MCM Delmonico Hi-Fi Stereo by JVC

[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.

 

[firedome]

good advice there...

from Rex on adding a polarized plug.
The amp is typical of a budget job but perfectly fine for low level listening... but
we can't be blasting "Bolero" all the time, can we?

 

[rp2813]

Polarized Plug

In theory, that's an excellent idea, but I've been told by an electrician that some of the outlets my dad wired into the shop aren't properly polarized.  I'll still move forward on that suggestion, though.  Chances are not all the outlets have reversed polarity.

 

Roger, you're so right about blasting.  No need for that when you're spinning some Martin Denny or Les Baxter LPs.

 

[artcurus]

rp,

Depending on what you are willing to do, there MIGHT be a way to upgrade the speakers. You will need to find certain Zenith radios from the late 40's to mid 50's.

This radio here- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-195...876733?hash=item2eef55da7d:g:uoEAAOSwJdlW6wFU

Has a 35C5 amp, a 7.5 inch speaker with a tone control, and they are unbelievably loud. They can fill a 3,000 sq building with more than acceptable sounding music.

I have one of these-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZENITH-7H82...061085?hash=item3d19ee6d9d:g:-0cAAOSw3zxXL~F7

that I used for a 80's music house party one time, (used a USB FM converter) there was about thirty drunk people and they had to scream to be heard over it.

You would need two of them, and you can still use the tweeter system in the JVC. You would set it up to where the larger speakers downfire through holes in the bottom of the cabinet.

 

[firedome]

Denny and Baxter...

I LOVE Exotica aka Tiki music! Have albums from both of them... perfect for this stereo! A little "Quiet Village"with your Mai Tais anyone?

 

[rp2813]

I think I'll stick with the speakers I have, considering the Zenith solution isn't a sure thing and would be both costly and time consuming.

 

It turns out that ebay lied about the shipping for the phono service manual.  It's coming via USPS 1st Class Media Mail, so it could take a while.

 

[tolivac]

1.5W per channel is not going to shake the place-Try hooking it to a set of Voice Of The Theater speakers and then that 1.5W may be pretty loud!A single end amp running from 120V AC is not really going to be "Hi-Fi" by the usual standards but could sound OK for background music.Don't expect thundering bass from this unit!You won't hear the cannon shots on the 1812 Overture!The unit may satisfy a teenager that is not a music buff,though.

 

[rp2813]

Don't expect thundering bass

Yes, that is a given.  There's not even an adjustment for bass.  This thing is all about background as opposed to atmosphere. 

 

[panthera]

way groovy cool!

You've gotten some good advice here. I've worked on several systems of this vintage and repair V-M changers for the local mid-century shoppe, so can offer a few suggestions.
1) The hot chassis-one side of the AC line is attached to the metal case also means the tonearm on the changer and probably the changer, too, can easily be at 120 V, referenced to ground. Until the caps are changed out, with proper attention to the isolation and across the line caps, be careful.
2) There's nothing wrong with those speakers - they're perfect for that amp. Nor is 1.5 watts RMS at 10%THD too quiet when it's all working properly. The 'flat' sound means the amp needs service - caps are dried out, the one across the tone control for each channel is probably causing this.
3) Have the service person add a fuse. One and one-half amp is plenty.

Nice as Micromatic turntables are, a properly restored V-M with a new cartridge and stylus is NOT going to hurt your records. One can easily get carried away about these things. There's tons of info on what to do to restore one out there, any service manual with a picture of that little rubber sensor between the platter and the tonearm will have all the info you need. I've got one for the 1200 series which had everything I needed for one of the very last with 1661s. Your changer probably is a 1201 or thereabouts. If it's beyond your abilities, any 120x or 130x series will 'drop in'. If you need help getting it out, just ask. It's easy once you know how. Do not, under any circumstances, damage the pot metal jack into which the power cord plugs in. They were brittle 55 years ago....

This is a beautiful looking stereo, I'm glad you found it and, once you get a few things done, you'll be (pleasantly) shocked how good it sounds.

The link is to the V-M site. There, you can get any part you need or even an entire changer, completely rebuilt.

http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/

 

[rp2813]

It's NOT a Voice of Music Changer

Per an e-mail I received from Gary Stork of the VM site:

 

"This is not a V-M changer this is a Delmonico clone of a V-M changer.   Have been working hard to kill this urban legend for years."

 

He is going to refer me to resources near me, but I'm concerned that VM parts won't be compatible and that parts for my Delmonico "clone" may be difficult to come by.

 

[panthera]

Well,

That's interesting. I didn't know that!
OK, not a problem. It's either so well done, V-M parts will work or, it not, a V-M or Micromatic will be an easy replacement.

The only V-M parts that ever really fail (short of mechanical damage) are the idler wheel(s) or belt (and, yes, they did also use belts in some models), the cartridge and the needle.

Everything else is a matter of cleaning up the stiff grease.