Record deck replacement

[robgraham]

I'm getting grief from my missus because the record deck doesn't switch on. I know all about the problem but very much doubt I can get a replacement part now.

It's a Dual 505, bought very many years ago as the acceptable price 'hi-fi' player - I think I was working with Plessey then and was able to get it at a discount which helped. It doesn't get used all that often but we have a reasonable collection of LP's and it's nice to play them every so often.

It's the motor ON switch that has gone stroppy in that the playing arm needs lots of wiggles to get the motor to come on.

So there are two options - anyone know how to sort this? Alternatively, given that there are 505's on Ebay, can someone remind me what replacement 2nd hand alternatives might become available that won't brake the bank.

Rob

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Just a guess, but if it's operated by the arm it might be a standard microswitch.

However, you could always bypass it and fit any old switch elsewhere.

[The Natural Philosopher]

You can brake a formula one car, but you cant brake a bank..unstoppable over the cliff edge jobs mate.

LOTS of good decks probably around still.

I rather liked my old decca 301.. ie got a REvox parallel somewhere..but I ain't selling that!

[NT]

It probably is just a microswitch. Replace it if standard pattern, if not then open it, file the contacts clean and reassemble.

Duals were largely good to very good, but if its a plastic plinth one, some of those were pretty awful. The plastics can be much improved with generous amounts of reinforcement and damping on the underside of the plinth.

NT

[robgraham]

I should accuse you, TNP, of being a pedant, but I would have made the same sort of comment. Errors like that annoy me too, and even more so when you make them youself.

I was hoping for a few more reminders of decks of distinction from the

70's etc., but it looks as if the collected age of the collective isn't as high as I thought, and they are all youngsters who don't know what a record deck is. The wealthy ones will wonder what part of their yacht that is!

Rob

[Mike Barnes]

robgraham :

I had a B&O Beogram which was certainly distinctive and performed well.

[Huge]

I always wondered who ripped off who between Thorens and Linn, since the Sondek is apparently identical to the TD160.

[The Natural Philosopher]

well LINN Garrard 301 and better, 401. Thorens. Thorens was THE one to have unless you were going ape shit on gold plated speaker cables etc.

[NT]

I wouldnt put thorens that high up the heap. Pause controls are very useful for djing, but for home use there are plenty of better decks about.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

There are NOW but back then.. well...not really. I had the 301 with the moving COIL cartridge!!!

Bugger to put a new needle in so I switched to a shure 75 and a third party arm.

Then I got given a Revox parallel.

Then I got a CD player :-)

[Reentrant]

I have a Dunlop Systemdek with a Mission 770 arm. Haven't used it for ages though.

[Bob Eager]

Had a Garrard 301 with SME arm for a while. Still have a Thorens TD160 somewhere.

(I used to work in an electronics/hi-fi shop - Technical Trading, used to advertise valves on page 3 of Practical Wireless)

[Tim Streater]

Still got a Thorens TD160, SME arm, Shure V15 cartridge. I haven't actually set the deck up again since returning from the US of A in 1993.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I've got a TD 150. This Thorens design pre-dates Linn by some time. I can only assume either it wasn't patented or Linn found a loophole.

[Steve Firth]

NT wrote: [snip]

Cobblers. If the Thorens was so bad, why did Linn copy it?

[thirty-six]

Despite there being absolutely nothing wrong with the motor switch on my Garrard SP25 mkII, I decided to bypass it so the motor was running continuously with a mains power switch on. I cut the steel motor board to take a mains rocker switch. I disconnetcted the mechanically triggered arm return and stop because it interfered with the correct functioning of a high compliance stylus. I was considering adding an arm controlled switch but I believe it is an unecessary complication. This setup is particularly suited to singles playing.

[Mike Barnes]

Mike Barnes :

a Linn. Then a Philips CD player, followed by a Meridian. Now a Buffalo NAS drive.

[NT]

The thorens I had used an idler wheel, which on a non direct drive deck is a necessity with pause control. You're never going to get the same sort of specs from an idler wheel deck that you can from belt drive. It was a worthwhile compromise for a radio station, but not for home use. Very solidly built, but not the performance of its high end rivals.

NT

[thirty-six]

Idler drive gives a quick start and rock-steady performance. No pitch shift on the drum beat with those highly modulated singles and a low compliance needle. Of course with a proper mono stylusand cart, one could get the tracking pressure required with a big tip and still have a relatively low compliance. Some nutter thought it was good to make singles in stereo and no more mono LP's though and totally fooked it all up.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Pause in a radio station - for cueing up a record - was usually achieved by lifting the platter off the turntable in some way. To allow a much faster start, since there was little inertia, while retaining a heavy turntable for speed consistency, etc. Before direct drive.