Newer turntabe in tube console

[ttocsscott]

I have a old Packard Bell tube console that I'm bringing back to life (recapped and new resistors). I just pulled the Garrard AT6 out of it to rebuild and thought I would plug in my JVC QL-7 in the mean time but the output is extreamly low. Tried different cartridges (AT-71, DL-301) and even put on the Garrard cartridge (ceramic?) but no go. Any reason the existing preamp isn't enough for this TT? I also hooked up a H/K T65C and Sony PS-211, same outcome. By the way, the Garrard output is fine, just slow.

 

[Phototone]

It should have nothing to do with the turntable, as all that does is spin the record, it has all to do with the cartridge and wiring. Your Packard Bell would have required a ceramic cart, of course, so any sort of magnetic would be way too low in output. If when using a ceramic cartridge you get low output, then you either have a bad cart, or the wiring is bad, or the amp in the Packard Bell is having issues.

 

[ttocsscott]

Makes sense to me. When I put the ceramic cartridge in the JVC headshell I wired the 4 poles to the corresponding poles on the tone arm but since the Packard Bell isn't color coded it could have been wrong. Would it be safe to put a MM preamp between the TT and tube preamp? Thanks for your input!

 

[derekva]

Makes sense to me. When I put the ceramic cartridge in the JVC headshell I wired the 4 poles to the corresponding poles on the tone arm but since the Packard Bell isn't color coded it could have been wrong. Would it be safe to put a MM preamp between the TT and tube preamp? Thanks for your input!

It should work just fine.

I recently rebuilt a 1959 Magnavox Imperial for my sister-in-law. As part of that upgrade, I replaced the Collaro turntable and ceramic cart with a Technics SL-7 linear-tracker. In order to provide the appropriate RIAA loading for the magnetic cartridge, I added a modified TCC-750 phono preamplifier inline between the turntable and the tuner/preamp. Works (and sounds) like a dream!

-D