27 mar 2018, 20:15
My first serious TT was a Philips 22GA312 around 1978. Like my CD104 in 1986 stupid enough sold in time. My last TT was a B&O Beogram 3500 tangential TT with a MMC-2 element. But a new replacement is now Eur. 800 for the MMC-2. So I sold it for Eur. 350 and bought back two 22GA312 and a 22GA222. Equipped with GP401 and a GP412 Mk2 with Jico Shibata needle. The GP412 Mk2 is a very good element, in fact the best Philips ever made. And when doing the refurbishment myself you have enough money left for three brand new needles, even a Shibata from Eur. 130. If you want a real improvement you have to buy a Thorens and a very good Ortofon element but then you will even go second hand far over Eur. 1000. Upstairs I am using the 312's on a 2006 NAD (C352) amplifier, however in that time no RIAA pre-amp anymore so I made my own dual RIAA pre-amp with 5 pole DIN in and RCA out for the NAD line signal. OPAMPS Burr Brown OPA 2134.
Downstairs the 22GA222 with an upgraded Dynavox TPR-3 vacuum tube pre amp in the RIAA stage used LT1028 OPAMPS.
In the Netherlands the Philips turntables in that time era "made in Holland" are now cheap, in fact you can buy all types which in that time with a lot of effort I could afford only one with a standard GP400, maybe 401.
So I can combine and switch and try my own favorites. If you do not like it, you can resell for the same or a bit more money. The service manuals from Philips are very complete and easy to understand which helps a lot in the problem shooting. In fact so far I got them all in successful repair and upgrade. The weakest point is often the main switches which you now can swap for a suitable Alps switch 1:1 in exchange. The same switch you will find in a 212-312-222-209, recorders N4504-N4506, cassette N2521 so in my whole line 1972-1978 the same type. I prefer vintage audio from the 70's-beginning 80's. In fact your 977 was in electronics the top in Philips turntables however in mechanics too many plastic so I prefers the series before 1978. Looking at the real specs e.g. in wow & flutter the 212 starts with 0,1%, 312 0,09%, 222 0,08% all in the margin and neglectible. The 222 has an aluminium socket, 212-312 wood. You will never have any problem with these parts.
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Dynavox TPR-3 6N3P-EV voorversterker, ET-100+Teufel U.20, Theater 500. N4504, N4511, N4450, N2521, N2507, (1)408, 212, 312, 222, draaitafels +GP401/412 Mk2 Sh./MC-3. CD204, CDF200. NAD C352, C422, C521BEE+FB820. 22RH743+22RH544/79R