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Old 4th Dec 2016, 12:14 am   #1
ltunstall
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Default Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Hi
I'm new to this site and to the world of vintage record players.

Ive been handed down a Stereosound Carousel Concord autochange record player, which I believe is from about 1965. Anyway its not been used for a very long time, and when we tried it the sound was very distorted as in a blown speaker (as in intermittent sound, and interference noise), but after a messing with the volume knob, it came on very loud and then it played beautifully for hours.

Then we came to try it again the next day we had the same distorted sound.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to what could be the problem? I would really like to get this working as it should. Also anyone know the value of these things?

Thanks in advance
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 9:48 am   #2
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Darren has written a comprehensive thread to help in restoring a record player, well worth a read.
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=75401

Frank
Edit. Of the components that require checking, the grid coupling capacitor is one to put on the list.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=131732

Last edited by Nuvistor; 4th Dec 2016 at 9:58 am.
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 10:50 am   #3
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Judging by the syptoms as described by the OP, a good place to start is to clean the volume control with a Servisol (Electrical Contact Cleaner).
I think this is the consolette model using an UCL82/UY85 amplifier and an 8" x 5" speaker. Note this has a live chassis design so unplug the unit from the mains before getting to the internals with the spray.
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 11:20 am   #4
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

If the OP's description and the service sheet are correct, this unit uses a five transistor amplifier.

I'd try some Servisol in the volume control potentiometer first.
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 11:41 am   #5
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

It could be a transistor amp but we were selling Stereosound valve units in 1965.
Only way to be sure is look inside.
Frank
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 8:41 pm   #6
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Thanks for the information, will any contact cleaner do? or does it have to be Servisol? I've taken photos of the electronics inside, just not sure where I upload them to.

I did have a look at the restoration page, but it's alot to take in, especially when you're already in way above your head.
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Old 4th Dec 2016, 11:30 pm   #7
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Did you check whether it was valve or transistor?
There are other products but Servisol is probably easier to find.

If you use the advanced editor the manage attachments is just below the editor.

Frank
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 9:13 am   #8
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

I've included some photos of the inside. It might answer some of your questions.

Thanks.
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 10:44 am   #9
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Maplin's do their own electrical contact cleaner as well. When you looked inside, was it valve (as I had at first thought) or a later transistor model?
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 11:49 am   #10
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Quote:
Originally Posted by ltunstall View Post
I've included some photos of the inside. It might answer some of your questions.

Thanks.
That's a transistorised player.

The service data can be found here:-

http://www.service-data.com/product....00/7755/a16000
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 12:07 pm   #11
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

It certainly is transistorised. What a big row of caps, some of which may well be down. The pots look easy to get at, so I'd clean all 3 first and then try it when dry.
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 1:19 pm   #12
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Stereosound or Stereosound Productions Ltd items have been the subject of a number of threads. Just type Stereosound into the search box above, there may be something useful there. Hope that helps you although there will be more direct assistance on offer I'm sure. Make certain you follow the electrical safety advice -especially if it is a live chassis circuit. Plenty of threads on the "live chassis" subject as well.

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Old 5th Dec 2016, 1:26 pm   #13
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

This is not a live chassis player.
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 2:25 pm   #14
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

On closer inspection of the far right red cap on the front, the metal wire going into this is broken! This obviously won't help, but why would it run for several hours yesterday if this was the issue? Can I get these caps replaced by someone who's very competent with a soldering iron? I would just need to know what caps to replace them with?
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 3:00 pm   #15
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

The capacitor in question appears to be C5 a 100uF capacitor which is part of the treble control circuit.

It will have a voltage rating on it somewhere, possibly not more than about 25V. Replace with a 100uF cap having the same of higher voltage rating.

If you want someone to do the job for you, post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section.
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 3:38 pm   #16
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

Thanks, any idea which capacitors relate to amp/volume?
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 3:58 pm   #17
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

All the capacitors in your picture have a function in the amplifier circuit. There will be a couple elsewhere which prevent mains hum.

I certainly wouldn't go in for wholesale capacitor replacement yet.

Try Servisol in the potentiometers first.
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Old 5th Dec 2016, 5:30 pm   #18
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

It may work (badly) even if this cap is not connected. It's a straight forward enough job to replace these caps BUT how do you know the fault is with the other capacitors (other than the one you have found) why the rush to replace them? Clean the volume control first so as to make a logical step-by-step elimination. If not, you may create more problems...
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Old 6th Dec 2016, 2:38 pm   #19
ltunstall
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

I've tried the contact cleaner, still the same in regards to sound. The cartridge is a BSR X5H with an ST8 stylus. Was this cartridge, stereo or mono? I take it that it will play any LP?

Also when I took the cartridge off, there are 4 sets of wires with connectors. There's red and black which is what it was connected to, then blue and yellow? What were these for?

Thanks.
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Old 6th Dec 2016, 3:47 pm   #20
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Default Re: Stereosound Carousel Concord record player - distorted sound

The arm in your autochanger is pre-wired for stereo. Just use the red and black wires as found on your 2 pin Mono cartridge, tuck the blue and yellow wires away, they are not needed. The BSR X5H cartridge, whilst a Stereo-Compatible Mono cartidge, is the wrong type for your amplifier and will overload it causing distortion. The correct cartridge for this should be a BSR X5M Stereo-Compatible Mono. How an X5H cartridge got fitted into this is strange, maybe someone thought it would may it play louder?

Don't discard the X5H cartridge though as these are very scare and worth a lot of money in their own right.
They are for using on insensitive amplifers, but not on yours.
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