Elac PW620U Help Needed

[jonathan75]

I purchased a Elac PW320U at an antique store. I wanted it so I can play old 78's, 45's and 33's. It looks like it may work OK but the tone arm does not lower. It is missing the cartridge so I assume that the counter weight of the cartridge will be enough to allow it to lower. Just seems like I need to apply a lot of weight to get it down so the cartridge must be heavy.

That leads me to my other question. What kind of cartridge does it take? I am having a hard time finding one that looks like it would work online. Do I need a special needle to play 78's - 33's? Also some records may be in mono or stereo. Does it mater what type of needle is used to play both?

Does anyone know where I can get a service manual for it or a similar model? I would like clean it up and get it lubed but know nothing about turntables. So I am in need of some guidance.

Here is a link to some pictures of it.

http://community.webshots.com/album/570070477vxzfga

[07bloomfieldb]

I'm not really interested in this type of tt so I can't help much, but I have two pieces of advice.
1. Change the head-shell to a conventional 1/2 inch mount
2. Remember to balance the cartridge once fitted

[jonathan75]

How do I modify to change the head-shell? I didn't know it was possible to use something else? Thank you for the tip.

[07bloomfieldb]

This may not have it, but on must decks you turn a ring, then pull the headshell off.

[LPfan]

Hi!

The Elac headshell is designed for a standard ½ inch mount MM cart. This is fixed to a carrier plate front section that slides in the fixed part of the headshell. Unfortunately the missing cart has taken away this carrier plate also, so what is remaining is the part of the headshell that is fixed to the tonearm. You shall not find any rings here to twist and remove this as this is different from the SME type removable headshell design.

You will first have to find the carrier plate part. It may still be at the place where you picked this up. If not available, then try to find a junked Elac table that still has this part. Check the bay.

You shall not be able to get an English language service manual for this. To the best of my knowledge, Manuals for various Elac models are available only in German language.

With best wishes for a successful restore job,

LPfan

[LPfan]

This is what you are missing
http://cgi.ebay.com/ELAC-50-H-HEADSHELL ... 1|294%3A50


LPfan

[sreten]

I wanted it so I can play old 78's, 45's and 33's.

Do I need a special needle to play 78's - 33's?
Also some records may be in mono or stereo.
Does it mater what type of needle is used to play both?

Hi,

You need a normal stylus for 33/45 and a 78 stylus for 78's.
Mono/Stereo does not matter.

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchan ... de=LPGCART

and this :

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchan ... LPGATN9578

possibly ...

/sreten.

[jonathan75]

LPFan,

Thank you very much for your help. Based on the eBay link you gave me the carrier plate for the 50H is the same on the PW620U? Are there other parts that are compatible as well? What type of lube should I use and where can I find instructions on how all the adjustments on the tone arm works?

I would not mind a German manual if you know where I can get one cheap. I only need to see the pictures and specs which I believe would be in MM.

sreten,

Thank you the links. Did they ever make a needle that could play 45's and 78's? What would happen if you tried to play a 78 with a 45 needle? If I am always switching between needles will this cause problems with alignment?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Alec124c41]

There are several cartridges that will take both fine stereo styluses and larger 78 rpm styluses, so you would not have to swap cartridges. Ortofon and Shure I know, probably AT, too.

Cheers,
Alec

[jonathan75]

Thanks for the info Alec. I will look for one after I receive my headshell.

Does anyone know if a Elac Miracord 630-620-620B Owners Manual would cover the PW320U?

I posted some more pictures here. Have some questions in the comments under the pictures.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/album ... cat_id=453

Thanks,
Jonathan

[nat]

That table was also sold as a Miracord, sometimes as Elac Miracord and sometimes in the US as a Benjamin Miracord. Radio Shack also sold them under their name. I would bet that the library has the manual for it, or a very similar table. Looks rather like a 40H or something similar.
You do need to find the cartridge sled before its going to be useful.

[jonathan75]

Still no luck on finding a service or user manual but I did manage to order the "cartridge sled"..... "headshell"..... or "cartridge carrier".... I have heard it called so many names my head is spinning.

[jonathan75]

Here is a video of my tone arm that does not lower. Sorry it is out of focus but I used my camera to record it. You can see the lever drop but the tone arm does not lower even if I bring the weight all the way forward. Will the weight of the headshell, cartridge and needle be enough to bring it down or is there another problem?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_G3ru1_vcQ

[jonathan75]

I was just reading the instructions for my Onkyo TX-SR501 receiver. It stated that if my turntable does not have a pre-amp I will need to hook that up inline first before my tape receiver input. Does the Elac PW620U have a pre-amp? And if not what type should I get?

Thanks,
Jonathan