Sansui SR-525???

[allthingswwb]

Since you are a subscriber, put a want to buy ad on bartertown. Maybe a nearby Aker has one and you could avoid shipping. That is always risky with turntables.

Thank you! That is a great idea! I did just that!

 

[allthingswwb]

Please note that the SR-535 is a very different TT compared to the SR-525:
SR-525: Manual TT, old-school chipwood base, almost no plastic parts and a very nice arm.
SR-535: Automatic TT, with plastic base (with a steel reinforcement plate inside), less sofisticated arm, most automatic parts/knobs/armbase are plastic.

Thanks John! I was not aware of the drastic differences. I didn't realize from the pictures on the various auction sites. I guess I should use vinylengine more often. And I'm sure glad I have AK to help me out! I have learned a ton here already!

 

[RemoWilliams]

Just added one of these myself from a local Seller on CL and will concur that it is a great TT - the fully manual aspect can be a bit annoying when the other two turntables are an auto and semi auto but I still enjoy using it. I thought I would be playing the Pioneer PL 630 more but due to the simplistic design of the SR 525 ( whereas the PL 630 is more complicated - very nice and heavier though ) I put more time on it.


Entertaining the idea of putting a wood veneer finish on the Sansui though it is certainly passable as is. Some of the Pioneers, Kenwoods and Hitachi models that are at least semi automatic are worth looking into as well. There is the SR 626 which is basically the same with a wood finish.

 

[allthingswwb]

Just added one of these myself from a local Seller on CL and will concur that it is a great TT - the fully manual aspect can be a bit annoying when the other two turntables are an auto and semi auto but I still enjoy using it. I thought I would be playing the Pioneer PL 630 more but due to the simplistic design of the SR 525 ( whereas the PL 630 is more complicated - very nice and heavier though ) I put more time on it.


Entertaining the idea of putting a wood veneer finish on the Sansui though it is certainly passable as is. Some of the Pioneers, Kenwoods and Hitachi models that are at least semi automatic are worth looking into as well. There is the SR 626 which is basically the same with a wood finish.

You know... I have been thinking of doing the exact same thing if I end up getting a 525, putting a wood veneer on it. I hear you about the convenience of auto or semi-auto. It's probably one of the top reasons that I have not made a decisive move on a new/used table yet. But manual is the only thing I have ever known. And I think I've got a line on a SR-525 locally, that I can audition. That might end up being the deciding factor.

I'll report back with what I end up with.

 

[Ilikevinyl]

I've had my SR-525 for about 7 years now. It required nothing but a little maintenance and a decent cartridge. It's a fine little table, and is a primary use item. .

Mine just needed the ordinary pitch pots cleaned with DeoxIT, worked great afterwards!

 

[lasminit2]

(Late addition to this thread)
I helped a friend with an SR-525 that was "cogging" ...literally... The platter was moving in small steps. He bought the thing as a fixer-upper on The Bay ("works fine, but needs service LOL", and was disappointed because everything else, including cosmetics (after a lot of cleaning) seemed really nice. We opened it up and hit the tiny control pots with Deoxit, worked them a bit, and smooth sailing...nice table!
I can't remember if he lubed the motor and possibly the bearing (he DL'ed the repair manual, so probably). The service manual didn't say anything about cleaning the speed control pots, but I learned that many years ago with my own SR-838. It is a great first step for most any table that has odd rotational problems, although probably best to tend to motor and main bearing first if they are serviceable. As far as service manuals not mentioning electronics cleaner for the control pots (and the internal adjustment pots where applicable) we should keep in mind that the guys who designed these great gizmos had no clue that they would still be operational Fifty years down the road! : )

 

[ngdilin]

I picked up a 525 a couple of weeks ago, it was very fast (~60-70 rpm) on 33rpm. I cleaned the fine control pots (they worked well after that), changed out the 3 caps in the power supply, changed out 6 out of 10 electrolytics in the motor circuit, sprayed and worked the trim pots on the board too. I thought I can spray contact cleaner into the microswitch, but looking closer it was sealed and I may have to open it up to give it a good clean.

Presently, it is still fast, 33 rpm and 45 rpm range 40 - 55 and 55-70, respectively, with a wow/flutter of 0,15% (android app, fwiw).

 

[ngdilin]

Update: Recapped and it's still fast (I can get it to 45 rpm at the 33 setting). External speed pots changed. Microswitch at .2 ohms when closed at 33/45 so I don't think it's the switch.

Checked continuity from power board to motor board. All six wires checked out. Checked continuity from motor board to another board underneath the motor board (4 wires and ground), no issues there. Checked continuity in most of the circuit board, didn't pick up anything useful.

The 33/45 trimmers are spotty, at the slowest end it goes open, and the table goes to hyperspeed. Maybe I will replace these next. In the middle of their range they read as expected though, and worked fine (still fast). Hence at 33 I can get 45rpm , 0.1 wf, at 45 it is 60rpm, 0.05wf.

I would appreciate any ideas, thank you!

 

[ngdilin]

Update 3 : I changed the coarse VR pots, now it's stable but still 12 rpm faster (with everything centered) when in the 33 and 45 rpm modes.

Changed the zener diode and two diodes in the voltage reference circuit, no change. Also changed Q009, Q007 and Q008, no changes as well. I am going to pull all the resistors and check them next.

I would appreciate any ideas, thanks!