Mark Levinson 20.6 Failing


hello, I recently acquired a pair of Mark Levinson 20.6 amps that seem to have not been used extensively (the heat sinks are still a dark black color)

After a year of using them, I encountered a problem yesterday where one of the amps started emitting heavily distorted sound and then shut down. I thought it was an overheating problem (both amps were very hot), so I turned off the gear and went to bed.

I tried turning it back on this morning and all went well for about an hour until the same happened. This time the amp started distorting heavily, but did not shut down. To my surprise, the amp was quite cold to the touch despite still being powered on.

Any opinions on how to diagnose the issue? I’m in Beirut, Lebanon, and servicing this amp would require me to ship it somewhere, so I’d like to fix the issue myself if possible.

Has anyone else encountered such an issue?
mariogee

Showing 1 response by gs5556

I have had the 20.6’s for over twenty years and I had the exact same problem.

If the amp is on and the LED is red, that means the voltage rails have power. Cold heat sinks mean the current source from the positive rail through the driver stage has been cut off and the power resistors are thereby starved and do not conduct the bias current.

If you are confident with electronics, remove the AP-5 card. On the upper left of the rear board, and snugged next to a red capacitor, you will see a small transistor Q115 with a white spacer on the center pin. If that transistor is defective -- or it has a bad solder connection -- it cuts the power through the rail because its emitter is connected to the common bases of the two silver can transistors next to it, which are the constant current source transistors, and pulls them on to turn on the current source.

In order to access the solder side of that board you have to remove the rear heat sink off the AP-5 card (and you will need new mica insulators before reinstalling).

Try first to touch up the solder joints of the transistor Q115, especially the base (center) pad. Be careful, those pads are small. Put the heatsink back on the board, and reinstall the card. If the amp works, remove the AP-5 card and replace the mica insulators with new ones and goop. Or you can order a replacement transistor (2N5401) from Mouser and replace the original since you have the board open anyway.

Good luck.