I just purchased a Lafayette tubed phono preamp on ebay. From what I've search here, it seemed to be a copy of the RCA phono circuit.
Is this circuit worth modding (replacing all the old caps, possibley with expensive Jensens)?
Thanks!
Is this circuit worth modding (replacing all the old caps, possibley with expensive Jensens)?
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Thanks!
Congrats, looks like something the cat ... ah, nevermind, the stuff i build mostly looks the same. The RCA phono is not my favourite but others seem to like it. If you like the sound a lot as is, then it's probably worth swapping caps, etc. If you really don't like it, no amount of cap-treatment will do much good. IMO only very good topologies justify expensive parts.
good luck
good luck
Those caps look a LOT like Suzuki caps - even though they have a different name as far as I can see. You can read more about Suzuki caps here: http://stiftsbogtrykkeriet.dk/~mcs/Sansui_500.html
If they are the same, you should replace them at once - at least the ones that are supposed to block DC. Otherwise you'll kill the tubes.
And those Telefunken tubes are worth saving BTW - don't let bad caps kill them 🙂
Best regards,
Mikkel C. Simonsen
If they are the same, you should replace them at once - at least the ones that are supposed to block DC. Otherwise you'll kill the tubes.
And those Telefunken tubes are worth saving BTW - don't let bad caps kill them 🙂
Best regards,
Mikkel C. Simonsen
Hi,
Do you happen to have a circuit diagram?
The smaller orange coupling caps look like old production Shizuki caps too...
A Lafayette made in the land of the rising sun perhaps?
Cheers, 😉
Do you happen to have a circuit diagram?
The smaller orange coupling caps look like old production Shizuki caps too...
A Lafayette made in the land of the rising sun perhaps?
Cheers, 😉
Ok, finally got this thing in the mail.
The caps are "King oil caps". They look like the suzukis...
The transformer buzzes something fierce, but the signal sounds fairly quiet.
The tubes look fake to me... long plates but don't have the diamond on the bottom of the tube.
I have no idea if the caps are bad, but the sound of this preamp sounds pretty good. The midrange is a bit harsh, but the highs are superb. The bass is a problem though. There is NO bass. Could be bad tubes I guess, but wouldn't that affect the high frequencies more? or does this point to bad caps?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
The caps are "King oil caps". They look like the suzukis...
The transformer buzzes something fierce, but the signal sounds fairly quiet.
The tubes look fake to me... long plates but don't have the diamond on the bottom of the tube.
I have no idea if the caps are bad, but the sound of this preamp sounds pretty good. The midrange is a bit harsh, but the highs are superb. The bass is a problem though. There is NO bass. Could be bad tubes I guess, but wouldn't that affect the high frequencies more? or does this point to bad caps?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
No bass-bad caps.
If your caps are old replace them immediately!
I can't see your images.Maybe there's a problem with my connection
If your caps are old replace them immediately!
I can't see your images.Maybe there's a problem with my connection
thank you for your reply.
OK, I will replace the signal caps.
On the caps, there is a black line on the end of the can, is this the inner foil lead?
Where can I find a replacement power supply cap??? It has 4 posts, 40, 20, and 20 uF at 150wv.
OK, I will replace the signal caps.
On the caps, there is a black line on the end of the can, is this the inner foil lead?
Where can I find a replacement power supply cap??? It has 4 posts, 40, 20, and 20 uF at 150wv.
It's more important to replace PSU's caps than signal caps.
Maybe signal caps are OK.
There are more brands out there that I don't remember.
Still, can't see your images. 😕
Maybe signal caps are OK.
A little bit difficult to find exactly the same.But maybe you'll find it with a google search.Try JJ/Tesla caps or F&T caps or LCR caps.
There are more brands out there that I don't remember.
Still, can't see your images. 😕
I just measured the output RCA's
23volts out of the right channel, and 16volts out of the left channel.
That's bad, right?
23volts out of the right channel, and 16volts out of the left channel.
That's bad, right?
I'm so dumb. I had the switch set to the tape head. With it in phono, it is 14volts even. Don't know why the tape is so off though... maybe the switch contacts are bad.
I have a mono one of those... did yours come with the Telefunken's in the picture? In decent condition those are valuable.
dave
dave
mattjk said:
to sell for the max they need to be tested & ideally have similar date codes & the same factory code... be careful if you clean the bottles -- the silkscreen is delicate. Double check that they have diamonds on the bottom.
Are the ECC83s... i've seen those go for $40-80/pr on eBay.
dave
- Status
- Not open for further replies.