General:
Simple build Philips pre-amplifier made in Belgium in the1980's.
Front ^
Special features:
All properties a simple high-end pre-amp should have are in this design.
However Philips made many design concessions to keep the selling price low, so there is some reason to improve it.
This pre-amp is capable of driving Philips MFB speaker boxes.
This version is a /00 test-version serial # 00003 that was used for internal Philips factory-lab testing.
Specifications:
Philips F3434/00 serial 00003:
Output voltage: 1 Volt per channel
Frequency range: 15 - 25,000 Hz (+/- 1.0 dB)
Harmonic distortion: less than 0.004%
Intermodulation distortion: less than 0.01%
Signal-to-noise ratio: >95 dB
Crosstalk damping: >55 dB
Treble control: +/- 12dB at 10kHz
Bass control: +/- 12dB at 50 Hz
Loudness control: at 50 Hz + 10dB and at 10kHz + 3dB
Noise & rumble filter: -6dB / octave
Input sensitivity @ 1kHz and maximum output: Record player 2.1mV @ 47k Ohm. Tape A: 200mV @ 180k Ohm.
Tape B: 200mV @ 100k Ohm. Tuner 150mV @ 47k Ohm. Tape monitor 200mV @ 100k Ohm. CD 250mV @ 47k Ohm.
Output impedance: headphones 8 to 600 Ohm.
MFB: 2 x 1 Volt output @ 1k Ohm.
Power supply: 220/250 volts 8W max.
Dimensions: 60 x 247 x 320 mm.
Interior ^
User Manual:
Click here to download the user manual PDF format in Dutch
Schematic:
Click here to download the service manual of the Philips F3434
Modifications:
To get a fine high quality pre-amp you have to do some upgrading: the power supply is noticeable simple,
and NO fuse is installed in this version, you may install one like I did: in the primary or secondary section.
The used electronic parts are of good quality, but aging is an issue, so some parts should be replaced,
Specially the blue Philips electrolytic caps are not best quality, some were only 25% of their initial value.
Some elco's may be doubled in value, like the 100µF in the 22 Volts rail, goto 220µF max.
The pcb design is rather poor, so extra measures need to be taken: a soldering check is certainly required.
Since this is not a DC-coupled electronic design, the 2 coupling caps between the stages should be of much
better quality, I installed small MKT caps in both channels: look at the photo.
The final stage is DC coupled and push-pull symmetric supplied with +/- 22 Volts.No extra heatsinking is required, all sections keep acceptable temperatures even in hot enviroments.
The internal signal wires are not shielded but plain vanilla wiring, that can bring several dB noise,
so exchanging these wires may bring better S/N values,
Philips has a habit in this and not always benefits the specs of their audio gear, example:
the Philips 22AH270 pre-amp has the same issue and the exchange brings several dB noise reduction.
Set the transformer from 220V~ to 230 or 240 in Europe, due to the detrimental voltage rise from 220V to 240V~.
Final DC-coupled PUSH_PULL stage ^
PCB solderside ^
Backpanel ^
Philips MFB box 22RH544 is a possible companion of the F3434 pre-amp.
Sound:
The sound of the restored Philips F3434 pre-amp is very good.
