Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

keelystill · 2nd Apr 2018, 8:06 pm

Hi all

I have bought a Dansette Conquest that has what I believe is a UA8 deck with a TC8R cartridge (pic attached) I want to be able to play stereo LPs (not modern ones) on it. What cartridge would allow this?

There is an STC8 I found here https://www.dansette.com/product-pag...tte-cartridges

Would this be a decent option?

Thanks for your help guys

Keely

Audio1950 · 2nd Apr 2018, 8:59 pm

That would be the perfect cartridge to replace your existing one. It is the one that would have been used originally to replace the TC8. However, a word of warning... I see these are "new old stock", which means that they are now over 50 years old. As these, and all crystal cartridges absorb moisture over time, which destroys the crystal element, be sure the vendor offers a guarantee that it is working, with good output.

Edward Huggins · 2nd Apr 2018, 9:34 pm

The cartridge you have fitted is actually a BSR TC8M. You can fit a stereo stylus to this, but it will still have a poor vertical compliance. The ideal cartridge will a BSR X5M stereo-compatible mono (not the full stereo BSR TC8S as per your link). You will need to lighten the tracking weight to 4 grams. Don't delay, there are very few BSR X5Ms available now. Cost will be c. £37.00.

DonaldStott · 3rd Apr 2018, 12:16 pm

I've just replaced a BSR TC8M on a Dansette "Monarch" UA15 record changer with a BSR X5M Stereo-Compatible cartridge with LP/78 Stylus.

https://www.gettheneedle.co.uk/bsr-s...206-p6807.html

Quick and easy to fit - managed to reduce the tracking weight down to 3.8 grams with no skipping which is a big difference from the previous 8 grams.

John10b · 3rd Apr 2018, 1:17 pm

Just a small observation, from the picture the Cartridge is marked, TC8R, yet one post says “ TC8M”.
Have I misunderstood?
Cheers
John

Audio1950 · 3rd Apr 2018, 1:31 pm

TC8R (red) refers to the LP stylus, There will be another number, TC8G (green) for the 78 stylus.
The recommendation that you use the X5M is a valid one, but being a "flip-under" type, it means there is no turnover knob on the front, which makes the arm look somehow "stunted". Just a matter of personal choice, really.

Barry

John10b · 3rd Apr 2018, 1:40 pm

Thank you Barry, so I presume you identify the Cartridge by its colour, I do remember a red one with fulfi written on its side.
Cheers
John

Audio1950 · 3rd Apr 2018, 3:44 pm

You do identify the cartridge by its colour, (brown for medium output, red for high output), but there are no numbers on the cartridge to indicate which is which. All TC8 cartridges have both TC8G and TC8R stamped on the side. If you look carefully, you will see tiny arrows pointing from those numbers to the appropriate stylus.

John10b · 3rd Apr 2018, 7:10 pm

Thank you.
Cheers
John

keelystill · 13th Apr 2018, 9:25 pm

Hi

Guys thanks so much for all the advice. I'll go for the X5M. I'm not bothered if it looks a bit odd.

Would I be able to fit it my self? I have stylus scales for the tracking weight. Does it need soldering etc?

Thanks again

Keely

Edward Huggins · 14th Apr 2018, 10:10 am

It does not need any soldering. You just push on the 2 existing connectors (usually red and black wires) with tweezers. Make sure your X5M comes complete with its mounting clip. Your photo shows a BSR UA8 deck's tone arm (you must have an early version of the "Conquest") and you just use the same 2 screws that hold the existing BSR TC8M mounting bracket in. Using the spring on the inside of the tone arm, reduce the tracking weight to 4 to 5 grams, but I do not recommend any lighter.

Audio1950 · 14th Apr 2018, 10:16 am

You should be able to fit this yourself with no trouble. No soldering involved, just be careful when you remove the tags from the back of the old cartridge that you don't pull the wires off. You may have to close the existing tags a little to get them to fit tightly on the pins of the X5M.

keelystill · 14th Apr 2018, 11:21 pm

Brilliant!! Thanks so much!

2nd Apr 2018, 8:06 pm	#1
keelystill Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Hove, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3	Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Hi all I have bought a Dansette Conquest that has what I believe is a UA8 deck with a TC8R cartridge (pic attached) I want to be able to play stereo LPs (not modern ones) on it. What cartridge would allow this? There is an STC8 I found here https://www.dansette.com/product-pag...tte-cartridges Would this be a decent option? Thanks for your help guys Keely Attached Thumbnails

2nd Apr 2018, 8:59 pm	#2
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest That would be the perfect cartridge to replace your existing one. It is the one that would have been used originally to replace the TC8. However, a word of warning... I see these are "new old stock", which means that they are now over 50 years old. As these, and all crystal cartridges absorb moisture over time, which destroys the crystal element, be sure the vendor offers a guarantee that it is working, with good output.

2nd Apr 2018, 9:34 pm	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,340	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest The cartridge you have fitted is actually a BSR TC8M. You can fit a stereo stylus to this, but it will still have a poor vertical compliance. The ideal cartridge will a BSR X5M stereo-compatible mono (not the full stereo BSR TC8S as per your link). You will need to lighten the tracking weight to 4 grams. Don't delay, there are very few BSR X5Ms available now. Cost will be c. £37.00. __________________ Edward.

3rd Apr 2018, 12:16 pm	#4
DonaldStott Octode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Glasgow, UK. Posts: 1,850	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest I've just replaced a BSR TC8M on a Dansette "Monarch" UA15 record changer with a BSR X5M Stereo-Compatible cartridge with LP/78 Stylus. https://www.gettheneedle.co.uk/bsr-s...206-p6807.html Quick and easy to fit - managed to reduce the tracking weight down to 3.8 grams with no skipping which is a big difference from the previous 8 grams. __________________ BVWS Member Last edited by DonaldStott; 3rd Apr 2018 at 12:17 pm. Reason: Typo

3rd Apr 2018, 1:17 pm	#5
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,887	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Just a small observation, from the picture the Cartridge is marked, TC8R, yet one post says “ TC8M”. Have I misunderstood? Cheers John

3rd Apr 2018, 1:31 pm	#6
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest TC8R (red) refers to the LP stylus, There will be another number, TC8G (green) for the 78 stylus. The recommendation that you use the X5M is a valid one, but being a "flip-under" type, it means there is no turnover knob on the front, which makes the arm look somehow "stunted". Just a matter of personal choice, really. Barry

3rd Apr 2018, 1:40 pm	#7
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,887	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Thank you Barry, so I presume you identify the Cartridge by its colour, I do remember a red one with fulfi written on its side. Cheers John

3rd Apr 2018, 3:44 pm	#8
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest You do identify the cartridge by its colour, (brown for medium output, red for high output), but there are no numbers on the cartridge to indicate which is which. All TC8 cartridges have both TC8G and TC8R stamped on the side. If you look carefully, you will see tiny arrows pointing from those numbers to the appropriate stylus.

3rd Apr 2018, 7:10 pm	#9
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,887	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Thank you. Cheers John

13th Apr 2018, 9:25 pm	#10
keelystill Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Hove, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Hi Guys thanks so much for all the advice. I'll go for the X5M. I'm not bothered if it looks a bit odd. Would I be able to fit it my self? I have stylus scales for the tracking weight. Does it need soldering etc? Thanks again Keely

14th Apr 2018, 10:10 am	#11
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,340	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest It does not need any soldering. You just push on the 2 existing connectors (usually red and black wires) with tweezers. Make sure your X5M comes complete with its mounting clip. Your photo shows a BSR UA8 deck's tone arm (you must have an early version of the "Conquest") and you just use the same 2 screws that hold the existing BSR TC8M mounting bracket in. Using the spring on the inside of the tone arm, reduce the tracking weight to 4 to 5 grams, but I do not recommend any lighter. __________________ Edward.

14th Apr 2018, 10:16 am	#12
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest You should be able to fit this yourself with no trouble. No soldering involved, just be careful when you remove the tags from the back of the old cartridge that you don't pull the wires off. You may have to close the existing tags a little to get them to fit tightly on the pins of the X5M.

14th Apr 2018, 11:21 pm	#13
keelystill Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Hove, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Stereo Cartridge for Dansette Conquest Brilliant!! Thanks so much!