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SONY PS-4300--Is it worth repairing.

M

moeaudio

New Member
I received a Sony PS-4300 in fair shape.
I was only able to play one record before it blew a fuse.
Replaced fuse--blew again--don't they always.
Do these Sony sound OK??? I couldn't judge--do to a very old cartridge.

Is this heavy old Sony thing worth repairing???

If yes, who do you know that could service it.

Thanks much.
moeaudio
 
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Most of the heavy old tables with S arms are pretty decent. It was a crowded market and if they could not perform, they were unsuccessful. Sony sold a fain number of TTs so they had to have it pretty right. Not familiar with that model, but there are folks here running Sony tables and enjoying them. As to where and how much to repair, that will be a little tough to estimate from here.
 
The PS-4300 was Sony's first US presence with a Direct Drive TT in the 70s. I purchased one of the first ones that arrived at my dealer's (I was the bench tech). The next generation of Sony TT's were the PS-X5/6/7 series, which had more improvements. My brother still uses his PS-4300 to this day, however.

It used many discrete devices since Integrated Circuits were just coming into the mainstream consumer gear of that day.

If it is blowing fuses, then you've likely got power supply problems. They're not unlike the other discussions you read over in the Solid State section about receivers having old filter caps that need to be replaced after so many years.

The question you need to ask yourself is how much you're willing to spend on it. They're nice tables but you can purchase a brand-new Technics SL-1200 today for about $400 or so as a point of reference.

If you do choose not to go forward be aware that others will likely be looking for parts units. I'd post it on those auction sites for that reason.

Hope that helps your decision.

Cheers,

David
 
The arm is decent- not spectacular, but still a nice performer.

The plinth is one of the best I've come across- a non-resonant mold of polyester, plastic and other inert material. Looks like plastic, but far from it. Kenwood used a very similar product- they added granite dust- for their TOTL models. Sony calls it something like "BRMC", for "something non-resonant molded compound".

This plinth shames the plinths from other manufacturers.

Unsure if this is "X-Tal" lock- if it is, it's Sony's borrowed version of magnetic strip servo & quartz speed accuracy technology- and you see what the vintage Denons cost. It's very accurate.

Later x-4/5/6/7 models got gel-filled feet that added to this table's ability to reject vibration transferred from foot-falls and such. Wish these models had them too- they are fantastic.

The motor is, I believe, a BSL model- but please verify.

BSL stands for "brushless/slotless" and is a cog-free DD motor.
 
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You are correct, thedelihhaus. The motor was the 1st incarnation of the BSL drive system using a servo system with magnetic pickup on the inner rim of the platter.

I was in engineering school at the time it came out and I used the circuit and TT as a class project where I had to completely analyze the circuit from only the drawings, then write a complete description of how the 3 coils were switched to pull the platter along, how the servo system developed its control signals and how the semi-automatic tonearm system worked in conjunction with it all.

Sony later came out with a very good service manual for it and it turns out I wasn't too far off the mark! Got an A, too, in the class. My engineering profs, though, just shook their heads when they saw all the complexity, "just to make it go around!", they said.

BTW, those take care with those gel feet on the PS-X series. The shafts are hollow and they'll break easily if you have the feet unscrewed very much. To fix it, install a nail of the right diameter in the hollow shafts of the feet and epoxy them in place to add strength.

Cheers,

David
 
David,

Indeed the feet like to snap. I took nails and two part epoxy and modified them as such, then using my dremel and a metal cutting wheel to trim 'em.


I've really enjoyed my PS-X5s and X-60 and X-70. Love the non-resonant base.
 
Thanks for the info...Now who wants it for free???

I'd like to thank all of you for the info.
I already have 3 s-armed Techincs around here...so the Sony Project will have to go to another AK'r...

Now who wants this thing??? It's worth keeping from the landfill.
Killer chassis, plinth and bearing...the arm is a Sony 'S' (at least it looks cool).
Everything's stock Sony except for the headshell and cartridge.

The Sony's free to the first to reply at s.sue@worldnet.att.net
Local P/U preffered 98042 and will be given first dibs...sorry bubba.
If no AKr's local for P/U...
I will properply package and ship--but the recipient will prepay
for Fedex ground via check or money order.

Thanks and You're welcome,
moeaudio
 
dshoaf said:
If it is blowing fuses, then you've likely got power supply problems. They're not unlike the other discussions you read over in the Solid State section about receivers having old filter caps that need to be replaced after so many years.
Click to expand...

I chased my tail bringing my X70's power supply back up to snuff. Even with a schematic, it can be a rather hairy job.

dshoaf said:
BTW, those take care with those gel feet on the PS-X series. The shafts are hollow and they'll break easily if you have the feet unscrewed very much. To fix it, install a nail of the right diameter in the hollow shafts of the feet and epoxy them in place to add strength.

Cheers,

David
Click to expand...

Thanks for that bit of advice. My X70's rear feet are unscrewed fairly far right now.
 
moeaudio said:
I'd like to thank all of you for the info.
Now who wants this thing??? It's worth keeping from the landfill.
Killer chassis, plinth and bearing...the arm is a Sony 'S' (at least it looks cool).
Everything's stock Sony except for the headshell and cartridge.

The Sony's free to the first to reply at s.sue@worldnet.att.net
Local P/U preffered 98042 and will be given first dibs...sorry bubba.
If no AKr's local for P/U...
I will properply package and ship--but the recipient will prepay
for Fedex ground via check or money order.

Thanks and You're welcome,
moeaudio
Click to expand...

I actually have one of these that I just pulled out of storage - it hasn't been used in 18 years! I have a basement in my new digs, so I decided to see if it still works for use there.

But inevitably, it has a few problems - the mechanism for raising and lowering the arm only works part way - so the arm won't do down far enough for the needle to touch the vinyl... and it is making a few cluny noises as well...

so i am debating what to do with mine as well - hate to junk it
 
PS-4300 arrived today ! Big Box VERY well packed! A Rarity in this day and age, I will open it up and see what happens?

Thanks again,
John.:music:
 
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I am going to rebuild the pS board. The voltage selector was set to 100vac, I changed it to my house current 120 vac so far. The fuse blows immediately.

Thanks,
John.:music:
 
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IIRC, I'd have to look at a schematic again to confirm, but I believe it had a crystal reference circuit in it but didn't have full stabilization like the later models had. It was built like a tank, a feature that Sony kept improving on as did Technics.

Still sounds like there's power supply regulator issues.

Cheers,

David
 
dshoaf said:
IIRC, I'd have to look at a schematic again to confirm, but I believe it had a crystal reference circuit in it but didn't have full stabilization like the later models had. It was built like a tank, a feature that Sony kept improving on as did Technics.

Still sounds like there's power supply regulator issues.

Cheers,

David
Click to expand...

that small circuit board is the power supply board, and has a few other components that I will replace.
Hopefully, it will work after I am finished:banana:

Having fun,
John.:D
 
jleon92f said:
I am going to rebuild the pS board. The voltage selector was set to 100vac, I changed it to my house current 120 vac so far. The fuse blows immediately.

Thanks,
John.:music:
Click to expand...

Test your transistors. Most of them on my PS-X70's power board were fried (I think lightning was the culprit) and it caused all sorts of weirdness.
 
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