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 Stereo Dilemmas

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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
Registration date : 2013-05-01

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PostSubject: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 23, 2014 8:25 pm

Having given up on fixing the 1970's console system I got from my grandmother, which I previously posted about, I found a Sony DA333ES receive being sold locally for only $50. I hooked my turntable up to it, only to discover that my RCA Lab-1200 has a pre-amp ...

<rabbit trail>

All this time I could have plugged that sucker straight into my computer and didn't even know it! ARGH! Stereo Dilemmas Banging%20head%20on%20wall

<end of rabbit trail>

... and the "new" receiver expects a turntable without one. The only way I can make it work is by plugging the TT into the CD jacks. That's OK for now, but I intend to get a CD player once I find one in a respectable price range, and I'm gonna need those jacks.  Mad 

That's dilemma #1. Here's dilemma #2

After getting everything hooked up I plopped a record into the TT to record it to digital, only to discover the belt is slipping or something. And it's not subtle, either; the music from the TT definitely sounds warped, no matter which piece of vinyl I spin on it. Again ...

Stereo Dilemmas Banging%20head%20on%20wall

How can a piece of equipment be fine when shelved only to not work five years later when it is unshelved!?  AARRGGHH!

So now I'm faced with the dilemma of trying to fix it (remember what happened to the 1970's era console!) or buy a new one. And those babies aren't cheap!

Anyone with advise on a good, inexpensive turntable withOUT a preamp?
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topshot rhit




Number of posts : 3869
Localisation : Indiana
Registration date : 2007-01-30

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 7:53 am

I read one user saying he connected a preamp between his LAB1200 and receiver so it must have been an option on your's.

Sitting that long unused, my guess would be the belt, which memorized it's position. I found someone say a motor could also cause a warble sound, but if that's the case you're better off getting another TT. If it was just off pitch, you could adjust the motor, but it sounds like you're saying that isn't the case. You should be able to find a belt I'd guess.

_________________
"If you are not concerned about your neighbor's salvation,
you should be concerned about your own."
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
Registration date : 2013-05-01

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 8:31 am

The difference between my setup and the other guy you mention is probably the receiver.  I am betting that he has a receiver from an "out of the box" surround sound system, which no doubt did not provide amplitude to the incoming phono line.  I have an RCA receiver similar to that, which I actually bought at the same time as the RCA TT about 12 years ago. I think I paid less that $400 for the receiver, five decent but small speakers, a passive (non-powered) sub-woofer, a tape deck, and the turntable. Meanwhile, my "new" receiver, the Sony DA333ES, is actually a "high end" receiver that went for $400+ new three or four years ago; there's one on eBay right now for $120 used. 


I considered switching my old RCA, which is used by the entire family with the TV, X-box, etc., with the Sony, but there are other differences that make that impractical: I don't have a remote for the Sony, and the RCA requires a passive subwoofer, while the Sony requires an active one (powered, with it's own amp). I am sure I can get a remote without paying a lot, but getting a new, powered sub is definitely not in the budget. Of course, neither is a new turntable. Sad

Also, from what I have read the LAB-1200 does not have a way to adjust the motor settings. And you're probably right about the belt memorizing it's position. After all, it sat there in a single, stretched position for 5+ years.
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topshot rhit




Number of posts : 3869
Localisation : Indiana
Registration date : 2007-01-30

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 10:54 am

Are you sure you don't have a line/phono switch? They were sold by RS as well and they show such a switch under the platter. The guy that made the video had one as well though didn't show it. Not sure why you can't find this info or why it wouldn't be mentioned in your manual.

There are 2 pots for fine speed adjustment on the bottom, one for 33 and one for 45. They may be covered by a sticker. That's not in the manual since they consider that a tech job nor did they provide a way to measure the speed.

I wouldn't worry about those though until after you have the warble effect fixed.

_________________
"If you are not concerned about your neighbor's salvation,
you should be concerned about your own."
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
Registration date : 2013-05-01

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 11:19 am

I haven't been able to locate the manual, and to be honest didn't think to look for one online.  I read on a couple of forums that this was a pretty simplistic TT without any special features, so I figured I was hosed.  Thanks for the link, though; that's one forum my googling didn't turn up. Either that or I breezed through it too quick.  If I can switch off the pre-amp I'll be 1/2 way home.

As for the belt, I found one online for $18.  I figure that's a worthy "first step" to see if the sound problem is belt and not motor.  The best description I can give for the sound issue is that it is similar to a cassette tape that drags, only it's not constant but not random either. I put on an old Kansas LP and they sound a bit more progressive than they actually were! Smile
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topshot rhit




Number of posts : 3869
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 12:16 pm

My money is on the belt.

_________________
"If you are not concerned about your neighbor's salvation,
you should be concerned about your own."
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 12:27 pm

Just got home for lunch and found the switch under the platter.  As anticipated it was on line in; switched it to phono and changed the plug on receiver to phono ... and happiness. Smile  Dilemma #1 resolved, on to dilemma #2. Ordered a belt, so we'll know in a few days. 

Thanks for the help!


Last edited by BearDad on Mon Mar 24, 2014 3:43 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Xid

Xid


Number of posts : 5505
Age : 55
Localisation : Knoxville, TN
Registration date : 2014-03-12

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 24, 2014 3:41 pm

Woot!
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
Registration date : 2013-05-01

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSat Mar 29, 2014 10:16 pm

I got the new belt today; it's a good inch smaller than the old one, so either the old one is really stretched or the new one is the wrong one. The package doesn't say what the belt is for, but the site (lpgear.com) indicated it was for the LAB-1200.

So I swap out the belts ... a really simple procedure ... and the first record I put in soundrf OK. It was Kansas, Leftoverture. I picked that one because it's the one I was playing when I initially noticed the drag. Anyhow, I let it play for a while, then put the record away and did some other things. After a while I put on another record, this time Kansas, Point of Know Return, and I immediately notice a warbly drag. <sigh>. Not one to assume something is bad with one try, I put on a third record, yet another Kansas LP (Monolith), and it seems to start out fine (the first song starts out really quiet). So I listen for a couple of minutes as the songs picks up, and all of a sudden it really picks up. Suddenly the Chipmunks are singing Kansas tunes! I immediately hit stop and restarted the record, and sure enough it's playing at double time.  I let it play for a while, only to hear it suddenly slow down again, then a few seconds later speed up again, then slow down, then speed up. Finally, just as I am reaching for the stop button, the record literally stops as though it has been unplugged, with the needle sitting on the record. I tested the needle with my finger and got sound, but the platter will no longer spin.

Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to put the old belt back on and see what happens when I play a record for a while. If it won't start at all, then definitely motor. If I get a repeat of today's performance, then likely motor. If I just get dragging, then I likely got the wrong belt from lpgear.com.

Going to bed bummed. Not good. Sad
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topshot rhit




Number of posts : 3869
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 30, 2014 11:57 am

That was surely entertaining though. geek

However, doesn't sound good, no pun intended. I'm really surprised a motor would act like that, butit does appear to have burnt out if it totally stopped.

_________________
"If you are not concerned about your neighbor's salvation,
you should be concerned about your own."
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 30, 2014 12:36 pm

i just tried it without a record (lifted the needle and moved it over) and I could hear the motor hum, then after a second or two the platter started to turn. So I'm not 100% convinced it's the motor. However, I'm not convinced I got the wrong belt either, unless they simply sent the wrong one. Sadly there is no way to know, as the packaging is nothing more than a small zip-lock bag.

http://www.lpgear.com/product/RCALAB1200.html
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 30, 2014 8:30 pm

Well it's definitely not the belt, as I get the same chipmunk band with the old belt. This time they sabotaged Stryper ... Michael and the boys sounded like they'd been playing with helium! Very Happy  I also found that the platter needed a boost to spin; I'd hit play and nothing would happen if I didn't start it along with a little nudge. And it completely stopped after 30 or so seconds and wouldn't start up. So, motor it is, which means the whole thing is getting trashed as it is probably cheaper and easier to buy a replacement than it is to fix this one. Besides, I googled for a motor and came up with scratch, so scratched it will be.

I've kinda got my eye on this one; very similar to my existing one, plus has a USB so I can skip the amp and go straight to the PC if I want (although I already have a line-out to USB input doing that).  $100 doesn't seem to be too bad, although it's way to much for right now; $10 is more in the budget these days! LOL!

edit: So I'm sitting here browsing the web looking for TT deals, and I hear my lab-1200 start behind me. Just all by itself. 

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topshot rhit




Number of posts : 3869
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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 30, 2014 9:28 pm

You might scour your local pawn/thrift stores or craigslist/local FB yard sale groups for deals. Would save you some shipping money and you could check it out in person. You could see what may be available and then search for info on the specific models. As long as you can still get a cartridge for it you should be OK. I guess you also need to know whether it has line/phono output or both.

I had a early 90s Denon that worked well enough.

_________________
"If you are not concerned about your neighbor's salvation,
you should be concerned about your own."
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BearDad




Number of posts : 2101
Localisation : Huron, SD
Registration date : 2013-05-01

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PostSubject: Re: Stereo Dilemmas   Stereo Dilemmas I_icon_minitimeSun Mar 30, 2014 10:58 pm

We have a pawn shop; figured I'd go in there and look around sometime this week.  Our thrift stores are pure junk, but we have a new Goodwill set to open next month. With any luck they'll have something, but I'm not holding my breath.
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