Crystal cartridge BSR TC8 output question

[Vinylrecords]

Taking the audio feed from a bsr ua8 fitted with original tc8 cart, can I take a feed to a LINE input on my test amp, or do I go in through a phono input? My test amp is an 80's Marantz but has only a magnetic cart phono input, no switchable ceramic/mag options.

There is actually a mini board of old resistors connected to the output lead from the tonearm about half way along , but these may just be attached to match the valve amp in the portable record player the deck came from?

[Edward Huggins]

Completey bypass those old resistors in the tone arm lead. Use the LINE/AUX input on your Marantz. You have not stated what type of BSR TC8 cartridge it is?
If it is the TC8H version it will be liable to overload the LIN/AUX input and you may need to fit attenuating resistors to avoid distortion. If your cartridge is a BSR TC8M you may have a better match.

[Vinylrecords]

It's a standard mono tc8, no other marking on it. I believe it's the original one.

[Audio1950]

Originally Posted by Vinylrecords

It's a standard mono tc8, no other marking on it. I believe it's the original one.

If the body of the cartridge is orange, then it's a TC8H, if it's brown it's a TC8M.
There was also a white one, but I can't remember the spec. of that one.

[Vinylrecords]

Ah, it's brown, so not a very high output one then. I will connect to my amp tomorrow and see what comes out of it. It was working when removed from the record player unit, and got a new stylus for it to see what it can do.

[Techman]

Remember, this cartridge will spoil stereo records.

Only play vinyl records made before around 1970, so 50s/60s only. Even then, early stereo pressings will still be spoiled, regardless of what stylus is fitted.

[Vinylrecords]

Yes, fortunately have old mono records to use for testing.

[astro63]

Also chances are the crystal cartridge could be well dead by now due to age etc so if no sound or very low most likely dead cartridge

[Herald1360]

And even on the aux input it will probably sound tinny if it works unless your Marantz amp has an unusually high input impedance- the cartridge will expect something around 1megohm for reasonable bass.



https://www.keith-snook.info/wireles...ualisation.pdf

[Techman]

Originally Posted by Vinylrecords

Yes, fortunately have old mono records to use for testing.

Yes, I remember now, we've had this conversation before - I'd forgotten your user name. You'll be groaning and saying - "yes, I know, you've told me all this before"

It's true that you may well find that you can't match that cartridge to the amplifier and it'll sound horrible!

What you need to find is a classic amplifier from the period that has the correct crystal cartridge input. Chris will remember the rough old Bush Arena amplifier from the late 60s that I mentioned in another recent thread. This amplifier had a dedicated 'crystal' input and, as it happens, I was using this input for a TC8 cartridge fitted to an old deck I was working on a couple of weeks ago and it sounded absolutely superb - well as superb as an old BSR TC8 can sound, I suppose

So in essence, what you really need to find is a period amp for your period cartridge and (presumably) deck.