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Cartridge for Marantz TT-1080

B

bfinley1

New Member
Newbie here with a question: I've inherited a Marantz TT-1080, not sure what cartridge it has, but the broken stylus is an AT3401 I believe. What would be a good cartridge for this TT for around $50? I'm running it through a preamp and into my Yamaha receiver then to Klipsch speakers. Or would it be smarter to ditch the Marantz in favor of either a Dual 1237, JVC QLF-300, Dual 1264 or Technics SL-1600mkII? Thanks for any help and advice!

Bryan
 
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Anyone? I haven't been able to find any info on this model, was hoping someone would know something about it.
 
G'day mate, an Audio Technica AT95E or a Shure M97xE would be quite suitable in that price range. I suspect that the Shure M97xE would be the best match for your speakers. Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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Thanks Felix! Now if only I'd get some opinions from those who know better, regarding the other models (which are available locally in my price range).:dunno:
 
bfinley1 said:
Thanks Felix! Now if only I'd get some opinions from those who know better, regarding the other models (which are available locally in my price range).:dunno:
Click to expand...

From the image that Google turned up, the Marantz TT 1080 has a light weight straight tonearm.

Is that correct?:scratch2:

If so, the suggestion of Shure M 97XE by Felix is a very good one.

Not many who would know better than the Catman!:D

What is your location ?:scratch2:
 
Balifly said:
From the image that Google turned up, the Marantz TT 1080 has a light weight straight tonearm.

Is that correct?:scratch2:

If so, the suggestion of Shure M 97XE by Felix is a very good one.

What is your location ?:scratch2:
Click to expand...

I honestly couldn't tell you how lightweight it is, but yes, it is a straight tonearm. I'm in Florida.
 
It will fit some of the others too.

The Technics SL-1600 MKII in particular.

It would be a most excellent find. :tresbon:
 
Well, I have a line on a 1600, but the platter doesn't turn, so it needs some type of repair, just not sure what the problem is with it.
 
G'day mate, this sounds like some kind of preamp/ power amp problem. Is everything connected correctly? I think you're using an external phono stage.

Is it properly 'powered up' and known to be working normally? Have you fed its output into one of your main amplifier 'line' level inputs? If you have some spare interconnects you can use the old 'moist finger trick' to verify that everything is amplifying correctly.

Connect some known good interconnects into the phono stage inputs and plug the phono stage outputs into one of your amplifier line levels inputs. With everything switched on, and the volume moderate, touching the centre (inner) pin of the RCA inputs of the phono stage should produce a racous 'buzz' from that channel. Check both channels.

If that test is successful, then the problem exists with something in the turntable somewhere. Analyse the fault logically and rationally and I'm sure you'll work it out. Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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Hi Felix,
Raucous would be a good way to describe it LOL! I may have still had it turned up a bit too much! So yes, both channels are working fine. Therefore, I surmise the issue would be within the turntable, yes? If that is the case, would either a Pioneer PL-A45D or a JVC L-F41 work well with the M97xE cart?
 
G'day mate, if it passes that 'test' then it seems like the signal wiring in the turntable is amiss in some respect.

Are the turntables interconnects 'hard wired'? If they aren't, repeat that check with those interconnects.

The M97xE output pins are colour coded and they should correspond with the headshell wiring. Does the turntable have any kind of in built phono stage? A few more things to check. Regards, Felix.
 
Yes the tt's interconnects are hard-wired. I don't own a soldering iron, so I tried splicing in new interconnects, which I've done many times before on car stereos. It did not make a difference. The output pins on the cart are color coded and matched up exactly to the wires from the headshell. The tt does not have a built in phono stage that I am aware of. I did try it without the preamp, it sounded the same. CAVEAT: I believe my receiver's phono line is bad. As I recall, I realised that another component was plugged into the phone line, and it had stopped working until I moved it to one of the line in ports. I don't know exactly why something other than a tt was plugged into the phono in, but I'm guessing that's why the phono in doesn't work any longer.
 
G'day mate, ok you can try that moist finger trick right at the headshell by carefully touching the left/ right 'hot' cartridge pins (white and red wires).

If you get the same 'racous' noise at that point all should work ok. But let me think about the other possibilities. It's a strange one. :scratch2: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
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