"David Looser" wrote in
:

snip

Low-cost phono pre-amps are readily available. As you
appear to live in the US could I suggest looking at what
Radio Shack has to offer? You should be able to get a
simple phono pre-amp on a small PCB (no case, connectors or
power supply) for a *lot* less than the cost of a DVD
player and for little more than the retail cost of the
components.

I use eternal september but I live in a god forsaken horrible
3rd world country (without a SINGLE Usenet server, paid or
otherwise) where everything is either unavailable, does not work
(returns or exchanges are not a known concept here) or costs 2-5
times what it does in civilization.

Are you saying the unit DOES use a ceramic cartridge? Is it
possible to put a ceramic cartridge in the Sony turntable? (I
can probably find a car. cart. /somewhere/...)


--
Any mental activity is easy if it need not be subjected to
reality.

On 9/9/2010 10:08 AM thanatoid spake thus:

"David Looser" wrote in
:

snip

Low-cost phono pre-amps are readily available. As you
appear to live in the US could I suggest looking at what
Radio Shack has to offer? You should be able to get a
simple phono pre-amp on a small PCB (no case, connectors or
power supply) for a *lot* less than the cost of a DVD
player and for little more than the retail cost of the
components.

I use eternal september but I live in a god forsaken horrible
3rd world country (without a SINGLE Usenet server, paid or
otherwise) where everything is either unavailable, does not work
(returns or exchanges are not a known concept here) or costs 2-5
times what it does in civilization.

Are you saying the unit DOES use a ceramic cartridge? Is it
possible to put a ceramic cartridge in the Sony turntable? (I
can probably find a car. cart. /somewhere/...)

Couple points to try to allay further confusion:

1. Even a ceramic cartridge requires a preamp, but one that has
different equalization from one for a magnetic cartridge. A ceramic
cartridge does *not* output a line-level signal.

2. As someone else said, you can get small, standalone phono preamps
(for mag. carts) for not very much. No need for a fancy-schmancy
full-featured preamp. You could permanently wire it into the unit and
would be on your way.

3. Ceramic cartridges aren't as good (fidelity-wise) as magnetics, and
aren't as kind to your records either (less compliance). So try to use a
decent magnetic cartridge.


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

David Nebenzahl wrote in
.com:

snip

Couple points to try to allay further confusion:

1. Even a ceramic cartridge requires a preamp, but one that
has different equalization from one for a magnetic
cartridge. A ceramic cartridge does *not* output a
line-level signal.

I just found that out on a web site. But I am still not sure if
the cartridge IS ceramic.

I guess I will have to strip the 4 long thin wires from the
original cartridge (I saved it) and connect it to the now-
extended cable. If it works - and /something/ tells me it will,
the cables were high quality so even I could not screw up the
simple solder jobs - then the BSR cart is ceramic and the
matter ends there.

The unit will make a *great* AM/line in receiver, and an
acceptable FM receiver. It has a very cool retro look, being
white with black knobs. /And/ it has 2 sets of speaker outputs.

2. As someone else said, you can get small, standalone
phono preamps (for mag. carts) for not very much. No need
for a fancy-schmancy full-featured preamp. You could
permanently wire it into the unit and would be on your way.

As I said to DL:

I use eternal september but I live in a god forsaken
horrible 3rd world country (without a SINGLE Usenet
server, paid or otherwise) where everything is either
unavailable, does not work (returns or exchanges are not a
known concept here) or costs 2-5 times what it does in
civilization.

I saw one online for US$30. It would cost me at least $75 here,
with a 3 month special order wait and no warranty/return. If I
buy it online myself, assuming they even ship here, it will get
stolen by local "postal employees". FedEx is not worth the cost,
see last paragraph.

3. Ceramic cartridges aren't as good (fidelity-wise) as
magnetics, and aren't as kind to your records either (less
compliance). So try to use a decent magnetic cartridge.

I know - but this is just a little hobby project - I like old
stuff and I hate to throw away something that works. I have a
stereo with a Dolby B/C deck and a Philips turntable which I am
using to transfer my old vinyl and cassettes to mp3. Nothing
great, but it does the job, even though it is about 20 years old
- "Made in Japan" ;-)


--
Any mental activity is easy if it need not be subjected to
reality.