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Need advice, I'm a newbie. HK SC4 Strataphonic Music System

Can I just plug in speakers and go or do I need something to power them up?

  • Plug in and go

    Votes: 2 100.0%

  • Get a certain amp

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    2
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Amplifier is built in as is tuner. You need efficient 8 ohm speakers for this system. Like over 94 db/1 watt/1 meter. One of the better compact Stereo systems built in the era.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
Amplifier is built in as is tuner. You need efficient 8 ohm speakers for this system. Like over 94 db/1 watt/1 meter. One of the better compact Stereo systems built in the era.
Click to expand...


I beg to differ on the speaker rec. The sc4 and sc440 were coupled with the HK4 and HK40 stratophonic loudspeakers (30hz-18khz) 50w 4ohm. I would think 4ohm speakers will pull the proper power from the amp.
 
If I insult your intelligence I apologize, but you should probably get a new stylus and reset the tracking force on the cartridge before playing any records on that. Who knows what's happened to it over the years. What stylus you'll need depends on what cartridge is installed.
 
Thanks guys! I brought it to guy who fixes this stuff and he was super geeked when he saw it. Like I said, I'm a novice and pretty clueless about the technical aspects of these but he's basically giving it a tune-up along with new copasators I believe. Thanks again because I thought I had to get the HK-30 speakers but now I'll look for the 40s. I'm not committed to Vintage HK speakers so if any of you have suggestions for other speakers of the era I'm open to all suggestions.
 
drumbum said:
I beg to differ on the speaker rec. The sc4 and sc440 were coupled with the HK4 and HK40 stratophonic loudspeakers (30hz-18khz) 50w 4ohm. I would think 4ohm speakers will pull the proper power from the amp.
Click to expand...

But even with the 4 Ohm speakers, it still needs to be efficient, you have 20 watts of RMS amplifier power roughly here. The HK power rating for this they advertised was Music Power. So be mindful of this, and not just HK did that in that era. RMS power is your realistic measure of output. And also this is one of the best compact systems built in the era, a very good sounding little rig. Thanks for pointing out the 4 ohm load, which was rare for any early SS amplifier to do then. Most HK receivers then were specced for 8 ohm ratings.
 
There is a lot of love for ADS speakers and that model looks sort-of efficent at 94 dB, you may be OK with that as long as you're not expecting to play them super loud.

I have had good luck finding speakers but never managed to acquire any ADS so I don't have any real world experiences however.
 
GlimmerTwins said:
Would ADS L810 speakers work well? I found some online for a decent price, thanks.
Click to expand...

Great speakers but a bit much for this, in my opinion. Unless you are only listening at low to med volume. BTW most compacts are crappy, that one is actually a very decent one, about as good as one could find.
 
That is an awesome little unit, H/K really put some know-how into those units and they were very well engineered and built by folks who knew what they were doing. The Garrard 60MKII changer in these units typically came with a Pickering V15AT cartridge but any standard medium to low compliance 1/2" mount cartridge can be used in this headshell in case you want to go with a different cart (such as a Shure M44G, M35X or possibly an Audio Technica AT95E for example). A minimum of 2 grams tracking force is needed for these changers. If it still has the Pickering cartridge in it there are some replacement stylus alternatives for it but they usually aren't the greatest IMO (at least I've never had any luck with them).

A good speaker choice for this unit would be the KLH Model Twenty (a 4 ohm speaker designed to get the most out of lower powered amplifiers) as long as you use them alone without another pair hooked up at the same time. The 8 ohm version (KLH Model Seventeen) is also a good choice, though you will have to increase the volume level a bit to get the same amount of power from it.

Very nice compact system and it's in great shape too. I always wanted one of these since I first saw them in 1968!
 
Ah...for period correct the KLH 20 is a great suggestion. There's several pair for sell on the internet for less than $200.
 
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