• 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

Help: Zenith Console iPod Hookup Wiring

dstroup

dstroup

Member
DISCLAIMER: I’m a newbie and really don’t know what I’m doing for the most part when working on vintage tube consoles.

I recently picked up this 1961/62 Zenith SFF2500 Stereo Console. It appears that a previous owner replaced the previous turntable with a Garrand SL 55B and installed a Realistic 42-2930 Solid State Stereo Pre-Amp. The Garrand is in pretty bad shape. I planned to pull it out for the time being and rig this console up to simply play my iPod. So here’s what I did:

  1. Cleaned up the exterior and interior
  2. Cleaned the visible contacts with denatured alcohol
  3. Cleaned the tube pins and sockets with denatured alcohol
  4. Applied DeOxit and DeOxit Gold to the pots
  5. ORIGINALLY: The RED, TAN, and BLACK (ground wire) coming from the amplifier were spliced with the power cord from the Pre-Amp and then went on to connect with the Garrand. The BLACK wire was un-spliced / continuous.
  6. REVISION: I cut the RED and TAN wires at the splice point, capped off the remaining wire that went to the Garrand (yellow caps), then re-spliced the wires coming from the amplifier to the power cord for the Pre-Amp (I just left the BLACK ground wire (which again was continuous / uncut / un-spliced and runs directly to the turntable)
  7. I removed the Phono Leads that ran from the Garrand to the Pre-Amp and replaced them with a RCA cable to Mini plug (for my iPod): connected to the Pre-Amp inputs

Now, I figured that this set up would allow me to power the console and Pre-amp by plugging the AC power cable from the amplifier into a power strip and then use the on/off switch on the power strip to turn the console on and off.

Unfortunately, when I flipped the switch on the power strip nothing happened. As far as I can tell nothing is getting any power.


My QUESTIONS:

Did I hook things up wrong?

OR

Is there something wrong with the amplifier, pre-amplifier, etc.?


I’ve attached some photos to help illustrate the above.

zenith01.jpg Zenith02.JPG zenith03.JPG zenith04.jpg Zenith05.jpg
 
Register to hide this ad
Possible that its using the switch inside the turntable to power the amplifier. A lot of the consoles did that so that the amp would shut down when the stack of records finished. You'll need to trace out the wiring on the Garrard, but I suspect you will need to tie the red and tan together. To confirm if this is right, have a gander at the plug on the changer. Two of the terminals should have leads going straight into the motor. One of these will also have a wire out to the switch, and the third will be switch-only. You'll want to connect together the two wires that had connections to the switch.

Also, tie the ipod directly into the amplifier inputs. You don't want to pass it through that preamp. Its a magnetic phono preamp, which is meant for a much lower signal level than an ipod. It has an EQ curve as well, which will make it sound decidedly bad.


That SL55 shouldn't be too bad to refurb. I've done a couple in that changer family, and they are a non-complicated but fairly decent small size changer. Real simple to work on too compared to some of their more complicated models too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom