Back to a SS preamp, for now anyway.

[Lavane]

So, my main tube preamp is acting up again for a second time. And since most everything is on a PCB I really don't feel like taking this thing apart again. Its a different problem this time and I'm just not sure I want to spend any more time and money on it. So I connect up my faithful little Marantz 1060 integrated amp using rhe pre-out jacks. This little Marantz has a really nice preamp section and phono pre. Its nice and clear sounding yet has a very smooth easy to listen to overall sound to it.
I can listen to it all day. I restored it some years back going all out using Leestereo's BOM
Until I decide to get a new preamp I'll just keep using the 1060. Honestly after dusting this thing off I'm in no hurry to shell out for something else.

 

[TomD62]

If it sounds good with your other equipment, why reinvent the wheel?

 

[Mybig8ohm]

Beautiful Marantz.

How long have you been on the tube preamp train?
And just switching to the Marantz..what do you perceive differently?

 

[Bruno Primas]

Nice work on restoring it. That is the best way when owning vintage equipment.

 

[arts]

What is your main tube preamp? I know you've mentioned this previously, but I'm presently at the CRAFT (Can't Remember A F***ing Thing) stage of the aging game, so you'll have to humour me

 

[Lavane]

If it sounds good with your other equipment, why reinvent the wheel?

I really liked how the tube preamp I had sounded. I may go with something different though next time around. I'm not in any hurry. I normally use the 1060 with a Marantz 140 power amp in another system.

 

[Lavane]

Nice work on restoring it. That is the best way when owning vintage equipment.

Thanks. I had collected and restored a bunch of Marantz equipment from '72
through '74 mostly. I had a few seperates pieces from '75 to '77, but most of it didn't sound as good as the earlier stuff to me. The house sound was changing.
The 1030 and 1060 integrated amps along with just a couple low powered small form receivers was the only cap coupled equipment Marantz produced.

 

[Lavane]

What is your main tube preamp? I know you've mentioned this previously, but I'm presently at the CRAFT (Can't Remember A F***ing Thing) stage of the aging game, so you'll have to humour me

It's an Erhard Audio Aikido. I've had it since 2018. First the bridge rectifier for the heaters along with the regulator for the left channel failed. I replaced the bridge rectifier with a higher current one and I replaced the regulator. Now I'm having channel drop outs. The preamp has a gain control for each channel and a master volume control. The drop outs are random in each channel. If I turn the gain control in the offending channel the channel comes back on for a bit.
The tubes are fine, all the voltages are where they should be. Honestly I just don't want to mess with it anymore. Except for the controls pretty much every thing is on a large PCB, except for the phono stage, thats a seperate board. I have to remove all the wiring from the board to remove it for repairs. I think I want something built point to point next time around.

 

[arts]

Yep, I feel for ya! I'm sure other manufacturers have done the "remove all the wiring to access the other side of the board for service", but my hatred for servicing Conrad Johnson equipment stems from this exact stupidity. Working on my PV5 was always an exercise in profanity. At least Audio Research always gives you a removable panel on the underside of the unit..

Meh, put it aside and get back to it when you're in the mood. Life's too short to be stressed, Brother!

 

[gadget73]

presently at the CRAFT (Can't Remember A F***ing Thing) stage

I've had a case of CRS (can't remember s**t) myself for some years now so I understand.

As for things that are a CF to service, my Moscode Minuet in A pre is one of those. Its also why I turned down an offer of an original Minuet. Its not an identical board but same basic construction. I've had enough of fixing the one I own that a second was definitely not on my radar.

 

[Lavane]

Yep, I feel for ya! I'm sure other manufacturers have done the "remove all the wiring to access the other side of the board for service", but my hatred for servicing Conrad Johnson equipment stems from this exact stupidity. Working on my PV5 was always an exercise in profanity. At least Audio Research always gives you a removable panel on the underside of the unit..

Meh, put it aside and get back to it when you're in the mood. Life's too short to be stressed, Brother!

I agree. It's sitting on a high shelf now taunting me.
I liked working on the old Marantz gear. You could get to almost everything by removing the bottom cover. They used a symmetrical layout on there boards as well. I was even able to get to the back side of most amp boards in the integrated amps by removing a few screws and tilting it out without having to unsolder any wiring.

 

[gadget73]

old boards were symmetrical more out of convenience than because it looks cool, though it does also look cool. Draw half the board, then just copy the mask and flip it over to make the other side. Way easier than drawing a full board.

A lot of my SS gear doesn't allow access from both sides, but its mostly not too bad. Take out a couple screws and the board will flip up on it's harness for access. I can work with that. Its also all old enough that each board does one thing so they are both small and simple.

 

[Dandy]

Your preamp problem does sound like faulty pots. I presume you've cleaned them?

 

[mcgjohn]

once you get hooked on tubes, really tough to return to SS land. I have tried 4 times, and each time returned to tubes.

 

[63pontiacgp]

So, my main tube preamp is acting up again for a second time. And since most everything is on a PCB I really don't feel like taking this thing apart again. Its a different problem this time and I'm just not sure I want to spend any more time and money on it. So I connect up my faithful little Marantz 1060 integrated amp using rhe pre-out jacks. This little Marantz has a really nice preamp section and phono pre. Its nice and clear sounding yet has a very smooth easy to listen to overall sound to it.
I can listen to it all day. I restored it some years back going all out using Leestereo's BOM
Until I decide to get a new preamp I'll just keep using the 1060. Honestly after dusting this thing off I'm in no hurry to shell out for something else.

Nice robots, I only have one

Mike

 

[Lavane]

Nice robots, I only have one

Mike

View attachment 3831327

I like the old tin robots. The Lost In Space robot is an original. I have the original box for it also. I remember all those Japanese made tin robots and space toys from the 60's. When I was a kid I had several. When one would break and stop working I would take them apart to see how they worked. I noticed printing on the inside of the stamped tin parts. They used surplus tin used for soup cans, etc. There was Japanese writing and pictures of some soup or other food on the inside of the toys. At the time being a kid I thought they were making toys out of old used cans.

 

[Lavane]

old boards were symmetrical more out of convenience than because it looks cool, though it does also look cool. Draw half the board, then just copy the mask and flip it over to make the other side. Way easier than drawing a full board.

A lot of my SS gear doesn't allow access from both sides, but its mostly not too bad. Take out a couple screws and the board will flip up on it's harness for access. I can work with that. Its also all old enough that each board does one thing so they are both small and simple.

That was nice having seperate boards. There was one Marantz integrated amp I didn't like working on. The model 1090 produced between '77 and '78 was the departure from using seperate boards. It had connecting cables and pins for connecting things up that can cause drop outs over time. I was used to the symmetrical boards and the ease of tracing problems. The SS build quality wasn't as good as the earlier equipment like it was from '69-'76. The Marantz model 1060B was the worst. It was kind of a stripped down version of the older 1060 and cheaply built in comparison.

 

[arts]

I liked working on the old Marantz gear. You could get to almost everything by removing the bottom cover. They used a symmetrical layout on there boards as well. I was even able to get to the back side of most amp boards in the integrated amps by removing a few screws and tilting it out without having to unsolder any wiring.

Oh yeah, big fan of their construction. I have never been a Marantz user, but I will say, the ones that I have dealt with have been a pleasure to work on. I have two receivers in the que that I am actually looking forward to spending some quiet, relaxing time on.

 

[Lavane]

Oh yeah, big fan of their construction. I have never been a Marantz user, but I will say, the ones that I have dealt with have been a pleasure to work on. I have two receivers in the que that I am actually looking forward to spending some quiet, relaxing time on.

Yup. If they haven't been abused, a recap and a good cleaning is all they need for another 30 or 40 years. I cleaned and lubed the controls when I restored that 1060 years ago and they're still quiet, no scratchy noises or drop outs.
Do you replace the bias and DC offset trimmers? I always do myself. The originals Marantz used just wouldn't hold when adjusted. They would start drifting even after a good cleaning. I used either single or multi turn Boarns trimmers.

 

[arts]

Yup. If they haven't been abused, a recap and a good cleaning is all they need for another 30 or 40 years. I cleaned and lubed the controls when I restored that 1060 years ago and they're still quiet, no scratchy noises or drop outs.
Do you replace the bias and DC offset trimmers? I always do myself. The originals Marantz used just wouldn't hold when adjusted. They would start drifting even after a good cleaning. I used either single or multi turn Boarns trimmers.

I always replace them for the same reasons, usually with Bourns multi turn (4?) from the 3339 or PV series. I find the 10-turn types to be a bit of a pita.