 Rank: HIFI Novice Joined: 08/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 55
Location: Norfolk, UK
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Thanks for your comments, Stan. Your volume control comment is interesting because our Lentek's pot has been replaced by a Bourns for improved sonics. Which would you use (and will it fit a P110)? These have been recommended: alps blue velvet or Nobel (FWIW, I fancied an Alps for the Lentek - the Bourns has bad tracking balance error at low levels). Edited by user 09 March 2012 20:13:43(UTC)
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Rank: HIFI Novice Joined: 08/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 55
Location: Norfolk, UK
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Update.
T55 tuner works, though tuning meters don't (nor do my original) and mains lamp is u/s. Immaterial as it sounds wonderful. If it continues to perform well (on the proverbial piece of indoor string 25 miles from Tacolneston) it's a bargain, as is its partnering P60: the combination is darned good for the pittance they cost.
Tomorrow I'll test the P50, though this has had heavy use and shows it so I'm not expecting much. (BTW, seller says the T55 had <100 hours use & I'm prepared to believe him - my tuner's tuning lamps failed after a few weeks in '76 were replaced & failed again so that isn't a guarantee of usage).
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Rank: HIFI Novice Joined: 08/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 55
Location: Norfolk, UK
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Update.
T55 still working.
And now so is the P50. I'm in danger of using cliches but once again there is the family CA sound:- sweet mid/treble, excellent detail and a bass that seems reticent until there really is some and then it is deep, detailed and tuneful.
Obviously, old caps etc. will have aged so I expect faults but refurbishment isn't too far away.
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 Rank: HIFI Newbie Joined: 13/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 4 ![United Kingdom]( "United Kingdom") Thanks: 1 times
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How Do. I was wondering if Martin Colloms had any insight into why the P40's output was so fragile?
Last year I bought a faulty P50 which came with a P40 for spares, which was in a pretty dire state being rusty with the end cheeks missing and the insides covered in muck. Seemed as if it had been left in a garage for decades. I love the design of the P range, especially the layout of the P60, and it was quite sad to see one in such a state. My initial thought was just to put it in the loft - but I couldn't do that. So I stripped and cleaned it and started to re-build it.
Judging by labels on the case from servicing, it had been repaired at least twice with the same channel being shorted; the other channel was original with the original MJE 29/3055 output devices. The other channel had a replacement MJE with a TIP device. All the transistors for this channel on the power amp board had been replaced with equivalent types.
I would like to use more modern faster output types - but I'm not sure what. I was wondering what was used in the P60 and P100. Might be wrong in thinking the latter uses T03 style devices.
Was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of re-wiring it without a diagram, so I took some photos and made drawings of the connectors and loom. Just hope I get it right.
Modern smoothing capacitors are quite smaller and I was wondering if the space could be best used for seperate rectification and smoothing for the phono and preamp.
It appears to be a late version as the power amp is marked P40-08.
I was pleased to read about Richard B's adventvres. I've had no luck with finding a P60 but I do have a T55. You can replace the tuning lamps with red leds and dropping resistors. Ultra-bright leds can be had now and these can be used to light the scale.
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 Rank: Administrator Joined: 15/07/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,851
Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 8 post(s)
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Stan will be best on this
but faster devices will probably render it unstable
It has clearly been bodged and you will have to take a view ,
or if you like it, buy another in better condition
MartinC
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 1 user thanked Martin Colloms for this useful post.
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Rank: HIFI Newbie Joined: 13/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 4 ![United Kingdom]( "United Kingdom") Thanks: 1 times
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Hi Richard,
I've tried to send a pm and email but for whatever reason, they don't get sent.
Just to ask if you knew that there is a Vintage Cambridge Audio Google Group? Little activity, but you can download documents relating to the P50/60/80/100/110 and T55 and R50. Some of which were uploaded by Mr Curtis.
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Rank: HIFI Novice Joined: 08/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 55
Location: Norfolk, UK
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Above, organstan said, "Building a P110 or P60 with modern components, particularly volume controls (!!!)...". FWIW, Stan, you may be interested to know that I just had an Alps Blue Velvet volume pot fitted to a P110. The original had the usual poor channel matching at low levels and was also found to be way out of spec at 80k instead of 50k. Improved channel balance at low level settings was the target and has been achieved but sonics have improved noticeably, too, probably related to the causes of the out of spec 80k. Most of a mild tendency to mid hardness has gone, sound is slightly warmer yet much more detailed with greater depth and stereo focus whilst transient attack is better still. A worthwhile upgrade for any vintage gear I suggest. Edited by user 04 April 2012 22:23:14(UTC)
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 Rank: HIFI Veteran Joined: 25/11/2008(UTC)
Posts: 982
Location: UK
Was thanked: 2 time(s) in 2 post(s)
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Originally Posted by: Bruce Wayne  I would like to use more modern faster output types - but I'm not sure what. I was wondering what was used in the P60 and P100. Might be wrong in thinking the latter uses T03 style devices.
Faster types will have smaller safe operating areas and will prove MORE fragile than what's in there now - the last thing you want.
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Rank: HIFI Novice Joined: 08/03/2009(UTC)
Posts: 55
Location: Norfolk, UK
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Martin, I agree re the industrial design - no-one's bettered it since (apart from Boothroyd Stuart and their Lecson) IMHO. I'd be interested to hear what you think of your P50, Martin, once it's been recapped and maybe had similar tweaks to those below. Apart from full recapping, P110 & P50 Mk2 amp modifications have included longer banana sockets, reducing Aux input sensitivity by 10.4db for CD input and (with a nod to Stan) an Alps Blue Velvet volume pot: low level balance is now virtually perfect. Unfortunately, it looks as though an Alps for the P60 power amp pot isn't feasible as it's switched - any ideas? Of course, the P60 doesn't need an Aux input mod but its nasty DIN speaker sockets are a pain so, again, any ideas (current thought is very short flying leads using a Delron plug to in line banana sockets)? Update on P50 Mk2:- the refurbished P50 sounds quite superb. Listening to a CD we know very well made us wonder if someone had replaced it with a better sounding one! No need for any more superlatives but we're still wondering how far the industry has really travelled sonics-wise. Update on cheap T55 FM tuner:- it just packed up! No idea what is wrong so off to be fettled. Edited by user 30 April 2012 22:26:08(UTC)
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Rank: HIFI Newbie Joined: 16/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1
Location: Cumbria
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I have a Cambridge P110 which, as far as I know is in good working order. If anyone is interested in buying it I can check it out.
Rogerc
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Rank: Administrator Joined: 15/07/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,851
Was thanked: 8 time(s) in 8 post(s)
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Our opinions on sound quality for some components was limited by the sources and other links in the chain
..........we always thought , aside for poor reliability, that the early Cambridges were special , right from the mid 70's
these and some early valve amps rate well now , while others have sunk in to the noise floor
MartinC
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