NAD 3020A PHONO SECTION TRANSISTORS

[Hifibythekg]

Recapped, and more, NAD 3020A sounds fantastic in all regards except for a heavy sounding phono section.
About to test the transistors as a final attempt to get it working perfectly.
Please can anyone add advice to my suggested approach?

So, looking at the attached photo I'm thinking of testing the transistors marked up with pink highlight.

If any test different to their 'twin' in the same location on the opposite channel I'll replace them.
Does anyone happen to know if there are replacements available for the following?
C2602 31G
BC559B PHP305
BC599B PHP310
My source is a Dunlop Systemdek II, Linn Akito Arm, Shure M55, stylus original Shure NE.

Does my plan sound ok?

 

[leesonic]

Looking in the picture above, and the picture you posted on the "transistors" thread (shown below), there are a WHOLE bunch of caps that have been changed from what were originally there. Not sure if this was you or the previous owner. And, not trying to publicly criticize anyone, just trying to offer some advice and guidance. Looking at the folders on my computer that say "NAD 3020" on them, there are 32, meaning I've restored this many of these amps. Expanding this to take anything NAD, and the folder count goes up to 61. That's my chops, so to speak.

Looking at the schematic for the phono preamp above (which appears to be from the B model), the only ELECTROLYTIC caps that are really in the signal path are C401/402 and C421/422. These can be swapped out for film caps. C417/C418 can be replaced with something low leakage like a Nichicon KL. The other electrolytics, take your pick from whatever takes your fancy, but they don't need to be that fancy. Now, the other caps that NAD used in here would be either those green mylar films, or ceramic disc. If I were upgrading the phono stage (and I have done), I would have concentrated on replacing all the resistors with 1% metal film, and only then move onto the mylar/ceramic caps. Maybe, one of these new caps isn't sitting quite right, and causing the sound to be off?

Lee.