49 PM

with the schematics, we should be able to make some pretty good guesses.

hifinatic · 11th February 2010, 09:49 PM

Hi kenpeter and djoffe. Thanks for your suggestions. How should I post the schematics? They are a pdf file. Thanks.

tiefbassuebertr · 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hifinatic

Hi kenpeter and djoffe. Thanks for your suggestions. How should I post the schematics? They are a pdf file. Thanks.

I am very interested to the schematic. Can you send me the pdf? Perhaps I can convert for posting and can give you some advices.
My e-mail address. kirschner-hifi@tiefbasswiedergabe.de
Thank you very much.

I am also looking to the power schematic of the associated "Citation B".

looks your preamp like post #5 ? go to
Wanted: Schematic and information for Harman Kardon Citation B from 1963 or 1964
Harman Kardon Citation A ??(???)_??????-????-?????

remiz · 25th April 2011, 07:37 PM

Hello
I have purchased Harman Cardon Citation A, but it is broken: Does not work treble. Can not find the schematic. If you do it is, could you please send it to me via email schematic ? I'll be very grateful
Best regards
Sorry for bad English - I from Russia
remiz.y@gmail.com
Yury

AAT · 01:09 PM

Hello Bruce,

I have a Citation A and i'm having the same problem as you. Could you send me the schematics? I live in Brazil and can't find it here.
My email is:

email removed please use PM or forum email option.

Best regards,

John T.

kevinkr · 7th July 2011, 03:37 PM

Note that the transistors in the Citation A are all germanium and are not easily available.
Sams photofacts for this model IIRC lists acceptable generic subs for the HK house numbers. When working well this is a very nice sounding pre-amplifier.

I used to service these units and it is possible to modify the unit to perform comparably with silicon transistors. (It is a lot of work however)

simon7000 · 05:12 PM

Germaniun Transistor Selector Guide

The NTE176 most likely will work. http://www.nteinc.com/specs/100to199/pdf/nte176.pdf

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...bEohTBjaDzY%3d

AAT · 8th July 2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon7000

Germaniun Transistor Selector Guide

The NTE176 most likely will work. http://www.nteinc.com/specs/100to199/pdf/nte176.pdf

NTE176 NTE Replacement Semiconductors

Thanks for the tip Simon7000!!!

J.T

10th February 2010, 03:50 PM	#1
hifinatic diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mid Atlantic Area.	Harman Kardon Citation A transistor help. Hi everyone, I have a very nice Harman Kardon Citation A Solid State Preamplifier I bought from the original owner a short time ago. I recently started having problems with the left channel and using freeze spray have tracked the problem to a transistor (HKT-11-IND 323) in what appears to be a TO-18 package. Unfortunately it looks to be either a repackaged third party or proprietary component as I can't find any information on it. There are (2) of these (HKT) transistors on this board and both having different ending numbers (323 and 10-3). There is also a third transistor which is an RCA 531-7403d VPYD3G (can't find any info on this one either). There is also a variable resistor which I assume is a bias adjust. There are a total of 11 of these boards with 7 of them being amplifier modules and 4 emitter follower modules. My main concern is finding the replacement or equivalent of the aforementioned transistor. I've tried finding service manuals and Sams Photofacts but to no avail. I also contacted Harman International and spoke to a young man who was their "Senior" tech and he had no clue as to what I wanted. I suspect that he was born 20 years after this preamp was produced. I do have the schematic and the transistor numbers on the board are Q5316803, Q5316804 and Q5316864. Since the two are in sequence I figured they aren't going to be useful to me. I can email the schematic to anyone who can be helpful in ascertaining possible replacements. Any information on this preamplifier would be greatly appreciated. Bruce

10th February 2010, 11:49 PM	#3
djoffe diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2008	please post the schematics with the schematics, we should be able to make some pretty good guesses.

7th July 2011, 01:08 PM	#7
AAT diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2011	Hello Bruce, I have a Citation A and i'm having the same problem as you. Could you send me the schematics? I live in Brazil and can't find it here. My email is: email removed please use PM or forum email option. Best regards, John T. Last edited by wintermute; 7th July 2011 at 01:09 PM. Reason: remove email address

7th July 2011, 03:37 PM	#8
kevinkr diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Blog Entries: 6	Note that the transistors in the Citation A are all germanium and are not easily available. Sams photofacts for this model IIRC lists acceptable generic subs for the HK house numbers. When working well this is a very nice sounding pre-amplifier. I used to service these units and it is possible to modify the unit to perform comparably with silicon transistors. (It is a lot of work however) __________________ www.kta-hifi.net

7th July 2011, 05:08 PM	#9
simon7000 diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakmont PA	Germaniun Transistor Selector Guide The NTE176 most likely will work. http://www.nteinc.com/specs/100to199/pdf/nte176.pdf http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...bEohTBjaDzY%3d Last edited by simon7000; 7th July 2011 at 05:12 PM.


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10th February 2010, 07:20 PM	#2
kenpeter diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Dallas	If all else fails, you might pull good right channel transistor and measure HFE. At the very least, you would learn if the mystery transistor was NPN or PNP? And measuring VBE drop can determine if a transistor that old could have been germanium? ( I'm looking at a 2N1373 germainum in TO-18 as I type.)

11th February 2010, 09:49 PM	#4
hifinatic diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mid Atlantic Area.	Hi kenpeter and djoffe. Thanks for your suggestions. How should I post the schematics? They are a pdf file. Thanks.

25th April 2011, 07:37 PM	#6
remiz diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2011	Hello I have purchased Harman Cardon Citation A, but it is broken: Does not work treble. Can not find the schematic. If you do it is, could you please send it to me via email schematic ? I'll be very grateful Best regards Sorry for bad English - I from Russia remiz.y@gmail.com Yury

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