MCM Delmonico Hi-Fi Stereo by JVC

[rp2813]

I'm considering this somewhat early stereo hi-fi so I can once again play some of my LPs, and am requesting advice from the audiophiles here.  I'm not so sure about the quality of JVC when this unit was produced, but it does resemble its RCA contemporaries and I'm wondering if RCA's Japanese subsidiary used some of the same technology.

 

What can you tell me about it?  It's reasonably priced, and I have a local guy who can probably re-cap it.

 

 

 

 

[kevin313]

I've seen one of these before. I can't speak to the audio technology (amplifier, speakers, etc.) but it looks to have a V-M (Voice of Music) record changer, which might need refurbishing but is a very good unit.

 

[rp2813]

Voice of Music

Thanks Kevin -- good to know.

 

Supposedly the changer and radio work, but the sound is a little scratchy.

 

Even if the changer has issues, I wouldn't likely be stacking LPs on the spindle like we all did back in olden times.

 

[cfz2882]

;60s JVC

I have a similar JVC hifi from 1966-yours looks older,perhaps 1962 or 63. mine is series string miniature tubes-radio still works good,but phono is inop because rubber mounts for motor rotted and motor fell down.Changer is Japanese made,but might be copy or license of an American one I also have a JVC Delmonico hifi stereo table radio from 1963-haven't powered that one up yet,needto do a few prepower checks first

 

[rp2813]

B. -- Can you advise if those protruding things on both sides are hinged doors?  I'm hoping they are, as I would want them closed when the hi-fi wasn't in use.

 

[cfz2882]

my phono hifi does not have them,but the table radio does-hinged doors covering speakers

 

[rickr]

Ralph, I would look for a Magnavox, if you are looking for something with great sound, quality, a changer that will be kind to your records, and a price that won't break the bank either.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Rick.

 

I really wasn't looking for anything at all.  This thing just popped up in the "general" heading on CL and caught my eye.  I don't think I've ever seen a JVC product this old.

 

When I think of Magnavox, I envision hulking carved wood consoles 5' or longer, even though I know older Maggies weren't that large.  This JVC is small enough not to take over a room, stylish enough to turn heads, and dirt cheap, so that's why I'm considering it.  It's not like I'll be spinning vinyl on it daily.  It's just for fun.

 

The asking price on the JVC is only $30.  If I find something better down the line I can unload the JVC without regrets.

 

[moderncleveland]

Can't speak on this exact model but we have an early tube hi-fi in a cabinet like this and the sound is out of this world! It takes a minute or so to warm up, but the sound is so warm and clear and it even makes ho-hum records sound nice!

We were talking about these hi-fis with our stereo repair tech once and he said that so many stereo people just go for the components and these great consoles and stand-up units aren't as popular. It's really too bad, because the sound is so good and the furniture of course is cool. But it's good for us, because when you find them they're often cheap!

 

[firedome]

nice little stereo console!

JVC originally was Japan Victor Company and did produce audio/radio products under license from RCA, with the Delmonico name in the US. The side panels are reflectors to project the side firing speakers' output forward to project a coherent stereo sound image towards the likely listening area. The electronics are no doubt all tube in this iteration with a low-output single ended (2 output tubes instead of 4) using 6BQ5, 35c5, 50c5 power tube amplifier driving efficient, probably 8" speakers, either full range or with an added small tweeter and sometimes also a 4-5": midrange. Be fun to see some pics of it with the back panel off! It's a nice compact unit and well worth owning! If you use a good stylus and play records not too frequently it shouldn't wear them much. Lots of folks don't care for a huge hulking 5 or 6' cabinet in their living room and this solves that problem, just don't expect concert-level sound output with it... hope you can snap it up!

 

[rp2813]

Roger, thanks for the good info.  If it happens to just need a tube or two, I have spares of the three you mentioned.

 

I'm hoping to have this thing in my possession by Noon today. 

 

[firedome]

Great!

Please post some pics of the amp and speakers, and the tube complement would also be very interesting to know! It could have octal tubes like 6V6GTs as well. Oh and the side panels should be hinged and close-able, at least they have been so in other consoles that I've seen that had them. Great find!

 

[lordkenmore]

A nice cabinet--I really like the lines. I'd be willing to adopt this just for the looks. But I'd be a little leery playing records I cared about on this... Even not using the changer as a changer, it might not be the gentlest...

 

[rp2813]

It's mine, and I think it was meant to be, since we found a parking space at the curb in front of the building on a busy SF street.  I didn't even need to take the Baja for hauling purposes.  The legs unscrew, so I was able to put everything in the back seat for a cushioned ride home.  It's all good, though.  I hadn't driven a stick on hilly SF streets in decades so the Baja gave me a refresher.

 

Everything works and the radio sounds fine.  The turntable has issues.  It doesn't engage on the 78 RPM setting (no big deal) but it has a vibration that has an effect on the sound reproduction.  I'm leaning towards thinking the needle is fine.  Also, as soon as the unit is plugged in, even with everything in the "OFF" position, there's the sound of a motor humming under the turntable.

 

Sound quality is not so great, just as Rick had stated, and there's no bass adjustment, just "tone," which is weirdly part of the master on/off switch instead of volume.

 

I need to check and see if the radio dial should be lit.  Right now the only light is the small red jewel at bottom center on the front.

 

I'll take the back off and get some pictures to post here later today or tomorrow.

 

[cfz2882]

mine too

my unit ,model 224EA,has the exact same 3 turntable problems-caused by bad rubber motor mounts.Amp is rated 1.5w/ch,driving a 4"and 3x6"speakers connected in series per side.There is no dialight or stereo indicator.
Tubes are:
-12DT8
-12BE6
-12AL5
-(2)12AV6
-(2)12BA6
-(2)35C5
-(2)35W4(rectifiers,connected parallel)
Tubes made by Hitachi.

 

[rp2813]

Pictures

I haven't yet figured out how to remove the chassis.  It's mounted sideways and can't be accessed from the opening at bottom rear of the cabinet. 

 

The turntable/changer mechanism looks more complicated than I feel comfortable with.  It all needs to be separated from the cabinet to get a good look at things.  I'm also intrigued by the oil filler (a clear plastic cap) seen at top left in picture #6.  I've never seen a phonograph with an oil reservoir.  You can see a pair of tubes that I presume deliver oil to turntable components, but this is entirely foreign to me.

 

Should I decide in favor of bringing this "consolette" back to fully operational condition, would it be worthwhile to switch out the speakers if modern ones would provide better sound quality, or would that be a wasted effort with the type of amplifier they're paired up with?

 

Also, what is up with this amp lacking a transformer?  I've read that this type lacks power, but is this non-transformer arrangement the reason why the hum comes from under the turntable as soon as it's plugged in?  It seems neither safe or energy-efficient.

 

And what's with that empty tube socket that has a thick brown wire running up to the chassis from it?

 

There's very little about this particular model (#1025) on line, and I've read that these are kind of rare.  It may be more of a novelty decorative item than a viable hi-fi.  I really doubt that it could do justice to some early B-52s material.

 

The next post has pictures I lifted from a 2010 Audiokarma thread.

 

[rp2813]

More Pix from Audiokarma 2010

These aren't mine.  I think the chassis is later than my model and it looks different, but thought I'd post these since the chassis has been removed from the cabinet.

 

Picture #2 shows a similar tube socket without a tube in it.

 

[cfz2882]

On my later model unit the octal plug is on the chassis and by schematic,looks like an auxillary input-my unit has an interconnect plug plugged into the socket.The little oil tubes leading to the motor are interesting and not found on my '66 versionThe series string tubes and half-wave rectifiers are only found on low power amps-just a cheap simple method.Hum is just the turntable motor running because switch linkage out of whack-little fan on motor rotor very dusty on my set,so I think it had had the motor run-on problem for quite a while

 

[rp2813]

The tubes used in my unit are a little different from those on the 224EA that were posted above.

 

If you click to enlarge photo #1 with the tube locations in my "Pictures" post above, here is confirmation of what's barely legible in the photo (the macro setting would not cooperate with me):

 

V1:   12DT8

V2:   12BA6

V3:   12BA6

V4:   12AL5

V5:   12BE6

V6:   12AV6

V7:   35C5

V8:   12AV6

V9:   35C5

V10: 35W4

V11: 35W4

 

Does this information offer any clues about how well this system should sound?  Judging from the clear yet rather flat sound from the radio, I don't think any of these tubes are bad.  I have spares of 35W4 and I think 12AV6 and 12BE6 if they're ever needed.

 

[cfz2882]

sound

that is what I get from mine too-clear,rather flat sound and I suspect that 1.5 watts/ch is peak rating very decent sound casual listening though,and even with half wave rectification and 50 yr old capacitors,no hum.I have a ~1950 zenith 5-tube AM radio also with a 4" speaker and the zenith has a substantially more robust low end response-I think low end response intentionally limited with the JVC amps,and someone who knows a lot about amps might be able to tweak some component values to get a little more bass.Using the JVC for music as I remodel a bedroom,"sloop John B"(Beach boys,'66)came on,so stopped work to enjoy that "period correct" song

 

[artcurus]

No, don't change the speakers. The current speakers are matched for power rating and efficiency, especially at the 1.5 watt power output of this amplifier.

You must recap the amp to restore full performance and for safety, especially the one going across the a/c line.

Do not be afraid of the turntable. VoM (Voice of Music), are highly restorable and easy to work on, and are actually very good on records if adjusted properly.

Also, this is what's called a hot chassis unit. Meaning that one side of the a/c line is connected directly to the metal part of the chassis. This is a dangerous setup if you're inexperienced. While you are servicing the chassis, make triple sure that the amp is unplugged and completely powered down. When working on this unit while energized, always keep one hand either in pocket and do not, under any circumstances, take hold of the chassis with both hands. The radio is mono, the turntable is stereo. If I had to hazard a guess, the socket with the missing tube, is more than likely for an MPX (for FM STEREO) decoder.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at what this stereo can do, and kind of sound you'll get, once it's restored.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the advice about the speakers and the hot chassis.

 

There's a service manual for a phonograph that looks exactly like mine on ebay, but it's for a Delmonico SRC-4, not a Voice of Music.  Is it the correct one for my phonograph? 

 

Here's the only picture provided on the listing, and a shot of mine for comparison.

 

 

[artcurus]

both changers are Voice of Music. There might be some minor cosmetic differences but they are mechanically the same.

 

[artcurus]

also, you can clean the controls with DeOxit, which get rid of scratchiness.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks.  I bought the service manual.

 

The scratchiness only happens with the phonograph.  Radio is clear, as is volume control.  I think the scratchy reproduction from the phonograph is either a turntable (vibration) issue, a bad needle, or both.

 

I have a relatively new, cheaply made Crosley suitcase type record player that I got at a thrift store and it sounds very similar.  I can't imagine its needle could already be worn out, but maybe even that component is cheap quality too.

 

Regardless, the Delmonico's turntable and changer need work, so we'll see what sort of trouble spots are revealed once I have the service manual and can extract the mechanism from the cabinet.

 

 

 

[artcurus]

Do not play good records on that Crosely, it will ruin them. Once rebuilt, this JVC will grossly outperform it, and will be easier on records.

you can get a needle/cart and parts for the turntable at thevoiceofmusic.com

talk to Gary

 

[rp2813]

"Do not play good records on that Crosley"

Not to worry -- I don't.  It lives in the garage and is a test player for 45 RPM records I pick up at thrift stores as possible candidates for my jukebox. 

 

Thanks for the info on voiceofmusic.com.

 

 

 

[firedome]

Yes this is a hot chassis design...

and potentially very dangerous to work on. The amp circuit is not a lot different than a table or clock radio would have. Don't expect great sound but it can still be very satisfactory for background music listening.

 

[rp2813]

Yeah, the hot chassis is a little scary, but I wouldn't be the one to perform a recap job. 

 

After researching the various tubes this set uses, it appears that four of them (the two 12BA6, the 12AL5 and the 12DT8) serve functions related to FM.  Other than that, yes, the remaining seven seem like common clock and table radio tubes.

 

I'm a little bummed that I can't upgrade the speakers, but I suppose it's the budget-conscious amp that's really limiting things.  Some George Shearing in the background will sound fine, I'm sure.

 

The phonograph service manual should arrive this week, but I may not get at it until sometime over the upcoming holiday weekend.

 

[tolivac]

Hot chassis sets-replace the cord on the unit with a polarized one-make sure the wide pin on the plug is wired to the chassis.That way when the machine is plugged in-the chassis is at the ground side.