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Marantz Meter/Dial lamps Dim/Flicker on loud passages

G

GreggT

New Member
Has anybody experienced meter/dial lamp dim/flicker on loud passages in Marantz receivers?
I re-capped all boards, except the tuner board, and replaced the original meter/dial lamps
with cool white LEDs on my Marantz 2226B.
At normal listening levels all seems fine. However, when I turn up the volume (50% level or higher)
the meter/dial LEDs as well as the DBT will slightly dim/grow brighter on loud bass heavy passages.
The DBT is normally off but will have a very small flicker/glow during the loud portions.
I tried the same test on my 2216B, not yet re-capped, and it does this too, just not as much as the 2226B.
Maybe this is due to the lower wattage amplifier in the 2216B, not sure.

I read another AK post where a comment was posted that said all of the smaller Marantz units, including
the respondent's 2240 do this same thing. Is there any remedy to help minimize this issue?
 
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Please clarify the setup and symptoms. Are you saying you are running this 2226b on a DBT while observing the dim/flicker lamps? If you have completed your work and the unit is working fine, then final adjustments (dc offset, bias, power supply etc) should be done directly plugged in and NOT on DBT. If you are on DBT and turn up the volume/bass and the DBT bulb brightens and the receiver lamps dim and flicker, then this is the expected behavior, you are drawing more current through the DBT and reducing the power to the receiver. To prove this, simply plug the 2226b directly into an AC outlet and turn up the volume/bass, the bulbs should not dim or flicker now. Try that and report back :)
 
GreggT said:
Has anybody experienced meter/dial lamp dim/flicker on loud passages in Marantz receivers?
I re-capped all boards, except the tuner board, and replaced the original meter/dial lamps
with cool white LEDs on my Marantz 2226B.
At normal listening levels all seems fine. However, when I turn up the volume (50% level or higher)
the meter/dial LEDs as well as the DBT will slightly dim/grow brighter on loud bass heavy passages.
The DBT is normally off but will have a very small flicker/glow during the loud portions.
I tried the same test on my 2216B, not yet re-capped, and it does this too, just not as much as the 2226B.
Maybe this is due to the lower wattage amplifier in the 2216B, not sure.

I read another AK post where a comment was posted that said all of the smaller Marantz units, including
the respondent's 2240 do this same thing. Is there any remedy to help minimize this issue?
Click to expand...
Plug it directly into the wall AC power. The DBT is a current limiter to be used for prevention of smoking components only. However set the BIAS current to about half of spec before plugging it in directly. THEN proceed to make final adjustments on full power. The DBT starves the unit of current and voltage and will get brighter as current demand rises from turning up the volume. And it can damage things. Only "test" for sound at low volume, but never turn it up.
 
Velox said:
Please clarify the setup and symptoms. Are you saying you are running this 2226b on a DBT while observing the dim/flicker lamps? If you have completed your work and the unit is working fine, then final adjustments (dc offset, bias, power supply etc) should be done directly plugged in and NOT on DBT. If you are on DBT and turn up the volume/bass and the DBT bulb brightens and the receiver lamps dim and flicker, then this is the expected behavior, you are drawing more current through the DBT and reducing the power to the receiver. To prove this, simply plug the 2226b directly into an AC outlet and turn up the volume/bass, the bulbs should not dim or flicker now. Try that and report back :)
Click to expand...
 
Yes, I did have it running off of the DBT as I just recapped everything and replaced all transistors on the PS/Amp Board.
I wanted to run it for a few days to make sure all was well. I did not want a failure to kill multiple devices during a burn-in type period.

I connected the 2226B directly to the AC outlet and repeated the Power Amplifier/Power Supply adjustments.
I see why many have said it is time consuming. This adjustment process must be repeated a few time to get to that
sweet spot where the readings no longer vary when re-checked.
Yes, taking it off of the DBT did stop the meter/dial lamp flicker on loud passages.

Now, the only other thing to address is the noise (kind of a slight white noise) that comes and goes during a musical piece.
It sounds like something is not perfectly tuned in, very slight but noticeable to me. My guess is it probably needs an AM-FM alignment, too.
My 2216B sitting right next to the 2226B sounds great, same speakers and antenna. It just has a much "cleaner" sound.
I will replace the electrolytic caps on the 2226B tuner board before that re-alignment. Then, a good cleaning.
Thanks for the info. on having the DBT out of circuit when adjusting/playing. It makes sense as it is a resistive load in the AC line.
I just did not think of it during this process.
 
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