Magnovox automatic record console - Free to good home

[58limited]

This is a 60's era (guess) Magnavox console record player. No radio or 8-track, just an automatic record player. I just don't have room for this, and it doesn't match the style of the rest of the house. It plays 16, 33, 45, and 78 RPM records. The autoplay function works, just stack a bunch of records on the spindle and play them for hours. There is a 45 rpm adaptor too. The ID sticker on the back is faded so i can't read the model number.

The good: It works, it sounds good, its free.

The bad: Its not heavy but its big, so shipping will be pricey. There is a stained/ damaged spot on the sliding cover from a spill - see picture.

First pic: A shot of the Micromatic Magnavox record player. The diamond-shaped label in back says: Magnificent Magnavox Stereophonic Hi Fidelity with 10 Year Diamond Stylus Warranty.

If no one wants this, I will not throw it away. I might take out the electronics and put them in a smaller cabinet that matches my decor.

 

[58limited]

The cabinet.

 

[58limited]

Detail of the damaged spot.

 

[sudsmaster]

Don't toss it!

I have a larger version with AM/FM radio, but similar turntable etc. It is excellent for playing old 78's. I use a more modern turntable for LP's, as the conical stylus of these old changers can't match the response of more modern elliptical stylii. But it is still a well made, good console.

Of course I don't need a second automatic console but anyone who wants to play 78's from the 30's to 50's should look into this machine.

 

[Cybrvanr]

I've got an almost identical model

The one I have though has an AM/FM tuner in it though, but it's the exact same cabinet, but with a redder looking finish to the wood, and a little more modern appearance. It's a great sounding stereo!

 

[classiccaprice]

I actually just picked up one today! I'll have to post pictures later, similar changer with a tuner... The stereo works great, but the player has some issues. It would definitely be great for someone.

 

[qsd-dan]

"as the conical stylus of these old changers can't match the response of more modern elliptical stylii"

Yeah, very true. Don't use an elliptical stylus on shellac, it'll destroy it. I would highly recommend NOT using a conical stylus for vinyl since it does induce significantly much more wear and tear than an elliptical/line contact/micro-ridge stylus. Also, the use of rubbing alcohol is fine for vinyl, but a big no no for shellac. I didn't find out that bit of info until a few years ago even though I can't hear a difference on the shellac records I used alcohol on for many years.

 

[tolivac]

Elliptical stylus versus conical-In the radio station business-conicals are the most desirable in the times when radio stations DID play records-Why?Elliptical styli would tear up any record-and the stylus as the DJ backcues the record for play-or uses the record for "scratching" to another record played on air.In terms of response-sound,there really isn't much diffrence.In terms of life for users such as radio stations-the conicals last longer and withstand backcueing.You could use the elliptical stylus in a prod studio-but had to post a sign on the TT NOT to backcue records on that particular TT.I have replaced MANY Ell styli from stations and told them to go to conical-backcueing tears up ell styli badly-and the record too.for cleaning records-DO NOT use alcohol or other solvents on records you can leach out the plasticizers in the vinyl.Use water base cleaners only.
Oh yes-get from the subject of styli-very nice litttle Magnavox TT only hi-fi-to bad its not closer.Long way from Port Arthur to Greenville!Wonder if furniture cleaner or polish for wood furniture could clean out the spill spot on the TT well lid.

 

[j2400]

Actually, just about any stereo LP stylus could be bad for 78s. The groove is much bigger on a 78, and a modern stylus is simply too small. Proper sound and life from a 78 depends on a stylus engineered specifically for the job.

Conical styli may or may not be worse for LPs. I've heard arguments that go both ways. A big issue, I think, is simply the level/quality of the cartridge in question. A Denon 103 will be better than whatever they toss on the Crosley retro-look trash sold at Target.

 

[tolivac]

Yes-very true-Styli for LP's ARE NOT interchangeable with those needed to play 78's.most audiophiles and--radio stations that played 78's had a separate headshell and cartridge for 78's or even separate TT's with the appropriate cartridges and styli for 78.A couple of radio stations I knew of had extensive 78 libraries and the TT's and cartridges-styli to play them-both for production work and on air work.
Yes quality of cartridges can make a diffrence-usually in radio stations I found mid priced Shure and Audio-Technika cartridges in their TT's.Since the stations had hard useage expensive cartridges were a waste of money for them.most station owners and managers aren't audiophiles and the differences won't be heard over the air from most stations anyway.-Esp over AM stations.Yes many of those played records as a soruce of music material before the AMs went to "talk-discussion formats."
When I have visited stations today-you no longer see TT's and reel-reel tape decks-sometimes you no longer see cart machines(players that played endless loop tape cartridges sort of like 8-tracks-but these only had one audio-or pair of audio track for stereo,primary cue track-stops the tape when end of item played is reached-secondary cue-for alerting the operator the track is ending-or for automation systems to trip another program source)You still see CD players and computer audio filing and playback systems-they can be automated or used "manually" by a DJ-the DJ no longer changes records-he selects songs,commercials,or promos by a touchscreen menu on a computer monitor.Instead of purchasing records-stations purchase harddrive packs for their program computers from the music suppliers.you tell the supplier what type of computer program you are using,and music format-and they send you the drive pack that matches the program your station uses.

 

[j2400]

A bit more of my babbling about 78s

Making matters more interesting with 78s is that the ideal stylus varies. The generic size is about 3 mil, although some styli are slightly smaller. But groove size varied wildly through the 78 era. Then, a non-standard size may be useful now to avoid the worn part of the record. (A smaller stylus will fit lower in the groove, for example, and possibly play something that hasn't been touched except by dust since the record stamping machine did its job sixty years ago.) So really serious collectors have a range of styli on hand.

Other standards varied wildly, too. The oldest 78 rpm records often played at something other than 78--78 was the "final" standard. Records, except for Victrola style, are recorded with some sort of equalization for technical reasons. The equalization is pretty standard on most LPs--either RIAA or something close enough. But in the good old days, every record company did pretty much what they felt like doing.

So the really serious collector won't buy this Magnavox. He (or she--although most women seem to avoid this insanity, as much fun as it is) will buy this:
*A turntable with at least 78 rpm. Many collectors keep it 78 RPM record only, having a different turntable for LPs. If the collector is interested in the oldest vintage records, variable speed will be required.
*A collection of 78 styli.
*A way of compensating for the different recording equalization curves.

The collector's family might, after seeing this, buy him or her a padded cell in the nearest insance asylum.

Less serious collectors will make due with:
*a turntable with 78 RPM (possibly shared with LPs, after switching styli). The speed might be fixed.
*There would be one stylus
*The standard RIAA phono input, with slight playing with the tone controls to compensate for different recording equalizations.

And some do use older console units like this one.

 

[whirlaway]

78 Speeds

Some of these records were recorded at 80RPMs,but by the time electrical recording came in about 1924,they all spun at 78 except some foreign ones. A 3mil needle is usually fine,but for vinyl 78s a 2mil sometimes sounds better.In my 1935 Capehart it tracks with a heavy mangnetic cartridge,so I use steel needles usually the loud ones.The needle doesnt hurt the record if you change it after about 15plays.The sound is very good.Ive found Columbia records are very hard on needles and stay away from really worn records.Victor and Bluebird and Purple Capitals really play well.

 

[sudsmaster]

OK, well yeah, very old 78's didn't have standardized grooves. I play my acoustic 78's on a Victrola with a tungsten "needle". I rarely play them on the Magnavox, because they actually sound better to me on the Victrola. Plus I don't like all the abrasive they put in old acoustic 78's wearing out the sapphire 78 needle.

The Magnavox has a flip needle. One side is 1 mil diamond (for LP's), the other is 3 mil sapphire (for 78's).

As for conical 1 mil diamond conical stylii ruining LP's. I don't agree. As long as the weight isn't excessive, and the record is played no more than once or twice a day (with an hour rest between playings), the conical needle may actually be less destructive than a worn or overweighted elliptical needle. That's because the larger edge radius of the conical stylus will just ride over the very high frequency features of the groove, leaving them intact, while the elliptical will contact them and if there's a problem it will also damage them.

I have a fairly large collection of LP's that were originally played on a Garrard automatic (KLH Model 11). When I upgraded to a Denon turntable with elliptical cartridge/stylus, they sounded much better and they didn't suffer in comparison with newly bought LP's (this was in the 80's, mostly, when you could still buy new LP's). The key is to avoid ever playing an LP with a worn out stylus - same goes for 78's as well.

If I was trying to restore old 78's, that is, transfer their contents to CD/MP3, yeah, I might look for a custom stylus/special turntable to get the best possible sound. But for casual listening of the collection the 3mm sapphire works just fine. Some of the old 78's I have are fairly worn out anyway so I'm not gonna waste time trying to get clean sound out of a compromised groove.

Little trick: I've found I can play electronically recorded 78's on the Victrola, but only if I first "condition" the tungsten wire with an acoustic 78. This puts a nice tip on the wire and the more modern 78's sound fairly good, up to the capability of the un-rebuilt orthophonic reproducer and folded non-orthophonic horn). But the older acoustic recordings generally make more sense on the Victrola.

I have heard clips of professional "restored" acoustic 78's, and the sound is rather amazingly good.

OK, all that said, I'll throw a bone. My Magnavox Imperial Micromatic turntable intermittantly fails to retract the tonearm at the end of a record with automatic run-off. I gather from my reading that this Collaro automatic uses a velocity sensor to trigger the retraction. Is there a simple adjustment, cleaning, or lube point to make it work every time?

 

[whirlaway]

A Rest

In my entire life I have never heard of letting a record rest,Please explain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[qsd-dan]

In my entire life I have never heard of letting a record res

As the stylus passes over the record surface, the record grooves are subjected to a force of over 14 tons per square inch. This tremendous pressure results in the vinyl being subjected to temperatures as high as 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This momentarily melts the vinyl as the stylus passes by.

 

[tolivac]

Yes,there is some truth to letting records "rest" between plays.At one radio station I worked at they did just that.since it was a top 40 station-all of the top 40 song records were on a large pegboard panel beside the DJ.there were several records of each song(45's)on each peg-the records were played in rotation each time that song was to be played.there is some stress to both the stylus and the record each time its played from the friction of the stylus going thru the groove.It is thought the record "Healed"somewhat if it was allowed to rest even several min between plays.for radio stations-the records did suffer "Q-burn"the frequent back cuing did wear the beginnings of some songs.when the record was that worn it was discarded.Then the station went to "carting" records-recording them onto a tape cartridge-so the wear was on the "cart" rather than the record.the production studio operator did the "carting"Overall that system resulted in less wear and tear on both records and TT's.the pegboard scheme looked very impressive though-and watching the DJ reach for the records to play them.
and other factors for 78's remember these were recorded in early days of recorded arts when the STUDIO set its own standard.there was no RIAA,or NAB.So anything went-that is why there were so many styli sizes and types for 78's and also styli for cylinder type records.shure makes a special cartridge just for playing cylinder type records.

 

[whirlaway]

I really dont think the average person really has to worry about the pressure,just keeping records clean and static free is the biggest help and no alcohol on any records.If you need to wash 78s use a little detergent in luke warm water and rinse well,no 409 or anything like that,Thanks Bobby

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Magnavox phonographs are quite easy on records. They went to 3.5 grams tracking in 1962, way lighter than the competition. A problem today might be that the rubber cushon in the ceramic cartridge can dry out and get stiff which limits the compliance.

Nothing wrong with a conical stylus, especially for garage sale records. An eliptical stylus can get a little more sound out of the grooves if it's perfectly aligned and tracking very light and the records are perfect, otherwise it's murder on records.

Most record collectors use spherical stylus on a modern turntable.

Kenzz

 

[qsd-dan]

"I really don't think the average person really has to worry about the pressure,just keeping records clean and static free is the biggest help."

Don't say that face to face to an audiophile; you’re liable to be lynched right then and there

No stylus touches any of my vinyl until all of the procedures in the link have been taken into account.

If you're using a conical stylus, no need to click on the link. You already threw fidelity out the window.......

*Runs and ducks.....heading for the hills*

Phono CARTRIDGE Mounting, TONEARM Alignment TOOL, TURNTABLE Set-Up, Calibration, VTA, BIAS Compensation ADJUSTMENT.

The correct alignment of pick up arm, cartridge, turntable adjustment and regular needle check give maximum sound reproduction and keep records in good condition.

www.soundfountain.com