Turntable problem

[mightysaints]

I recently dug out out my Hifi separates to see how good it was (and still is). The sound using the deck is pretty poor, sounds like the records are very dusty and scratched even though the discs are in very good and clean condition. The amp is a Nakamichi 530 Reciever. i am using the phono terminals on the amp for the deck. All other devices sound great on the other terminals apart from if i use them on the phono terminal. The deck has a din plug to which i have attached a 2 pin (right/left) adaptor lead into it then the pins into amp (phono terminal)

 

I can't find any info on the amp or the deck

 

The cart on the deck says MMC.

The problem i have is that i am not sure if the B&O 1500 deck that has been given to me needs a phonostage or if its the amp

It could be the needle but don't know how to check it.

Is there a cheap deck out there that could just plug into the aux that doesn't need a phonostage.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

If you are thinking of buying a cheap turntable why not take a look at these.

 

Some have an output to go straight into an amp in addition to attaching to your PC. Just a thought of killing two birds with one . . .

[St Landrew]

Whatever you do DON'T buy a cheap turntable. Poor quality turntables will only produce a poor output signal which will be magnified by the amp and speakers. I would suggest you continue to investigate the equipment you already have.

 

Here's a quick few tidbits for you information:

 

Input stages to an amp that are used by CD, Cassette, Tuner, Video, etc... are LINE input stages, which require no more pre-amplification. Just turn up the volume on the amp.

 

Phono input stages use RIAA correction [look it up if you want], and are much more sensitive to the tiny output signals generated by the phono cartridge. Phono cartridges themselves come in various types, e.g. piezo-electric/ceramic [C}, moving magnet [MM], and moving coil [MC]. The lowest quality is C, and the highest is MC. C cartridges are quite high output, and MC are very low ouptut. MM are, in every respect, in the middle of all this.

 

If they are switchable, you must tailor your Nakamichi's phono stages to your cartridge. For example, do not have a MM cartridge set to a MC phono stage configuration. It will sound completely wrong. Turntable and cartridge setup is crucial. A new cheap turntable will only approximate these settings, hence the poor sound they can only achieve.

 

Modern cheap turntables ahve their own pre-amplification and can be used in the LINE stages of an amp. I doubt if your old turntable does this.

 

PM me if you need any specific advice. Just don't buy some cheap crap and think you've solved your problem.

Edited 11 January, 2009 by St Landrew

[St Landrew]

I know you said you couldn't find any information, but I just entered MMC Cartridge into Google and got this straight away:

 

http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=727

 

and from that:

 

http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=272

 

The B&O 1500 record deck hasn't gone down in history as the best sounding record deck for the price you pay, but it's no slouch either. With B&O you paid for the sleek styling, and this was always a trade off to the sound quality. Nevertheless, a deck worthy of taking trouble over, and far better than anything cheap today.

[mightysaints]

I know you said you couldn't find any information, but I just entered MMC Cartridge into Google and got this straight away:

 

http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=727

 

and from that:

 

http://www.beoworld.org/prod_details.asp?pid=272

 

The B&O 1500 record deck hasn't gone down in history as the best sounding record deck for the price you pay, but it's no slouch either. With B&O you paid for the sleek styling, and this was always a trade off to the sound quality. Nevertheless, a deck worthy of taking trouble over, and far better than anything cheap today.

Thanks for the info,i have just ordered a pre amp for the deck, if it is the deck (duff needle etc) then i will look around for a desent deck on ebay.

[St Landrew]

Thanks for the info,i have just ordered a pre amp for the deck, if it is the deck (duff needle etc) then i will look around for a desent deck on ebay.

 

Why not just replace the cartridge..? BTW, if all is functioning as it should on the Nakamichi 530, you shouldn't need the pre-amp. Cancel your order.

[St Landrew]

I get the feeling I should get my old soldering iron out, test meter and alignment gauges and jigs, and advertise myself as an engineer for ancient hi-fi equipment. Too much of this stuff ends up at the tip, and most of it is of better quality than what replaces it.

 

Just a few years back, I saw a battered [from being thrown from height] Armstrong 521 amp from the 1960's at the bottom of a council skip. I'm sure the owner had absolutely no idea that he/she could have advertised it in non-working condition, and got about £40 for it. As a working amp, probably £150-250. Collectors item..!

[St Landrew]

Remember what I said about collectors items..? Check this out:

 

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=BOMMC20S

 

My first reaction was F**K ME..!

 

As to yours, go get it checked out by a hi-fi specialist. They'll usually do it for free.

 

Btw, in its time I doubt the MMC20S cost more than £20.

[mightysaints]

Remember what I said about collectors items..? Check this out:

 

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=BOMMC20S

 

My first reaction was F**K ME..!

 

As to yours, go get it checked out by a hi-fi specialist. They'll usually do it for free.

 

Btw, in its time I doubt the MMC20S cost more than £20.

Bloody hell,$450 for the cart. Think i will get it checked out as you said and bin it if it is the cart. I can't afford that

[St Landrew]

Bloody hell,$450 for the cart. Think i will get it checked out as you said and bin it if it is the cart. I can't afford that

 

Of course, the reason why they cost so much is because it has Beogram owners, who want to keep their beautiful turntable, over a barrel, in the sense that you can only replace the MMC20S with another one of the same fitting type. It doesn't have the standard half inch fitting of more flexible designs.

 

You could probably get it re-tipped for a small amount. Anything upto £50 would be worth it. I'd actually consider fitting another pickup arm to the thing. Plenty of them around, and it would give you access to almost every existing cartridge going.

Edited 11 January, 2009 by St Landrew

[St Landrew]

Here's an interesting stab from the past. Instructions for setup and use of the elegant SME 3012 Series 2 pickup arm. An absolute classic of its time. They used to claim, under the big SME logo... The Best Pickup Arm in the World... and they were probably right for about 10 years until the rediscovery of the sonic qualities Moving Coil cartridge gave rise to many new designs. BTW, it's a PDF file.

 

http://www.retrohifi.co.uk/seriesiiins.pdf

 

I'm not suggesting you fit one off these. It would be a waste.