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Proposal of a Modest Turntable: Hitachi's HT-50S

wualta

wualta

permanently nonplussed cat
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Hitachi HT-50S 040.jpg
Pictured is the HT-50S from 1981 or so. I've never seen an HT-50K, but I imagine there might be one somewhere. Mine's a universal model with switchable voltage and an AC plug with adapter for 120VAC, just like one of my Hitachi HMA-8500 amps.

Nothing very special; typical '80s direct-drive: no suspended subchassis, just the usual plastic base with isolation handled solely by rubbery feet; lightweight ADC-type straight tonearm with semi-automatic operation (motorized lift, descent, and end-of-disc takeoff); vertical-movement bearings parallel to front edge of headshell; quartz lock with no speed adjustment; no speed readout, just an annunciator light that says LOCKED. What it has going for it is that low-mass tonearm, the aligned bearings and the [unique?] Unitorque cogless motor that does away with the heavy platters and fragile ring magnets of the Technics 'tables. In fact, the platter is so light that it could be a turnoff for a prospective buyer, but that light platter comes up to speed and locks in very quickly for a cheap table, and if you push on the rotating platter with your finger you can watch the LOCKED light go out and come right back on again as soon as you take your finger away. Not bad.

The best part, needless to say, is that almost no one remembers Hitachi's turntables, so they don't get bid up out of sight.

I was lucky and had an online auction seller who really listened to my warnings against leaving the platter on, etc. and did the most amazing job of packing it. And it was his first turntable! The late Joel Thorner would've been proud.
Photos from the web:
687277_orig0.jpg Innovative-Audio-HItachi-HT-50S-cartridge-a.jpg Retro-vintage-record-Hitachi-HT-50s-.jpg
 
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Had an HT-40s which I thought was a pretty good TT for what it was.
It became surplus and I sold it to my boss, but it's still going. Looked a lot like that one.
 
I've has a couple Hitachi's A decent turntable, that I'd rate on par with lower end technics one thing I've noticed is that the large cueing button on the right tends to get cummed up that one looks particularly clean
 
Hitachi made some OUTSTANDING decks in the late 1970's (HT-550 was one). MCS used a couple of Hitachi's decks for their own line (The MCS 6500 was the HT-320). Personaly, I would mount an AT120E on this low-mass arm and enjoy it.

Joey1127
 
Agreed. First of all, with DD and quartz, these models have excellent specs. I have listened to similar models and while not award winners, to my ears they sound as good as popular Technics s-arm models like the SL-D2/3 and SL-Q2/3. And absolutely, going after a lesser known brand will get you a better bargain. Few people would think to look for a Hitachi. Onkyo would be another name like that.

What is the cartridge that is on there now?
 
hakaplan said:
What is the cartridge that is on there now?
Click to expand...
Hitachi MT-15 cartridge on Hitachi HT-50S.JPG
Almost certainly the one that was supplied with the turntable in some markets: the Hitachi MT-15, aka the Sharp C-116, Rotel 2RC-1, Toshiba C-160M, Glanz MG-20R and probably many others. NA models got the Audio-Technica AT3400 (conical version of the AT95E). But the photo in post #1 is from the internet.

My HT-50S came with an Empire 300 Z (aka 300Z), though with a generic blue stylus.
Empire 300 Z-small.jpg
EMPIRE 300 Z WITH ORIGINAL S44E STYLUS

I wasn't an owner of any Empire carts before now, so I don't know if it's moving-magnet or moving-iron [it's moving-iron, variable reluctance], but I was always curious about the company, so if any Empire fans out there had a favorite cart and they'd like to sing its praises, go right ahead.

RE how it compares to other more popular turntables of a similar price range, I'd say the only thing that's mediocre about the Hitachi is the poor isolation quality of the base. It reminds me of my old Technics SL-1500-- tap it and you hear the thump through the system.

By the way, I also have an HT-40S, which is similar but lacks the quartz lock. It makes up for this with a handy speed adjustment thumbwheel. If anyone has a Hitachi 'table that's closer to a TOTL model, I'd welcome a description of it.
 
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Interesting...my source (turntableneedles.com) says that it was the light green .2 x .7 stylus that was native to the cartridges you listed, including the 300Z. In any case, even the .3 x .7 was nude, which is nothing to sneeze at. You wouldn't find that in many other mfr's lines.

I have the 500ID (.2 x .7 nude) from the same line with the purple stylus and the sound is excellent.

In turntables without suspension, you will hear the thumping--it's the feet that are supposed to isolate it from vibration.

I have a TOTL Hitachi, the HT-660. It's basically a copy of the Pioneer PL-600 from 1980 and probably dates from the same year. Sounds very good--I'd say on par with the Pioneer. It's in storage--as soon as I dig it out I'll take a picture. Got it cheap on ebay (again like you said, under the radar) and it's the only one I've ever seen.
 
Howard, I made several goofs in my post, so I'm glad you stepped forward. I've edited it so it corresponds to Empire reality. The S44E replacement stylus Empire specified for the 300 Z is in fact a 0.2 x 0.7, and the color is green. The one that came with mine is blue (ersatz 200E) and lacks the Empire name, so it's from the half-vast aftermarket.

A lot of these styli look the same. Does this mean I could stick a nice line-contact stylus in there, assuming I could find one? EDIT: Not for the high-inductance 300 Z. It would fit, but have a dull sound-- I tried it.

I'm not going to be using it, so practically, it doesn't matter-- I've got a P-mount Shure VST III in an adapter that I'm going to plug in there, at least for now-- but I'd still like to learn more about Empire's cartridges, even though it's a little late.

And yes, I'd like to learn more about the HT-660.
 
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Yes, it's the one you found, not the 239-DQ. That was from an older line. And yes you could put the corresponding line contact in it. Hold onto it--you might want to use it some day. Don't blame you for wanting to use the Shure.
 
What sort of cartridges were the Empires? Moving magnet? Moving iron? [EDIT/UPDATE: all those made in the US by Empire after 1965 and before it was sold to Ernst Benz in 1980, and even up until Benz sold Empire (~1985), were moving-iron, specifically the subset of moving-iron called variable reluctance] or did they waffle back and forth as Stanton/Pickering did? [UPDATE: Nah. They seemed to like moving-iron and stuck with it. In the Benz era they dabbled in moving-coils made by others. Did they ever sell moving-magnets again? Yes, but they were all rebadges made in Japan. Some were great (p-mounts like the 195LT) and some were just okay (the ones based on the Azden YM-10E and YM-P20E, unless you could find the top styli which are now unobtainable.]
 
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hi guys, just wondering if US$200 is too much to be paying for a good condition HT-660? assuming everything works fine etc...
 
I have one. It's excellent and clearly Hitachi's attempt to copy the Pioneer PL-600, which it did very well. I'm guessing that's the asking price? It's rare and easily worth $200, but I got mine on ebay for $51 plus shipping. And that was after 9 bids. That's because Hitachis are unknown in the turntable world. But if you pass on it you might never see another one. I'd say that if it's in excellent condition, it's worth it. You won't be disappointed, that's for sure.
 
I was given a Hitachi HT-50. It has no counter weight. Could you possibly tell me the proper weight that is on yours?
 
and....to be totally OT...how would it compare to a Marantz 6170?

thanks for the quick replies too!

[edit: dont stress, the marantz auction has ended...]
 
Just revive this thread and to comment that these TT the hitachi 66s that i have is excelent TT .To my ears this TT and the AT440MLA are a perfect match.
here a photo of mine that cost me 12.50€
hitachiz.jpg
 
I have an HT-40s also. I got it to use as my record cleaning table. It came with an AT-95. I lined it up and listened to it a couple of times and i've been very surprised by how good it sounds. Its' no match for my WT Classic, but it plays music vey very well. Seems very sturdy and reliable too :-)
 
We've got a necromancer in the house!

I was highly tempted to pick up an HT-68 a while back but decided to hold off for a decent pl-7/8/9 from pioneer since beej could help me if it ever quit. :)
 
Whoa! Back to before I knew anything at all about Empire cartridges! Here are some additional photos:
Hitachi HT-50S.jpg Hitachi HT-50S specs from serv man.jpg Hitachi HT-50S-195750883.jpghitachi_ht-50s_schematic-a.jpg

The HT-50S is an example of what I like to call Joy On The Cheap (Audio Division).
 
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wualta said:
Whoa! Back to before I knew anything at all about Empire cartridges! But I see Photosuckit withdrew the photo, so here are some better ones:
View attachment 1028697 View attachment 1028769 View attachment 1028770
Click to expand...

I wish I was into the Empire game back in 1978 when all I had was an old Fisher 500c, a pair of AR 3 speakers, and some old turntable (Garrard) that my late father handed down to me.

My older sister decided to steal my system and pawn it off for drugs. I never knew how nice I had it until I tried replacing that system in 2008.
 
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