Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Hi. I have a Dansette Challenge 106. it plays OK, but it has a medium crystal cartridge so it does not play L/Ps all that loud. 78s and 45s are not too bad. But high output cartridges seem to be obtainable. I've seen a YouTube film where a man refurbished such a device with a donor crystal. Why can't you get parts to refurbish an old cartridge? Is it possible, why can't you get replacement crystals?

Hoddbod.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Well you can make them :)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Ct3VUWvhQ

I guess the answer is it's too labour intensive and no one would want to pay very much so you would need to make and sell quite a lot .

Perhaps you are the one to make them :thumbsup:

Mike T

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Has it got the correct stereo stylus for LP's?

Mike

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Take a look at post “bass response from vintage cartridge « dated 13 Sept. I put some pictures on of a cartridge I stripped open, you might find it of interest.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=149699

There are other posts on cartridges that may be of interest to you.
You can buy a ceramic bar from RS components.
If you do attempt to refurbish a cartridge you need a delicate touch and a steady hand with good eyesight. All the best.
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

If function wins over originality, a simple preamp stage between the cartridge and the amplifier can be the easiest way out. An opamp one using dc supplies robbed from the output valve cathode or dropped via resistor/zener from the HT is easiest to throw together. You don't need to do anything irreversible to the player, a small PCB or veroboard layout can just hang off the cartridge tagstrip or out of harms way in the wiring!

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Hi. Thank you for your replies. It seems you can obtain high output cartridges from Australia, but at a price.If they obtainable from that country why not from England? I can't find the pictures of the inside of a cartridge. Are there any?

Regards to you all.

Hoddbod.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

You can now obtain re-manufactured high-output cartridges in the UK (search for HTC8) in limited quantity, but they are only suitable for playing older Mono LPs and not for Stereo LPs.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Yes see #4.
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Search where? The forums or a search engine? Can you post a link please Edward.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

I think Edward has done a typo here. I'm sure he meant to say TC8H, not HTC8?

Just Google BSR TC8H. Loads of information there.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Indeed. Links to eBay sellers, but apparently no actual stock.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Edward is correct it is HTC8, you can get them from Dansette.com for £35.

https://www.dansette.com/product-pag...tte-cartridges

This has been discussed previously.
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Audio1950 is quite correct, as TC8H is the original BSR made designation.
To avoid any confusion, the HTC8 is the (non-BSR made) re-manufactured version.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

I thought that is what you said Edward...”remanufactured..as HTC8..” not to be confused with the original BSR TC8H.
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

A bit surprised no one has picked this up yet? but if the player was meant to have a medium cartridge then replacing it with a high output will distort the sound at higher volume settings.
Gaz.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Very true, however I was guiding Hobbod #1, to the pictures of a cartridge that I opened, thought might find it interesting.
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

If somebody is taking the trouble to remanufacture TC8 cartridges, why are they making them mono-only? Is there some disadvantage in having proper vertical compliance?

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Gaz, the player in question uses a single-stage EL84 amplifier and was originally fitted with a BSR TC8H mono cartridge. Reading Post #1 suggests that at some stage, a medium-output cartridge has been substituted.

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

Good question Julie, yes I wonder why?
Cheers
John

Re: Crystal Cartridge refurb.
 

At a guess, the originality conundrum. People want it to be a re-creation of the original. It'll never be "Hi-Fi", so to keep it original is next best.