New to me Zenith Record Player not loud enough

[Jody Gardill]

I recent aqcuired a Zenith B907 - 1 cabinet and just got a new needle for it and cannot get it to play loud enough. All of the other inputs work great, am, fm, tape deck, and can get so loud, but the record player has to be set to Max to hear it from the speakers. No notible difference when set to stereo vs mono .

Occasionally for less than a second it will cut to a true max volume for no reason.

It is an after market cartridge that was on it when I bought it. I have the original cartridge but the clip on it seems to loose to hold the stylus.

Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot this

 

[monkboughtlunch]

I recent aqcuired a Zenith B907 - 1 cabinet and just got a new needle for it and cannot get it to play loud enough. All of the other inputs work great, am, fm, tape deck, and can get so loud, but the record player has to be set to Max to hear it from the speakers. No notible difference when set to stereo vs mono .

Occasionally for less than a second it will cut to a true max volume for no reason.

1. Was the volume ok with the original stylus (before you replaced it)?
2. Does it have a flip stylus with both a 33 and 78 RPM?
3. Can you post close up photos of the cartridge and stylus?
4. What is the model of the turntable and what is the model of cartridge /stylus?
5. Have you wiggled the potentiometer for Phono? Does it need Deoxit?
6. Is the stylus firmly positioned in the cartridge?

 

[monkboughtlunch]

It is an after market cartridge that was on it when I bought it. I have the original cartridge but the clip on it seems to loose to hold the stylus.

Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot this

Also - Zenith used ceramic cartridges -- they have a high output -- much louder than a moving magnet cartridge. The Zenith phono preamp is designed for ceramic. What type of aftermarket cartridge was fitted? Is it ceramic or moving magnet?

 

[Jody Gardill]

Was the volume ok with the original stylus (before you replaced it)? Original stylus never worked. Bought used and was broken.
2. Does it have a flip stylus with both a 33 and 78 RPM? It can take a flip but I bought the replacement for just 33 on both sides as that is all I needed.
3. Can you post close up photos of the cartridge and stylus?
4. What is the model of the turntable and what is the model of cartridge /stylus? Turn table is a b907, it came with an after market purple cartridge with no numbering on it. The original cartridge was 142-164 and stylus is a replacement for 56-560
5. Have you wiggled the potentiometer for Phono? Does it need Deoxit? I don't know where to start with this
6. Is the stylus firmly positioned in the cartridge? Yes, I did try swapping it to the original cartridge and the clip on the back end seems to be broken and doesn't firmly hold it in anymore but the newer purple one in the photos holds it tight.

 

[Jody Gardill]

Also - Zenith used ceramic cartridges -- they have a high output -- much louder than a moving magnet cartridge. The Zenith phono preamp is designed for ceramic. What type of aftermarket cartridge was fitted? Is it ceramic or moving magnet?

I also unfortunately know nothing about this. I attached a photo of the new piece in my reply above. It seems to be mainly plastic. This is the original one which came tucked in an envelope inside the cabinet.

 

[monkboughtlunch]

I also unfortunately know nothing about this. I attached a photo of the new piece in my reply above. It seems to be mainly plastic. This is the original one which came tucked in an envelope inside the cabinet.

The original one looks like a ceramic cartridge that might have accommodated a flip stylus (two needles -- one for 78 RPM and one for 33 RPM).

Can you take a close up photo of the cartridge that's now in your turntable?

The strange thing is that a lot of the Zenith's used a free floating MicroTouch 2G cartridge. But your original cartridge looks totally different and appears to have a 1/2 inch mount.

 

[Jody Gardill]

Here is the one that came installed in it.

 

[Jody Gardill]

Found some packaging in the back of the cabinet. I believe this is the current cartridge installed. Pfanstiehl p 404D

 

[monkboughtlunch]

Here is the one that came installed in it.

1. Thanks for photo of cart. Can you post a close up of the stylus (needle)? I don't see one in the photo.
2. Your console is from circa 1971.
3. The original cartridge that was taken out was apparently Zenith model 142-154.

 

[Jody Gardill]

1. Thanks for photo of cart. Can you post a close up of the stylus (needle)? I don't see one in the photo.
2. Your console is from circa 1971.
3. The original cartridge that was taken out was apparently Zenith model 142-154.

I do have the original manual for it that references the 142 164 cartridge.

I bought the stylus for the 142 154 and I'm now seeing that the p404D requires a different one. I'm not sure if the P404D is even appropriate for this though.

 

[monkboughtlunch]

I do have the original manual for it that references the 142 164 cartridge.

I bought the stylus for the 142 154 and I'm now seeing that the p404D requires a different one. I'm not sure if the P404D is even appropriate for this though.

Have you installed the black stylus in the cartridge? The photo you posted below doesn't have the stylus installed.

If you have installed the stylus, please post a photo with it installed in the cartridge.

Also please post close up photos showing how the tonearm wires are connected to the pins in the back of the cartridge.

 

[Jody Gardill]

I had it installed in my original reply thought removing it would make viewing the cartridge easier. This is the combo that I have been trying with and cannot seem to get the correct volume.

 

[monkboughtlunch]

I think the original Zenith cart (not installed) requires this stylus: L853.

What is the part number for the stylus you installed in the P404D?

 

[Jody Gardill]

Thank you for all of your help .I just ordered one that should be here next week. Hopefully that is the fix!
Should the 404D work on this system?

 

[monkboughtlunch]

Looks like L854 is the correct stylus for the P404D. https://www.turntableneedles.com/Needle-L-854-for-Tetrad_p_1672.html

 

[monkboughtlunch]

Should the 404D work on this system?

I have no idea. I would recommend you email Gary Stork at Voice of Music and ask him. He's very helpful. What stylus part number did you order? Was it L854?

The issue could be as simple as the wrong stylus. Or the cart may have been wired incorrectly when the previous owner put in the new cartridge. Are you hearing any music? Are you hearing any hum? Are both channels audible or is one cutting out? If the music is audible but low, is it clean and undistorted? What did the prior owner tell you?

 

[monkboughtlunch]

Occasionally for less than a second it will cut to a true max volume for no reason.

I just re-read this in your first post. This could indicate a number of possible issues.

1. I would install the correct stylus for the P404D replacement cart and see if that fixes the issue.
2. If that doesn't fix the issue there could be several causes.

• Incorrect cartridge
• Cartridge not wired correctly when installed (intermittent connection or wire leads are touching)
• The switch selector on your receiver that allows you to select the "Phono/Off" position has oxidized contacts and needs to be sprayed with De-Oxit (requires taking off the back panel to reach it).
• There could be a bad part such as a failing capacitor in the signal path of the turntable in the preamp (would require. a tech to trouble shoot)

To test the switch oxidation theory, you could turn the volume down and turn the switch from Phono to FM and back about 20 or 30 times. Sometimes, exercising the switch will remove some of the oxidation and that will allow the signal to pass. I would suggest doing this now and see if there is an improvement in the audio volume.

 

[Jody Gardill]

I have no idea. I would recommend you email Gary Stork at Voice of Music and ask him. He's very helpful. What stylus part number did you order? Was it L854?

The issue could be as simple as the wrong stylus. Or the cart may have been wired incorrectly when the previous owner put in the new cartridge. Are you hearing any music? Are you hearing any hum? Are both channels audible or is one cutting out? If the music is audible but low, is it clean and undistorted? What did the prior owner tell you?

The new needle I bought was an L 854 and it didn't work with the p404D. I now see the packaging on the 404d says it needs a L853. The original cartridge (zenith) is broken where it holds the needle and doesn't hold it tight anymore but I put it back on with this L 854 and pushed in the part that holds the needle and it was working momentarily just now but has now cut out again and is having the same issue it was before with muffled sound and humming

With the p404D and the L854 the sound is incredibly muffled and has to be on max to be heard as well as a round humming noise. I have now ordered the L 853 and hopefully it will work with the p404D

This was a Goodwill purchase so unfortunately I have no history other than the items they left in the cabinet.

 

[monkboughtlunch]

When a switch is not used for a long period of time, the metal contacts can oxidize. To test the switch oxidation theory, you could turn the volume down and turn the switch from Phono to FM and back about 20 or 30 times. Sometimes, exercising the switch back and forth will remove some of the oxidation and that will allow the audio signal to pass at full volume. I would suggest doing this now and see if there is an improvement in the audio volume. After you work the switch back and forth, turn the volume back up and try playing another record. I'm referring to what is probably a rotary knob on your preamp/tuner that selects what source you want to listen to.

 

[monkboughtlunch]

With the p404D and the L854 the sound is incredibly muffled and has to be on max to be heard as well as a round humming noise. I have now ordered the L 853 and hopefully it will work with the p404D

A humming noise can indicate a bad ground connection, meaning the cartridge has a wiring issue where the three or four wires connect to the back of the replacement cartridge. It can also suggest a failed/failing capacitor or other part. But Zenith used decent US and Japanese capacitors back in the 70s.

If it's a wiring issue, it should be pretty easy to sort out. You would just turn off the unit, unscrew the cartridge and inspect the wires that connect to the cartridge. See if any wire leads are touching, loose or if the wires are plugged to the correct pins etc.