Hi folks. I've decided to have a go at fixing a broken E1 to see how it sounds in my office system. I'm new at repairing so am leaning heavily on advice from a friend who has been helping me get started in this hobby.
The amp arrived with blown fuses so the obvious thing was to replace these. Replacements duly blown, I removed and tested the output transistors to find that one on each channel had, indeed, blown as well. So, first culprits identified.
There seems to be next to no information online about these amps and no component lists or schematics, unless anyone here knows to the contrary? I substituted the MF152N main power transistors with TIP3055s and gave it a whirl. Well, it instantly fried R45, located out on the right side of the circuit board.
Unfortunately, the photo I took of the board before starting work has the resistor hidden behind the capacitor! So I now have no way of knowing the value. Of all the photos on line, the least visible resistor is, you've guessed it, R45.
If anyone has an E1 out there and they fancy whipping the top off and send either a picture or the colour bands on R45 that would be brilliant. I've pretty much given up on trying to find a parts list or schematic.
Thanks all.
The amp arrived with blown fuses so the obvious thing was to replace these. Replacements duly blown, I removed and tested the output transistors to find that one on each channel had, indeed, blown as well. So, first culprits identified.
There seems to be next to no information online about these amps and no component lists or schematics, unless anyone here knows to the contrary? I substituted the MF152N main power transistors with TIP3055s and gave it a whirl. Well, it instantly fried R45, located out on the right side of the circuit board.
Unfortunately, the photo I took of the board before starting work has the resistor hidden behind the capacitor! So I now have no way of knowing the value. Of all the photos on line, the least visible resistor is, you've guessed it, R45.
If anyone has an E1 out there and they fancy whipping the top off and send either a picture or the colour bands on R45 that would be brilliant. I've pretty much given up on trying to find a parts list or schematic.
Thanks all.
Just a quick update, I've now had it on excellent authority that the transistors are in fact TIP35Cs in disguise. So that's one mystery solved.
Still hunting the value of R45.
Still hunting the value of R45.
It wouldn't happen to be the ELECTRA E1 would it ?
Thats the only one with an E1 model tag .
Its selling at approx £100 and yes some of them are burned out too.
The designer was pretty exclusive but I will keep looking for a circuit.
Thats the only one with an E1 model tag .
Its selling at approx £100 and yes some of them are burned out too.
The designer was pretty exclusive but I will keep looking for a circuit.
Hi Duncan, apologies, I should have given it its full title. It is indeed the Elektra E1.
I like MF gear, so I'm really keen to bring this one back to compare it with a classic old Marantz, which is doing stirling duty in my office system.
I like MF gear, so I'm really keen to bring this one back to compare it with a classic old Marantz, which is doing stirling duty in my office system.
Got to love a happy ending. Well the good people at MF put me on to their service team at Henley Audio and they were exceptionally helpful. Being Austrian owned hasn't done MF any harm at all it seems.
Not only did they find out what the resistor was they sent me a couple FOC. Brilliant service!
So after a couple of rookie errors, which to spare my blushes I'll refrain from mentioning, I have now rebuilt this amp and set it up correctly and it sounds absolutely wonderful. Having a full set of new main transistors, Nichicon main power caps and Elna Silmics for all the rest of the electrolytics, has done no harm either. I also added a couple of new cast alloy heat sinks.
I have it's big brother on my main system but all the family traits are their. Lovely midrange with vocals soaring over complex, but easy to follow, instrumental melodies. Bass has punch and depth with good control for such a modest output. Can't believe it's only rated at 30wpc.
So in case you're wondering, R45 is in fact 39R.
Not only did they find out what the resistor was they sent me a couple FOC. Brilliant service!
So after a couple of rookie errors, which to spare my blushes I'll refrain from mentioning, I have now rebuilt this amp and set it up correctly and it sounds absolutely wonderful. Having a full set of new main transistors, Nichicon main power caps and Elna Silmics for all the rest of the electrolytics, has done no harm either. I also added a couple of new cast alloy heat sinks.
I have it's big brother on my main system but all the family traits are their. Lovely midrange with vocals soaring over complex, but easy to follow, instrumental melodies. Bass has punch and depth with good control for such a modest output. Can't believe it's only rated at 30wpc.
So in case you're wondering, R45 is in fact 39R.
Happy listening Mark ,pleased with the happy ending ,an inspiration to others with problems.
No problem with Austria ,same mindset as Germany so attention to detail in engineering.
No problem with Austria ,same mindset as Germany so attention to detail in engineering.