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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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9th Nov 2018, 1:18 pm | #1 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK.
Posts: 469
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Sonotone 9TAHC problem
I gave my best friend my dad's old Garrard-2025 based record player. Last week she had an accident that ended up breaking the stylus. I bought a new one and fitted it but something is wrong. The new stylus seems to sit higher than the old one and the sound reproduction is terrible.
I've attached photos showing the old stylus (where "LP" is clearly visible), new stylus and no stylus. Can anyone see any obvious problems? I can't get anything much out of it in LP or 78 mode. I hear the expected noises through the speakers when changing the stylus and if I rap on the headshell so I assume the cartridge internally is fine. The cartridge does seem to move back and forth a couple of mm which I don't remember. But I hadn't used this machine since 1987 until quite recently so memories could be foggy. |
9th Nov 2018, 1:52 pm | #2 |
Rest in Peace
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Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton)
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Are you sure the new stylus is seated correctly between the two rubber 'ears'. It looks slightly offset to the left to me.
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9th Nov 2018, 2:06 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Cartridge looks knacked to me.
Lawrence. |
9th Nov 2018, 2:21 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
I have a 9TAHC in a Dynatron GR8 record player and have always thought that he bass was lacking. I have latterly wondered whether the suspension in the cartridge itself has gone hard - this may be the case with yours, it certainly doesn't look well
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Paul |
9th Nov 2018, 2:30 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Use a pair of tweezers to correctly locate the new stylus. Look from the front (ideally with an eyeglass) to ensure it's completely vertical and pushed into the rubber stylus saddle and not sitting to one side of it.
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Edward. |
9th Nov 2018, 2:39 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2011
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
It was working fine until a week ago, certainly the bass has always been superb....as in rattle plates off shelves superb. The new owner sometimes has hand tremors and unfortunately suffered one as she was taking a record off the spindle, crashing it into the stylus/cart. So damage cannot be ruled out, though to be honest I think it's always looked the way it does. What is "knackered" about it?
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9th Nov 2018, 2:54 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
It looks like the bridge has parted to me, maybe someone else can confirm either way.
Lawrence. |
9th Nov 2018, 2:58 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Yes it does. It is pushing the stylus assembly to one side. We expect these old parts to work for far longer than was ever envisaged by the manufacturers and it may have become more vulnerable to accidental damage.
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Paul |
9th Nov 2018, 3:00 pm | #9 |
Hexode
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
So assuming a new cart is needed, what would people recommend?
Is this interchangable with the existing cart? https://www.thestyluslady.co.uk/sono...p78-1365-p.asp |
9th Nov 2018, 3:25 pm | #10 |
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Two problems: the first is that it isn't the High Compliance version of the cartridge [1] and the second is that it has the Garrard one hole fixing bracket with the 'ears' for the standard two screw fixing cropped off.
I don't know if you could swap the brackets over. If you look at the stylus head on, do the ears of the coupler grip the stylus? It looks as if the left and right deviations shown in the photographs might be because, possibly, the coupler has split in half. Is the replacement stylus the correct HC type? [1] The cartridge must match the arm. If a normal cartridge is fitted in a high compliance arm, the groove vibrations try to move the arm instead of the inside of the cartridge. Conversely, with an HC cartridge in a normal arm, because the arm is stiffer, instead of tracking across the record, it will try to keep still while the stylus follows the groove until it is right up against the limit of travel, whereupon it will give the arm the added nudge it needs and it jumps across the record! This leap frog action continues as the stylus follows the groove across the record. |
9th Nov 2018, 3:47 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
The advert says it is the HC version so that should be ok. They also say that they will change the fitting if you send the old one, so it should be a straight swap. I didn't know that anyone was re manufacturing them. It would be very interesting to know how they perform.
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Paul |
9th Nov 2018, 4:43 pm | #12 |
Octode
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
The rubber seat that connects to the two ceramic transducers and where the stylus seats has Broken and come apart as mentioned above.
Gaz. Last edited by tracypaper; 9th Nov 2018 at 4:49 pm. Reason: Grammer |
9th Nov 2018, 5:30 pm | #13 |
Dekatron
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Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
I would doubt if this is "re-manfactured", more that it's NOS.
If the deck is a Garrard 2025 (as indicated in the Post #1) do note the tone arm in this is not the same as the high-compliance, tubular arm as in the Garrard 2025TC.
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Edward. |
9th Nov 2018, 5:41 pm | #14 |
Nonode
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
If you are interested Gulliver there are some pictures of a Sonotone that I opened up, it shows the construction, if you look for post dated 13 sept, “Bass response from ceramic cartridge” post 18 and 20. I’m unable to upload pics from iPad I have tried but without success.
Cheers John |
9th Nov 2018, 6:33 pm | #15 |
Rest in Peace
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
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10th Nov 2018, 8:55 am | #16 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Berkshire, UK.
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Looking at your photos I can see that the cartridge is held in by two screws, so you can replace it with any standard cartridge. The easiest option is to replace it with another 9TA series cartridge, as they have a plug connector at the back. This isn't the cheapest option, but is the best as they are good cartridges.
You don't need to worry about single hole fixings or sending your old one back if the new one has a standard fixing.
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Richard It's great when it goes around to make a sound. |
10th Nov 2018, 11:31 am | #17 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
That does seem more likely. I bought a NOS Pickering turnover cartridge and the compliance is awful, presumably due to the hardening of rubber parts over the years.
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Paul |
11th Nov 2018, 4:42 pm | #18 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
These 9TAHC carts are long obsolete, you may be able to find one NOS but it is likely to suffer the same rubber ears problem as the one you have. I would look at changing it. A BSR SC11/12M, or if that is too pricey, alternatively one of the chinese ' LP/78 cartridge' from ebay for under ten pounds (though you'd have to be creative in mounting it).
The second thing you would need to do it solder on some connecting clips to the fine wires in place of the plug used by the 9TA. If all this seems like too much fiddling, them maybe post in the wanted section for someone off here near to you to carry it out!
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Regards, Ben. |
14th Dec 2018, 1:15 pm | #19 |
Hexode
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Luton, Bedfordshire, UK.
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
Final update....I went with "The Stylus Lady" who's email communication was excellent as was her service. I got a new (I assume NOS) 9TAHC on which she attached the old mount from mine. She even returned my original cartridge. New one was fitted in under 5 minutes and sounds fine. Thoroughly recommended.
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14th Dec 2018, 2:02 pm | #20 |
Dekatron
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Re: Sonotone 9TAHC problem
How does the new ons sound?
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Paul |