EAR 834P - Sale or try and repair...
I have an EAR 834P and the volume is decreasing on the left channel. I opened the case and the tubes appear fine. However, there is some browning on the breadboard on one wire (coming from the toroidal power transformer), to the single phase bridge rectifier, and resistor (breadboard: P5, D3).
I have done some simple soldering (ex., DIY bottlehead amp) just not sure about diagnosis this issue.
Otherwise, I plan to post it on the forum for sale. Just hate to take a loss on the price if it is a simple part replacement.
BTW elrod; what preamp did you replace for the EAR and are you happy with the transition?I have enjoyed with the EAR for ~ 10 years, but am curious to try something new. Just not sure what I would have to jump up to to notice a solid improvement in performance (and at what cost). |
@bigkidz can fix and improve it |
I have a EAR clone and I think it competes up to the 2k range. It's been a while but I would say it's close to something like a Tavish Adagio, at least on the MM side (I run my clone with a SUT, as I did the Adagio). I did compare the clone to a Darlington Labs MP-7 and the MP-7 was pretty damn close to the Adagio. When my Modwright was back at mother ship for upgrades, I didn't notice any major drop off with the clone. I heard the clone is pretty close to the real deal so I would expect one would need to go into at least the $2k range to do better. I've been eyeballing that one for sale locally, but last thing I need is another phono stage! If you send it out, do the upgrades or at least upgrade the caps. If you are running a MC cart, maybe try it with a good SUT. |
I have heard this model as the original design, original design undergone modification and as a Clone version built with bespoke parts. These have not been heard in my own system but at a few Phonostage Bake Off sessions on another system and not necessarily all three in the same room on the same day. All when heard share a similar influence on the sound being produced, which is typically a loose weighty bass end. The Clone version being the one with the tidiest presentation in relation to the across frequency cohesion and the tightest of the bass lines being produced. If a 834P, was in need of a overhaul or wanted to be given a change to its voicing, the variants of components selected to be used with the Clones may prove to be a interesting investigation. |
