• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Technics SL-D3: One channel out.

mrwood

mrwood

Member
I just bought this turntable today. Dirty, but looks like it's in decent condition overall. It came out of a guy's basement where it's been living for a few years, and cost me $35.

It is heavier and better constructed than any deck I've had so far. The tonearm suspension looks substantial. The platter keeps spinning for a while after it is switched off. The strobe is stable, the deck is fully automatic which seems like a luxury, and all the controls seem to work well. It's got a dust cover and carries a stock headshell with an Ortofon OM10 mounted. The stylus and pickup leads look perfect. The left channel sounds very good to me.

Nothing at all from the right side though.
 
Register to hide this ad
Pull the headshell and clean the contacts on each end ( a pencil eraser will work). Also clean the contacta on the back of the cartridge and the headshell pins. See if that helps. Could be many other things but that is an easy start. Also try switching the R&L rca's and see if the dead channel moves with it. Be very careful with a stylus of unknown condition. If you plan to use it I would encourage you to have it professionally inspected for wear.
 
Thank you Revox. I tried cleaning the contacts and used De-Oxit on a Q-tip as well but no luck. I checked the stylus with my microscope and it looks good. The cartridge worked fine when transferred to another deck. The dead channel switched sides with the rca's.
 
If I remember correctly the cable with the rca's is hardwired on that turntable. Could be a broken connection right at the rca, I would try moving the cable around right there and see if you get intermittent sound. Or take the bottom cover off and break out the ohm meter it's easy enough to replace the ends or the entire cable for that matter.
 
As above, it is either the right RCA cable or the wiring from the arm to the RCA terminal. Check it with a meter and you will have your answer.
Best of luck.
 
On the other hand... Does this unit have a mute switch? That could have dirty contacts as well.
 
No mute switch. I did the checks as suggested. You were right! The RCA connection is compromised. With De-ovit and a lot of wiggling, it is working at the moment. This deck sounds wonderful to my old ears. I'm not used to heaering so much high frequencly detail. It isn't 'warm' which I've always wondered might be a euphemism for higher frequencies be more muted.

Maybe I should install upgraded RCA cables. Is this a common thing?

Thanks to you guys, I'm listening to an old Bert Kempfurt side and hearing a lot of new detail.
 
The RCA cables wearing out as they currently are, is a fairly common issue. You can pick up a replacement set of turntable interconnects and solder them in.

Once you have the turntable back up and running, I would suggest a new stylus for your cartridge, since you don't really know the condition of the stylus on there right now. Better to be safe.

Enjoy the tunes!
 
If you are reasonably handy, soldering new cables on is pretty straightforward. You can use anything from basic RCA cables you might have lying around to very expensive ones. However the best bang for your buck is to take 2 of the 3 wires from video RGB cables and cut one end off and use that. These video cables have good shielding and low capacitance generally so will be quiet and have little signal loss.
 
I have lots of experience soldering from my other hobby, R/C model planes, but I'm not good at it. The video RGB cable idea is appealing. Is this about as good as a replacement set of turntable interconnects? And if dedicated interconnects are better, could someone share a link to a product you like? Thanks very much for the help.

Here it is, from Craigslist. We negotiated, and the previous owner gave it to me for $35. https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ele/6116770741.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom