No audio from Bush SRP51 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

marko65 · 2nd Jan 2020, 9:41 pm

Evening all
I purchased the above player about 6 weeks ago - it played well to start with and then just before xmas the sound became muffled - I thought it may have been a stylus so purchased a new one that I received today - I have fitted it but I can only hear the noise from the record at low level volume and only a muffled sound from the speaker at the highest volume. The turntable is a Garrard 3500.
Thanks for any help

paulsherwin · 2nd Jan 2020, 9:56 pm

Has it been properly restored? This record player is 50 years old.

Benjamin · 2nd Jan 2020, 10:05 pm

Did you change the cartridge too?

ben · 2nd Jan 2020, 10:07 pm

More than likely it's an original Sonotone 9TAHC cart that has suffered from collapsed suspension, tarnished contacts or both most likely.

To the OP, please post a photo of the cartridge and stylus area so we can see if anything is amiss.

marko65 · 3rd Jan 2020, 12:55 am

I purchased it for £90 from a vintage/antique emporium - I assumed (wrongly) that it has been restored
no I didn't change the cartridge at the same time
- I've attached photos if it helps
Thanks again

Edward Huggins · 3rd Jan 2020, 9:39 am

You have probably paid top whack for this. I suspect the cartridge was on the way out and in changing the stylus you fractured an already delicate stylus mount. It might be best to get a local specialist test this first as that slim, tubular, Garrard tone arm head is very narrow and not all cartridges can readily fit onto this.

Station X · 3rd Jan 2020, 12:46 pm

Have you tried a "buzz test"?

Turn up the volume and then touch the bare part of the wires going to the cartridge with a metal object held in your hand. A small screwdriver is ideal. If the amplifier is working you'll hear a loud buzz or hum from the speaker and a cartridge fault is indicated.

Chris55000 · 3rd Jan 2020, 4:13 pm

Hi!

The Bush SRP51 is transistorised so a quiet hiss/faint hum should be audible from its loudspeaker immediately upon switch-on!

Have you turned up the volume & tone to maximum volume/treble and listened for this?

Chris Williams

marko65 · 3rd Jan 2020, 6:14 pm

Thanks for your help on this - I tried the buzz test and heard a loud buzz from the speaker
I noticed a couple of you are from the Ipswich area - any recommendations for someone who can repair these?
Thanks

paulsherwin · 3rd Jan 2020, 6:17 pm

It does sound as if it needs a new cartridge.

ben · 4th Jan 2020, 9:25 pm

As I mentioned earlier, any of those Sonotones are highly suspect. The problem is, it uses its own proprietary connector. So some new cartridge tags will need to be soldered on the four wires before another cartridge can be fitted.

I have successfully used the red/black Chuo Denshi clones with the metal stylus shank available for pence online in this kind of deck/player with good results, but you may have to get creative in mounting them. There is now also a flip over cartridge, a clone of the BSR SC12 if the OP has any 78s. I have ordered one and will post a report once it arrives and I have had a play with it!

PaulR · 4th Jan 2020, 10:19 pm

You can see mounting clips on Ebay if you do a search for BSR cartridge mount. They aren't intended to fit the flip over cartridge that Ben mentions but I have successfully modified one by removing the clip on the end to make it flat and sticking the cart to it using superglue.

The record player in question needs further repairs so I cannot speak for the sound quality but reports on these cheap carts are generally favourable.

2nd Jan 2020, 9:41 pm	#1
marko65 Diode Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 3	No audio from Bush SRP51 Evening all I purchased the above player about 6 weeks ago - it played well to start with and then just before xmas the sound became muffled - I thought it may have been a stylus so purchased a new one that I received today - I have fitted it but I can only hear the noise from the record at low level volume and only a muffled sound from the speaker at the highest volume. The turntable is a Garrard 3500. Thanks for any help

2nd Jan 2020, 9:56 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 Has it been properly restored? This record player is 50 years old.

2nd Jan 2020, 10:05 pm	#3
Benjamin Triode Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 13	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 Did you change the cartridge too?

2nd Jan 2020, 10:07 pm	#4
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 More than likely it's an original Sonotone 9TAHC cart that has suffered from collapsed suspension, tarnished contacts or both most likely. To the OP, please post a photo of the cartridge and stylus area so we can see if anything is amiss. __________________ Regards, Ben.

3rd Jan 2020, 12:55 am	#5
marko65 Diode Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 3	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 I purchased it for £90 from a vintage/antique emporium - I assumed (wrongly) that it has been restored no I didn't change the cartridge at the same time - I've attached photos if it helps Thanks again Attached Thumbnails

3rd Jan 2020, 9:39 am	#6
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,340	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 You have probably paid top whack for this. I suspect the cartridge was on the way out and in changing the stylus you fractured an already delicate stylus mount. It might be best to get a local specialist test this first as that slim, tubular, Garrard tone arm head is very narrow and not all cartridges can readily fit onto this. __________________ Edward.

3rd Jan 2020, 12:46 pm	#7
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 Have you tried a "buzz test"? Turn up the volume and then touch the bare part of the wires going to the cartridge with a metal object held in your hand. A small screwdriver is ideal. If the amplifier is working you'll hear a loud buzz or hum from the speaker and a cartridge fault is indicated. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

3rd Jan 2020, 4:13 pm	#8
Chris55000 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walsall Wood, Aldridge, Walsall, UK. Posts: 2,874	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 Hi! The Bush SRP51 is transistorised so a quiet hiss/faint hum should be audible from its loudspeaker immediately upon switch-on! Have you turned up the volume & tone to maximum volume/treble and listened for this? Chris Williams __________________ It's an enigma, that's what it is! This thing's not fixed because it doesn't want to be fixed!

3rd Jan 2020, 6:14 pm	#9
marko65 Diode Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 3	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 Thanks for your help on this - I tried the buzz test and heard a loud buzz from the speaker I noticed a couple of you are from the Ipswich area - any recommendations for someone who can repair these? Thanks

3rd Jan 2020, 6:17 pm	#10
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,970	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 It does sound as if it needs a new cartridge.

4th Jan 2020, 9:25 pm	#11
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 As I mentioned earlier, any of those Sonotones are highly suspect. The problem is, it uses its own proprietary connector. So some new cartridge tags will need to be soldered on the four wires before another cartridge can be fitted. I have successfully used the red/black Chuo Denshi clones with the metal stylus shank available for pence online in this kind of deck/player with good results, but you may have to get creative in mounting them. There is now also a flip over cartridge, a clone of the BSR SC12 if the OP has any 78s. I have ordered one and will post a report once it arrives and I have had a play with it! __________________ Regards, Ben.

4th Jan 2020, 10:19 pm	#12
PaulR Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Southport Lancashire, UK. Posts: 3,237	Re: No audio from Bush SRP51 You can see mounting clips on Ebay if you do a search for BSR cartridge mount. They aren't intended to fit the flip over cartridge that Ben mentions but I have successfully modified one by removing the clip on the end to make it flat and sticking the cart to it using superglue. The record player in question needs further repairs so I cannot speak for the sound quality but reports on these cheap carts are generally favourable. __________________ Paul