Philips EL3541/00M: Line-in and connector questions

[Knut_Handsome]

Hello All,

I'm hoping some one can help me. I have a Philips EL3541 and I'm wondering if you can help me order the correct cable/s for what I want to do.

I have attached 3 pictures, one of all the inputs and two close ups. One of the din inputs/outputs on left and one of the the inputs/outputs on right.

It came with an amazing looking mic that works. Mic socket is on the top of machine and not pictured.

I want to to record to the machine using line in (not mic, as mic socket is really unlike anything) and also record to computer from line out.

1.Do i simply need a din to phono cable to do both these things?
2. Can someone run me through the sockets and what they do?

Many thanks

Lawry.

[paulsherwin]

This may help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIN_connector

A standard 5 pin DIN socket has 2 inputs and 2 outputs (i.e. stereo in and out). You will need a cable with a DIN plug on one end and 4 RCA phono plugs on the other.

You will want to use the bottom socket (the graphic means 'diode', which is terminology used by many continental manufacturers at one time).

[TonyDuell]

Isn't the microphone socket the top one in the second picture?

There was a DIN socket (maybe the one on top) for a preamplifier which took the signal from the track 3 head winding and let you play stereo tapes (left channel through the tape recorder's amplifer, right channel through an external amplifier for example a radio with a pickup input).

Anyway, the bottom socket in the second photo is, I think the 'diode' connection. This will be line level input on pin 1 and line level output on pin 3 (ground on pin 2).

[paulsherwin]

HiFi Engine have both a user and service manual FOC, though you will need to register: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_li...s/el3541.shtml

[DMcMahon]

Looking at the documentation quickly, can only see a single microphone DIN socket on the right hand panel as identified previously. No obvious microphone connection on top ?

[paulsherwin]

It's possible there's an output of some sort on the spare pins of the mic socket, maybe the track 3 head output mentioned by Tony in #3. The user manual should clarify things.

[DMcMahon]

User manual on hifiengine is in Dutch as is most of the Service manual (parts of the electrical schematic are in German), the Service Notes are in English.

[TonyDuell]

One problem is that there are many versions of the EL3541 which differ in the types of sockets used. So you have to find the right circuit diagram.

From what I can see from the symbols the sockets are :

Photo 2 (from the top) :
Microphone input
Pickup input (a somewhat strange IEC flat 5 pin plug)
'Diode' line level input and output

Photo 3 (from the top)
Monitor headphones (as it's a 2-head machine, obviously this is not off-tape monitoring)
Extension speaker

There will be one other 3 pin (or maybe 5 pin) DIN socket on the machine, I think on the top plate for the preamplifier (track 3 head signal and a DC power output around 16V).

I may have some user information on this machine but it will take me a little time to look for it.

[DMcMahon]

All the documentation on hifiengine basically refer to the EL3541, in the service manual there is a 1 paragraph reference to EL3541/00M but not sure what it says.

The Service Notes additionally refer to ER1502, saying that both EL3541 & ER1502 are in a wooden cabinet while EL3541/15B is in a polystyrene case (otherwise it is identical).

The service manual calls the 5 way connector gramophone, so agrees with Tony's Pickup input.

To the left of the 5 way connector it identifies "a switch for use as amplifier" but cannot see this switch in Lawry's photos.

The service manual has some schematic variants, one is called EL3541D/22 F + G, not all versions of the schematic show the 5 way connector. One location drawing refers to EL3541/19

So somewhat confusing when you are not familiar with the hardware.