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SL-1200MK5 issue

Voltes_Five

Voltes_Five

New Member
Hello, I hope this message finds all of you well.
I am a noob so please allow myself to introduce myself...:)
  • I'm not an audiophile.
  • Grew up listening to my Dad's 40s and 50s records
  • Started my own collection in the 70s until I lost interest in 1990. Shifted focus on our first child
  • Last weekend, I got sentimental and decided to continue where I left off.
So I took out the 'ol Mk5, installed a new technics HS and Shure M44-7. Set the track force to 1.5g. Plugged it and powered up. Borrowed my friend's spare equipments to get me going. Hooked up the TT to:
  • Phono preamp tube (FX audio)
  • Sound Appeal SA-100T amp (100w)
Connected the above to a pair of bookshelf speakers (Fluance) using regular 16 gauge wires. Put on a Pixie's "7 monkey gone to Heaven, pressed start, Result: No heavenly sound :(.... just very faint audio from the speakers.

So not to give up too quickly, I replaced the 'ol MK5 with a borrowed TT (audio-technica AP-LP2D USB). Connected it to the same phono preamp and SA-100T, then at the back of the TT, I switched the selector to 'Line' instead of 'phono'. Result: the Pixie's record played successfully. :music:

I'm seeking advise on how to proceed and what i can do to fix the MK5 if that is the issue. If not, then perhaps the problem is with the amps?

Thank you and God bless you all.
 
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I'm not sure that your preamp is a phono preamp.

You'll need to get a phono preamp or phono stage to get your technics to work

edit: or a receiver or integrated amplifier with a built in phono, if you find one to suit your speakers
 
The M44-7 is a heavy tracking DJ type cart. May be tracking too light. I used one on my SL 1200, sounds pretty good with it's high output.
 
hugz said:
I'm not sure that your preamp is a phono preamp.

You'll need to get a phono preamp or phono stage to get your technics to work

edit: or a receiver or integrated amplifier with a built in phono, if you find one to suit your speakers
Click to expand...
Thank you Hugz for your insights. I shall try to get a receiver or integ amp and see if the TT will work.
 
I am not sure of the switch on the back of the AT turntable. But if the switch to line is a direct output that goes into the phono stage and it works, then the phono stage and receiver settings are fine. That means its an issue with the Technics. Now if the Audio Technica turntable has an in board phono stage and its engaged and going into a different input than what the Technics is hooked up to, then it could be the phono stage or the line input of the receiver.

Now it could be that there is a problem with the selector switch and is only getting minimal signal through. Or it could be that a tape monitor switch is engaged? Sometimes that happens inadvertently.

Now if the receiver and phono stage check out OK, its then the Technics. Sometimes the pins in the tone arm that make contact with the cartridge head shell get dirty, or do not extend fully and make proper contact. So get in with a pencil eraser and polish them, or clean them with some contact cleaner and a swab. If not, then it could be the cables coming off the tone arm. Either they are intermittent in contact, or possibly dirty and oxidized. My bet would be on the tone arm pins that contact the head shell.

Regards
Mister Pig
 
Mister Pig said:
I am not sure of the switch on the back of the AT turntable. But if the switch to line is a direct output that goes into the phono stage and it works, then the phono stage and receiver settings are fine. That means its an issue with the Technics. Now if the Audio Technica turntable has an in board phono stage and its engaged and going into a different input than what the Technics is hooked up to, then it could be the phono stage or the line input of the receiver.

Now it could be that there is a problem with the selector switch and is only getting minimal signal through. Or it could be that a tape monitor switch is engaged? Sometimes that happens inadvertently.

Now if the receiver and phono stage check out OK, its then the Technics. Sometimes the pins in the tone arm that make contact with the cartridge head shell get dirty, or do not extend fully and make proper contact. So get in with a pencil eraser and polish them, or clean them with some contact cleaner and a swab. If not, then it could be the cables coming off the tone arm. Either they are intermittent in contact, or possibly dirty and oxidized. My bet would be on the tone arm pins that contact the head shell.

Regards
Mister Pig
Click to expand...


Thank you Mr. Pig. I took out the pins from the tone arm, cleaned it (w/ deoxit) and plug it snuggly back in. It did the job! :) But the sound wasn't so good for I had to turn the volume knob unusually high to get the sound I wanted.

hugz said:
I'm not sure that your preamp is a phono preamp.

You'll need to get a phono preamp or phono stage to get your technics to work

edit: or a receiver or integrated amplifier with a built in phono, if you find one to suit your speakers
Click to expand...

I was tempted to snag from eBay a Technics SA-500 receiver which I immediately hooked up. Then like magic, the MK5 works perfectly!!!:rockon:

Thank you
 
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