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Post by freddypipsqueek on Sept 20, 2015 15:56:18 GMT
This ‘project’ has taken a bit of time so I'm posting this for others reference – I’m sorry if it doesn’t sit very well in a headphone forum. I am – to be honest – a bit pleased with myself for saving this bit of kit. I listen to the radio quite a bit. Mostly it's FM, R2, 3 & $ and for the past 4 years have been using a Meridian 104 (FM only) tuner. It’s had a hard life but sounds fantastic. The dial doesn’t work and its light has gone. Last month it began to crackle to the extent that the speakers were at risk. In short I replaced all of the capacitors (the PSU input cap increased) but with no luck. I was about to give it but removed the LF353N opamp and replaced it (with a NE5532N) and the crackling was gone. The old op amp literally fell apart as I was removing it. I tried an AD823AN but the output was much reduced – I expect it wold be a case of changing the resisters around it to get it to work but that is beyond me. The NE5532 does sound very good indeed. The circuit diagrams for the tuner are here - www.meridian-audio.info/show.php?compid=164The internals of mine are as below,
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2015 20:07:11 GMT
Was it heat that killed the opamp?
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Sept 20, 2015 21:54:40 GMT
I'm tempted to say it, was but it had been in for 30+ years so the plastic may have aged as well. I'm not sure what they use for op amps but most plastics do degrade over time - e.g 30 years for uPVC windows.
It had been permanently on for the 4 years so . .
I have put a socket in so it is now ventilated below which should help a bit.
I have also hot glued the aerial socket and put it back in its case.
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pingu
Been here a while!
Reallising what has been taken on with the GB
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Post by pingu on Oct 1, 2015 21:32:33 GMT
You are lucky
My 204 lost all signal will not tune into any station and just getting mush out. Too much complicated digi tuning in it apparently so one prepared to fix it. I can not get any joy at all and I do miss it
Just looking at a Linn Kudod as replacement.
Martin
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Oct 2, 2015 8:28:24 GMT
I've just picked up an Arcam DT91 as a spare - I have been impressed with Cricket on DAB in the car. I will however run it alongside the 104 which is perfect.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Dec 3, 2015 20:05:03 GMT
Just a quick note to say the Arcam DT91 is very impressive.
The FM is only just short of the Meridian 104 and the DAB cricket is very good indeed.
Neither the FM or DAB is game changing - it is however very easy and a pleasure to listen to.
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jc
Fully Modded
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Post by jc on Dec 3, 2015 22:11:34 GMT
I must admit I have never used a DAB unit of any sort!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 22:30:37 GMT
I must admit I have never used a DAB unit of any sort! Going by the very low bit rate used by all the local broadcasters. I wouldn't even bother with one. The low bit rate and compressed .aac audio (187kilobits MAXIMUM) used by VEVO and Youtube videos is bad enough.
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jc
Fully Modded
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Post by jc on Dec 3, 2015 22:35:36 GMT
Does anyone listen with a critical SQ ear to the radio anymore? Even on FM the SQ is rarely any good. For me it's just background sounds. I used to have a so-so tuner on pretty decent antenna in the UK but haven't bothered here as radio content is pretty poor and reception is patchy at best.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 22:57:09 GMT
Does anyone listen with a critical SQ ear to the radio anymore? Even on FM the SQ is rarely any good. For me it's just background sounds. I used to have a so-so tuner on pretty decent antenna in the UK but haven't bothered here as radio content is pretty poor and reception is patchy at best. I gave up on FM stereo years ago, when the commercial stations started using .mp3 carts for automated broadcasting with no night staff needed. However, when the first FM stereo test transmissions started here originally, the quality was very good indeed, until they started to try and make their station sound the loudest on the FM band. I also tried AM stereo which was a waste of time.
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bullpup
Been here a while!
How much is that doggy in the window?
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Post by bullpup on Dec 4, 2015 16:56:44 GMT
I used to listen to it a lot when I lived in and around Herts, Beds and Bucks so much so I was going to buy a Leek Troughline and a Stereo decoder but never got around to it. Now I live in the sticks the reception and indeed broadcast quality don't warrant it.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Dec 6, 2015 18:19:27 GMT
I would not have bothered with DAB but for the cricket - it is much better that LW - the compressed sound is acceptable with vocals only and the lack of background hiss etc is a real plus. I work from home 10 hours or so a week and TMS is good background.
FM in the UK is superb. For both DAB and FM you do need a good aerial (loft is OK) which can then be linked into the coax TV cable and split at the end. I am not in a good reception area but a booster and £40 aerial have done the trick.
Some very good FM tuners can be picked up cheap on Ebay - I would recommend a decent aerial and tuner particularly if you are a Radio 3 & 4 listener both of which have very good transmission quality (and, personally program quality).
A
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