Sony HP-188

[ckastner78]

Hey guys,

I'm brand spankin new to the world of turntables, but I'd like to get into them more. I just picked up a pretty much mint Sony HP-188 system from Goodwill today. Everything works fine except the audio output. The sound comes out, but with a low frequency hum, and a LOT of popping (sounds like a short or something). :thumbsdn: It seems pretty rare, and I can't find any info on Google whatsoever. My question is, is this a good unit? Is it really pretty scarce, or just not worth mentioning? And would it be worth it to get this repaired (might be expensive??)? Like I said, it is physically near mint. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Garrard201]

WOW- I had one of these! Loved it, though I must admit that mine didn't have the TT... previous owner removed it and plugged in a separate Dual. Got any pics? Lots of Sony TT'ers on this forum. I would love to see you get it fixed, but as you said, may not be worth it. It sounds good, but it's no holy grail.

 

[Garrard201]

Oh, and the only reason I got rid of mine is that it was cosmetically beat up, and I got a nicer receiver for free.

 

[ckastner78]

Pics, of course! Here they are. It's a real tragedy. Of course, I'm wondering too if maybe the phono section on my amp is messed. I just got it serviced but I don't know if he checked the Phono preamp ..:scratch2: Anyway, everything else works just fine. All the lights, the stylus, the loading mechanism, except I'm pretty sure the cartridge is shot (plays two tracks on the record at once??)

 

[Michael-Otto]

From a SONY catalog ca. 1970, only in german

HP-188
Kompakte Stereo-Anlage mit UKW/MW-Empfänger.
Hochempfindlicher, stabiler Empfänger mit Feld-Effekt-Transistor. Automatischer Plattenwechsler für 5 Langspielplatten. Lautsprecherschalter zur Bedienung von 2 Lautsprecherpaaren.

FM (UKW) Empfänger
Abstimmbereich 87-108MHz
Empfindlichkeit 3µV
AM (MW) Empfänger
Abstimmbereich 530-1605
Empfindlichkeit 10µV
Antenne Bar
Verstärker
2x7 Watt rated power
Harmonische Verzerrungen <8%
Frequenzbereich 30-50.000Hz
Eingang
Aux 200mV
Band 300mV
Ausgang
Lautsprecher 8 Ohm
Kopfhörer 8 Ohm
Lautsprecher
System 2-way
Impedanz 8 Ohm
Abmessungen 235x380x255mm
Gewicht 2,5kg
Plattenspieler
Geschwindigkeiten 16/33/45/78
Allgemein
FET`s 1
Transistoren 32
Dioden 15
Abmessungen 412x208x410mm
Gewicht 8,9 kg

Michael-Otto

 

[Garrard201]

Ohhh that takes me back. You're a lucky man. The TT, good stylus or no, doesn't look real impressive. Maybe that's why mine had been replaced. Looked like a simple job, as there's 2 RCA's coming out of the chassis into the bottom of the TT.

Anyone know German?

 

[ckastner78]

From a SONY catalog ca. 1970, only in german

HP-188
Kompakte Stereo-Anlage mit UKW/MW-Empfänger.
Hochempfindlicher, stabiler Empfänger mit Feld-Effekt-Transistor. Automatischer Plattenwechsler für 5 Langspielplatten. Lautsprecherschalter zur Bedienung von 2 Lautsprecherpaaren.

FM (UKW) Empfänger
Abstimmbereich 87-108MHz
Empfindlichkeit 3µV
AM (MW) Empfänger
Abstimmbereich 530-1605
Empfindlichkeit 10µV
Antenne Bar
Verstärker
2x7 Watt rated power
Harmonische Verzerrungen <8%
Frequenzbereich 30-50.000Hz
Eingang
Aux 200mV
Band 300mV
Ausgang
Lautsprecher 8 Ohm
Kopfhörer 8 Ohm
Lautsprecher
System 2-way
Impedanz 8 Ohm
Abmessungen 235x380x255mm
Gewicht 2,5kg
Plattenspieler
Geschwindigkeiten 16/33/45/78
Allgemein
FET`s 1
Transistoren 32
Dioden 15
Abmessungen 412x208x410mm
Gewicht 8,9 kg

Michael-Otto

HP-188 Compact stereo system with UKW/MW receiver. Highly sensitive, stable receiver with field-effect transistor. Automatic Plate Switcher for 5 long playing records. Loudspeaker switch for the operation of 2 pairs of loudspeakers.

FM (UKW) receiver
Tuning range 87-108MHz
Sensitivity 3µV
AM (MW) the receiver
Tuning range 530-1605
Sensitivity 10µV
Antenna bar
Amplifier
2x7 Watt rated power
Harmonic distortion <8%
Frequency range 30-50,000Hz
entrance
Aux 200mV
300mV bound
Exit
Loudspeaker 8 ohms
headphone 8 ohms
Loudspeaker
System 2-way
Impedance 8 ohms
Dimensions 235x380x255mm
Weight 2.5kg
Record
player Speeds of 16/33/45/78
general
FET `s 1
Transistors 32
Diodes 15
Dimensions 412x208x410mm
Weight 8.9 kg

Translated. Wish I knew German, but thanks to the magic of the internet I don't have to! Thanks for the info!

 

[ckastner78]

good stylus or no, doesn't look real impressive. Maybe that's why mine had been replaced.

Yeah, looks pretty basic. I was under the impression that it looked ok until I checked out that thread of everone elses turntables. WOW! That's some stuff right there! The platter on this says "Precision Manufactured in Great Britan by BSR". I was under the impression that was a good company for turntables, but it could have been a rookie mistake. Is BSR any good?

 

[KentTeffeteller]

BSR here isn't highly regarded. This was around a $200 outfit new back then. This turntable tended to run fast and had few upgrade alternatives for styli. One of Sony's lower end systems then.

 

[hakaplan]

Yep, this is more something for a collector than for decent listening. I'm sure it needs a new cartridge/stylus--that could account for the bad sound or an internal grounding problem. Worth tinkering with, but not worth putting money into.

 

[dshoaf]

That's a ceramic cartridge on that BSR - a standard configuration for the low end Compact Systems sold in the early 70s. I'm quite sure that the whole rubber transmitter system it would use is long-gone as is the needle itself. You'll have to pull it to determine.

The rest of it is a low-end, but not necessarily low quality, receiver. These were sold in the US targeting college dorm rooms and for use in small rooms like a den.

Cheers,

David

 

[Chris Howard]

Interesting HP-188. Think it's worth $20? No speakers