I have a Sony PS-X70 tt that has been in my garage now for 15 years or so...just decided to bring it inside and dust it off to see if might work...i plugged it in and everything seems to function properly, except the auto lift doesnt seem to lift the arm high enough...havent played vinyl for 20 years and am thinking I might like to get back into it...i assume this table needs some cleaning and maintenance to bring it fully back to life...it also needs a new stylus...the cartridge is a Grado X+...so my question to you all is whether this table is worthy of putting money into it to get it going again...my current system is ADS L1590 speakers, McIntosh C2300 preamp, McIntosh MC402 amp, Bryston bda-3 dac and bdp-3 digital player, Jl audio f113 sub...any advice would be much appreciated...thanks
Sony ps-x70 turntable
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Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
The PS-X70 was an expensive table back in the day and if in proper working condition, deserves a nice cartridge to fit that system. With the MC phono stage in the preamp, a nice LOMC would be a good choice. Sure you can get something a lot cheaper, folks here love a $29.95 cartridge but there are differences. If you want to get something to see if you like the idea of records again the AT 540ML has gotten some good reviews (about 250 but you could buy a cheaper model 500-series and upgrade the stylus.) So many different ways to go as you decide what you want to do. I have a couple tables with separate arms, sweet record players, but I'm using my brother's PS-X7 with a Denon DL-160 HOMC on it at the moment as the main table. One of the others is set up and ready to go but the Sony is fun to use and sounds great on the other borrowed gear in my rig, Glenn's L-07M mono amps and Steve's Tympani IVa speakers.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
The stylus for the 1985 Grado X+ would be the silver according to Grado site a few years ago. Many here like to upgrade to the 8MZ. These are 130-150 at one web location. The Grados have a sound many like. And since the cartridge is a transducer changing types of energy they make a big difference in the sound of the system, like changing the transducer on the other end of the wire, the speakers.
The Ps-x70 is one of the best, if not the best, full auto tables in existence. I have one and love it. It’s arm is on the heavier side of the mid mass arm. The original headshell is a bit small so some on the newer larger in profile cartridges may be difficult mounting with the wires and their leads sticking out.
Take it in to a tech in your area, have them service it, you’ll never want to get ride of it.
Get a Denon 103r LoMC cartridge.
If you put it up on the auction site, it will be sold with lots of bids. $500-$800 range.
Take it in to a tech in your area, have them service it, you’ll never want to get ride of it.
Get a Denon 103r LoMC cartridge.
If you put it up on the auction site, it will be sold with lots of bids. $500-$800 range.
Ok...thanks...is the Grado X+ cartridge any good?.. a replacement stylus is going to cost 130 or 150 upgraded...don't even know for sure if it works
I wouldn’t worry about costs, you have a gem!
Even if it doesn’t work, it will still be sold in the $500 plus range.
I’m not familiar with Grado’s, sorry. If you want to reduce your risk, Pick up a new Audio Technica AT95, it will work good with the arm and I think it is under $50.
I think you would have to spend over $2500 to get a comparable sound to your Sony from a current turntable...and none with have full auto as well as being able to manually que as well.
Plus they look bitchin.
Even if it doesn’t work, it will still be sold in the $500 plus range.
I’m not familiar with Grado’s, sorry. If you want to reduce your risk, Pick up a new Audio Technica AT95, it will work good with the arm and I think it is under $50.
I think you would have to spend over $2500 to get a comparable sound to your Sony from a current turntable...and none with have full auto as well as being able to manually que as well.
Plus they look bitchin.
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Gonna definitely take it in to be serviced...so now just need to figure out what cartridge would work best. If the Grado is still working and produces good sound I will spend the 150 on an upgraded stylus...cost really not a huge deal, just want to have a cartridge that would do it justice.
Do you think this Lomc cartridge would be better than the Grado X+ that I currently have?...I would opt for an upgraded stylus at a cost of 150
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
LOMC is more money than 150. To keep things simple, search 8MZ on AK, there was a recent thread about it and whether it was worth the 150. I don't know Grado sound other than smooth in the middle. Might be too much smooth in the middle with tube preamp but later tube units are more balanced top to bottom than past units. You liked it before so it should be fine if folks say the 8MZ is still the say to go. As good as the PS-X70 is you can spend up to about 2,000 and get the most from the cartridge you choose. Your preamp will be able to use just about any currently available cartridge. Picking a cartridge is like picking speakers but there isn't anywhere to listen to them. So folks talk about the sound of them on the boards at times.
Not with that cartridge on the table. It should have something worthy of the performance level of the table, not an entry level nail.
Not with that cartridge on the table. It should have something worthy of the performance level of the table, not an entry level nail.
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Cool, since your going to keep it, I’ll give you some refresher tips.
If you flip the rubber mat upside down, Sony included an alignment gauge for it. The 235mm is the arm length. The other is 216.5
The overhang is 49mm. Which means with the stock or any headshell, the distance from the needle to the collar (the junction and final line where the arm and headshell join once the headshell is inserted in the arm) is precisely 49mm. Just use a ruler or better, a pair of calipers, to get that distance and just keep the cartridge as square as possibly visually in the headshell and your good to go.
The Effective Mass of the arm is 20g’s - that’s a whole nother realm but its on the heavier side of a mid mass arm.
Stock Headshell is 11g’s, which means you can buy a lighter headshell in the 7g range that will help with some modern cartridges.
You can change VTA, the height of the tonearm, on it - VERY useful. The azimuth can be changed on the collar too. - no need to buy an expensive headshell with adjustable azimuth.
If you still have the extra tonearm weight - it is used for cartridges that weight from 8-16.5 grams.
For optimal resonate frequency with cartridges you want dynamic compliance roughly in the 6 to 16 range of the cartridge with the stock headshell. (10-6 cm/dyne).
Some of the expensive carts would be the Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Benz Micro Gold would work good.
Others:
Ortofon MC3 turbo - HiMC
Denon 103r - LoMC
Most of the Nagaoka MP line.
AT VM 95ML - has compliance of 15
AT VM 95L - has compliance of 10.5
To be honest, I’m using and have used high compliance cartridges on it and they sound fantastic without any problems. I switch between an Ortofon ML20 super, Denon 103r, and a Stanton 881s on mine.
If you flip the rubber mat upside down, Sony included an alignment gauge for it. The 235mm is the arm length. The other is 216.5
The overhang is 49mm. Which means with the stock or any headshell, the distance from the needle to the collar (the junction and final line where the arm and headshell join once the headshell is inserted in the arm) is precisely 49mm. Just use a ruler or better, a pair of calipers, to get that distance and just keep the cartridge as square as possibly visually in the headshell and your good to go.
The Effective Mass of the arm is 20g’s - that’s a whole nother realm but its on the heavier side of a mid mass arm.
Stock Headshell is 11g’s, which means you can buy a lighter headshell in the 7g range that will help with some modern cartridges.
You can change VTA, the height of the tonearm, on it - VERY useful. The azimuth can be changed on the collar too. - no need to buy an expensive headshell with adjustable azimuth.
If you still have the extra tonearm weight - it is used for cartridges that weight from 8-16.5 grams.
For optimal resonate frequency with cartridges you want dynamic compliance roughly in the 6 to 16 range of the cartridge with the stock headshell. (10-6 cm/dyne).
Some of the expensive carts would be the Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Benz Micro Gold would work good.
Others:
Ortofon MC3 turbo - HiMC
Denon 103r - LoMC
Most of the Nagaoka MP line.
AT VM 95ML - has compliance of 15
AT VM 95L - has compliance of 10.5
To be honest, I’m using and have used high compliance cartridges on it and they sound fantastic without any problems. I switch between an Ortofon ML20 super, Denon 103r, and a Stanton 881s on mine.
Balifly
Listening
The Denon DL-301 MKII works quite well with the Sony PS-X70 turn table as well as the PS-X50 and PS-X50.
The tone arms may differ some what but the sound reproduction are pretty much the same.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
There you go, a not entry level cartridge.The Denon DL-301 MKII works quite well with the Sony PS-X70 turn table as well as the PS-X50 and PS-X50.
The tone arms may differ some what but the sound reproduction are pretty much the same.
Sorry, just wanted to give him a super low cost option to see if it worked before he sold it since he didn’t have a working stylus.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
It gets mentioned in every cartridge thread on AK. We are vintage and cheap and that AT sure does work for the latter. Of course, you can get nice styli for them now. AT appealing to the masses with just a record player for their vinyls.
Before you take it in for service try this. Apply penetrating lube to the shaft of that mechanism and use something to grasp it and move it up and down and you should be able to free it up. I had to do the same thing on my PS-X70 & PS-X50. One I got it freed-up and added a couple drops of oil, no problems since
P.S. ... and yes, it is an excellent turntable.
OttOpixel
AK Member
I believe the PUA-7 was the stock arm. Same as my PS X50.
This write up on the Vintage Knob should clarify and seal the deal, re: is it a good table?
Well, yeah.
Very.
http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-PS-X70.html
Pio1980
AK Member
It came with a better pillar for separate operation and a cueing lever.
Thank you! One Sentence clarification and makes complete sense.
I will not be soon letting go of my PS-X60.
You've got a real winner there. Good luck.
You've got a real winner there. Good luck.