• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Braun SK 55 External Speaker Jack

C

casagrande

New Member
Hello!

I've acquired a lovely Braun SK 55 turntable system, I believe from 1962. Though it's not particularly a hi-fi system, it still sounds quite well. I've noticed you can install external speakers (to gain stereo sound) via a jack at the rear of the unit. I understand that you can accompany it with a L1 or L11 speaker, but I don't want to spend quite that amount of money on one! So, I was wondering if anyone can help me identify this jack, and see if there's any solutions to attach other types of speakers.

Find attached a picture of the unit, and also a picture of the rear connections (the jack I'm questioning is the one of the far right).

Thank you!


Jackson
 

Attachments

  • braun sk55.jpg
    braun sk55.jpg
    31.6 KB · Views: 35
  • braun sk55 back.jpg
    braun sk55 back.jpg
    58.9 KB · Views: 47
Register to hide this ad
Typical DIN speaker plug. Should be available in the US but maybe a little hard to find. The wide slot is the negative, and I suspect the two others are positive, one mutes the internal speaker, the other doesn't, giving you stereo sound. As long as the electrical characteristics are right you should be able to use any speakers. Some people even stick wires into the jack.
 
casagrande said:
Thanks a lot for the information! The top slot is what confused me the most! Should I invest in something like this:

http://www.audiospares.com/product.php?productid=656&cat=0&page=1

Or will this just get me mono sound?


Jackson
Click to expand...
Well you only need the end with the blades in it, unless you want to use rca for your speaker connection.
What you are adding to Snow Whites Coffin is a speaker, 2 wires. By adding that speaker, you will end up with 2 working, one in the Braun and the one you added, thus stereo I guess. You see the plug you show has 2 blades..thats it positive and ground. I never have figured out why they have 3 holes in those sockets, but there are only 2 wires going to the back side of it I would bet (though it would be great to make sure.
Anyway, the male plug I believe is an ebay findable item (for obscene prices iirc), then you would just solder speaker wire into the plug and there you go (though some have little bitty screw terminals inside them so no soldering needed).
Btw..you may have literature for this but just in case, I would guess that the extension speaker for that would want to be 4 ohms, maybe 10 watts or so. But to make sure, I think I would get into that case and see what the existing speaker is rated at and try to match as close as you can (hoping that they were nice enough to print the ratings on the speaker magnet).
Only other possibility would be to find the schematic (google images) or a manual...the schematic may be inside the case somewhere.
 
Last edited:
bobaloniny said:
I never have figured out why they have 3 holes in those sockets, but there are only 2 wires going to the back side of it I would bet (though it would be great to make sure.
Click to expand...

Some of these jacks had a muting switch for the unit's internal speaker, thus three holes. You could flip the speaker plug upside down giving you either both internal and external speaker on or only external, internal muted. That's the most likely explanation for three holes (many of my portable RTRs have that setup).
 
Ragnar_AT said:
Some of these jacks had a muting switch for the unit's internal speaker, thus three holes. You could flip the speaker plug upside down giving you either both internal and external speaker on or only external, internal muted. That's the most likely explanation for three holes (many of my portable RTRs have that setup).
Click to expand...

Good on you for that info, Id never seen that option on any of my stuff thought the 3rd hole was there, but then in my applications there was no internal speaker to bother muting.
 
Thanks a lot for all the responses! I have another problem. When I received the unit from Germany, the cartridge wires were disconnected (a common design flaw with SK 55s, the head of the tone arm slides off, and this occurred during transit and as a result the wires got snapped off!) so I've soldered them back on. Everything works, but there is this terrible hum, and the audio is quite quiet on full volume, as if the hum is taking over the amplification! My power is grounded, and I've tried moving the power lead around with no success. I should also mention that the radio has no hum whatsoever, just on phono. If anyone can lend any advice, I would be terribly grateful.
 
casagrande said:
Thanks a lot for all the responses! I have another problem. When I received the unit from Germany, the cartridge wires were disconnected (a common design flaw with SK 55s, the head of the tone arm slides off, and this occurred during transit and as a result the wires got snapped off!) so I've soldered them back on. Everything works, but there is this terrible hum, and the audio is quite quiet on full volume, as if the hum is taking over the amplification! My power is grounded, and I've tried moving the power lead around with no success. I should also mention that the radio has no hum whatsoever, just on phono. If anyone can lend any advice, I would be terribly grateful.
Click to expand...

I think youd better check those headshell leads with a meter back down to where the headshell wires are soldered under the table to make sure they all are straight for continuity and not grounded where you dont want. I would do the same for their connection to the preamp section. I also suppose that theres a chance the cartridge has a problem since it sounds like it was loose and rolling around.
 
You said your power is grounded... does this thing even have a grounded plug? The one I saw online has a simple 2-wire zip cord and ungroundednon-polarized plug - should be happy either way you plug it into an AC outlet. Sounds more like an internal ground problem, maybe even miswired headshell connections (i.e. wires swapped accidentally either by you or just as likely a previous unskilled repair attempt).

I found something else though... someone on another German board complains about low volume and hum, claims to have fixed it by connecting the banana ground jack on the back of the unit to the mains ground!

BTW, is the SK55 designed for 60Hz? If it has a synchronous motor it'll speed when connected to US power.
 
braun sk61

I also purchased a similar Braun radio/turntable, the SK61. I wondered if you
have had any luck with converting your turntable to revolve at the proper speed. My Braun has a switch that enables 120VAC for the U.S. but unfortunately the turntable motor is a 50hz, not 60hz, hence, the turntable spins a bit too fast.
Did yours include an external antenna? Mine did not, and I'm not sure what the type of antenna jack is.
Beautiful Dieter Rams design, influenced Jonathan Ives at Apple. Just wished I could listen to LPs.
I replaced the needle, and the sound improved a bit. Looking at replacing tubes next.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom