JCPenney turntable

[joerockhead]

I just bought a MCS belt drive turntable at Good Will for $4.00 ... brought it home and it needed to have the belt repositioned, as it had fallen loose. A simple maneuver. All functions seem good. The lid is in decent shape, and the mat, and the stylus. It's a little dusty, but not bad. I did find that there seems to be a problem with my old receiver, though. For some reason, you have to crank the volume way up to get any kind of volume from the speakers. This is not the case when you operate on the radio function, or the tape, just the turntable. I double checked with another turntable, and the same thing happens. I wonder what element in the receiver needs to be replaced, some capacitor I suppose. The receiver is a kind of a joke, but it's ok for a secondary upstairs unit here at home. It's a Lloyd's. Probably about 40 or 45 years old.

 

[shrinkboy]

does the receiver have an input specifically designated 'phono'? if not, you are inputting your phono signal into a line level input. phono signals need a preamp to bring the signal up to line level, which is what the 'phono' input on a device does, if it has one. otherwise, you'll need an external phono preamp

 

[cgutz]

If it is a cheap receiver (Lloyds generally are), it may only have a ceramic phono input, not a magnetic. If so, you will suffer from this problem of low volume (and poor sound), even though the input is labeled "phono."

Look for a good, working, vintage receiver like Pioneer, Technics, etc.

 

[joerockhead]

does the receiver have an input specifically designated 'phono'? if not, you are inputting your phono signal into a line level input. phono signals need a preamp to bring the signal up to line level, which is what the 'phono' input on a device does, if it has one. otherwise, you'll need an external phono preamp

Yes, it is labeled "phono". I bet the phono preamp is shot. Oh well. Actually I do have a sx-780 Pioneer, but it has lost its amp as well, on all functions. It went out with a loud pop one day, as I was switching speaker wires on the back. I need to get in there and see if I can rehab that one. One day, one day...

 

[ggregg]

I would suspect the phono input is for ceramic only. Magnetic cartridge puts out too low of an output. You can find a cheap phono preamp for $20-$30 that will solve your problem but I would seriously consider a better receiver.

I have found one of the amazing things about Lloyds stuff is even after all these years, it will usually still work, but it was bottom of the barrel, new and now.