Yes I would like to try it in the HITACHI but it’s resigned upstairs in a spare bedroom without speakers as they’ve been retained in the lounge with the current set up, also, having removed the 2 DIN speaker plugs, I need to create some new cables as well. As you say though, it would prove the cartridge, if same fault appears on the HITACHI. Might just give it a go later
Barrie
After all this chat about T/T’s I’m definitely going to dig my old unit out and see if it still performs. The only trouble is that at the moment there’s about 3m (10’) of “Stuff” between us that I’ll have to move to get at it,
but there’s only room for me to put “Stuff” behind me as I move forward.
Fine going to get the T/T, but how do I do it coming back holding a large, heavy plinth in both hands!
If it’s in the loft Roger, chuck the other stuff out. It is obviously of no use to you. Put the turntable in a strong bag and lower it out through the loft hatch on the end of a rope! .
Now that is an issue Roger Not sure I can advise other than moving some “stuff” entirely out of the area initially and then creating a walkway as you dig in? Then a reverse of this on the way out. Not sure, is this a loft scenario rather than a spare room type of arrangement? Would certainly raise the difficulty levels. I must apologise as I seem to be encouraging folk to resurrect their old equipment.
Barrie
And the prize goes to…Barrie, not because he’s perfectly right but because he rightly guessed it is in a room not the loft! It is in fact in my front room which is chock-a-block with “Stuff” which will hopefully be finding a good home soon. A prize of a “Thumbs up” will be awarded to the person who correctly guesses what the “Stuff” is. Clue it’s nothing that’s been mentioned on here and it’s not junk!
A puzzle! Hmmmmmm, let me think
Absolutely no idea Roger a wild guess, it’s not bibliophile related is it? Or model engineering related?
Barrie
Hello everyone, I made a pair of test speaker leads up this morning.
Connected up the HITACHI with a pair of HITACHI bookshelf speakers to try out the AT95 cart that came with my new LEAK TT.
Having tried it with my lounge set up and following advice on here regarding headshell lead connections, there was something wrong compared to my other cartridges in terms of output levels.
Plugged everything into the HITACHI and tested it with an Arctic Monkey’s album of my yougest sons the cartridge was the HITACHI original one, with volume set at 50% and a tweak with the bass and treble, a reasonably good sound and certainly loud output, was achieved. I put the tonearm back on its rest, switched off the unit and left all the settings as they were. Replaced the headshell with the AT95 one and switched on again. Cued and played the record and the result was significantly reduced listening volume on the same track with the same settings. I think this proves there is something amiss with this cartridge. I have made the seller aware of this issue but don’t expect that I will get anywhere although as I said before, the cartridge wasn’t the reason for purchasing this turntable (these cartridges aren’t expensive to replace) I have made him aware though in case he wants to pursue with the HIFI shop.
Onwards and upwards
Barrie
Right, had a response from the seller of my turntable. He has confessed that the AT95 cartridge was purchased off eBay, which probably explains why it’s a pile of c^* p The wording of his advert inferred all the work done was undertaken by the HiFi shop but not so, the service/belt/phono lead conversion was, but the cartridge was bought and fitted by him
TBF, he’s offered me a further £20 on top of the discount I negotiated, so more than happy with that outcome. Would have saved us all some head scratching had he been upfront in the first place though! Sorry about that folks but a big thanks for all the help and advice
On a different note, he admired the mx5 interior when I collected the TT and he asked me for details of SeatSurgeons, not for a 5 though but a SL350.
Barrie
One thing I will have to do when I retrieve my old T/T is to replace the thin, brown, lighting flex type power lead it came fitted with.
AAAHHHH, the good old days it’s a wonder we didn’t get killed with some of the stuff back then! I remember those bayonet fitting Y connectors that you plugged into the light socket, plugged the bulb back into one of the two new sockets and then my Mum would do the ironing with it plugged into the other spare way
If you were really clever, you could plug another couple of Y connectors into the first and have multiple outlets! OMG
Barrie
And back then buried in the wall those wires to the light switch were insulated with rubberised cloth and wrapped in a lead sheath as the ‘safety earth’.
First thing I did after buying my house in 1971 was to have it rewired. I found some of that lethal 1927 wiring while helping. Previously the meter went round with nothing plugged in and only stopped when every fuse had been pulled… And it had been recently “rewired”, but actually only the 15A sockets removed, the original spurs joined up into rings and 13A sockets fitted instead, still with the cheese-like original VIR 7/029 wiring.
No wonder there were so many fires just waiting to happen.
Brought back memories of my dad having a shave in a B&B in Scarborough with his razor plugged into one of those T connectors. He had to lean right over the bed for the cord to reach.
Well done Roger. I’m sure it will be very cathartic to finally let go of your extensive ASBO and restraining order collection.
Well, I think I’ve done the right thing. I contacted the guy a bought the TT from, offering to send the faulty cartridge back to him ( it’s no use to me) that way, he can pursue the eBay seller and hopefully get something back from them. Anyway, I took the LEAK headshell off, disconnected the cart from the wires, split the stylus from the cart, wrapping them both in bubble wrap, into a very small Jiffy bag and it’s gone in the post Need to look out for a new cartridge now, not in a hurry as I have 3 more to go at
Might just get a vintage one commensurate with the age of the turntable?
Barrie
Barrie. Check the stylus on the duff cartridge. Diamond tip is on one end of a metal rod that goes through a tube in the stylus mount usually suspended with foam. The other end of the rod makes contact with the inner workings on the cartridge. If something is bent, out of line or screwed up in some other way it could explain the problem. Maybe even a badly formed plastic piece stopping the stylus seating properly on the cartridge.
Thanks Paul TBH, the finish of the plastic stylus mount, under careful inspection, was awful, bits of blow molded plastic everywhere
reminded me of a stem on an AIRFIX kit from when I was a kid! It tracked OK and the tip was aligned fine vertically, just think it was a poor quality item all round. Too late now for further inspection, it’s inside the postbox now
Had to smile at your recollection of your Dad with the razor, bet it was a Phillishave?
Barrie
My Audio Technica stylus doesn’t look that bad. The one supplied to you could be a cheap knock off copy especially if it was bought off eBay. Did it have the Audio Technica symbol printed on the end?
Yes, one of eBay’s finest! It did have the AUDIO TECHNICA logo on it but it was obviously not genuine Sorted now though, sent the cartridge back to the chap I bought the TT off, he’s given me a further refund so I’m happy with the outcome. Thanks again everyone for help and advice regarding this cartridge (and fitting tips generally).
So, today I’ve been setting up the turntable to get the best out of it. First off, was getting the turntable level,
This record clamp has a built in level.
Then, as I’ve been using a headshell/cartridge from the HITACHI, I was mindful that it might not be properly installed. So, I balanced the tone arm with the HITACHI cartridge fitted. Then set the stylus overhang, that was easy using the LEAK 45rpm adapter as it is inscribed with a scale for that job.
Next up was alignment, used this protractor
Tracking force was next on the list. Handbook said 1.5g so calibrated the scales and set the counterweight on the tonearm the same.
Also set the anti skate to the same measurement of 1.5. Also bought a new carbon brush for the records.
Barrie
And then? And then? (From a Coaster’s record)
Hi Barrie. It might be worth re-checking the balance of the tonearm again after setting up the stylus overhang, as, if you had to make some adjustment to the overhang it could alter the balance. I have the same record clamp as you and yes it is a great and reasonably priced product (compared to some). I must say your turntable looks fantastic and beautifully engineered .