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,

[VintagePC]

Originally Posted by bob91343

If you are going to add a preamplifier, why stop there? Replace the whole cheapie amplifier with something decent. Even a modern headphone amplifier might do it.

If you want to preserve the antiquity, to restore it, you will have to find a proper cartridge. Rochelle salt is the material that was used for the most part; there is a web site that shows you how to make your own.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/201...rew-piezo.html
http://www.seawhy.com/xlone.html
http://www.seawhy.com/xlroch.html

Damn, those links look familiar

(http://videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=250497 , for those wondering)