Hi.
Just looking for advice to trouble shoot my Scott PS 48A 1 Turntable.
I am getting no sound being amplified.
The turntable fires up, the platter turns either on either 45 or 33, the pitch function adjusts well but no sound is being amplified.
If I place my ear near the cartridge I can hear sound coming from the stylus to record contact.
Amp being used is Marantz PM6A using MM RCA connections.
Speakers work via TV/AUX.
Alternate turntable works via the same MM RCA connections.
How should I go about identifying or locating the problem?
cheers Cliff
Just looking for advice to trouble shoot my Scott PS 48A 1 Turntable.
I am getting no sound being amplified.
The turntable fires up, the platter turns either on either 45 or 33, the pitch function adjusts well but no sound is being amplified.
If I place my ear near the cartridge I can hear sound coming from the stylus to record contact.
Amp being used is Marantz PM6A using MM RCA connections.
Speakers work via TV/AUX.
Alternate turntable works via the same MM RCA connections.
How should I go about identifying or locating the problem?
cheers Cliff
Hi Cliff!
Try swapping the cartridge from your Scott turntable with that on your alternate turntable - this will reveal whether the cartridge or its associated wiring is at fault.
What cartridge is installed in your Scott turntable?
Have you just acquired the Scott turntable or have you had it a long time?
Try swapping the cartridge from your Scott turntable with that on your alternate turntable - this will reveal whether the cartridge or its associated wiring is at fault.
What cartridge is installed in your Scott turntable?
Have you just acquired the Scott turntable or have you had it a long time?
P.S. I've located your earlier thread regarding this turntable: https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/scott-ps-48a-1-turntable-any-good.380709/
If your riaa preamp works, you have likely signal still grounded inside turntable. If cartridge resonates to groves, its likely ok. Most of the time turntables have signal on output grounded while not in use. Either simple mechanical switch which actuates with arm moving from resting position, or electronicly with relay.
I read that you were going to perform restorative surgery on the cut-off RCA cables.
Perhaps you got that wrong?
Perhaps you got that wrong?
I found this: "I think the SM100 MkIII is another Excel OEM model like A&R, Garrott, Sumiko (even the Rega R100)."
Does that make sense?
Does that make sense?
Likely. My Garrott P77 is based on a Nagaoka cart — they were, when i worked retail in the late ‘90s they were one of the goto.
dave
dave
Thanks for the research G.
The RCA males terminals arrived the other day & I carefully soldered them on.
On each cable I soldered the core conductor to the male RCA terminal, & the braided shield conductor to the external RCA terminal.
Before screwing on the cover I performed Resistance tests to the terminals.
Firstly from male terminal to the wire solder behind it (registered low resistance)
Then from male terminal to the circular return part of the RCA connector (registered open circuit)
Then from the soldered core wire behind the male terminal to the male terminal to the braided shield conductor (registered open circuit)
Now there's always a chance I did something wrong but the tests didn't reveal an issue.
When I hooked it up to the Amp, I made sure I got the polarity terminals correctly connected and the earth wire connected.
I'll swap over the cartridge with an ADC Q36 cartridge I have on the AR Turntable and test again.
It's 'funny' that the turntable came with the RCA plugs cut off the interconnect cable. That would certainly prevent the immediate detection of faults!
I would expect that, when measuring between the central male connector and the ring of the RCA plug, the ohmmeter would read:
(a) Typically 500 to 1,000 ohm (the cartridge coil resistance), if muting* is not engaged.
(b) Zero ohm (short circuit), if muting* is engaged.
*A muting switch (when fitted) short circuits the pickup leads when the arm is on or over the rest, but not when the record is playing - see post #4 from adason.
I'll be interested in the resuts of the cartridge swap.
I would expect that, when measuring between the central male connector and the ring of the RCA plug, the ohmmeter would read:
(a) Typically 500 to 1,000 ohm (the cartridge coil resistance), if muting* is not engaged.
(b) Zero ohm (short circuit), if muting* is engaged.
*A muting switch (when fitted) short circuits the pickup leads when the arm is on or over the rest, but not when the record is playing - see post #4 from adason.
I'll be interested in the resuts of the cartridge swap.
I was testing at the connectors only to test for the integrity of my soldering, but I hadn't considered the tests you've illustrated.
More tools in my quest to get this turntable functioning.
Hi Galu.
As you've probably gathered by now, I am all over the shop with a million projects all needing attention, and little time on my hands.
I had a moment and came back to the issue of the Scott Turntable not putting out sound.
I carefully removed the stylus & cartridge (4 terminals) and refitted them.
Bingo, it works.
Sound coming out of both channels.
Part of the problem was that the Amp I had been using has a faulty phono section.
Using another Amp yielded one channel working & after the refitting of the cartridge sorted that out.
What I also discovered is that the Scott is fitted with a Supex SM100 Mark 2 Japan.
Are they any good?
thanks Cliff
I read that it tracks well!
However, the styus is probably worn, and a replacement either expensive or unobtainable.
in that case I would replace the entire cartridge with a budget Audio Technica such as the AT-VM95C. This cartridge is fitted with a conical stylus that can be upgraded in the future if desired.
Check that its method of fitting is compatible with your Scott headshell by looking at the cartridge on the Audio Technica cartridge site.
However, the styus is probably worn, and a replacement either expensive or unobtainable.
in that case I would replace the entire cartridge with a budget Audio Technica such as the AT-VM95C. This cartridge is fitted with a conical stylus that can be upgraded in the future if desired.
Check that its method of fitting is compatible with your Scott headshell by looking at the cartridge on the Audio Technica cartridge site.
Or, if you can source an AT91 or AT91R: https://www.turntableneedles.com/scott-model-ps-48a-mm-cartridge-at91r-scott-ps-48a
Thanks for these references Galu.
The AT-VM95C looks a quality replacement, and the AT91 or AT91R give the added advantage of being more affordable.
I noticed with the AT-VM95C there is a Japan version & a China version.
Is the Chinese version the same quality?
Also, Is the Audio Technica AT 3600L worth considering?
1. As long as the front of the stylus bears the Audio Technica logo, quality is assured. Styli that don't bear the logo may be copies.
2. The AT-3600L stylus is designed to perform well in heavier tonearms and at higher tracking weights than its AT91(R) stablemates.
For the record:
The budget AT-VM95C and AT-VM95E cartridges are stamped 'CHINA'.
Those with the more exotic stylus profiles, such as the AT-VM95SH, are stamped 'JAPAN'.
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