First Vintage Stereo Set Up

[strm63]

Picking up some estate finds today - Kenwood KR 4400, Epicure 10s and a BIC turntable (940 I think)- seem to be well cared for equipment (comes with several boxes of vinyl records too so can't wait to see what finds are there as well). So will be anxious to test it out after some initial cleaning and testing. I have been reading up for a few weeks on this and my plans are to do the following:

Open up receiver and look over, do some preliminary cleaning with compressed air and brushes, check pots and caps over, dc offset check, (bias check?) and then test with a dim bulb tester (don't want to spend time doing thorough deoxIT cleaning if receiver isn't functional). But before hooking up to speakers do I need to test the speakers? I read on one post testing power testing with 8 Ohm 100W Low Inductance Dummy Load Resistor, but I'm not sure what this refers to. Any suggestions are welcome!

 

[Hajidub]

Picking up some estate finds today - Kenwood KR 4400, Epicure 10s and a BIC turntable (940 I think)- seem to be well cared for equipment (comes with several boxes of vinyl records too so can't wait to see what finds are there as well). So will be anxious to test it out after some initial cleaning and testing. I have been reading up for a few weeks on this and my plans are to do the following:

Open up receiver and look over, do some preliminary cleaning with compressed air and brushes, check pots and caps over, dc offset check, (bias check?) and then test with a dim bulb tester (don't want to spend time doing thorough deoxIT cleaning if receiver isn't functional). But before hooking up to speakers do I need to test the speakers? I read on one post testing power testing with 8 Ohm 100W Low Inductance Dummy Load Resistor, but I'm not sure what this refers to. Any suggestions are welcome!

I owned a KR6600 and the DC offset had no adjustment, required replacements of matched output transistors (just an FYI). Since it's a first setup I'd recommend a good record cleaning regiment (i.e. vacuum, ultrasonic, even a SpinClean). There are a myriad of cheap tools required to have your TT playing perfect, such as digital VTF scale ($11 amazon), dust/static brush ($25 amazon), stylus cleaner (Magic Erasure), downloadable alignment protractor. Good luck.

 

[coonmanx]

Epicure 10's look to be pretty nice speakers...

 

[strm63]

Got them home and they look to be well cared for! Can't wait to open them up and start cleaning!!

 

[Blue Shadow]

Open up receiver and look over, do some preliminary cleaning with compressed air and brushes, check pots and caps over, dc offset check, (bias check?) and then test with a dim bulb tester

DBT to see if it works if you want to do that first, your choice. While on the bulb check DC offset. If adequate, <100mV proceed to cleaning whatever you want and you can hook up speakers and see if the controls need work. If it passed the bulb test you can main power it for any adjustments in the manual if you are comfortable with that...use minigrabbers if the electrical connections to the meter are inside the unit.

Now with it all cleaned up and dialed in as best it can be with at least a marginally adequate DC offset, you can use it.

Speakers don't generally need to be tested if worn out like those 10s before hooking them up. Blowed up speakers need to be tested, don't want to hook up a short circuit to the receiver. I wouldn't power those speakers but a bit laying on their backs to verify the drivers work before putting surrounds on them. Don't want to misalign the voice coil. Put the woofer in upside down from its current position to account for 40 years of the spider sagging under the load of the cone. Get another 40 years out of em.

 

[strm63]

Thanks for the tips. I did as suggested, powered up with dim bulb tester then attached speakers laying flat and they produced decent sound on the AM and FM radio. Checked DC offset and reading after warm was -1.6 (L) and 17 (R) for A speakers and B speakers. Will get to cleaning and redoing surrounds. Will look into recapping receiver, speakers etc. Next will be taking a look at the BIC 940.

 

[daveg3588]

Be careful of the speakers, the foam surrounds look to be gone, they rot over time. There are utubes on how to do, not a bad job take your time. Rick Cobb has the best, AK member.

 

[strm63]

Be careful of the speakers, the foam surrounds look to be gone, they rot over time. There are utubes on how to do, not a bad job take your time. Rick Cobb has the best, AK member.

ordered some from Rick Cobb today. Thanks!

 

[doctor fuse]

Enjoy those Burhoe inverted dome tweeters! You can listen to those little things for hours!

 

[strm63]

A couple of minor steps today, removed platter and plugged in the BIC tt and motor seemed to run, cartridge is AT42E and stylus looked bent so will replace with either ATS11E or if I can find one ATS12S (can't find online) as was recommended by a post on AK for this cartridge. Anyway I will take apart and lube and do a thorough cleaning. Also, pulled the woofer out of one of the Epicure speakers and it sure did look like the sides of the speaker enclosures were wood grain and not particle board with veneer? Could they be solid wood sides to the enclosures (front and back are particle board)? Ordering some new caps for the Epicures - Dayton Audio DMPC-10 10uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor.

 

[Catmanboo]

2 reasons to vacuum & brush for initial cleaning as opposed to blowing out: 1:why breathe & scatter about all that well-aged dust? 2: you'll likely drive dirt & debris into places that are currently relatively clean. Just trying to share long experience here. Good luck with that haul & enjoy the renovation/implementation process!

 

[strm63]

2 reasons to vacuum & brush for initial cleaning as opposed to blowing out: 1:why breathe & scatter about all that well-aged dust? 2: you'll likely drive dirt & debris into places that are currently relatively clean. Just trying to share long experience here. Good luck with that haul & enjoy the renovation/implementation process!

Yes, I came to the same conclusion and did some vacuuming of the receiver and will clean with alcohol or simple green (need to read up more on proper cleaning methids) and swabs before deciding if I should use any air.

 

[RobRoy]

Got them home and they look to be well cared for! Can't wait to open them up and start cleaning!!

I have no idea if you got a good or bad deal on those, but I can tell you that with some TLC you have a classic system there. I used to sell that stuff. I like all of those components. And they are excellent "period" pieces. Obviously the foam (or woofers) need replacement, but that has the potential to be a great system.

BTW, if you need parts, go here: http://wjoe.com/?r
Their parts are reasonably priced and they get the parts to me fast. They suddenly made all my equipment with failed parts and belts totally and inexpensively rebuildable.

 

[strm63]

I paid $80 for the lot which included the tt, receiver, speakers, a bose cd player am/fm radio and about 200 records from the 70's - about a 50/50 mix of classical and rock. I did good

 

[strm63]

Some more progress on the BIC 940 restore - all was cleaned of old grease and relubed using Singer Machine oil or white lithium grease as called for in Service Manual. Plugged in and seemed to operate as it should (didn't play a record as i don't have working speakers yet). Unfortunately just as I was finishing puttng the tt back together I rested it on the tonearm and broke off the thin metal headshell handle. Will try to superglue or epoxy it back in, but the thin plastic of the headshell broke so it may not leave much to glue to? Refoamed Epicure 10 speakers - well partially refoamed, glue is now drying on cone side of surround, will test with alignment CD provided Rick Cobb then glue outside of foam surround to woofer metal frame. Thinking of doing some cleaning of the speaker cabinets, plan on using mineral spirits/turpentine and 400 grit sandpaper to try and remove some of the dirt, paint? and other marks on the veneer. Then will apply some Danish oil and finish with paste wax. Waiting for new speaker caps to arrive and will solder them in. Would like to replace speaker wire clips with plugs but that seems a bit daunting (I'm sure it's not really - but I guess it would make connecting speakers much easier than trying to twist the speaker wire into the tiny clip holes)! Then back to the Kenwood KR 4400 for a thorough deOxit cleaning and lubing. Hope to be spinning some sweet sounds before the new year!

 

[just dave]

Nice work. Congrats on your finds. Keep us posted on your project s.

 

[strm63]

Hooked up my bose CD player to Kenwood receiver AUX in and one of the Epicure 8 in. drivers for a test drive! https://photos.app.goo.gl/y2LeHVKqvMvAyaxd9

 

[strm63]

Just wanted to recap my results on my setup:

BIC 940 turntable was cleaned and lubed and fitted with a new stylus and is working pretty well - the auto cue feature isn't working that well so have to use manual most of the time (auto starts then returns to off position). Had some squeeling from the motor the other day so opened up the motor again and added a couple more drops of machine oil to rotor and squeeling went away.

Speakers - Epicure 10 speakers are a dream! Refoamed and recapped with Dayton Audio DMPC-10 10uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor from Parts Express, my first attempt at soldering and I didn't burn myself or my house down! Can't say enough about how good these speakers sound. Also cleaned up the speaker cabinets with 600 -300 grit sandpaper, mineral spirits and then about four coats of Watco Danish Oil followed by some Paste wax. Oh, yah, be careful screwing in the refoamed sub woofers, one slip and the screwdriver can easily puncture the new foam surrounds Used the glue provided with the new surrounds to patch it up!

Receiver - Kenwood KR-4400 was thoroughly cleaned with DeOxit and is working like a charm. Wondering if I need to have it serviced given it's 40 year old electronic components?

Anyway a big thank you to AK and it's members for the wealth of knowledge shared! Loving listening to some old vinyl - this morning Creedence Clearwater Revival had me dancing! I sold one record, The Doors, for $100 which was more than I paid for the whole lot of electronics and about 200 lps from a local estate auction. Looking for my next project.

 

[RobRoy]

Just wanted to recap my results on my setup:

BIC 940 turntable was cleaned and lubed and fitted with a new stylus and is working pretty well - the auto cue feature isn't working that well so have to use manual most of the time (auto starts then returns to off position). Had some squeeling from the motor the other day so opened up the motor again and added a couple more drops of machine oil to rotor and squeeling went away.

Speakers - Epicure 10 speakers are a dream! Refoamed and recapped with Dayton Audio DMPC-10 10uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor from Parts Express, my first attempt at soldering and I didn't burn myself or my house down! Can't say enough about how good these speakers sound. Also cleaned up the speaker cabinets with 600 -300 grit sandpaper, mineral spirits and then about four coats of Watco Danish Oil followed by some Paste wax. Oh, yah, be careful screwing in the refoamed sub woofers, one slip and the screwdriver can easily puncture the new foam surrounds Used the glue provided with the new surrounds to patch it up!View attachment 2095816 View attachment 2095817

Receiver - Kenwood KR-4400 was thoroughly cleaned with DeOxit and is working like a charm. Wondering if I need to have it serviced given it's 40 year old electronic components?

Anyway a big thank you to AK and it's members for the wealth of knowledge shared! Loving listening to some old vinyl - this morning Creedence Clearwater Revival had me dancing! I sold one record, The Doors, for $100 which was more than I paid for the whole lot of electronics and about 200 lps from a local estate auction. Looking for my next project.

That post was very nostalgic for me. I sold Hi-Fi in the 70's and some of my customers walked out with that exact setup. Groovy.

We always sold the teal chair speaker stands, though.