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SP10 Mk II vs Mk III

A couple of guys here were planning to do listening comparisons of the Technics SP10 Mk II vs the Mk III, in their own homes and systems. Has anyone actually completed such a comparison? I am wondering whether the "upgrade" to the Mk III is actually worth it in terms of audible differences between the two tables. Possibly mounting either table in a well done wooden or slate plinth mitigates any sonic differences that would otherwise be heard. I am thinking of Albert Porter and Mike Lavigne in particular, who were going to do the comparison. Thanks for any response.
lewm
jlin
57 posts
 
One substitution you could consider for all those 1 uf 50 volt electrolytics are the Panasonic V series stacked metallized film caps sold by Digi-Key (part no. P4675-ND). These are very compact, low dissipation factor, non-inductive construction, and probably last much longer than any electrolytics.
ckniker
26 posts
 
RE: How about the 1pF electrolytic capacitor?

Just for the sake of others reading this message in the future....

The "1pF 50V" electrolytic capacitor listed in the SP10 MarkII Service Manual (for the Logic Circuit Board) is clearly a typo and SHOULD be listed as a "1uF 50V" electrolytic.

Like Lewm, I was equally confused when I noticed a 1pF electrolytic in the parts list.

The Part No. in the Service Manual (ECEA50V1) is correct, however, and identifies the correct value (1uF).

Chris
lewm OP
13,171 posts
 
I just re-capped an entire MkII. You are correct. There is no 1pF cap anywhere, but then again I/we have found a few other errors in the Service Manual, most notably in the regulator circuit for the 5V supply in the PS module. One of the transistors is incorrectly designated as PNP type when it should be NPN (or vice-versa?), which caused me to have to give my PS to Bill Thalmann (super tech in Springfield, VA), who found the error quickly and easily. In point of fact, I doubt that a 1 pF cap exists; it is too tiny in value to manufacture with any degree of tolerance and moreover it is too small in value to make much difference. You get much more capacitance by just twisting wires. That's why I doubted its existence in the first place. There sure were a lot of those 1uF/50V caps, however, in the onboard electronic modules.
ckniker
26 posts
 
DId you replace all the caps or just the electrolytics?

Did you substitute film caps for the 1uF electrolytics (as suggested by Jlin)? I've given this thought but wondered if the (larger) film caps would fit in the same footprint.

Chris

p.s. I've ordered a complete set of electrolytics and will do as you've done as soon as they arrive in the mail.
lewm OP
13,171 posts
 
I did not bother with the film caps, as per the opinion of Bill Thalmann, who says they tend to last indefinitely unless they are subject to excessive voltage beyond their rating. Also, I refuse to believe that one could "hear" the difference between the stock film caps and boutique audiophile caps, in the context of the tt electronics. One would be better off upgrading the diodes with lower noise parts.
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