I didn't know Onkyo made good turntables, but today I saw a really nice-looking one. It was fairly massive and appeared well-designed and well-made for its age, with a beautiful honey-brown hardwood plinth and sub-plinth (each separately suspended!).

Although a belt-drive model with an "s-shaped" tone arm, and therefore a bit dated, it was obviously a reasonably high-end unit when it was made. Unfortunately, I don't remember the model number, but that isn't important to my problem:

I found a bold-type label under the platten that clearly indicates, "50Hz". The label on the back indicates "100V", and the power cord and plug were similar to those used in the States. All this tells me that this model was made for the domestic Japanese market, which usually indicates better quality :D

...but unfortunately our local current (in Hong Kong) is 220V, 60Hz. I can easily step down the voltage from 220V to 100V, but what about the difference between 50Hz and 60Hz??? I'm almost certain that will affect the speed of rotation, and thus the usability of this TT here. Please tell me if I am wrong, but I remember reading it on AK, so it must be true. :yes:

Is there a solution to this Hz-difference problem ? They only want thirty bucks for this turntable, and it is a beauty that I'd like to get for the price... but only if I can use it. I'm almost tempted to buy it for the attractive double-sprung plinth alone and slap another TT in it, but I'd rather not alter a vintage piece that much.

Alternatively, I recently saw a very nice direct-drive Denon KD-700D turntable, at six times the price of this Onkyo - probably a reasonable price for the Denon, but I was hoping to find a cheaper deal on a nice TT ...like this Onkyo, IF I can use it.

I might be smarter to bit the bullet and get the Denon, which I know is fairly rare and a good TT that can be used as-is --one Dutch owner says his sounds better than a Thorens or a Dual (He has owned all of them)-- but there is such a thing as a budget, and the Onkyo looks at least as nice, so I'd rather try the Onkyo first, if there is a way that I can use it. If not, I'll save up a few more sheckels and spring for the Denon, assuming it is still there when I go back.

Any suggestion are most appreciated.

If the Onkyo has a hysteresis synchronous AC motor, it will run fast on 60Hz unless you put a 60 Hz motor pulley on it, or unless it has a 50Hz and 60 Hz postion on the pulley. Go back and take another look, and write down the model number, I may be able to look it up. Also, if it has only one speed, but the motor pully has 2 positions on it, you are probably fine. If the TT has a dc motor, then the 60Hz will have no effect.

Thanks, dr#audio. Good point about the possibility of a DC motor; after seeing that big "50Hz" label, I just assumed the motor was AC. I did see the motor spindle/pulley where the belt goes, and it looked single-diameter to me, but I'll go back and look more closely, and also get the correct model number. I would guess from what you are saying that changing the motor pulley would be the easiest and most normal way to correct speed differences here, right?

Thanks again...I'll get that model number.

Yes, changing the motor pulley is easy and will work, IF you can get the part.

Just to update the story: yesterday evening, when I was looking at the TT, I couldn't quite remember for sure what frequency Hong Kong's current was. I used to know, but after spending years travelling around a dozen countries (with varying electrical supplies) in my old job, I didn't trust my memory, so I asked, and two guys there confidently told me, "60 Hz".

Well, they were wrong: I verified today that current here is 50 Hz, NOT 60Hz, so the turntable should work with just a regular voltage transformer. I went back to the shop and took another look at it. It isn't quite as nice in the glare of daylight as it looked at first under artificial light, but I still like it enough to get it. I couldn't take it with me today as I had meetings to get to, but paid a deposit to secure it and I'll pick it up within the next two days.

It's an Onkyo Multiac 70P. Ironically, the label on the back says "50/60Hz", so I guess they made the same model for both frequencies, probably just installing the appropriate motor pulley and sticking the other, bigger label under the turntable to indicate which one was installed.

I find no evidence for this model online, except for a single listing on a Hungarian Hi Fi site. [Why Hungarian??? Maybe they also use 100V?] There are a few other "Onkyo Multiac" listings, mostly in Japanese, but for amps or receivers, and none for this specific turntable. I'll try searching some more. Any info on this model would be appreciated.

I'm just hoping no one tried plugging this in without a transformer... I'd hate to have to try re-winding a burned-out turntable motor! Should know more about this unit and its real condition after I get it home and get to look at it.

[and Thanks again, dr*audio.]

Well, I couldn't find anything on Multiac or 70P. Must have not been for the USA market, or it's very old. I'm guessing Multiac means for use on different AC power systems. You may not need a transformer for it, it might have internal settings.

It appears to me that "multiac" was used by Onkyo to designate a line of equipment, as there was at least one amp and one reciever that also used that name. But there are VERY FEW sites that mention multiac, so it must not have been in any kind of high-volume production.

My guess was also that it meant what you suggest (operates on multiple AC currents), but the same plate that gives that name clearly specifies that this turntable is 100V (only), so it doesn't apply to this particular TT. The type of cord and plug also are for 100V (or 110V). 220V cords and plugs are a bit heavier. I'm pretty confident this was made for the Japanese domestic market, although one unit somehow seems to have made it to Hungary.

To be safe, I'll start this with a transformer, or maybe even using a variac.

As for age, I would guess it to come from the 1970s, because of the design and construction, but I'm not entirely certain. I'll try to find out more.

Not sure what it is about Hong Kong, but I seem to very regularly find stuff here like this, for which I can find little or no mention on the web, or that no one I ask has ever seen or heard of.... like the "Tiger" brand receiver, a big 70s-era silver-fronted thing which I suspect was made in Taiwan. Never knowing what you'll find makes it fun, but I'd sure like to be able to learn more about the history behind these things!

Sounds like an interesting unit, but let's not forget..............

:worthless

:thmbsp: