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2 Ch Receiver (with Phono) $300 or less, please recommend

G

gnuyork

Active Member
Hi all,

I'm helping my mom research a receiver for my dad's stereo. My dad has an early 80s setup with a Technics turntable with MM cart, and Boston Acoustic speakers, smallish, I think they are the A60s.

What's happening is that there is a hum when using the TT, and I have purchased a new ground wire and installed it for him, but that didn't alleviate the hum. I'm thinking it might be the phono input of his current receiver. His current receiver is a Technics SA-251.

Firstly, would it be better to have this looked at and repaired, or are there better modern replacements for $300 or less.

Some I've checked into (without hearing)

Onkyo 8020
Onkyo 9010
Yamaha RN303
Cambridge Audio Topaz AM10

Any opinions on the general sound of these (and paring with BA speakers)?

Thanks!
 
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The BA speakers have a good following, and represent good value. I may like other brands more, but that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with what your dad has!

Couple things to check, before buying something else, so consider trying some of these....Not in any particular order!
1. Has anything happened to the equipment lately, like being bumped, or the TT moved....I'm not aware of receivers suddenly losing their ground, leave Dynaco out of it...
2. Are all other receiver functions working correctly? FM, Tape, CD, Aux?
3. Any chance of trying the TT on another system?
4. Don't know which TT you have, but have you removed the headshell(if removable) to see if all the wires are still on correctly? BEFORE removing headshell, is the hum in both channels?
5. Do you have a phono preamp available? That way you could try the TT thru the pre into say Aux. Does the hum follow?
6. Did this start recently? After a few tests you may need a new cartridge, but that's rare.
7. Any chance you have another TT to try in the phono inputs? And if so, and it works fine, hook the old TT back up again and see if the hum returns?
8. A new ground wire may not help if the problems are in the headshell end. Check ALL connections, remove and reattach.

Report back.....
 
If you were close, I would let you take a clean working Pioneer SX-1900 to test with so you can isolate the problem and your Dad would have tunes in the meantime until you figured out what your going to do
 
Hi Jim. Thanks for the response.

I'm 1000 miles away from my parents, so not much I can do until Christmas time (which the receiver may be a gift for)... However, I did try a few of the trouble shootings tips on your list, but not all.

The change happened (somewhat recently - last year before Christmas) when my dad moved the stereo from an old rack to a different spot in the room (no longer in a rack). The TT now sits further away from the receiver so he spliced the another wire to the ground wire to reach, which is why I purchased him a new proper longer ground wire to see if that fixed the issue. Nope! I also brought from my home some different (higher end) RCA cables...and still no difference. I tried different outlets...nothing. As far as I know the hum problem could have started sooner before he moved the gear, but I don't think so.

All other functions of the receiver work correctly. I even tried to plug the TT into the other outputs and there was no hum... which led to me to conclude that it may be the phono input.

Hum in both channels? Hmmm...good question. I don't recall, but I think so.

As far as the headshell...I did not even think to check that. The turntable is a Technics SL-Q3 (I think) and the cartridge is a Signet. I'm not sure he's ever changed the cartridge, but he may have changed the stylus (I think I remember that as a kid).

I do not have a separate phono preamp, if I did, I would have brought that to try (wish I did). Also no other turntable at his house to try in the phono input. I can't remember if I tried plugging a cd player into the phono input to see if there was a hum. If I did, I no longer remember what the result was.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll ask my dad to check the cartridge if applicable.

Edit: My dad's TT is a Technics SL-Q200 (if that matters).
 
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Northwinds said:
If you were close, I would let you take a clean working Pioneer SX-1900 to test with so you can isolate the problem and your Dad would have tunes in the meantime until you figured out what your going to do
Click to expand...
That's a very kind gesture. Thank you.
 
HTHMAN said:
Do you get a hum if you disconnect the turntable and select the phono input?
Click to expand...
Ah. I was trying to remember if I did... I think I did not hear a hum with the TT disconnected. But I could have remembered incorrectly. I'll have my dad check. Thanks.
 
It really does sound like something got upset when the setup was moved so I'd definitely be troubleshooting the TT over the receiver with the ideas that have been posted so far.
You could always buy an inexpensive phone pre from Amazon if it does turn out to be the receiver. You could then use a different input until you do some research on what your father would like in a replacement.
 
Thanks all. I will definitely have my dad try some of these suggestions. I would do it if I were up there.

That aside, is there a general opinion of the Yamaha vs Onkyo sound for the listed receivers to pair with old Boston Acoustics? Cambridge Audio?
 
Whatever you pick, new or vintage, look for MC capable phono. It might not be labeled MC in an older receiver. You may have to look at integrated / tuner stacks.
 
If you buy from Crutchfield or Amazon , they both have a liberal return policy . Crutchfield had a good selection and easy to use web site . I have no affiliation with them .
 
Jim has some good suggestions in post #2.

The first step is to determine if the hum is from the TT or amp.

Your dad could connect the TT to the receivers aux input and listen for the hum. He can expect some distorted sound with very little bass and low volume. If the hum is still present, Then it is likely coming from the TT. No need to buy a new receiver or phono preamp, That Technics SA-251 is perfectly fine for most folks.

If the hum stops, It may be the phono stage. I would try a inexpensive outboard phono preamp like this.

https://www.amazon.ca/Lepy-LP-2020A...&qid=1511802829&sr=8-10&keywords=phono+preamp

It is probably at least as good as the on board unit of the SA 251 receiver and most inexpensive new receivers.
 
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^^^ Excellent suggestion.

I had a receiver that developed a terrible hum on the phono section and it was not the third (ground) wire but a problem with one of the connection on the RCA input jacks. It was not actually connecting when you plugged in a cable. The guy who repaired it (our own EchoWars) said it may have been due to oversized cables being used the so-called Death Grip cables.

If he's changed cables or accidentally pulled out the receiver with the phono cable attached, there could be a problem at the input jacks.

Or, a bad cable. If the cable is detachable from the TT (not soldered in at that end), try a different cable. The fine conductors on some cables can break internally, causing the same problem I'm describing: hum.
 
charles 1973 said:
Your dad could connect the TT to the receivers aux input and listen for the hum. He can expect some distorted sound with very little bass and low volume. If the hum is still present, Then it is likely coming from the TT. No need to buy a new receiver or phono preamp, That Technics SA-251 is perfectly fine for most folks.

If the hum stops, It may be the phono stage. I would try a inexpensive outboard phono preamp like this.
Click to expand...
I did already try this, and yes if I recall the hum stops when plugged into the Aux.
 
toxcrusadr said:
Or, a bad cable. If the cable is detachable from the TT (not soldered in at that end), try a different cable. The fine conductors on some cables can break internally, causing the same problem I'm describing: hum.
Click to expand...

Yes, as I wrote...I tried different cables. No dice. But your suggestion of a bad RCA input jack might be the problem. I'll check it out when I can.
 
SoCal Sam said:
Whatever you pick, new or vintage, look for MC capable phono. It might not be labeled MC in an older receiver. You may have to look at integrated / tuner stacks.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but my dad has an MM cart. An MC capable phono stage is not necessary.
 
gnuyork said:
Thanks, but my dad has an MM cart. An MC capable phono stage is not necessary.
Click to expand...

Understood, MC is a step up in cartridge cost and in general preamp cost which is not for everyone. Keep an open mind for MC, it makes a world of difference, IMO.
 
So I am seeing some vintage receivers locally on craigslist. I am going to suggest that to my mom as an option as well...unless you all think it's better to go brand new. My gut is telling me these older receivers will sound better and probably have better phono stages. Some options are Marantz, Kenwood, Realistic, and SONY...all of them of the wooden sides era... opinions on this? (Assuming the problem is with my dad's receiver and we replace it).
 
SoCal Sam said:
Understood, MC is a step up in cartridge cost and in general preamp cost which is not for everyone. Keep an open mind for MC, it makes a world of difference, IMO.
Click to expand...
I do know this (I use an MC cart myself, though High Output), but my dad won't ever change his cartridge (unless it's broken) if I had to guess.
 
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