Cello - Encore Up-Grade

by James Leahy

I was presented with this classic Line Stage made by Levinson and priced at an almighty back breaking US$9,000.00 in 1990.

The customer sent this unit to me with a repair note complaining of intermittent output drop off.

This problem was emanating from a leaky capacitor problem. Very common with vintage equipment like this but well worth the trouble in up-grading to modern standards.

Over time the factory standard Wima Capacitors that Levinson used in the Cello Encore dry out and provide inconsistent levels of energy storage.

I proposed an up-grade by changing all the capacitors to premium audiophile grade Solen capacitors. Capacitors quality and their individual audio performance, provides the basic governing limiting factor to any pre-amplifier.

Click HERE for the Solen factory website and more information.

This up-grade would cure the initial problem and at the same time provide an excellent up-grade with a new level of performance for this classic unit. Workmanship on this up-grade would have to be equal if not better than OEM to ensure a pleasing outcome both sonically and aesthetically.

With new technology in capacitor manufacture since this unit was made, after this up-grade energy storage levels in the power supply and main line stage circuit will be approx five times greater than what was rated by the original factory specifications.

I would estimate from before and after testing that there was at least a 500% improvement in performance level. The difference was shocking. I had originally advised the client to up-grade to a newer unit as my initial testing results were very poor. Harsh midrange and extremely limited bass extension were what I listed in my auditioning notes. The soundstage depth was lacking with muddy and opaque micro detail across the frequency range. From this up-grade all these problem areas have been vastly improved upon to the point you wouldn't believe you were still listening to the same unit.

Very pleased am I with the final outcome we achieved with the Cello Encore. These results can easily be duplicated to other similar units with equally amazing results.

Happy reading and please enjoy the pictures below....

This is the before shot, massive up-grade is needed on this gravely ill patient.

Basically every capacitor in there had terminal cancer and needed to be removed.

Classic looking and a beautiful sounding Line Stage after the Solen Cap Up-Grade.

Separate Power Supply is shown along with the Main Control Unit.

Rear view of both units is shown.

After the surgery has been completed.

Again another after surgery shot, this time from the back.

The exquisite Volume Potentiometer was cleaned & serviced.

New capacitors from Solen.

All the old dried out capacitors that were changed and ready for the rubbish tip.