Record players with low volume

[Findm-Keepm]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

This is now the third time I've run into this.....

Your average 1950's three tube stereo suitcase record player, tubes test good, replace the electrolytics, and the volume is still just about barely listenable. Are the audio transformers in these things junk? I'm puzzled, because this is now record player #3 that has me scratching my head with the same issue....

You did replace the coupling caps, didn't you? The electrolytics would take care of power supply hum and output coupling, but most often, it's the interstage coupling and bypass caps (.01 - .22uf) that go bad, yielding a low output. Do you get a loud hum when touching the leads to the cartridge? With the volume at mid range, you should get a loud hum (60hz induced by your body). If you don't get the hum, a new cartridge won't solve your problem.

Cheers,