Marantz 2230 recap & LED conversion

[mark_m]

We may be veering off topic but since it's just the two of us at the moment... I played the PV-5 through a solid state studio amp recently and it was great. Kind of intrigued by the idea of tube pre with ss amp. Might try it through the 2230...

 

[pingu_turbo]

I don't consider to be off topic because we are talking about 2230s. I don't have any tube gear but that is the way I plan to go. A tube pre into my 2230. I bet that would sound lush.

 

[pingu_turbo]

Well then the other day I decided to have a little change of direction in my recap and do the led conversion. I have reached a point whereby I am waiting parts and burning in/auditioning some others.

So I began by pulling the face off and removing the dial plate itself. Was very easy to do due to being fitted with double sided tape from new.

Then removed the vellum paper, again came off easily because of the double sided tape.

As noticed by a previous poster (who's name escapes me now) I do have one lamp out.

This is one of the led replacements to go in.

All in and running.

I next swapped out the selector lamps for the leds

Then it was time for the stereo lamp, one new led next to the old lamp

Then it was time for the tuning dial lamp

And pop the new cap on the rear of the dial, whilst I'm here.

A quick test

Then it was time for the dial pointer

 

[pingu_turbo]

So then I cleaned up the dial face ready for the new vellum paper. All cleaned up well with methylated spirit.

All cleaned ready for the vellum

Dial face on. I did decide to keep the original vellum paper for two reasons. It came off in one go and it was really clean/unburned.

Assembled

The only thing with those new led's installed is the fact that they flicker around 80 Hz. It is marginally noticeable once fully assembled. Just not as smooth as the fuse lamps. I do like the colour though! Another job done and ticked off the list. :thmbsp:

 

[patfont]

Very sharp looking! :thmbsp:

 

[mark_m]

The only thing with those new led's installed is the fact that they flicker around 80 Hz. It is marginally noticeable once fully assembled. Just not as smooth as the fuse lamps. I do like the colour though! Another job done and ticked off the list. :thmbsp:

I would bet something could be done with a resistor and a capacitor to reduce the flicker and bring down the brightness a bit.

 

[ssouci]

I noticed some flicker at first (minor) and it kinda bugged me, but I have learned to live with it and don't even notice it anymore... it's less noticeable with front lens back on...btw, I had to spend at least 5 hours concocting all sorts of filters, extra velum, blocking masks, etc. etc. in order to get my lighting the right intensity and balanced between the various items... NOT easy but worth it if you are picky... the original bulbs seem to have a much more diffuse light spread than the LEDs, and tuning dial and meters esily get an even illumination... sadly, not the case with LEDs as they are much more point sources... someone needs to develop a special "optical diffuser" version of drop-in LED kits (!!!)

I will say... nice to know you will never have to replace a burned out bulb again, which is always a big pain...

also, there is NO way you will ever get true dark blue (like Marantz probably wanted) when using a yellowish incandescent fuse bulb... yellow + blue = green... with LEDs, it's BLUE for sure

I even added a blue transparent film inside in my 2230 to get super dark blue, since the stock blue filtering was not as deep as with my 2275

 

[mark_m]

Well that makes me all the happier my lights are all working! For the time being Not the case for my HK330A but I think I'll let sleeping dogs lie on that one, my garage/shop receiver. Green light though, also very hip.

 

[mark_m]

So you've done so far the p.s. caps, the tone board caps and the power amp boards, yes?

 

[pingu_turbo]

I have done the main filter caps, the power supply and the tone board so far. I am looking to do the power amps next. The parts are on order, I will update when I have them.

 

[pingu_turbo]

I don't think the led's look that bad now. The flickering is still noticeable, but I think I am growing accustom to it.

I think the blue looks ok, compared to my 2215b with standard fuse style lamps

If anything the led's look to be a deeper blue than the fuse lamps. Tis nice.:thmbsp:

 

[mark_m]

It's gorgeous!

 

[pingu_turbo]

Thanks mark_m. I think some wood is in order too really, for both of them. Some days I like a wooden sleeve and others I don't. I just like the clean look without them sometimes. What do you think?

 

[mark_m]

I love the wood if it's nice. I have my HK330A with metal cover, and I had my dad's similar Three Thirty (earlier version of same) with a beautiful wood case, and I had a hard time not stealing it before sending his Three Thirty back. I did swap my more worn metal cover for his pristine metal cover since it wouldn't be seen under the wood.

The thing is the wood enclosures are getting so much money these days. I'd love to have wood on my 2230 personally, but I agree they have a very good look without it as well. The wood is probably a bit more retro.

 

[mark_m]

You may have already mentioned this but what speakers are you running with this?

 

[pingu_turbo]

I haven't. I must first say they aren't to everyone's tastes, I am running wharfedale dovedale sp's. I think they are the mutts. My Granddad used to use these speakers with this receiver, so very rarely will I find myself splitting or rotating this combo. Nothing else I own has the same sound, I grew up listening to the pair of them so I know what they can do and any changes I make to this receiver I can generally pick up very easily.

These speakers are keepers for me.

They have been through the wars of late see here.

 

[mark_m]

I owned a pair of Wharfdale's for a while, long long ago, thought they were really nice but the tweeters weren't working right. Probably was fixable but I thought they were just shot a the time, this was 25 years ago. But what beautifully cast drivers they had. I don't know the vintage of yours but these must have been from the late 50's or early 60's I'd guess. Wish I still had them.

 

[mark_m]

Have you recapped the crossovers? That's what mine probably needed...

 

[pingu_turbo]

Have you recapped the crossovers? That's what mine probably needed...

No not yet but I must admit I have given it some thought, and had a peek inside to see what's in there. I do want to do them at some point, but I need to learn more about crossovers and caps before I do that.

I am worried about changing them too much because I like them as they are, but on the other hand I may be missing something that I don't have now. Double edge sword scenario. I have recapped a few of my other speakers of late so I am familiar with the whole crossover theory and workings, I want to know how the caps affect the drivers as to know what I want from them.

I may just end out doing a shoot out type thing with some of the favourites about. Will have to see.:scratch2:

 

[mark_m]

They might be a lot newer than what I had and may not need it at all - I looked at pics and I think mine were probably much older. In any case I was just thinking of getting them back to their original intended sound, much as you're doing with the 2230.