Hey all,

So I just picked up a "mint condition" 1967 Magnavox Astro Sonic 30. Everything works great mechanically speaking. I thought that the top end was a little dull on the turntable so I purchased a new stylus. The new stylus helped a little but nothing major. 10k and above seems a bit dull. Not sure if this is because I'm used to listening to vinyl on my Thorens TD 320 MKIII with a Shure M97XE or if it's just the way the Magnavox is. Other than the top end, everything sounds great. Maybe a recap is needed somewhere????? Any response would be greatly appreciated!

Hope all is well,

Al

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/1.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/2.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/3.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/4.jpg

I have an Astrosonic as well. It sounded best in the attic, now it's mostly a sidetable.

It always sounded 'yellow' to me. Don't ask me to define that, it's just the word that always comes to mind when listening. I was happiest when playing swing bands or space age pop.

Might sound better recapped, but most of the more knowledgeable people I talked to don't regard the electronics all that highly. YMMV.

The top end when listening to FM sounds normal. A little darker than listening over my more modern system but that is to be expected so it seems the drivers are fine.

Yellow is a pretty good description, hahaha. I originally was hoping to find an old console that was in good shape to gut and put in modern components but when I found this one in pretty much mint condition, I thought I would just use it as is.

I had one of those in college, and we used to bounce the house pretty good with it. I left it with some friends, and I often wish I had it back. Mostly because my vinyl copy of Sonic Youth's "Ciccone Youth" album was left inside...

I agree with the space-age pop... lots of Stereolab, Esquivel, Ivy, played on that console. My roomate's taste was more Mr. Bungle-ish, but the poor little console didn't have quite enough speed to keep up!

Don't forget those consoles aren't any different than stand alone speakers. The crossover caps go out of spec with age and completely alters the sound.

Don't forget those consoles aren't any different than stand alone speakers. The crossover caps go out of spec with age and completely alters the sound.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Any good suggestions for finding parts?

Thanks so much for everyone chiming in.

Al

Parts Express and other AK sponsors listed at the bottom of this page should have what you need in the way of caps. Just stick with the marked values (voltages can be rated higher).

Parts Express and other AK sponsors listed at the bottom of this page should have what you need in the way of caps. Just stick with the marked values (voltages can be rated higher).

Hahahaha, yeah guess I didn't see all of those. Thanks a lot, I appreciate the help!

Al

If I recall correctly, there's a trick to getting the boards out of the chassis. I don't know the trick, but there's a lot of people who love their Astros, so a google search and you'll find it.

Hey all,

So I just picked up a "mint condition" 1967 Magnavox Astro Sonic 30. Everything works great mechanically speaking. I thought that the top end was a little dull on the turntable so I purchased a new stylus. The new stylus helped a little but nothing major. 10k and above seems a bit dull. Not sure if this is because I'm used to listening to vinyl on my Thorens TD 320 MKIII with a Shure M97XE or if it's just the way the Magnavox is. Other than the top end, everything sounds great. Maybe a recap is needed somewhere????? Any response would be greatly appreciated!

Hope all is well,

Al

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/1.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/2.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/3.jpg

http://playonbrother.com/astrosonic/4.jpg

I have four (consoles) all together.The one you are showing is simular in apperance to my tube console.Actually it's a shorter version of my provincial model:yes:(15" woofer with 10" horns) I had my speaker crossovers recapped and made sure the original phone rca jacks were used.There was a major improvement in the top end. I also replaced the horn/paper tweeters on each unit. When I was a kid my parents owned one and it was always playing loud!!
I'm sure we damaged the tweets at some point,That's why I changed them out just to be sure I had ones that were functioning at full capacity:music:
That particular turntable/cartridge combo is one of the best for magnavox. I have noticed that the replacment stylus if not (New old stock) Is somewhat shorter in length and doesn't compare in sound quailty to the original. Keep the old stylus and if you recap the X'overs and replace the tweets, put it back in and see what happens.Those white original cartridges are becoming rare and harder to find so don't get rid of it!! Again they are better than the replacments.

I have four (consoles) all together.The one you are showing is simular in apperance to my tube console.Actually it's a shorter version of my provincial model:yes:(15" woofer with 10" horns) I had my speaker crossovers recapped and made sure the original phone rca jacks were used.There was a major improvement in the top end. I also replaced the horn/paper tweeters on each unit. When I was a kid my parents owned one and it was always playing loud!!
I'm sure we damaged the tweets at some point,That's why I changed them out just to be sure I had ones that were functioning at full capacity:music:
That particular turntable/cartridge combo is one of the best for magnavox. I have noticed that the replacment stylus if not (New old stock) Is somewhat shorter in length and doesn't compare in sound quailty to the original. Keep the old stylus and if you recap the X'overs and replace the tweets, put it back in and see what happens.Those white original cartridges are becoming rare and harder to find so don't get rid of it!! Again they are better than the replacments.

Hey Kydog,

Thanks for the info. Where did you have your crossovers recapped? I opened up the back to check them out and I found the balance adjustment knob on the amp. I turned it all the way to the right and left and noticed a big difference in the top end when hard panned. But as I adjusted the balance back to center, the top end disappeared again. Thanks again to everyone for their input, it's much appreciated!

Hope all is well,

Al

Mine sounds bassy and has a hum when turned on. Guess I'll have to re-cap it and throw new transistors in it. Got it for $20. @ the local thrift shop. Perfect for the wife to run. She hates all my components, but loves this console. The turntable had the un-endeding re-cycle problem, so I found a 3 spd BSR for her to use in it. Bagged up the original TT and put it inside. Added a cassette deck on top and she's happy as a pig in mud. I've been slowly taking all her vinyl and dubbing it to cassette for her (with my equip.) and then storing the vinyl in plastic bags.

Only problem is trying to find a schematic for the damned thing.

Larry

If your's uses horn tweeters according to GordonW they roll off mechanically at 13 KHz. If your's uses the 12 inch woofers with horn tweeters in styrofoam boxes I can post a crossover schematic tomorrow that will help with the high end frequency response by adding one super tweeter per channel if you're interested provided the woofers are 7-8 ohms impecance. When you replace the filter caps use ones of higher values as doing that will keep the power supply voltage more constant under load. Also replace all electrolytic coupling capacitors.

Hey Kydog,

Thanks for the info. Where did you have your crossovers recapped? I opened up the back to check them out and I found the balance adjustment knob on the amp. I turned it all the way to the right and left and noticed a big difference in the top end when hard panned. But as I adjusted the balance back to center, the top end disappeared again. Thanks again to everyone for their input, it's much appreciated!

Hope all is well,

Al
The balance is tricky:yes: I have a favorite Lp Sonny Stitt & Gene Ammonds "You talk that talk" Were they take turns playing from lt-rt (In stereo) with their horns:music:. The sound is balanced through each passaged (channel) and while playing I adjust the knob to find the right equalization, And the highs balanced out for me. On each of my astro-sonics the turntables are different models.The balance indicator is vertical on one and horizonal on the other::thmbsp:

Find your comfort lp were you know by heart what and when a certain instrument is playing and from what channel and adjust to your desired
balance.I had my stereo repair guy recap my x'overs. I also cleaned the rca leads with deoxit leading into the turntable & phono section for better contact.It took care of a weak right channel output.:guitar:
Another most overlooked item; On each console I received the wiring was all screwed (speaker connection) I had to unhook the leads from the x'overs and amp and follow the diagram posted on the console to make sure they were wired to the RIGHT TERMINAL!!! (tweeter/woofer and rt/lt channel).There were times I found one channel was completly bypassed due to sloppy reconnects, Or woofer and tweeter mix up on the crossover.

Larry you need to disasemble your turntable and clean all the old grease off all moving parts and re-grease them. Take that BSR record changer and put it in the trash where it belongs after you fix the Magnavox one. IME the BSR changers always ran a little fast. Your best bet would be to find a 70's V-M record changer.

Larry you need to disasemble your turntable and clean all the old grease off all moving parts and re-grease them. Take that BSR record changer and put it in the trash where it belongs after you fix the Magnavox one. IME the BSR changers always ran a little fast. Your best bet would be to find a 70's V-M record changer.

I broke out the Collaro y'day (had it bagged and taped up inside the case)and checked it out AFTER I had read up on the Conquest on the net(it IS Sparse), cleaned and re-lubed with light machine oil and White lithium grease very sparingly. Also pulled the chassis and did a good cleaning and de-oxit of the pots. HOT DAMN, got rid of the hum.

Turns out the only thing wrong with it is whoever had it before me for reasons unknown, did a cut and tape(probably a kid or some moron) on the power and phono lines. Took an old LP, a 78 and a 45 and tested changer operation and timing. FLAWLESS! I'm so used to a changer that uses a linkage and switch to determine size that this one threw me off. I managed to figure wiring out for the BSR. Actually this one is in good shape, runs stable, and doesn't drift. I've got a stroboscope sheet and it runs dead on @33rpm. I've got one 45 record (old beatles) and a boatload of 78's I'll end up playing just to tape them. It's not that critical at this point. As long as the old lady is happy with it(besides it's hers and keeps her off my gear!)why screw with a good thing. The Collaro has a possibly bad cart and Right tonearm wire is showing open on the VTVM. The connectors are all missing so it's off to the local shop and see if I can get a couple of male/female connectors, some tonearm wire for the collaro, and then get a new cart/needle. HMMMMM.....maybe for XMAS get it running for her.

Model 1P3642 Chassis 22271-DE. Maple Run #1 No date of Man.

It's got the 12" woofers on the side with horns on the front face. The horns have a styrofoam(green mottled) cap on the back. Also rechecked the values on the caps and resistors on the "Hi-Pass Networks". Within spec. The caps are axial 8uf 25V and the resistors are 4.7oHm. caps both ran out @ 7.9uf and the resistors came out as 4.8 and 4.9. These are out of circuit readings. The cleaning did ok I guess as it's not so bassy (the highs are a lot clearer now) but I always remember that the consoles we had when growing up were kinda bassy. guess thats due to the large enclosure and no padding,etc.

Kydog: What/where is this "balance adjustment knob" on the amp. Mines SS. Is your's a tube unit??? Or are you talking about the balance pot on the front panel?

Larry

If your console does not have a control labeled balance on the front panel then it is on the amp. I never could understand why Magnavox put the balance control on the amp where it is hard to adjust. Looks like you got the console fixed. :music::thmbsp:

Finally got tired of trying to find a cartridge for the collaro. Pulled out the cartridge and mount from the BSR. The mount hada hole on the top that fits the pin on the tonearm for the collaro. So got the dremel out and worked out a couple of interences on the Collaro tonearm so the BSR Cart would fit all the way in. A little JB Weld between the mount and the tonearm. Left it overnight. Next morning I installed the cartridge and the needle.

NIRVANA!! IT's now complete. And I can still get needles for $10. for it.

If your console does not have a control labeled balance on the front panel then it is on the amp. I never could understand why Magnavox put the balance control on the amp where it is hard to adjust. Looks like you got the console fixed. :music::thmbsp:

The balance control is not always on the amp! Some balance controls are under the bass knob. I think the tubed units had them under the bass knob. Some earlier SS units had them on the chassis, while my later version has the balance right there with all the other controls!

It does seem kind of pointless to put a balance control on the amplifier chassis.

HI!
I bought 2 Magnavox stereo console. 703141 Cassis /1967
Please help me with this: Both of them has a same issue :one side is much louder than the other. The funny is the first console's right side is better , and the other amp's left side is better. It has no balance control at all. I found a potentiometer on the board, behind a transformer but it just make louder a good side. I swapped a speakers,but same problem.It is an amp problem. I spent bunch of money already, because the record player was broken as well. So I don't want to take it to the shop. Anybody has a diagram?
Please help me if you have a guess what would cause this problem. Thank You so much!

Replace all electrolytic capacitors in the amplifier section. The control behind the transformer is most likely the balance control as I had an amp similar to yours with the balance control on the amp itself.

1967 should be Solid State. Look on the Controls. Usually the Volume/Balance is a stacked switch Volume the outer ring, and Balance, the inner.

Tube Radio! I attached a photo. Are You talking about those capacitors on the top little board? (blue ones) ? Where can I buy them?

Yes those are some of them. Can you post a full picture of the underside? Capacitors can be bought at Mouser Electronics http://www.mouser.com/