ARCAM ALPHA 5/6 AMPLIFIER SERVICE MANUAL|ARCAM ALPHA 56 AMPLIFIER SERVICE MANUAL Issue 1 (Paul Newton January 94) ‘Arcam Drawing No. HOs/o021 CONTENTS CIRCUMT DESCRIPTION [ALPHA 5i6 DISASSEMBLY REMOVING THE ALPHA 5/6 TRANSFORMER (CHANGE OF MAINS VOLTAGE UST OF CIRCUTT DIAGRAMSCIRCUIT DESCRIPTION ‘The Alpha 5 and 6 share a common pcb. The circuits are very similar and the main differences are the remote volume facility, extra power output and switch to bypass the phono stage to enable its use as an extra lie level input on the Alpha 6. Power Supplies (Circuit Diagram Sheet 1) ‘The toroidal mains transformer supplies +/-97V d.c. when rectified and smoothed by D203- 208 and C210, 211 Iinis is then regulated to +/-15V by 1C201, 202 to power the phono andtone control stages and the de. serv, The Alpha 6 transformer has an extra tapping which is used forthe remote volume circuit. The ac in is regulated to SV by zener D902 and associated components and this is then Used to power the microcontroller 2901 and remote receiver. Phono Stage (Circuit Diagram Sheet 2) The phone stage consists of a dual opamp 7303, one opamp per channel. The RIAA ‘equalization is achieved by the feedback components R703, 704, 702 end C704, 705, 702, R703 determines the gain and C708 the low frequency roll of On the Alpha 6 this stage can be bypassed by use of switch SW301 to enable use as an extra line input ‘Tone Controls (Circuit diagram sheet 2) The tone control stage is based around 2302 a dual op amp. On the Alpha 5 this is a NES532 but Is an OP275 on the Alpha 6. The range of the controls is set by R507, 508 for the bass pot AV302 ard R504, 505 for the treble pot RV30S. ‘The tone controls and balance pot can be bypassed by use of the direct switch, SW304 Power Ampiflr (Circuit diagram Sheet 3) ‘The input tothe power amplifier from previous stages Is fed to the diferential input of Q12 land 13. @10 and 11 form a constant current source for the differenti input, ‘The output devices are 'n' channel mostets SMFO45. Zener diodes D3, 4 limit the voltage swing within safe limits for the output devices & fusible resistors R5, 6 provide overcurrent damage to the devices. ‘The shoot frough limiter Q14 prevents both output devices being turnec on simultaneously This could occur if the output is clipping ‘ALPHA 5/6 DISASSEMBLY 1. Homove the cover by removing the 4 side screws and 4 rear screws. Slide the cover backwards and up. “The amplifier assembly, (Le. peb, rear, ont sub panel, and trans‘ormer) should then bbe removed from the chassis in one piece in the following way: 22 Pull the contro! knobs off the unit. The volume knob may be a bit sit, 3, Undo § screws holding the font panel, 2 at each end, plus one above the volume Pot. Remove the front panel elsewhere to avoid cosmetic damage. 4. Undo 2 screws holding the rear panel to the chassis at the bottom ofthe rear. ‘5. Undo the transformer bolt using a 10mm spanner. ‘The transformer will remain fixed to the pcb with adhesive, ‘The amplifer assembly should now be removable from the chassis by liting up on the transformer and sub panel and easing out upwards REMOVING THE ALPHA 5/6 TRANSFORMER The toroidal transformer is extremely well secured to the main pcb with a double sided adhesive gasket. To remove the transformer you must break this adhesive bond by cutting through the gasket. This will be easier I the transformer is warm. Use a cheese wire under the transfo™er, pulling backwards and forwards under tension to ‘gradually cut through. Once most of the adhesive is cut, you should be able to pull the transformer away from the pb. A less satistactory substitute for cheese wire Is to use some 22 gauge tinned copper wire, ‘stretched first to remove kinks, and two temporary handles. ‘CHANGE OF MAINS VOLTAGE WARNING - the unit must be unplugged from the mains when replacing the fuse as the ‘mains inlet and fuse are at mains potential even with the unit switched off The Alpha 5/6 amplifiers can be set for use on 230V or 115v mains supplies. ‘Thre aro 2 mains fuseholders in the unit - one marked 230v & the other 118v and the fuseholder with the fuse fited to it determines the working voltage, ‘To change voltage remove the fited fuse and ft the correct fuse to the other fuseholder. The correct fuses are: 1.04 antisurge for 230 2.04 antisurge for 115¥ Power Supplies Freampitier Stages Power Amplifier StagesALPHA 5 PLUS & 6 PLUS AMPLIFIER SERVICE SHEET (to be read in conjunction with the Alpha 5/6 amplifier service manual) Issue 1 Serial number ALS020214 onwards (Alpha 6 Plus) ‘Serial number AL6007272 onwards (Alpha 6 Plus) Paul Newton July ‘95 ‘The Alpha 5 Plus and € Plus amplifiers are "tweaked" versions ofthe previous Alpha 5 & 6 models and the basic circuitry remains the same, For this reason this service sheet has been produced including the new circu diagrams and alist ofthe differences between the old and new models, The changes are as follows: Electrostaticaly screened transformers to prevent interference pickup from fridges, light ‘switches ote, 202 copper tracks on printed circuit board instead of toz ‘Speaker fuses uprated to 3.15A (F) from 25 A (F) Mains fuse uprated to 1.25A(T) from 1A(T) for 230v units and 2 5A(T) from 2A\T) for 115v units Capacitors C16, 116, 17, 117,18, 118 added on the speaker outputs to improve RF rejection, Capacitors C10, 110 are a new type with a very linear response, iter formed by R39, C15 and R139, C115 gives better power supply rejection forthe ‘current source on the long tailed pair input stage. ‘Some of the resistors were changed from carbon im types to 1% metal film types. ‘The spacing between the left and right speaker terminal blocks was reduced to standardise the spacing on all our new productsU4 es ‘ 4AINS INPUI an MAINS Swit oo Sheena. s37v wel aahee we nan -2pF aS : ae p SeLecT voLTAGE a .| eae — BY FITTING F5201 TRI a]: OR FS2e2 ac 24,8 g orange apy | Sat Sse g Blas omit : 2 33 Ae zitge[. ™ ca tS + BEEF y “KE nae Zs lube HE | oa i) Gok . 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