Inherited MCS 3253 w/ JC Penny Speakers?

[gabri3l2122]

Hey everyone! I've been lurking over these forums for the past month since inheriting a few old stereo systems, speakers, and various components. I am super duper new to stereo electronics but am interested in learning. Right now I'm working on restoring an MCS 3253 for my teenager. With it I have the MCS 6502 Turntable and a pair of what I think are JC Penny speakers. After powering things up for an initial test run, I hear lots of crackling. I'm using fairly cheap speaker wire, but the wire is new and making good contact on the speaker and receiver posts. The speakers do show sings of major wear and I would like to replace them.

What do I replace the old speakers with? The holes in the cabs are cut to fit, as you can see in the pictures, and the speakers do not have any manufacturer name or information. Only what I assume are model numbers that I can't find on the web. If I am measuring correctly, they are 8 1/4" in diameter. Any help or knowledge is appreciated and thanks so much for taking the time to read this.

 

[swechsler]

The problem is unlikely to be the speakers (more likely to be the amp/receiver), and even if it is, you'd be much better off just purchasing a known good used replacement set of speakers (note: the driver is the thing with the cone, the [loud]speaker is the driver plus cabinet). Just dropping a new driver in an existing cabinet is not usually a recipe for success. These are full-range drivers, and while there are some quality speakers with full range drivers, these are unlikely to be counted with those. Better off to find a 2- or 3-way (i.e. woofer, midrange, tweeter) speaker; one is not necessarily better than the other.

Back to the original problem, have you tried the amp with any other speakers, or these speakers with any other amp?

 

[gabri3l2122]

The problem is unlikely to be the speakers (more likely to be the amp/receiver), and even if it is, you'd be much better off just purchasing a known good used replacement set of speakers (note: the driver is the thing with the cone, the [loud]speaker is the driver plus cabinet). Just dropping a new driver in an existing cabinet is not usually a recipe for success. These are full-range drivers, and while there are some quality speakers with full range drivers, these are unlikely to be counted with those. Better off to find a 2- or 3-way (i.e. woofer, midrange, tweeter) speaker; one is not necessarily better than the other.

Back to the original problem, have you tried the amp with any other speakers, or these speakers with any other amp?

I haven't tested them with another amp yet, so I will try that. I have an old Pioneer A-60 that came with the other system we inherited, and can try the speakers there. I'll post my results when I can.

Appreciate the feedback and information above. Making notes of the verbiage.

 

[gizzyman47]

Does the "crackling" happen while adjusting the controls? If so, you need to clean the potentiometers with some deoxit or some other electronics cleaner.

 

[gabri3l2122]

The Penny speakers work with the Pioneer A-60 amp. You can audibly tell they are worn as there is a bit of distortion but they don't cut out and lack the static sounds you would hear from the MCS. So that would mean that the MCS 3253 has some issues.

 

[gabri3l2122]

Does the "crackling" happen while adjusting the controls? If so, you need to clean the potentiometers with some deoxit or some other electronics cleaner.

It does. I really need to open the MCS case up and give it a good cleaning. Do you have any recommended "how to clean" videos or sites? The last thing I want to do is cause damage.

 

[swechsler]

This thread should have all you need.