Garrard 5.300 autochanger - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

HiFiNick · 25th Jan 2018, 11:10 pm

Hi there,
Having recently got the bug for buying and listening to 45's, I decided that I should get an autochanger to play them on just like we had at home 40 years ago.
So I've now gone and got myself a Garrard 5.300. Its just the chassis, its in its original box and its looks like its never been used. When it arrived today my heart said plug it in and give it a go but my head said no. I know I'm going to need to mount it on a plinth with a lid but are there things I need to do and test before I use it? The turntable rotates, the sliders move freely and it has the two spindles. However, there was a small 'c' clip in the box which may be from the unit somewhere, not sure where though! It looks like it has a ceramic cartridge fitted as its one of those which you can rotate for lps and 78s. Will I be able to connect the output to non phono amplifier input?
Any help in getting me started would be appreciated.
I've always had a fascination for autochangers I think they're really clever!
Nick

'LIVEWIRE?' · 25th Jan 2018, 11:45 pm

If the cartridge is Ceramic it should give a good account of itself via an auxillary input on your amplifier. The term 'Aux-in' basically applies to inputs such as those for tuner, tape deck, CD player, etc., so, at least in theory any of those can be used with a ceramic pickup

Techman · 26th Jan 2018, 1:09 am

look after that 'C' clip for the time being as it may be crucial to the operation of the deck, especially if it's the one from the platter spindle.

It may be helpful to know the exact type number of the cartridge - perhaps a close up picture would help.

AndiiT · 27th Jan 2018, 5:27 pm

Hi, you might find that connecting a ceramic the AUX input of your amplifier results in a usable but slightly lacking in Bass output due to an impedance mismatch.
An alternative would be to connect the ceramic cartridge to the RIAA equalised "PHONO" input of your amplifier via a matching pad, often a couple of 470K (or thereabouts) resistors in series with the left and right channel +ve cartridge outputs may suffice.

A fancier circuit is shown here if adding series resistors doesn't produce the desired results via the phono input.

Regards

Andrew

D_S_J_R · 28th Jan 2018, 12:25 am

Lots in the Vinyl Engine Garrard room about these Unimech decks. Grease goes gummy as on all Garrards post early 60's and plastic parts can break if forced. The mech is also not the easiest to work on, so please try not to break anything before the poor thing has ever been used.

Preamps for 'pickups' offering around 1M impedance are available. The low input impedance of an amp 'Aux' input is a sonic disaster - I speak from experience...

HiFiNick · 7th Apr 2018, 10:14 pm

Hi all. Firstly, many thanks to all who posted helpful tips to my first message.

I've now got my autochanger mounted on a wooden plinth, with a perspex lid and some connections on the back. All works mechanically which is a relief. However, I now need some help with the output signal.

I'm using an Arcam Alpha 6 amplifier and I'm experiencing problems with the autochanger output, as previous posts have already highlighted to me that I might. I've established that the cartridge is a KS40A which seems a pretty good ceramic unit.

So....

If I connect it to the Aux input, the output is too quiet and lacking bass. If I carefully connect it to the Phono input there's a loud hum present all the time (with and without a ground) and the output is too loud.

Where should I go from here? As I'm not an electronics person, is there a ready made circuit out there which I can buy which will solve my problem? Which will be the best route to go - Phono? or Auxiliary?

Hopefully someone out there can help me.

Nick

ben · 8th Apr 2018, 11:10 pm

See andy's post #4 ;-)

Edward Huggins · 9th Apr 2018, 10:15 am

Looking at the OP's photos above, the deck transit screws appear not to have been released.

'LIVEWIRE?' · 9th Apr 2018, 10:56 am

As Edward has pointed out, the transit screws should be screwed fully downwards so that the deck floats on its springs when playing records.

HiFiNick · 16th Apr 2018, 8:44 pm

Ooops I must remember to do this - I was probably too excited to get it up and running that I forgot to do it!
I'm dusting off my soldering iron and I'm going to make up a couple of the fancier circuits as highlighted by Andy.
I'll keep you posted on progress.
Nick

HiFiNick · 19th Jun 2018, 9:50 pm

Hi all,
I've got the Garrard up and running and I'm using a Line Phono Adaptor which I bought off Amazon. It works really well and the sound is great.
The only issue I have with the deck is that when its finished playing the last record in the stack instead of the arm returning to the rest and the platter stopping the arm returns back to the record and then the platter stops.
I've checked the grease lubrication where I can and its not gone hard, probably due to the fact that when I bought it, it was still wrapped up in it's original plastic bag.
Any suggestions as to why this is happening and what I could do to fix it would be appreciated.
Nick

Edward Huggins · 20th Jun 2018, 9:25 am

The reason is likely to be that the mechanism "thinks" that there is another record on the stack, hence it returning the arm to play. So make sure that the overarm is pushed firmly down on top of the stack.

qualityten · 20th Jun 2018, 6:12 pm

Glad to see you've got this going. That's a really nice plinth you made for it.

HiFiNick · 12th Jul 2018, 9:32 pm

Thanks for the tip Edward - this does make a difference as it now works perfectly.
My neighbour made the plinth for me and I think it looks really good too.
The sound is amazing. I've got it hooked up to my old NAD 3020 Amp and a pair of Castle Yorks. It plays my 20p singles great.
I'm really pleased I took a bit of a risk when I bought it!
Many thanks for the tips in helping me getting it up and running
Nick

Edward Huggins · 13th Jul 2018, 12:15 pm

Glad to hear. Assume you have this now playing throught the Aux/Line In sockets on your good old NAD.

Station X · 13th Jul 2018, 12:56 pm

The NAD 3020 has a Phono input.

Reelman · 13th Jul 2018, 1:32 pm

That is a very nice plinth Nick, your neighbour could make a living out of making those!
May I ask where the cover and hinges came from? Were they new or rescued from some old kit?
Thanks,
Peter

HiFiNick · 15th Jul 2018, 2:10 pm

Hi all,
I'm using the NAD phono input with a Monacor Line-Phono-Adapter which I bought off Amazon.
When I used the phono direct the signal was too strong and when I used the Aux In the sound was low and rubbish. The set-up as I have it seems to work great.
The lid and hinges I acquired off Ebay.
My neighbour is a retired cabinet maker and he made this for me as a favour.
Nick

25th Jan 2018, 11:10 pm	#1
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Garrard 5.300 autochanger Hi there, Having recently got the bug for buying and listening to 45's, I decided that I should get an autochanger to play them on just like we had at home 40 years ago. So I've now gone and got myself a Garrard 5.300. Its just the chassis, its in its original box and its looks like its never been used. When it arrived today my heart said plug it in and give it a go but my head said no. I know I'm going to need to mount it on a plinth with a lid but are there things I need to do and test before I use it? The turntable rotates, the sliders move freely and it has the two spindles. However, there was a small 'c' clip in the box which may be from the unit somewhere, not sure where though! It looks like it has a ceramic cartridge fitted as its one of those which you can rotate for lps and 78s. Will I be able to connect the output to non phono amplifier input? Any help in getting me started would be appreciated. I've always had a fascination for autochangers I think they're really clever! Nick Attached Thumbnails

25th Jan 2018, 11:45 pm	#2
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger If the cartridge is Ceramic it should give a good account of itself via an auxillary input on your amplifier. The term 'Aux-in' basically applies to inputs such as those for tuner, tape deck, CD player, etc., so, at least in theory any of those can be used with a ceramic pickup

26th Jan 2018, 1:09 am	#3
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger look after that 'C' clip for the time being as it may be crucial to the operation of the deck, especially if it's the one from the platter spindle. It may be helpful to know the exact type number of the cartridge - perhaps a close up picture would help.

28th Jan 2018, 12:25 am	#5
D_S_J_R Heptode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Suffolk Coastal, UK. Posts: 603	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Lots in the Vinyl Engine Garrard room about these Unimech decks. Grease goes gummy as on all Garrards post early 60's and plastic parts can break if forced. The mech is also not the easiest to work on, so please try not to break anything before the poor thing has ever been used. Preamps for 'pickups' offering around 1M impedance are available. The low input impedance of an amp 'Aux' input is a sonic disaster - I speak from experience... __________________ Best wishes, Dave

7th Apr 2018, 10:14 pm	#6
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Hi all. Firstly, many thanks to all who posted helpful tips to my first message. I've now got my autochanger mounted on a wooden plinth, with a perspex lid and some connections on the back. All works mechanically which is a relief. However, I now need some help with the output signal. I'm using an Arcam Alpha 6 amplifier and I'm experiencing problems with the autochanger output, as previous posts have already highlighted to me that I might. I've established that the cartridge is a KS40A which seems a pretty good ceramic unit. So.... If I connect it to the Aux input, the output is too quiet and lacking bass. If I carefully connect it to the Phono input there's a loud hum present all the time (with and without a ground) and the output is too loud. Where should I go from here? As I'm not an electronics person, is there a ready made circuit out there which I can buy which will solve my problem? Which will be the best route to go - Phono? or Auxiliary? Hopefully someone out there can help me. Nick Attached Thumbnails

27th Jan 2018, 5:27 pm	#4
AndiiT Octode Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Saltburn-East, Cleveland, UK. Posts: 1,786	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Hi, you might find that connecting a ceramic the AUX input of your amplifier results in a usable but slightly lacking in Bass output due to an impedance mismatch. An alternative would be to connect the ceramic cartridge to the RIAA equalised "PHONO" input of your amplifier via a matching pad, often a couple of 470K (or thereabouts) resistors in series with the left and right channel +ve cartridge outputs may suffice. A fancier circuit is shown here if adding series resistors doesn't produce the desired results via the phono input. Regards Andrew

8th Apr 2018, 11:10 pm	#7
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger See andy's post #4 ;-) __________________ Regards, Ben.

9th Apr 2018, 10:15 am	#8
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Looking at the OP's photos above, the deck transit screws appear not to have been released. __________________ Edward.

9th Apr 2018, 10:56 am	#9
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger As Edward has pointed out, the transit screws should be screwed fully downwards so that the deck floats on its springs when playing records.

16th Apr 2018, 8:44 pm	#10
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Ooops I must remember to do this - I was probably too excited to get it up and running that I forgot to do it! I'm dusting off my soldering iron and I'm going to make up a couple of the fancier circuits as highlighted by Andy. I'll keep you posted on progress. Nick

19th Jun 2018, 9:50 pm	#11
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Hi all, I've got the Garrard up and running and I'm using a Line Phono Adaptor which I bought off Amazon. It works really well and the sound is great. The only issue I have with the deck is that when its finished playing the last record in the stack instead of the arm returning to the rest and the platter stopping the arm returns back to the record and then the platter stops. I've checked the grease lubrication where I can and its not gone hard, probably due to the fact that when I bought it, it was still wrapped up in it's original plastic bag. Any suggestions as to why this is happening and what I could do to fix it would be appreciated. Nick

20th Jun 2018, 9:25 am	#12
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger The reason is likely to be that the mechanism "thinks" that there is another record on the stack, hence it returning the arm to play. So make sure that the overarm is pushed firmly down on top of the stack. __________________ Edward.

20th Jun 2018, 6:12 pm	#13
qualityten Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wallasey, UK. Posts: 1,311	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Glad to see you've got this going. That's a really nice plinth you made for it.

12th Jul 2018, 9:32 pm	#14
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Thanks for the tip Edward - this does make a difference as it now works perfectly. My neighbour made the plinth for me and I think it looks really good too. The sound is amazing. I've got it hooked up to my old NAD 3020 Amp and a pair of Castle Yorks. It plays my 20p singles great. I'm really pleased I took a bit of a risk when I bought it! Many thanks for the tips in helping me getting it up and running Nick

13th Jul 2018, 12:15 pm	#15
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Glad to hear. Assume you have this now playing throught the Aux/Line In sockets on your good old NAD. __________________ Edward.

13th Jul 2018, 12:56 pm	#16
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger The NAD 3020 has a Phono input. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

13th Jul 2018, 1:32 pm	#17
Reelman Octode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,723	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger That is a very nice plinth Nick, your neighbour could make a living out of making those! May I ask where the cover and hinges came from? Were they new or rescued from some old kit? Thanks, Peter

15th Jul 2018, 2:10 pm	#18
HiFiNick Diode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Weymouth, Dorsetshire, UK. Posts: 8	Re: Garrard 5.300 autochanger Hi all, I'm using the NAD phono input with a Monacor Line-Phono-Adapter which I bought off Amazon. When I used the phono direct the signal was too strong and when I used the Aux In the sound was low and rubbish. The set-up as I have it seems to work great. The lid and hinges I acquired off Ebay. My neighbour is a retired cabinet maker and he made this for me as a favour. Nick