Tag: Toshiba SR230

November 23, 2021 – Repairing a Turntable

November 23, 2021 /

It has been a while since I produced a YouTube video. I find it strange that my channel has gained subscribers and views with so little activity. The YouTube channel was always to support this blog endeavor.  With that, I have been busy enough that I find it difficult to spend a lot of time building multi-media, see my problems with getting podcasting going.

It’s not that it is completely out of sight, out of mind.  Often, I think when I am almost done with something that I should have videoed it.  Sometimes when I wasn’t working, I would go back and redo things to get pictures or videos to post.  There is also some things that never made it onto a published video because I didn’t deem the quality good enough and I didn’t want to redo it.

As long as I am blathering about unrelated things to today’s topic, I found a workaround to my editing problem.  I downloaded a plugin to use an alternate editor than the default WordPress editor.  It works on all devices, but it has more limited functionality and is a little more difficult to use.  The default one has imbed capability for YouTube and gallery layout for photos, but at least this one works. 

I am posting using my iPad this week.  I purchased a Bluetooth keyboard to be able to type better and it is OK.  At least I don’t have to tote around multiple laptops.  For now, I am happier with how things are working.

This turntable was purchased second hand. It is possible that we overpaid at $30 but I don’t think so. It needed a new belt and a new stylus. Of course, I really didn’t know that but I speculated that it was just some maintenance to get things working.

Since getting it to spin, I have been pretty busy so I haven’t played around with it much.  I do see a huge difference between the chintzy, suit-case style that we tried out a year ago and this one.  The sound is much richer and base heavy, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Additionally, a couple of the records that we bought were used and the good songs really didn’t play well.  I suppose that was due to wear.  I am now happy to say that they play nicely on this turntable.  I do hear a slight sound level difference when the song changes to the worn spots in the record, but it still sounds good.

All in all, I would call this a success.  I still have some challenges with a CD carousel.  In fact, I bought a second one but it neither are working properly.  Maybe I will make another video about repairing that piece of equipment if I can figure out what is exactly wrong.   Right now, it would be a video about a failed attempt, not super helpful. 

End Your Programming Routine:  I am looking forward to getting my table built so I can move all of this audio gear into my office.   There is nothing like rocking out while you are working or changing the sound as your mood changes.  The computer speakers are a distant second to quality audio sound; they work but are un-inspiring.

October 20, 2021 – I Am Such a Sucker for Techno-junk

October 20, 2021 /

Over a year ago, I was browsing at a second hand store and I ran across a Technics direct drive turn table. They wanted $120 for it. From what I could see, it was missing a stylus but I was unsure if it was really worth the price. After doing some quick research, it looked like they were going for a couple hundred dollars in working order. I went back two days later and it was gone.

Every since then, I have been looking for that diamond in the rough that I could get for cheap. My wife got this suitcase record player for Mother’s two years ago. We bought some records and I was severely disappointed. The best songs on the used records were ‘worn out’. They look in good condition, so I am hoping that by upgrading the player, I can get better sound out of them.

The other thing that bothered me about the suitcase record player was that it had a pre-amp built in. To plug it into my receiver, I had to use the non-phono jack and that bugged me. Also, it sounded distorted, to high end and not enough low end. I wouldn’t call myself an audiophile. But, I want to really hear what the buzz is about going back to vinyl. From my memory as a child, the sound was always as good as the radio, with more bass and a deeper and richer sound. I should still have some records at my parents house as well. But, as time and technology moved on and so did the record player so I don’t really have a comparison.

My family was shopping at Goodwill on Saturday and my son sent me a text of this turntable. They wanted $40. From what he could see, it seemed like it needed a belt replacement as the platter was not spinning. But the motor was turning. I again did some quick research and saw one was selling on eBay for $200 so I said go ahead. Knowing very little about this, I looked at it the next day and found that it was also missing the stylus.

Belts are cheap $5-10 but replacing a stylus is quite a bit more complicated (and expensive). First of all, the stylus needs to match the cartridge. Having no idea if this is original or not, I am strictly guessing. I looked at the manual and got the specs and ordered what I hope is a match. Otherwise, I am into it probably another $60-100 for a new headshell (that is the stylus, cartridge and carrier) plus I don know what I am doing when it comes to alignment.

I ordered two belts, one stylus and one ground cable. This will probably end up as a video as I get this going. I saw one video on the Toshiba SR230, it was just showing all the features. So, at least I have something to show me how it is supposed to work.

I am not done with the search for more techno-junk. I have always wanted to add a subwoofer to the surround sound setup. I am also on the lookout for a second set of speakers, to put closer to my bench in the basement. If I saw a receiver upgrade or possibly a smaller set of surround sound speakers I wouldn’t pass up if it was the right deal. Since I haven’t quite figured out my final setup, things are still up in the air. However, I doubt that I would pay $40 and another $50 in repair parts like this project but you never know.

End Your Programming Routine: I am looking forward to this, to a point. I like the feeling of taking something that isn’t working, figuring out why and getting it going again. I don’t necessarily need to be spending my time on this as I have lots of more important things to do. But, sometimes you have to prioritize something that you want to do over things that were started first or have a greater impact. It is that irrationalness that makes us human.