SL-23 in the House...
- Thread starter jleon92f
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clydeselsor
Lunatic Member
Looking forward to the pics!
Eagle1
Super Member
The Technics SL-23 arrived OK, nice packing job by the seller.
Pictures will follow once I have it on the bench , it needs a belt and headshell w/cart.
Thanks,
John.
While you're at it, I suggest you install some quality interconnects and deoxit/faderlube the pots. All very easy to do on the SL-23. Plus make sure you purchase the correct size belt or you'll be chasing the pitch (speed) control all day long.
I have/had two of these, one as the original owner in 1977 which I still use. Refurbished them both over the time and they play and sound very good. But they are very susceptible to hum with the original interconnects.
I gave my second SL-23 to my son for his birthday present this Feb. and he is happy as can be with it. :grnbounce He now has the bug and since then lucked into a nice collection of very clean LP's and a pristine pair of Klipch Fortes for free. :thmbsp:
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jleon92f
Addicted Member
The owner has already change the RCA cables and put Gold ends on them, that was nice, and I have not ordered my belt yet, or cartridge. BTW, what cart did you have on yours?
Thanks for the Heads up!
Thanks,
John.
Eagle1
Super Member
If you can, check with the owner to see what brand of cables he installed. If they are just audio RCA like you use to hook up components, the capacitance is way too high for phono use, measured and proven by member Hakaplan. Component video cables offered by Petra and MonoPrice have a lower capacitance/foot often superior to original TT interconnnects improving the sound quality and negating hum potential because of their shielding. I use the MonoPrice because of the cost and flexibility of the cable. Replacement on this TT is as easy as it can get compared to others I've have done.The owner has already change the RCA cables and put Gold ends on them, that was nice, and I have not ordered my belt yet, or cartridge. BTW, what cart did you have on yours?
Thanks for the Heads up!
Thanks,
John.
I currently use an AT 440ML/occ on my SL-23, but would suggest the 440MLa because the highs have been toned down a bit to make them easier to listen to with different recordings.
mr_wetland
Well-Known Member
The SL-23 was my first turntable, bought new in 1977. I always used an Audio Technica cartridge (several different models) and always liked the sound. Now that I have the audio bug, I've been wondering whatever happened to it. I e-mailed my brother the other day, told him about my new hobby, and he said he has my old TT! He doesn't use it because the belt is shot and he got rid of all his records. So it is now on its way back to me via UPS. It will be nice to see my old friend again...
jleon92f
Addicted Member
What do I need to measure the cable capacitance and how do I do that?
I have a AT440MLa on another table here, sounds awesome.
Thanks,
John.
BigNate
Member
I worked on mine some today. I'm getting a lot of static-y noise, but I'm not sure if it's the TT or the receiver (Sansui 2000X) I'm running it through.
Gonna try it through another amp tomorrow. If it's still noisy then I guess the next likely culprit is the cartridge or stylus? Or the interconnects? (It has the original ones.)
I'm kinda new to all this, so diagnosing problems is, er, a problem for me sometimes.:stupid:
Gonna try it through another amp tomorrow. If it's still noisy then I guess the next likely culprit is the cartridge or stylus? Or the interconnects? (It has the original ones.)
I'm kinda new to all this, so diagnosing problems is, er, a problem for me sometimes.:stupid:
aperh
Active Member
What do I need to measure the cable capacitance and how do I do that?
I have a AT440MLa on another table here, sounds awesome.
Thanks,
John.
You can't really measure capacitance without a capacitance meter which are usually pretty expensive. You can however use a pair of thick looking video interconnects and be more or less comfortable knowing they'll do the job. As long as you don't use a pair of flimsy skinny interconnects you'll be ok.
The only thing on these turntables is the speed pot gets crappy and dirty and it'll make the speed unstable but as soon as you clean it out it'll be rock solid again just like back in the 70s when it was new.
jleon92f
Addicted Member
Thanks, the cables look like they were replace with heavier ones. I will have this on the bench later this weekend I am thinking. Working on my Marantz TT 6000 at the moment. I always clean the speed pots during servicing. Saves time later on. I have a Belt in stock, 22.4 size.
Thanks,
John.
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Vintage receivers are notorious for static-y pots, buttons and switches (e.g.., volume, balance, tape select, tone control, etc.). Deoxit will solve most, it not all of these problems. I'd try that first on the receiver and then see if the problem still exists when playing the TT.
BigNate
Member
I opened the receiver up this week and cleaned and deoxed everything. TT still horrible sounding afterward. I ran the TT through a more modern amp, (my surround sound) and other than a horrible hum (I guess the inputs have that same capacitance inequalities mentioned earlier) the TT sounded like it was trying to work correctly, so I'm thinking it's the Sansui. I called a guy who repairs them and he tended to agree with me. I guess the next thing is recap the Sansui, which I've never done. I'm getting a new receiver with a phono input for my birthday, so if the TT works through that I guess I'll make the Sansui my recap guinea pig.
Big Nate
I have an SL-23 bought new in 1976 or 77. So am folowing your story with interest. I put a new belt on mine and it sounds fine.
Recapping a receiver is a pretty big job. But usually makes a huge difference in the sound. Pretty much any receiver from the mid-70s or earlier is a recap candidate. The Pioneer SX-636 I bought at the same time as the SL-23 is awaiting a recap now.
BmWr75
I have an SL-23 bought new in 1976 or 77. So am folowing your story with interest. I put a new belt on mine and it sounds fine.
Recapping a receiver is a pretty big job. But usually makes a huge difference in the sound. Pretty much any receiver from the mid-70s or earlier is a recap candidate. The Pioneer SX-636 I bought at the same time as the SL-23 is awaiting a recap now.
BmWr75
BigNate
Member
I feel kinda like I'm muscling in on John's thread talking about my problems, but we're all talking about the same model TT, so I guess it can't hurt to share information. 
I plugged the SL-23 into a brand new, right-out-of-the box-receiver with a dedicated phono input today. Same horrible sound, except for just the briefest of moments, when it almost sounded normal (we're talking a second or two.)
So it's something on the turntable. Should I get a new stylus next, new cartridge, replace interconnects or am I chasing some other gremlin?
The truth is, I don't know a whole lot about these things (though I've learned quite a lot since I joined AK) and I could use suggestions at this point. This quest (the beginnings of which can be read here: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=12&SubSectionID=98&ArticleID=57280&TM=83760.09) is really starting to suck for me.
I hate to whine, but I just want to be able to listen to my albums.
I plugged the SL-23 into a brand new, right-out-of-the box-receiver with a dedicated phono input today. Same horrible sound, except for just the briefest of moments, when it almost sounded normal (we're talking a second or two.)
So it's something on the turntable. Should I get a new stylus next, new cartridge, replace interconnects or am I chasing some other gremlin?
The truth is, I don't know a whole lot about these things (though I've learned quite a lot since I joined AK) and I could use suggestions at this point. This quest (the beginnings of which can be read here: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=12&SubSectionID=98&ArticleID=57280&TM=83760.09) is really starting to suck for me.
I hate to whine, but I just want to be able to listen to my albums.
hakaplan
Needs professional help
You have learned a lot on AK. The problem lies in one of those three or related. You want to check to make sure the headshell wires are intact, making contact, and properly connected. Try wiggling the interconnects and see if that changes things. Make sure the stylus is fully seated in the cartridge. Remove it and reinsert it. And while we're on that topic, what is the cartridge? Is the stylus new? Is it clean?
jleon92f
Addicted Member
I agree 100%
BigNate
Member
Thanks guys for being so patient with me. I really appreciate it.
I was assured that the TT was working fine when I bought it (yeah, eBay, learned my lesson there) and led to believe by two different repairmen over the phone that it was likely my receiver and not the TT that was the problem. But now I'm thinking I should've started with a new stylus and gone from there. Anyway, here's all the pertinent facts I can think of:
-- I have learned how to adjust the tracking force and anti-skate for the cartridge (an Audio Technica 1010E/III) and believe that to be pretty close.
-- The cartridge was/is tightly attached to the headshell. (I had to remove it to find out the model number. I put it back like I found it.) The wires on the cartridge are hooked up correctly and firmly. It does look old and could very well be the original I guess. The stylus looks oxidized (dark) to me.
-- I have cleaned the plugs on the interconnects (the originals) with DeOxit and tightly connected them, but I'll start over from scratch tomorrow and see if I can get them tighter because that brief second where it sounded right the other day made me believe something is trying to do its job correctly.
-- The ground wire is firmly attached.
My self diagnosis at this point is a new stylus at the very least or clean the old one and if that doesn't do it, replace the interconnects. After that, I wouldn't know.
I'm not sure how this will all turn out, but I'm so glad to have found AK. You folks have the patience of Job.
I was assured that the TT was working fine when I bought it (yeah, eBay, learned my lesson there) and led to believe by two different repairmen over the phone that it was likely my receiver and not the TT that was the problem. But now I'm thinking I should've started with a new stylus and gone from there. Anyway, here's all the pertinent facts I can think of:
-- I have learned how to adjust the tracking force and anti-skate for the cartridge (an Audio Technica 1010E/III) and believe that to be pretty close.
-- The cartridge was/is tightly attached to the headshell. (I had to remove it to find out the model number. I put it back like I found it.) The wires on the cartridge are hooked up correctly and firmly. It does look old and could very well be the original I guess. The stylus looks oxidized (dark) to me.
-- I have cleaned the plugs on the interconnects (the originals) with DeOxit and tightly connected them, but I'll start over from scratch tomorrow and see if I can get them tighter because that brief second where it sounded right the other day made me believe something is trying to do its job correctly.
-- The ground wire is firmly attached.
My self diagnosis at this point is a new stylus at the very least or clean the old one and if that doesn't do it, replace the interconnects. After that, I wouldn't know.
I'm not sure how this will all turn out, but I'm so glad to have found AK. You folks have the patience of Job.
