Building a Pearl 2

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#2,230
jackinnj said:
check that you didn't put the caps in the wrong positions.
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Anything look out of place? First pic shows both boards before I got them in. Both boards seem to have the same issue. Second pic is one board in its current state. I'm only messing with one until I get it right. Sorry about the lighting, it's the best I can do at this time of day.
 

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#2,232
Let me know if any other pictures could help.

Last pic is to show that I have kapton tape under the PSU boards to isolate the caps.
 

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#2,235
itsikhefez said:
There are a few variables here, I can't say for sure why yours would be noisier.
To start, we both may have different "normal listening levels", so our baseline to inspect the level of hiss could be different.

Mine is built with 55dB, so the extra gain could contribute as well. If you have sufficient range in your volume put with 65dB (say, if you are at mid-level with your preamp at normal listening levels), then it would be worth a shot bringing the Pearl down to 55dB.

Lastly, the RN55D resistors mentioned in the PDF and in the sample BOM are 100ppm.
Wanye wrote in the Pearl documentation:

Trying to address this, I went with RN55E (25ppm) resistors, and RN55C (50ppm) where "E" was not available.
Now, I wouldn't recommend replacing your resistors and I have no idea if this actually makes a difference, but I thought it would be worth pointing out for future builders when starting from scratch.
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Thanks for replying back to me. I looked again at my Mouser order and the build guide, and I ordered mostly 100ppm. I was also reading in Audio Karma about people on that forum's Pearl 2 builds and one mentioned to be aware that it inverts phase, and the light bulb went off! I totally forgot about that and Wayne even wrote about it in the manual and Jim mentioned in the guide. I switched the leads at the cartridge, played a record and the difference was substantial; imaging got focused, bass got tighter, the noise floor dropped and I am not getting the loud screech any longer when I switch inputs. I am not sure if this is because of inverting phase or if it's just coincidence. All around, the Pearl sounds like what people have been talking about. I think now instead of loading at 150ohms, I might drop it to 100ohm because now it's a bit brighter once the phase was inverted. Am I imaging things?!
 
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#2,236
Enochrome said:
Thanks for replying back to me. I looked again at my Mouser order and the build guide, and I ordered mostly 100ppm. I was also reading in Audio Karma about people on that forum's Pearl 2 builds and one mentioned to be aware that it inverts phase, and the light bulb went off! I totally forgot about that and Wayne even wrote about it in the manual and Jim mentioned in the guide. I switched the leads at the cartridge, played a record and the difference was substantial; imaging got focused, bass got tighter, the noise floor dropped and I am not getting the loud screech any longer when I switch inputs. I am not sure if this is because of inverting phase or if it's just coincidence. All around the Pearl sounds like what people have been talking about. I think now instead of loading at 150ohms, I might drop it to 100ohm because now it's a bit brighter once the phase was inverted. Am I imaging things?!
Click to expand...

Most people can't tell the difference when phase is inverted or not.
 
#2,238
McQuaide said:
Most people can't tell the difference when phase is inverted or not.
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When something is out of phase, you lose center image focus. I can hear it after a lot of years of using the sure phono test record and the jbl speakers test record. Also, familiar records from the 60's and 70's will have the tracks bussed to one channel now reversed and that will be unacceptable if you like the song.
 
#2,240
Attach the ground lug to chassis.

Make sure all the panels on the chassis have the anodizing scraped away in spots so all the panels are electrically connected.

This is most likely not the source of your issue, but it’s going to need to be addressed at some time so you might as well do it now. :yes: 🙂
 
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