I have a UK built 1973 Elizabethan music centre (LZ212) that I converted to use in the United States. I have noticed that when using FM, the multiplex decoder and stereo beacon stays on except when a station is broadcasting in mono. This happens whenever an aerial is connected. I have since sourced another Elizabethan music centre that is the stepped-down version (LZ202-without the optional cassette deck) that has a revised FM IF board and decoder. It behaves as one would expect on FM with the aerial connected. The LZ212 was manufactured in August 1973 while the LZ202 was manufactured in December 1973. I have changed the out-of-tolerance resistors on the decoder of the LZ212 with no differing results. Being that both units are relatively the same age, I would assume that the resistors have drifted similarly. Is the LZ212 at fault with FM, or was it designed that way? Regardless of the “stereo on” problem, separation and sensitivity is good.
