It was boreas who started the thread and here you go. As I mentioned there I might have come up with something similar, and I did not it exactly as he did but very close.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=337557&highlight=hinge+tabs
Good to buy? Technics SL-D2 find.
- Thread starter circumpolar
- Start date
It was boreas who started the thread and here you go. As I mentioned there I might have come up with something similar, and I did not it exactly as he did but very close.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=337557&highlight=hinge+tabs
circumpolar
New Member
Hi guys,
Thanks for all of the helpful comments.
I picked up the table this afternoon for $90. Came with two headshells and cartridges. One, the original Audio Technica atu403olc, the other an Empire 66 QE/X. Both don't sound excellent (but not horrible) with quite a bit of crackling and some distortion.
Adjusting the counterweight helped, but I'm not certain I am doing this correctly. When I balance the arm, then place it back in the arm clamp to do the fine adjustment, it's still too light and the arm wants to return to the arm rest. Thinking about it now, maybe the table wasn't level? I added some more weight to prevent it from rotating back to the rest and it played ok, just with the quality issues listed before.
Overall the table is in excellent condition. The dust cover's tabs are solid. It had some scratches on it, which I improved by polishing with a headlight restoration kit I had on hand.
Before:
After:
In action in its temporary location:
Few things left to get are
1) A new cartridge to start out fresh -- thinking either the AT or Shure carts recommended here.
2) A cleaning brush (most of my vinyl will be new).
3) more LPs!
Thanks again.
Thanks for all of the helpful comments.
I picked up the table this afternoon for $90. Came with two headshells and cartridges. One, the original Audio Technica atu403olc, the other an Empire 66 QE/X. Both don't sound excellent (but not horrible) with quite a bit of crackling and some distortion.
Adjusting the counterweight helped, but I'm not certain I am doing this correctly. When I balance the arm, then place it back in the arm clamp to do the fine adjustment, it's still too light and the arm wants to return to the arm rest. Thinking about it now, maybe the table wasn't level? I added some more weight to prevent it from rotating back to the rest and it played ok, just with the quality issues listed before.
Overall the table is in excellent condition. The dust cover's tabs are solid. It had some scratches on it, which I improved by polishing with a headlight restoration kit I had on hand.
Before:
After:
In action in its temporary location:
Few things left to get are
1) A new cartridge to start out fresh -- thinking either the AT or Shure carts recommended here.
2) A cleaning brush (most of my vinyl will be new).
3) more LPs!
Thanks again.
Last edited:
Good for you. With 2 shells at $90 you did well.
The noise could be from a few things. You essentially can't trust the needles that come with most turntables for example. As for the the "return to the arm rest" remember to do the arm balancing with the anti-skate set to zero, otherwise that spring will pull outwards.
However I would check out this thread and video for basic setup instructions.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=457897
The noise could be from a few things. You essentially can't trust the needles that come with most turntables for example. As for the the "return to the arm rest" remember to do the arm balancing with the anti-skate set to zero, otherwise that spring will pull outwards.
However I would check out this thread and video for basic setup instructions.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=457897
Mrv8q
Audiofool
I sold a TON of these back in the day, probably my favorite turntable to sell, and I don't recall these coming with any cartridge. ISTR the table alone was $129, street price.
I do remember selling these with a Grado "green" cartridge. Buyer cost around $85; book cost, $15.
I could happily set that table and cartridge up and have it out the door in about 15 minutes.
Of course, that was a previous liferime...
I do remember selling these with a Grado "green" cartridge. Buyer cost around $85; book cost, $15.
I could happily set that table and cartridge up and have it out the door in about 15 minutes.
Of course, that was a previous liferime...
circumpolar
New Member
Just an update...
Have stopped playing any LPs until I get this thing properly set-up. I ordered a Ortofon 2m red and SH-4 cart along with a small digital scale for measuring the tracking force.
The AT cart is likely the ATU4030LC (not 403oLC). Presently researching it and thinking about getting a new stylus, or at least giving it a cleaning. Looking into methods.
Thinking about unloading the Empire cartridge and headshell, but am going to do some more research. From my testing, the AT sounded better as is, but there are a lot of variables to constrain. The original owner seemed to think it was the better of the two, or at least newer, which made me think the AT cart in the Technics shell was the factory setup. Interesting that this wasn't the case. Guess the original owner's memory is a bit foggy from those days in the early 80s when he was in college with this TT
Have stopped playing any LPs until I get this thing properly set-up. I ordered a Ortofon 2m red and SH-4 cart along with a small digital scale for measuring the tracking force.
The AT cart is likely the ATU4030LC (not 403oLC). Presently researching it and thinking about getting a new stylus, or at least giving it a cleaning. Looking into methods.
Thinking about unloading the Empire cartridge and headshell, but am going to do some more research. From my testing, the AT sounded better as is, but there are a lot of variables to constrain. The original owner seemed to think it was the better of the two, or at least newer, which made me think the AT cart in the Technics shell was the factory setup. Interesting that this wasn't the case. Guess the original owner's memory is a bit foggy from those days in the early 80s when he was in college with this TT
12ax7
Super Member
One suggestion, if I may. Lightly oil the metal pins in the dustcover hinges. They do rust/corrode over time and become 'sticky'. The extra pressure required to overcome this 'stickiness', even though you may not notice it, may cause the demise of the moulded dustcover tabs. Just a little insurance.