BSR UA15 cartridge? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Ambientnoise · 7th Nov 2025, 4:52 pm

A family member wants to play records on a 60s radiogram with a BSR U15 (I think, maybe U25). This is cosmetically good but long unused. I realise the deck will need a strip, lube etc but will it ever be fit for modern vinyl ? I guess the cartridge will be duff so any options there ?

Finally, is there anything more modern which would fit the footprint ?

You can gather that I am ok on the electronic bits but not the turntable!

Tks

Ken

Gabe001 · 7th Nov 2025, 5:17 pm

Hi ken
It'll be fine with one of the Chinese red ceramic cartridges, wired for stereo on the tag strip below. However, you will need to track it at 5g or so, so it'll wear the record quicker than a MM cartridge tracking at 2g. It also won't sound as good as a modern turntable with an mm or mc cartridge, but it's not bad at all. It'll be the equivalent of buying a crossley, gpo or ion turntable without the planned obsolescence/plasticky feel, and perfectly adequate for listening to vivaldis four seasons whilst cooking.

This is mine
https://youtube.com/shorts/Pm_Jq5iyLdw?si=6-St5pKIlEQYPfaM

You will need one of these
https://ebay.us/m/HPToEi

And possibly these
https://ebay.us/m/C9KSZS

If the mounting clip is a bit loose secure it to the cartridge with a spot of super glue. If you don't it won't track well on the inner grooves, may skip backwards or fail to trigger the auto stop

Lubricating this turntable isn't particularly challenging. I think there is a good video by mend it mark on youtube. Just do the same and take photos along the way.

John10b · 7th Nov 2025, 5:39 pm

Hi, When you say modern Vinyl do you mean new pressings, the reason I ask is because some folk complain that when trying to play their new LP's on old decks they skip etc.

John

Ambientnoise · 7th Nov 2025, 5:49 pm

Tks for the replies. I guess Vinyl purchased in the last few years and also future buys. The gram is mono but I gather the Chinese cartridges can be wired in parallel for mono.

Tks

Ken

Edward Huggins · 8th Nov 2025, 8:54 am

Yes you can bridge the channels for Mono. These cartridges are very good. To be specific, the BSR decks you mention are the types UA15 and UA25.

7th Nov 2025, 4:52 pm	#1
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 971	BSR UA15 cartridge? A family member wants to play records on a 60s radiogram with a BSR U15 (I think, maybe U25). This is cosmetically good but long unused. I realise the deck will need a strip, lube etc but will it ever be fit for modern vinyl ? I guess the cartridge will be duff so any options there ? Finally, is there anything more modern which would fit the footprint ? You can gather that I am ok on the electronic bits but not the turntable! Tks Ken

7th Nov 2025, 5:17 pm	#2
Gabe001 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 2,077	Re: Bsr u15 Hi ken It'll be fine with one of the Chinese red ceramic cartridges, wired for stereo on the tag strip below. However, you will need to track it at 5g or so, so it'll wear the record quicker than a MM cartridge tracking at 2g. It also won't sound as good as a modern turntable with an mm or mc cartridge, but it's not bad at all. It'll be the equivalent of buying a crossley, gpo or ion turntable without the planned obsolescence/plasticky feel, and perfectly adequate for listening to vivaldis four seasons whilst cooking. This is mine https://youtube.com/shorts/Pm_Jq5iyLdw?si=6-St5pKIlEQYPfaM You will need one of these https://ebay.us/m/HPToEi And possibly these https://ebay.us/m/C9KSZS If the mounting clip is a bit loose secure it to the cartridge with a spot of super glue. If you don't it won't track well on the inner grooves, may skip backwards or fail to trigger the auto stop Lubricating this turntable isn't particularly challenging. I think there is a good video by mend it mark on youtube. Just do the same and take photos along the way. Last edited by Gabe001; 7th Nov 2025 at 5:28 pm.

7th Nov 2025, 5:39 pm	#3
John10b Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 3,427	Re: BSR U15 cartridge? Hi, When you say modern Vinyl do you mean new pressings, the reason I ask is because some folk complain that when trying to play their new LP's on old decks they skip etc. John

7th Nov 2025, 5:49 pm	#4
Ambientnoise Heptode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 971	Re: BSR U15 cartridge? Tks for the replies. I guess Vinyl purchased in the last few years and also future buys. The gram is mono but I gather the Chinese cartridges can be wired in parallel for mono. Tks Ken

8th Nov 2025, 8:54 am	#5
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 9,137	Re: BSR UA15 cartridge? Yes you can bridge the channels for Mono. These cartridges are very good. To be specific, the BSR decks you mention are the types UA15 and UA25. __________________ Edward.