Retro Stereo on a Budget: Another Three-Legged Dog

R.I.P., Sony STR-AV330...

My Sony receiver stopped working when I accidentally slid the volume control all the way to the right. I immediately realized my mistake and turned the volume down, but it was too late. The Sony had gone dark. I removed the receiver's lid and discovered that I had blown a fuse.

I replaced the fuse, but that didn't fix the situation. The Sony kept blowing fuses. I don't know why. I didn't want to spend any more time or money on it, so I removed the receiver's legs and put it on the curb. That was during junk weekend, and the Sony was gone in 20 minutes.

I went back to shopgoodwill.com and won an auction for another Sony receiver that was missing its front leg. I guess I'm a sucker for those.

The Sony STR-VX550 pumps out 50 watts per channel and was manufactured in 1983. So, it meets my nerdy 1980 -1985 criteria. It was $48 with shipping, so it was close to my price target of $40. The auction listing stated that Sony "turns on," and that was all that was tested. It was true that it turned on. My problem was that none of the other buttons worked. Not. One. Other. Button. 

Goodwill auctions offer no returns or refunds, so I had purchased a Sony brick. Dang! I wasn't ready to give up, though. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, our hero:

I removed the lid and faceplate and did my best to spray the back of the switches with the DetoxIT. Then I pressed each switch about 50 times. I sprayed more DetoxIT and worked the switches again. Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Very slowly the receiver began to show signs of life. At first I could only activate the radio. A  few minutes later I could move the volume up and down and the balance from left to right. After two hours and a sore finger, I had most buttons reliably making contact. I had to clean a couple of switches again a few days later because they had stopped working. It is a work in progress. But at least it is not a brick.

For a guy like me, DetoxIT is quite a handy product. I just bought a second can. 

Since I had legs from the other Sony receiver, I was able to replace the missing one in seconds. I also soldered in a new 3V lithium battery for the radio's preset memory.

 Right now the receiver is paired with a Technics SL-P150 CD Player and Minimus 7 speakers. They're all on the freezer in the garage until I can be reasonably sure the button contacts have stayed clean. 

I was happy to learn that this Sony receiver works with a remote. That's a first for me with an old receiver. I could get an offical Sony remote on eBay for $25.

But this Gemini Universal Remote does almost everything the offical RM-S750 would do. I really like how these Gemini remotes work with older electronics. I bought another Gemini off the 'Bay instead of the Sony remote.

While testing the AM reception, I listened to a couple of sports radio personalities discuss the Star Wars "May the Fourth be with You" day. I thought that they were going to make fun of it, but instead one said something like this, "I'll be honest, I don't understand the guy who dresses up like Darth Vader and goes to those conventions and hangs out with other adults in costumes. But I bet he looks at guys like me going to a ball game and says, 'Look at that guy wearing a uniform to the ball park. What does he think? That he's one of the guys on the team?' I think it's the same for pro wrestling and NASCAR fans. I might not understand the Darth Varder guy, but I get him. I might not understand the rabid NASCAR fan, but I get him and I get the pro wrestler guy, too." 

Again, I am paraphrasing what I heard, but I think I captured the spirit of their conversation. It was refreshing to hear someone say, Hey, I'll admit that we're different. I don't really understand your enthusiasms, but I can respect them, and I can respect you. 

Re-Foaming Speakers

My mom is moving to a smaller apartment, and she no longer wanted her old living room stereo. Mom offered it to me, and so, out of the blue, here comes another stereo post.

I certainly do not need more audio equipment. Our basement is beginning to look like an electronics store. I was interested in the speakers, though. They were produced by Boston Acoustics. At the time, the A70s were lauded for their value and performance.

I was disappointed when I pulled off the speaker grills. The woofers' foam surrounds were crumbling to dust. You can see where my finger poked through the foam near the 2 o'clock position. I barely touched it.

According to the serial number tag, these speakers were purchased 31 years ago. No wonder the foam was falling apart.

I didn't know a lot about speaker construction, and I assumed that these were ruined. I did a search for replacement woofers, and found foam edge repair kits instead. There were quite a few kits on eBay. Maybe I could try fixing the foam surrounds myself. Why not try? 

I did some research, and I believe the foam surround has two jobs to do. One, the foam acts as a support that allows the cone to move out and back the required amount. When the foam goes bad the speaker can perform like a car with bad shock absorbers. Two, the foam surround holds the cone on "center" so the attached voice coil will move freely and won't rub against the magnet. A speaker can "work" without foam surrounds, but the damage from the rubbing will ruin it.

(diagram from https://www.cuidevices.com)

Simplyspeakers.com has a lot of repair videos on YouTube, and they were also running an eBay sale, so I bought a kit from them for $20.

I watched this video several times to learn the process. ----> link

The first step is to remove the old foam from the speaker's frame and cone. You can see the replacement foam on the right.

The next step, gluing the foam suround to the cone, wasn't too difficult. The kit's glue did set up quicker than expected. There wasn't much wiggle time before the glue took hold. 

I was much more worried about the last step - gluing the foam to the metal frame. If I glued the surround in the wrong spot, the voice coil would be forced to rub against the magnet, and I'd have to start again.

I didn't trust myself to find the "sweet spot" by hand, so I used a little science. 

I needed an amp or a receiver, a speaker wire, a RCA to 3.5mm adapter, and a laptop. The idea is to play a low frequency tone that the human ear can't hear through the speaker. The coil will make a rattling sound until it's in the correct position. At that point the speaker will become silent because is it smoothly playing a tone that can't be heard. (Make sure the receiver's balance is turned all the way to the side you are using, and keep all volumes - tone program, laptop, and receiver - on low.)

This is the video that helped me find the "center" for the the cone. -----> link

I used this online tone generator to play the low frequency. I set it at a 50 Hz sine wave. ------> link

I connected the speaker to the receiver and briefly did a "dry run" without any glue. I used a long speaker wire that would allow me to turn the speaker as needed. I discovered that the speaker went silent when I slid the foam towards one side of the frame, so I marked that side with some tape.

I used rolled up paper towels to lift the cone up. I wanted more room to get the nozzle of the glue tube under the flap of foam.

I placed the paper towel rolls through the lower openings in the frame. I avoided the opening with the wires.

I must have been more nervous than I realized because my hand was shaking the glue tube. The speakers are meant to be played with the grills on, so if I would have made a mess it wouldn't have been too obvious...

When the bead of glue circled the frame, I removed the paper towels, held the cone up from underneath with my hand, turned on the tone, and lowered the foam onto the frame. I then edged the foam towards the tape marks. When the speaker went silent, I pressed the foam down into the glue in spots using fingertip pressure. It didn't take long before I could smooth the foam out with my finger, turn off the tone, and then walk away. The glue needs at least an hour to cure. That was it. Job done.

Before:

After:

Yes, I did the other speaker, too.

I tested the A70s with my retro stereo, and they worked! I'm really happy I didn't put these on the curb. I love thrift store stuff, but it was fun fixing something that has a family history. 

Retro Stereo on a Budget

The catalyst for this project is a Realistic CD -1500 Compact Disc Digital Audio Player (love that looong title) that I found at Goodwill last year. 

This unit came out in 1988. I'm sure I would have coveted a model like this at our local Radio Shack. 

Let's zoom in: 

That price tag would equal $601.85 today. I paid $5 for mine, and the CD player sounds great. The original remote control was missing, but I was able to get the Realistic to respond to this Gemini universal remote. (Not as easy as it sounds. You need an older universal remote to do this.)

According to the ad, the original remote didn't have numeral buttons like those on the Gemini, but the Realistic responds to them. If I press 7 and then play, the CD jumps to track 7. Also, the Realistic will play burned CD-R+/- discs - a technology that wasn't allegedly available in 1987. Either this player was ahead of its time, or Radio Shack was hiding something... 🤔 

Anyway, now what? I was already using a CD player that I liked, so I wasn't sure what to do with this one. I didn't want to sell it or give it away. I'd rather put the Realistic to use. Since I had purchased the player for nostalgia's sake, I decided to take another step backwards in time. I was going to try to put together an 80s-era stereo from thrift store items.

Silver-faced stereo equipment from the 1970s and earlier is really cool, but it is also highly sought-after and too expensive to buy just for fun. By the late 80s (and on), the style was that most stereo components were all black and/or dark grey. That style of equipment is much easier to find now (and it's cheaper), but the look doesn't have the vibe I'm going for. 

I wanted a happy medium, so I decided to shop only for brand name equipment that was manufactured between 1980 and 1985. That way I could still get that vintage, silver-look without paying that vintage, sky-high price. I knew it might take years to stumble across these components in brick-and-mortar thrift stores, so online purchases were fine if the shipping costs weren't outrageous.

I needed to find: a receiver, two speakers, an equalizer, a tape deck, and a turntable. I didn't want to pay more than $40 for any one component. Let's say my budget was $200.

Also, patina wouldn't be a problem. I wasn't trying to find pristine items. If a component works but shows its history, that's okay. I can say the same about myself.

From Shopgoodwill.com: The Receiver

No, the auction picture isn't crooked. The Sony STR-AV330 AM/FM Stereo Receiver is missing a front "leg" support. I suppose that is why no one else bid on it. 

Besides feeling pity for the Sony, this receiver met my requirements. It was manufactured in 1984. You can see that Sony was transitioning over to all black, but the silver on the faceplate still stands out. The STR-AV330 has 40 watts per channel, a tape monitor function for an EQ, and will play well with others: turntable, tape deck, CD player, and video audio. 

I flushed/ cleaned the potentiometers (slide controls) and buttons with DeoxIT®. That took care of any scratchy sounds the player made when the controls were moved. Having a clean power button is really important in my experience. A dirty power switch can cause all kinds of audio distortion. Weird, but true.

I moved an original "leg" from the back of the cabinet to the front, and made a leg for the rear with stuff I found in the garage. Now the Sony is on the level. 

Total cost: $25.18

From a Thrift Store: The Speakers

Realistic's Mininus 7 speakers are a favorite of mine. I bought these speakers at the Hope Ministries Thrift store, but I have owned several pairs in the past. I had a pair in my dorm room, and Daphne and I used a pair to play background music at our wedding reception. These speakers are built like tanks and have a big sound despite their small size. Produced from 1979 - 1993, they meet my age requirement, and they each can handle up to 40 watts which is in perfect aligment with the Sony receiver. 

Total cost: $10

From a Thrift Store: The Turntable

Okay this one is a bit of a cheat. I've had the Pioneer Pl-4 at school for years. But, it was manufactured from 1981-1982, has the right color, and was purchased at a Goodwill. I need to Detox the speed adjustment potentiometers, and it probably could use a new stylus. 

Total cost: $5.99 (but I could probably add $40 for the stylus)

From Shopgoodwill.com: The Tape Deck

For my target years of '80-'85, cassette tapes ruled the recording industry. Sure, CDs arrived in the US in 1983, but I didn't know anyone who owned one. CDs didn't outsell casstte tapes until 1991. So, I felt obligated to get add tape deck to this system. 

The problem is that cassette tapes are becoming popular again. You can blame low production costs, nostaliagia, or hipsters, but the lowly tape has been slowly crawling out of its grave for a few years. I used to wade through the tape decks at a thrift store to get to the good stuff, and now I can't find one decent deck. 

Because the receiver was cheaper than expected, I mentally set my bidding limit at $60 (price + shipping) and lost four different tape deck auctions before I "won" the Technics RS-M218. It was produced in '81 and '82. You can see from these auction pictures that the deck was filthy. That didn't bother me. I've changed diapers. I know that most stuff washes off. 

The first thing I did when the deck arrived was to clean the pinch roller, the capstan shaft, the record/play head, and the erase head. If these are dirty, then the player is sure to "eat" whatever you put in its mouth. The deck did not eat my test tape, but it couldn't play it, either. Dang! Fast forward and rewind worked, but pressing "play" did nothing. Oh, and when I plugged in my headpohone jack I was rewarded with earsplitting hiss and static. great. just great.

I removed the case cover and found this broken belt inside. I supposed that was a problem.

Let's be honest. How could I expect a rubber belt to still be good after almost 40 years?

To use cassette tape terminolgy, I am going to fast forward through my description of the repair process. I was able to loosen the motor plate and open an area that allowed access to where the three motor belts go.

The correct sized capstan belt is available to buy online for around $30, but I wasn't even sure if that would solve all of the deck's problems. For testing purposes, I used a rubber band. You can see it wrapped around the black flywheel. 

Getting the belts back on in the right order and in the right place took about two hours. It was deliciously frustrating. Currently, the rubber band is holding its own and the deck even plays at the correct speed. Edit: I became suspicious that deck was playing at a slightly slower speed than it should. Playing the same song on the CD player along with the cassette comfirmed this. Luckily, the motor has a speed adjustment screw. 

The dirty power switch and the long recording switch inside (often a trouble spot) seemed to be the source of the static and hiss. Both were detoxed. 

Total cost: $33.41

From Shopgoodwill.com: The Equalizer

The 80's were all about making an impression, and an equalizer with a spectrum analyzer (dancing lights) put on quite a show. Essentially a row of tiny volume controls, equalizers allowed the owner to custom the sound according to the speaker size and room acoustics. Allegedly.  

I just loved the dancing lights. Finding an affordable equalizer with a silver faceplate made during the target years proved difficult. I had to go a little over budget to get one. The Technics Stereo Graphic Equalizer SH-8044 was produced from 1984-1988, so it made the cut. 

Total cost: $66.68

From Shopgoodwill.com: The Subwoofer

Okay. I broke the rules. I wanted more umph in the bass department, and I bought a Sony (SA-WMS345) Powered Active Subwoofer. My best guess is that the subwoofer is from 2003. I did research how to connect a subwoofer to an old receiver, but I didn't research the size of this subwoofer. I assumed it wouldn't be very big because shipping was only $15, and the auction listed it as being 9 inches tall. In reality, it is almost 16 inches tall. I laughed out loud when I saw the shipping box sitting on our front step with "HEAVY" stickers all over it. I was expecting a lunchbox, and I got a suitcase instead. The sub can create more bass than I need, but there's a volume knob to keep me out of trouble. 

The nice thing about setting your own rules is that no one else cares when you break them. At least the subwoofer is silver. 

Total cost: $30.16

The Stereo

This is a just a tempotary set-up (I left the turntable at work). I have a plan in mind for this equipment, but I don't have the room in the basement right now. I need to sell some stuff. I suppose the stereo will be in the garage for a while. I've been playing it for a couple of nights, and I have been having fun listening to music and watching the light show. 

When CD players were introduced in the 80's most of them were black, so I can't do much about the color of the Realistic. It's authentic. 

Here you can see how big the subwoofer looks when compared to the rest of the stereo system.

I added a simple antenna for $6.41.

Total project cost: $182.83. 

On the surface, this stereo project may seem like a waste of money. Owning a second stereo is unnecessary. Setting rules for myself to follow is silly. You could tell me that and make perfect sense.

I just wouldn't agree with you.

This project took about five months to complete. I had fun searching for the right items to bid on, and then had to fret about winning or losing. Winning an auction meant checking UPS tracking for a week or more. There's the excitement of seeing a delivered box waiting for me at home. There's the apprehension of opening the box to see what kind of trouble I had gotten myself into. Needed repairs meant research and trial and error. Success was exhilarating, failure was frustrating, but both are things to experience. When Covid-19 put our days on repeat, new experiences were something I needed.

This stereo gave me some things to do, some things to look forward to, and some things to think about. The stereo sounds good, and I think it is fun. But the entertainment really came before the music began.

Paying $182.83 for months of enjoyment and distraction during a pandemic is a steal.

Staying in the Groove

A friend of ours took home an old turntable that he had found in his dad's basement. He wanted to know how to hook it up to his stereo. I explained the process to him and then said, "For now, only use junk records to test it. Don't try playing anything nice until you get a new stylus." He looked at me like I was from Mars.

He replied, "My dad never ever played it, Brent. It's like brand-new." I assured him that he knew more about its history than I did, and I didn't argue. I still stand by my statement, though. If you found an old fork in your dad's basement, would you immediately use it to eat dinner, or would you make sure it was clean first?

Remembering that got me thinking about the needle on my turntable. When had I last replaced it? The earliest would have been in 2013... seven years ago? It was time for me to get a new stylus. I found a replacement on Amazon.

Does it make a difference? Holy cow, I was a little embarrassed that I had let my old needle get so worn out. Even my scratchy, thrift store records sounded better. 

Like this one. I was pumped to find an original release of Pet Sounds at Goodwill, even if the album's cover was water damaged. BTW, Rolling Stone just ranked Pet Sounds as the 2nd Best Album of All Time this morning. How's that for timing?

I've had Pet Sounds on CD since 1990, but I hadn't heard it on vinyl. 

Sure, there are some pops and clicks to be heard, but they don't overpower the music. The problem was a skip in the first song, "Wouldn't it Be Nice." Brian Wilson sings, And after having 'skip!' together... I tried vacuum cleaning and the wood glue method, but that skip! was still there. So frustrating. 

I Googled "How to fix a scratched record" and spotted something that I hadn't heard of: using a wooden toothpick to fix a skip. The idea is to use the toothpick to physically clear out the debris that the cleaning couldn't. A (soft) wood toothpick would probably do the least damage to the vinyl. 

Here's my school turntable. The Pioneer PL-4 works, but it's not going to win awards. I pulled it out of storage to try the toothpick fix. This year my classroom is all but empty due to Covid-19 cleaning protocols. 

This is the little amp that I use to power a pair of headphones. 

I'm not quick enough to see the exact place that causes the stylus to jump. I need to slow the record down to spot the damage. I unplugged the turntable and spun the record by hand until I reached the correct scratch. You can still hear the music even if the turntable has no power.

My eyes aren't what the used to be, either. To have any chance of seeing what I was doing, I had to use a the smaller, more powerful lens at the bottom of my magnifying glass.

The record appeared to be clean, and the scratch wasn't very big, but you can see some of the crud I removed with the toothpick. (Full disclosure: this picture is of Carole King's Tapestry. It also has a skip.)

I cleaned the gunk off the record's surface and gave it a spin. Hey! That worked! I could hear where the skip had been, but I could also hear "Wouldn't it be Nice" all the way through. That's a bit of a relief. 

Disclaimers all over the place. This toothpick fix worked, but I would only try it you've cleaned your vinyl as well as you can, and the remaining skip is driving you nuts. If you are worried that the toothpick could do more damage, then don't use it. My guess is that you will always hear the damage in this spot, even if the needle stays in the groove. I am also sure this will not work for all skips. Somethings just cannot be repaired. Sometimes you just have to walk away.

Still, it was a lot of fun to try this fix. Armed with a new stylus and a handful of toothpicks, I'm ready to battle any vinyl scratches that come my way.

I Wood Not Do It

Here's the stereo I use in my classroom. Everything came from a thrift store, even the pencil sharpener.

I use this DVD player to play CDs. It cost $1.99 at Goodwill, and I picked it because it has a silver faceplate that looks similar to what was used on vintage audio equipment. It's too bad that wood grained DVD players were never a thing.

To make it blend in a bit more, I wrapped the silver metal shell with some shelf paper I left over from my multi-cade cabinet.

I wish I had used a darker wood grain design, but this looks passable. And it makes me smile when I see it in the morning at work. That in itself is worth the price of admission.

Putting shelf paper on a DVD player might seem like a waste, but I can think of a bigger one. It wasn't that many years ago when people were stampeding over each other to get to a Black Friday sale on DVD players. Now these players aren't worth as much as a Starbucks coffee.

I don't care what it is, no product is worth hurting someone.