Comments on: What is a mildly cheap turntable? http://antiquerecordplayers.info/what-is-a-mildly-cheap-turntable.htm Thu, 24 May 2012 05:22:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: shidhet http://antiquerecordplayers.info/what-is-a-mildly-cheap-turntable.htm/comment-page-1#comment-7987 shidhet Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:20:14 +0000 http://antiquerecordplayers.info/what-is-a-mildly-cheap-turntable.htm#comment-7987 You may be able to save that table... A loose or worn belt will definitely cause slower speed and you can't always tell it's slipping. Also, the belt can get narrower from wear or stretching, causing it to ride a narrower section of the motor pulley and slowing the speed. A new belt may fix you right up. If there's a model # on the table, you should be able to find a belt easily online, either from a belt / needle dealer or Sony parts distributor. If that's not it... chances are your table uses a DC motor with electronic speed control to switch between the 2 speeds. These tables almost always have 2 PC board mounted controls to fine-tune the speed settings and it's not uncommon for the settings to drift over time. You simply adjust the 2 controls with a small screwdriver until the 33 and 45 rpm speeds are perfect (do the 33 first because this control usually affects the 45 rpm speed as well). You may need to open the case or you may find small holes somewhere that allow adjustment without taking the table apart. You can print a free strobe disc that will allow perfect adjustment by going here. Use the 60hz discs if you're in the USA... http://www.vinylengine.com/strobe-discs.shtml Slower speed shouldn't cause distortion... it should just sound slow. You probably could use a new stylus or cartridge too. I'd be happy to help choose if I had the model # or preferably photos of the turntable. Feel free to message me and I could help by email. Unless you're willing to spend quite a bit... the less expensive new turntables won't be much better. They tend to drift in speed before long and come with cheap cartridges using conical styli that don't track very cleanly or sound very good. Your money would probably be better spent repairing and possibly upgrading the cartridge on your current table to something with an elliptical stylus. Good luck! Hope you get it spinning like new!!! I'd be willing to do the work for free if you paid for parts and shipping both ways. Unfortunately, turntables are often damaged in shipping. You have to make sure anything that can come loose is removed and make sure it's VERY well padded. Shipping is getting pretty expensive too. But, it could be a way to go if you're interested. I'm sure I could get it sounding better than a cheap new table for less money. You may be able to save that table…

A loose or worn belt will definitely cause slower speed and you can’t always tell it’s slipping. Also, the belt can get narrower from wear or stretching, causing it to ride a narrower section of the motor pulley and slowing the speed. A new belt may fix you right up. If there’s a model # on the table, you should be able to find a belt easily online, either from a belt / needle dealer or Sony parts distributor.

If that’s not it… chances are your table uses a DC motor with electronic speed control to switch between the 2 speeds. These tables almost always have 2 PC board mounted controls to fine-tune the speed settings and it’s not uncommon for the settings to drift over time. You simply adjust the 2 controls with a small screwdriver until the 33 and 45 rpm speeds are perfect (do the 33 first because this control usually affects the 45 rpm speed as well). You may need to open the case or you may find small holes somewhere that allow adjustment without taking the table apart. You can print a free strobe disc that will allow perfect adjustment by going here. Use the 60hz discs if you’re in the USA…

http://www.vinylengine.com/strobe-discs.shtml

Slower speed shouldn’t cause distortion… it should just sound slow. You probably could use a new stylus or cartridge too. I’d be happy to help choose if I had the model # or preferably photos of the turntable. Feel free to message me and I could help by email.

Unless you’re willing to spend quite a bit… the less expensive new turntables won’t be much better. They tend to drift in speed before long and come with cheap cartridges using conical styli that don’t track very cleanly or sound very good. Your money would probably be better spent repairing and possibly upgrading the cartridge on your current table to something with an elliptical stylus.

Good luck! Hope you get it spinning like new!!!

I’d be willing to do the work for free if you paid for parts and shipping both ways. Unfortunately, turntables are often damaged in shipping. You have to make sure anything that can come loose is removed and make sure it’s VERY well padded. Shipping is getting pretty expensive too. But, it could be a way to go if you’re interested. I’m sure I could get it sounding better than a cheap new table for less money.

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