Apan Music maker BFU-121 or a Sansui SR-212

Brooklynwgtn

Brooklynwgtn

Active Member
Hi Guys

I have a Apan Music Maker BFU-121, it seems they were only sold here in New Zealand and over the ditch in Australia. Mine seems to run a bit slow, in the wee bit of info on the net the slow running has been mentioned.

Will I gain any listening pleasure from going to the Sansui SR-212?

Any advice would be good
 

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The Apan Music Maker turntables were sold in the mid-70’s in Australia and NZ – Dick Smith Electronics were one seller (they sold quite a bit of hi-fi when Dick ran them, before he sold out to Woolies). The Australian distributors were Ralmar Agencies of Sydney. They had 3 belt drive models: the fully Manual BMU-121, the auto Return BRU-121 and the Fully automatic BFU-121. The BFU-121 had low capacitance cables, so CD-4 quadraphonic reproduction was possible with a suitable cartridge.

1975 Australian prices: BMU-121 $89, BRU-121 $109, BFU-121 $120, plus base and cover for each $26.50.
1976 prices: BMU-121 $81.50, BRU-121 $103, BFU-121 $125, plus base and cover for each $29. They were normally sold without base and cover, but with a Jelco magnetic cartridge included, and for an additional charge the base and cover were included – the cartridge sold with the BFU-121 tracked at 2 grams. The prices are courtesy of the Dick Smith catalogues for 1975 and 1976/77.

Apan manufacturer’s specifications (tested results from a review by Australian Hi-fi magazine in brackets, as quoted in the 1975 DSE catalogue) for the BFU-121:
wow and flutter less than 0.175% (0.12% WRMS tested), signal to noise ratio better than 48dB (52dB A-weighted tested).

The Sansui SR-212 is a very similar Japanese-made mid-1970’s semi-automatic belt drive. Owner and service manuals are available here http://www.vinylengine.com/library/sansui/sr-212.shtml .

Sansui SR-212 manufacturer’s specifications:
wow and flutter: less than 0.1% WRMS, signal to noise ratio better than 45dB.

If your Apan is running slow, then it may need some service – they typically need light oil (e.g. sewing machine oil) at the platter spindle, and at the motor (there’ll be an oil hole next to the motor spindle). You need to remove the platter to do that, which is done by removing the mat, rotating the platter until the motor spindle is seen, removing the belt from over the motor spindle, and then inserting your fingers through the holes on either side of the platter, and pulling upwards. It may also need a new belt – a local hi-fi seller or electronics serviceman should be able to supply one to suit.
 
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The Dual 505-2 should be a useful improvement over the Apan or Sansui, even if it was Dual’s cheapest at the time. It was more a lower mid-priced turntable when it first came out as the Mark 1, costing AUD$229 in 1981, where the cheapest turntables available were about $70 or more cheaper.

It was a similar price to numerous other turntables, in what was the most hotly contested market segment, according to my Stereo Buyer’s Guides – the area where many customers were steered if they wanted a slightly better turntable, but one they could still afford. It’s certainly better than the Sansui and Apan according to the manufacturer’s specs: wow & flutter 0.05% WRMS, rumble less than 69dB weighted.
 
ETI_5000 said:
The Dual 505-2 should be a useful improvement over the Apan or Sansui, even if it was Dual’s cheapest at the time. It was more a lower mid-priced turntable when it first came out as the Mark 1, costing AUD$229 in 1981, where the cheapest turntables available were about $70 or more cheaper.

It was a similar price to numerous other turntables, in what was the most hotly contested market segment, according to my Stereo Buyer’s Guides – the area where many customers were steered if they wanted a slightly better turntable, but one they could still afford. It’s certainly better than the Sansui and Apan according to the manufacturer’s specs: wow & flutter 0.05% WRMS, rumble less than 69dB weighted.
Click to expand...

Thanks Don :)
 
Ok, I have picked up my new Dual 505-2, the wood work needs a bit of loving and it goes without saying the pitch belt is broken, nothing new with that!
But the sound is just wonderful compared to the Apan the difference is huge, I was expecting a difference, but not this much! the Apan had quite notable motor hum, and it ran a wee bit slow. It was a great step for me.
I also picked up a Technics SL-QD33 on the weekend for $10.00, and it is like new, I have found the Technics to be quite harsh sounding compared to the Dual, and I much prefer the looks of the Dual.
 
Brooklynwgtn said:
Hi Guys

I have a Apan Music Maker BFU-121, it seems they were only sold here in New Zealand and over the ditch in Australia. Mine seems to run a bit slow, in the wee bit of info on the net the slow running has been mentioned.

Will I gain any listening pleasure from going to the Sansui SR-212?

Any advice would be good
Click to expand...

sorry my english is little.
I have a Perfection denky (Peruvian trade) BFU 121, is the same turntable!

it have a Jelco arm. Hours and hours of music... is a good soldier!

Best regards from Lima, Peru
2w4ipeg.jpg
 
Welcome to Audiokarma.

Your Perfection Denky BFU-121 is almost certainly another version of the Apan Music Maker BFU-121. It doesn’t surprise me that it was sold in other places, with different brands. They were probably both made by the same Japanese OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and branded respectively for the Australian/NZ or South American/Peruvian market, but are otherwise identical, as can be seen from the photos.

It's a good honest belt drive turntable from the mid-1970’s, and a respectable performer. Your turntable will most likely go for another 50 years or more if you look after it, with the occasional oiling and new belt.:thmbsp:
 
ETI_5000 said:
Welcome to Audiokarma.

Your Perfection Denky BFU-121 is almost certainly another version of the Apan Music Maker BFU-121. It doesn’t surprise me that it was sold in other places, with different brands. They were probably both made by the same Japanese OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and branded respectively for the Australian/NZ or South American/Peruvian market, but are otherwise identical, as can be seen from the photos.

It's a good honest belt drive turntable from the mid-1970’s, and a respectable performer. Your turntable will most likely go for another 50 years or more if you look after it, with the occasional oiling and new belt.:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

For what is worth, the OEM is probably CEC. See the BD-1000 and BD-2000 models by CEC, they are strikingly similar (not identical). It must be one model within that family.
 
Actually this is very interesting because as it turns out I have had two of these branded by the original Australian Manufacturer branded as Challenge HiFi which is and has been a local south australian distributor since the 70's. The first I had played very well, was in excellent shape and since I had other turntables I sold it without knowing the model number. I have since spoken to the owner of Challenge Hifi and brought the turntable with me. He hadnt seen one in years and while he no longer had any in stick or the original accompanying paperwork he gave me a lot of good information.
 
Mwamsley said:
Actually this is very interesting because as it turns out I have had two of these branded by the original Australian Manufacturer branded as Challenge HiFi which is and has been a local south australian distributor since the 70's. The first I had played very well, was in excellent shape and since I had other turntables I sold it without knowing the model number. I have since spoken to the owner of Challenge Hifi and brought the turntable with me. He hadnt seen one in years and while he no longer had any in stick or the original accompanying paperwork he gave me a lot of good information.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the AK turn table forum. :)

Please share your information with us if you will be so kind.
 
ETI_5000 said:
The Sansui SR-212 is a very similar Japanese-made mid-1970’s semi-automatic belt drive. Owner and service manuals are available here http://www.vinylengine.com/library/sansui/sr-212.shtml .
Click to expand...

No, the SR212 mechanics are nothing like the Apan BFU-121. I'm trying to fix my BFU-121 and cannot find any info on setting up the mechanics. Mine must have been dropped and knocked out of alignment/asjustment when we moved back to Australia from overseas back in '93 (I haven't used it since as I am using a Pioneer PL51). The mechanical set up is wrong on mine. I've pulled it part (literally) but can't fault it.

I've looked at every suggested equivalent turntable manual and cannot find one that is the same.
 
p38arover said:
No, the SR212 mechanics are nothing like the Apan BFU-121. I'm trying to fix my BFU-121 and cannot find any info on setting up the mechanics. Mine must have been dropped and knocked out of alignment/asjustment when we moved back to Australia from overseas back in '93 (I haven't used it since as I am using a Pioneer PL51). The mechanical set up is wrong on mine. I've pulled it part (literally) but can't fault it.

I've looked at every suggested equivalent turntable manual and cannot find one that is the same.
Click to expand...

Read the thread - the first poster in this thread asked, " Will I gain any listening pleasure from going to the Sansui SR-212?" (from an Apan BFU-121) and I answered him that they were very similar (in specifications and probably sound quality, which was what he was asking about), not that they were identical mechanically. I pointed him to the manuals to back up that statement, seeing that he was asking about the Sansui, not to say that they were identical.

It might be better if you create a thread to ask for help based on your particular problem, rather than joining an old one, even if it mentions your model. Be specific about what it's actually doing that's a problem, and an AK'er may be able to help. As you can see, quite a few different brands around the world, including two different Australian ones (Apan and Challenge) and a Peruvian one, sold the exact same turntable, so a service manual might be available somewhere, but finding it might rely on some good photos, and then someone might (hopefully) answer that it's the same as their brand XYZ turntable, and the service manual (for that brand) can be downloaded from vinylengine, or even better, say that they had the exact same problem and know how to fix it.
 
Sorry, I misread it. My apologies.

I've been hunting high and low for a service manual and, in so many threads, people have said XYZ brand/model is the same as the APAN and their service manual will be the same - and they aren't. I'm getting a bit frustrated.

Cheers

Ron
 
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