technics 1200 mk2 sound output problem

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Posted by subtledreamer on May-19-2004 05:45:

technics 1200 mk2 sound output problem

hey guys,
i bought a pair of tech 1200s (a mk2 and m3d) online from ebay. the guy lives about 20 miles from me so i went and picked them up locally.

so i was much too happy to test them out before i took them off the guy's hands... stupid me. my mixer didnt arrive until a week later (today). i hooked up everything and began playing some vinyls. the m3d works flawlessly, but the mk2 had no sound ouput on the right channel. the cables look aged so i wouldnt be surprised thats the source of the problem. my dad checked out the unit and said it could also be a problem with the tonearm... the connectors with the cart itself. i emailed the guy i bought the tt's from and he's nice enough to refund money back if it's going to cost me $ to fix it. so im wondering how much would it be to take my mk2 to... say... guitar center (i really dont know anywhere else that would fix tt's), how much would it be to fix this problem?

it's too bad the rca connection is integrated deep in the unit... if its just an external plug life would be so much easier, oiy!

thanks for your time, guys.

Posted by dj chex on May-19-2004 05:57:

Well to get it fixed may be expensive depending on amount of damage. You can try to use a very small needle nose pliers or tweezers to depress the spring for the tonearm's contact.

Posted by tranceDJ on May-19-2004 07:51:

I would suggest replacing the rca cables first...it's most likely the problem and if not then you will at least have a newer better sounding set of cables.

Here's a site on how to do it:http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStri...ceRCACables.htm

The actual technics rca cables can be ordered from www.djmart.com or i'm sure you could buy some other kind and just cut one end off.

Posted by dj_pontiac on May-19-2004 16:06:

lol, i have the exact same problem, i want to change both rca clabes and adjust the tonearm since its a bit loose, i dont know how much will it cost, and im not sure if i should take it to technics official service or to some technician to get it fixed...
edit: i forgot, does anyone know how to adjust the tonearm? coz i tried to do it but i dont know if i should take out the tonearm or what...

Posted by subtledreamer on May-19-2004 16:27:

quote:
Originally posted by tranceDJ
I would suggest replacing the rca cables first...it's most likely the problem and if not then you will at least have a newer better sounding set of cables.

Here's a site on how to do it:http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStri...ceRCACables.htm

The actual technics rca cables can be ordered from www.djmart.com or i'm sure you could buy some other kind and just cut one end off.

nice! i found them: http://store.yahoo.com/djgear/tecrepfacrca.html but 20 bucks for RCA cables seem... a lot! plus the picture doesnt even show how the other end of the cables are... so it could just be a regular rca cable with one end cut.

anyway, im at school right now and that geocities site is blocked, geez. i'll go check it out when i get home, thanks!

Posted by subtledreamer on May-19-2004 16:34:

quote:
Originally posted by dj_pontiac
lol, i have the exact same problem, i want to change both rca clabes and adjust the tonearm since its a bit loose, i dont know how much will it cost, and im not sure if i should take it to technics official service or to some technician to get it fixed...

haha, so basically you arent even using that table now huh? i think you should do a replacement for the cables too, check out the link from tranceDJ and see how it goes~

quote:
Well to get it fixed may be expensive depending on amount of damage. You can try to use a very small needle nose pliers or tweezers to depress the spring for the tonearm's contact.

that sounds kinda hardcore for me as of now, but i shall see

Posted by subtledreamer on May-19-2004 16:44:

haha, i found a guide to change RCA cables on a 1200: http://www.djdepot.com/changing_rca...hnics_1200.html

but i still would like some more input from fellow TAs!

Posted by dj_pontiac on May-19-2004 16:54:

for the cables i would suggest buying some rca ones at your local electronic store, you can buy the lenght of cable you want and make the cable by yourself, i have done this before to plug my mixer to the computer, 2rca to one stereo jack. the thing is that i have never opened my techs before so im afraid of breaking something...

Posted by subtledreamer on May-19-2004 17:08:

quote:
Originally posted by dj_pontiac
for the cables i would suggest buying some rca ones at your local electronic store, you can buy the lenght of cable you want and make the cable by yourself, i have done this before to plug my mixer to the computer, 2rca to one stereo jack. the thing is that i have never opened my techs before so im afraid of breaking something...

i would risk it simply because i cant stand having a turntable working yet... not working plus, it doesnt seem all that hard for the cable replacement (after reading that how-to guide). just need some patience and hope it works~

but yeah, i wont be fishing out 20 bucks for RCA cables when i can buy it at any local electronics store for cheaper!

Posted by dj_pontiac on May-19-2004 22:51:

yeah, i think ill give it a try, but ill tell a friend who knows about this stuff to come and help me, if everything goes ok i might even change the leds to blue ones in the future
if by chance you see anything about adjusting the tonearm, please let me know
peace

Posted by tranceDJ on May-19-2004 23:01:

The other thing you could do is buy a rca y-connecter (one that you plug one rca into and then it splits off into two rca male connectors). This is what I had to do for one of my techs cuz only one side of the rcas works. So it's basically taking one side of your cabes and making it into two ends to plug into your mixer. Only downside to this is that you will get mono sound but if that doesn't bug you it's a quicker, cheaper fix then getting new cables all together.

Posted by BeatSMiTH on May-19-2004 23:08:

Unsoldering and resoldering new RCA cables is very easy if you know how to use a soldering iron. You won't even need any documentation or diagrams, just need to use your brain. Find the 2 holes that your old cables are soldered to and unsolder them. Solder your new cables into the same holes (if you reverse them, u're just going to get a reverse stereo effect), and THAT's IT! The hardest part about it, was figuring out how to remove the bottom part of the turntable for the first time.

Posted by subtledreamer on May-20-2004 03:48:

quote:
Originally posted by dj_pontiac
yeah, i think ill give it a try, but ill tell a friend who knows about this stuff to come and help me, if everything goes ok i might even change the leds to blue ones in the future
if by chance you see anything about adjusting the tonearm, please let me know
peace

think this helps? http://music.hyperreal.org/dj/sl1200.html

Posted by subtledreamer on May-20-2004 03:52:

quote:
Originally posted by tranceDJ
The other thing you could do is buy a rca y-connecter (one that you plug one rca into and then it splits off into two rca male connectors). This is what I had to do for one of my techs cuz only one side of the rcas works. So it's basically taking one side of your cabes and making it into two ends to plug into your mixer. Only downside to this is that you will get mono sound but if that doesn't bug you it's a quicker, cheaper fix then getting new cables all together.

sounds like a good idea if i dont want to get down on the soldering and replacement of cables but nah, i want to hear the sound to its fullest~ nice concept, though, I would have never thought of it if you hadn't bring it up

quote:
Unsoldering and resoldering new RCA cables is very easy if you know how to use a soldering iron. You won't even need any documentation or diagrams, just need to use your brain. Find the 2 holes that your old cables are soldered to and unsolder them. Solder your new cables into the same holes (if you reverse them, u're just going to get a reverse stereo effect), and THAT's IT! The hardest part about it, was figuring out how to remove the bottom part of the turntable for the first time.

yeah, but with the site i found (with pictures and directions), shouldnt be too hard~

reminder to self: measure twice, cut once!

Posted by dj_pontiac on May-20-2004 03:58:

quote:
Originally posted by subtledreamer
think this helps? http://music.hyperreal.org/dj/sl1200.html

cool, thanks, who needs technics technical service anyway??
ill post when i get it done, but im glad you�ve found the info, i thought it would be more diffucult....
peace

Posted by subtledreamer on May-22-2004 22:29:

alrite!!!!
i just did the RCA cable replacement and ... viola! sound coming from both channels w000t!!

thanks to everyone who gave an input, i appreciate it!