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Technics SL-BD20 cart upgrade
- Thread starter Rich12
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johnjhazel
PhxJohn
I had one of those back in the 80's. I put a Grado P-Mount on it and it worked and sounded good.
Crab33
Super Member
There's a very limited choice of p-mount cartridges out nowadays. What cartridge is on it now? You may simply be able to upgrade the stylus to one with a more exotic profile.
An Ortofon p-mount may be a solution, such as an OMP or TM. You may need to buy the body secondhand but then you could select your stylus from Ortofon's OM styli, ranging from the Stylus 10 to 40. The Stylus 20 (nude elliptical) is good value.
An Ortofon p-mount may be a solution, such as an OMP or TM. You may need to buy the body secondhand but then you could select your stylus from Ortofon's OM styli, ranging from the Stylus 10 to 40. The Stylus 20 (nude elliptical) is good value.
beat_truck
Addicted Member
This. Post a pic if you don't know.
If it has the stock Technics cartridge, those are actually very good and worthy of a new stylus.
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
Welcome to the forum! The SL-BD20 was one of the last belt drive turntables manufactured by Technics. It employs a very ingenius cartridge mounting system by the name of T4P or "p-mount". It was supposed to standardize swapping/replacing cartridges by imposing a standard mass and a standard tracking force of 1.25 grams. To upgrade the cartridge, it is a simple matter of removing a set screw, unplugging the old cartridge, inserting the new cartridge and replacing the set screw. This system was intended to make obsolete the task of mounting the cartridge to a headshell, re-balancing the tonearm, setting the tracking force and setting the alignment of the cartridge. Unfortunately, the T4P or "p-mount" cartridge did not take off as it came about just as the compact disk (CD) was coming into it's own in the marketplace. Please be aware that some p-mount cartridges require slightly more than the standard 1.25 grams of tracking force. One example is the Grado p-mount cartridges which require 1.5 grams. The SL-BD20 does not have adjustable tracking force. There are plenty of vintage p-mount cartridges around on the auction site. The Technics cartridges are very nice and can be upgraded to a fairly high standard. There are some NOS Audio Technica cartridges on the auction site right now. There are several threads about p-mount cartridges here.
lini
just me...
Rich: The -BD20 came in two versions. The older/initial one still came with the EPC-P24S, the newer one with the EPC-P34, with the latter being a renamed Audio Technica AT300P family model. And for both cartridge bodies you could alternatively also get upgrade needles instead of going for another cartridge.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
The range of adjustability (without modification of the tonearm) is minimal. Perhaps on the order of +/- 1 gram or less. The OP is new to all this. Best to keep things simple until he is ready to start modding. Besides, there are plenty of the old T4P standard cartridges around still. Even new old stock offerings. I would much rather have an SL-BD20 than most of the newer entry level offerings on the market now. A new stylus, belt and some fresh lube on the bearing and all should be good. A great start to vinyl with a turntable that will respect your records. Heck, the tonearm even returns to its rest after the record is finished playing. Sometimes I really miss that feature. I might have to get out one of my SL-QX300s tonight.
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
Here are a couple of internal links that discuss p mount turntables/cartridges. You may also want to look up the SL-BD20 using the search function in this forum as well as on Vinylengine.com.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-p-mount-owners-club.793028/
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...eries-cartridge-photos-specifications.546746/
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/the-p-mount-owners-club.793028/
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...eries-cartridge-photos-specifications.546746/
My estimation is that the Technics P -Mounts are better performers than many new "audiophile" entry level decks as well.
Decibel_116
AK Subscriber
I would take an older Technics p-mount deck any day over ANY new entry level table today. I have a few Technics p-mount decks in my collection and they are not going anywhere. I have three of the suspended direct drive models (SL-QX200 and 300) that are truly special p-mount performers. I also have a linear tracking model (SL-7) that sounds way better than it should with a Shure V15LT cartridge installed. I believe the QX200 and 300 had coreless motors too. Of course you can use any p-mount cartridge in the SH-90 headshell adapter (for use in my SL-1200G for instance). The SL-QD33 has a completely separate motor for the automatic functions of the tonearm. Such were the cool features one could find in the last days of the turntable heyday.
Besides, p-mount cartridges are fun to collect. Most people do not think they have much value since T4P turntables are no longer produced. I must have over 80 different models now, most of them in great condition or new old stock!
Currently the tt has the p24 cart
lini
just me...
Then I'd suggest to consider this VividLine upgrade needle from LPGear: https://www.lpgear.com/product/PAS023HE.html
Of course you could also go for an SAS upgrade needle variant - but these aren't exactly inexpensive and, to be honest, I'd deem an SAS upgrade needle somewhat overdimensioned for an SL-BD20, while the VL upgrade needle would seem more adequate.
Gretings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Reviving this old thread to ask Decibel a question: what is the cheapest P Mount TT (non-linear) you'd recommend which would let me run a Grado cart? I have an SL-5, but it's finicky, very sensitive to the slightest imperfection in vinyl and won't play new, thicker pressings at all. I've wanted to add a P Mount that's more robust without breaking my beer budget.
tks,
s.
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lini
just me...
You could consider one of the models of the 1st T4P radial-tracker generation - 'cause all of these, from the SL-B10 up to the SL-Q30, still sported both tracking force and antiskating (fine-)adjustment.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
Thank you! Got a favorite? I have no idea what's worth owning.
s.
Also...reading back into the long history of forum posts about the BD20, it appears some people used Grados on them, even with the tracking force issue. Is that even possible?
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lini
just me...
The SL-Q20/Q30 - for being not only quartz-referenced DDs, but also more substantial than the lower-ranking models
Can't tell, whether those P-mount Grados might already track reasonably well at 1,25 g, due to having no personal experience with these. But maybe these people are aware of the trick. Shall mean, while arm of the SL-BD20 doesn't sport the counterweight variant with the thumbscrew plus scale and indicator for the tracking force (fine-)adjustment, the tracking force can nevertheless be altered. I.e., if you have a look at the rear end of the counterweight, you should be able to spot a regular screw, via which the position of the actual counterweight can be adjusted - but due to the lack of the aforementioned scale and indicator you'd need to check the adjustment with a tracking force scale instead.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
