Re: Philips Hi-Z record player
I wondered if I'd ever see one of these in the flesh, so to speak.
It does in fact date from 1957/58 and according to my Currys brochure (see attached) is called a 'Magic Box'... hopefully my dubious photographic skills haven't rendered the description unreadable!
As can be seen it's included in the Hi-fidelity section of the brochure (I have the other two machines pictured but not the magic box), and if it sounds anything like these then it must sound good. I wouldn't imagine at 49GNS many were sold, so it's probably extremely rare.
I'd have to agree with Barry that it's highly unlikely all the cartridges are duds. I have two, one I obtained from a Disc Jockey Major and a NOS one I paid twenty pounds for. The one from the Disc Jockey sounds good but the other takes the sound to another level. Before I bought it I did experiment by gutting another Philips headshell , but none of the cartridges I tried – including a Sonotone, Acos and BSR – sounded anything like the NOS one, which surprised me.
I think the best thing you can do is replace the caps Michael mentions, and just hope it's not the speaker.
Good luck.
Keith
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