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New-to-me Philips AF-829 Turntable

jwhvt

jwhvt

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I've been looking for an upgrade to my old faithful Yamaha P-350 and just picked up this Philips AF-829 locally. It has been very well cared for and even the dust cover is in remarkably good condition.

It's an interesting design with touch sensitive controls (not buttons), a built in tracking force scale, LED speed indicator, and a combination spherical/elliptical tracking force knob. It's also fully automatic which suits me fine. Although I was hoping to find something with a real wood plinth, it is solidly constructed and fairly heavy (unlike my Dual 521 with its hollow plastic base).

Maybe the best thing about it is the Ortofon OM30 cartridge that came on it! I don't know how many hours the stylus has but it sounds great!

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Congratulations on the Philips AF-829 turn table.

The tone arm looks like it has VTA adjustment capability included. :music:
 
I had a 877 semi-automatic many years ago when they first came out. I liked it very much. The only thing I would rcommend you do to it is get rid of those cheap attached interconnects. I mounted a cardas phono cable box, to the back and was able to use/try various cables till I found one I liked. I do woodworking so I also built a oak frame around the outside of it. Easy thing to do and no one ever new! Didn't do it for no other reason than for looks but it did seem to have some kind of effect on tightening up the bass.
Anyway, great buy, and I know you will like it.
Regards,
Don
 
The only thing I would rcommend you do to it is get rid of those cheap attached interconnects. I mounted a cardas phono cable box, to the back and was able to use/try various cables till I found one I liked.
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I'm not familiar with the Cardas phono cable box.... how is it used?

I replaced the wimpy OEM cables on both of my Dual's by soldering in higher quality replacements (Radio Shack Auvio composite cables). Is that basically what you're suggesting?
 
jwhvt said:
I'm not familiar with the Cardas phono cable box.... how is it used?

I replaced the wimpy OEM cables on both of my Dual's by soldering in higher quality replacements (Radio Shack Auvio composite cables). Is that basically what you're suggesting?
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Hello Jwhvt,

Cardas is only one company that makes the phono box. It is the most expensive thought. Go to Cardas.com Go inside the website and find Componet parts. Scroll down on the right to the various selections to phono box and click on it. You attach the box to the back of the turntable with it wired to where you plugged or in your case, soldered in your phono cables. The box will allow you to use standard RCA cables. Brand and quality of your choosing. Nothing wrong with the method you have selected. Actually, your method with soldered joints is probabley better and cheaper. The only difference is you do not have options to try different cables. To answer your question, yes, that is what I was suggesting.
Regards,
Don
 
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Thanks griffithds. Based on the prices I see for it, I'm guessing they are more than just a box of passive connectors. One of these days, I'll open up the AF-829 to see what's involved in changing the original cables out. Right now I'm just enjoying playing it!
 
griffithds said:
Don't bet money on it. You would be wrong.
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ok, I'll save my money! I see the Cardas box costs $320+ but I only paid $75 for the turntable. :scratch2:

I'd never heard of a phono cable box until you mentioned it and I haven't been able to find much technical information about them.
 
jwhvt,

"I'd never heard of a phono cable box until you mentioned it and I haven't been able to find much technical information about them.[/QUOTE]"

This one's on ebay # 221165841210. Bid, you might get lucky. If you really want it, then snipe it at the last 15 seconds. You can alway change that din plug or cut & solder like your Dual's.

Regards,
Don
 
doctor fuse said:
How have you liked the Phillips table the past 4 years? There's one available near me...
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I actually sold the table several years ago... not because I didn't like it but I had upgraded and I needed to thin the collection.

My memory was that it was a decent performer although it had a few quirks. The touch sensitive controls weren't particularly sensitive (had to constantly wet my finger tip) and on this model, the base sagged under the weight of the motor. I put slightly taller feet on it to prevent it from bottoming out but it didn't seem to affect how it operated. Overall, the table had a slightly plasticy feel to it.

I guess I'm making it sound worse than it was. I do not regret buying it and would have been satisfied with it if I hadn't been interested in trying out other turntables. Other important factors obviously include what shape the one you're looking at is in, the cartridge/stylus quality and condition, and the asking price.
 
What my fellow-islander is alluding to, is the table for sale has an AudioTechnica AT30E MC and Audio Technica Black stylus loaded on it. I didn't get too excited about this, because I haven't liked lower-end ATs (95E and 120E), but I've never had a moving coil on my system. And it would mean finding the right preamp or SUT.
Van_Isle - do you know this cartridge? Are you the seller?
 
No ... no affiliation.

I actually like the AT carts ... maybe if I had one of the higher-end ones I'd like them even better. Best I've got is a AT-125LC. I guess it's the rarity of finding a MC cart for sale ... one with a good stylus. I'm curious as to what the seller was using for a pre-amp or SUT. He says he only played one record with the AT .. if he was feeding it though the MM phono of the Yamaha CA-610 he's selling too I don't blame him!

Just for the record, the said ad includes the Philips turntable, AT cart, CA-610, CT-610II, Boston Acoustics HD7 and Cerwin Vega SE200 speakers.

Dr Fuse ... pm on the way.
 
I bought this turntable at a Tech HiFi store in East Lansing's going-out-of-business sale in January of 1981.

I still run it as my everyday turntable. I think it sounds awesome. Granted, a turntable shouldn't sound like anything. It should spin your disks at 33 1/3 RPM and get out of the way so the cart can do its thing.

To that end, I've had the table's speed checked at a local turntable shop, and it spins at a very steady 33 1/3 rpm by every strobe test they had in the shop. Here's the funny thing: I'm still using the table's original belt. I used to run it with a Shure 97XE cart, and just a couple years back switched over to a Grado Green. The new cart pulls out a lot more detail, but, frankly, I sorta miss the Shure's brush. I'm always cleaning the cartridge.

Still, my point is this: my AF-829 endured three and a half years of college with me, came out smelling like a rose .... or something else that has buds ... and has served me perfectly well for almost four decades. I keep wondering how I should upgrade, but when I hear how much detail this puppy pulls out of records, I talk myself out of newgrading (that's my word for buying a new table that may or may not be an actual upgrade).

I do have the bowed bottom (the turntable, not me!!!) too. I have four thick pieces of felt under the corners, but I'm thinking of buying something a little less cheesy.

But, if you feed it good recordings, man, this puppy images like you wouldn't believe (though I'm pretty confident that that's the cartridge). You don't just get left-to-right pans, there's front to back and even empty spaces between the players.

The plinth definitely feels cheesy. It's simple plastic, but they did something with this machine that made it just work. And work beautifully.
 
jwhvt said:
I actually sold the table several years ago... not because I didn't like it but I had upgraded and I needed to thin the collection.

My memory was that it was a decent performer although it had a few quirks. The touch sensitive controls weren't particularly sensitive (had to constantly wet my finger tip)
Click to expand...

I have the same issue with mine, but, in the big picture, licking the tip of my finger just doesn't seem like anything to worry about.

jwhvt said:
and on this model, the base sagged under the weight of the motor. I put slightly taller feet on it to prevent it from bottoming out but it didn't seem to affect how it operated. Overall, the table had a slightly plasticy feel to it.
Click to expand...

I have the same issue with mine. But I did what you did. I think I might upgrade what I use (four pieces of thick felt - but then, I have the turntable sitting on a Mission turntable platform that has sorbothane feet. Still, I don't find anything here to worry about as, as far as I can tell, the machine spins records at 33 1/3 RPM and lets the cartridge do its thing!

I have one other issue, and that's the auto play likes to drop the arm a little too far in, but, since I'm already up there at the table, I start the machine playing in full auto, but, once it starts, I raise the lift arm. Then I just tweak its position in and drop it. Nothing that you don't already have to do for a fully manual table.

The PITA to me, though is that, and we're talking about a turntable that's pushing 40 here, so I don't worry about it all that much, at the end of a record, it doesn't always lift and return the arm to the start. Again, nothing that anyone who's ever used a fully manual table (that's like almost everyone here, right?) isn't used to.
 
cwall99 said:
I have the same issue with mine, but, in the big picture, licking the tip of my finger just doesn't seem like anything to worry about.



I have the same issue with mine. But I did what you did. I think I might upgrade what I use (four pieces of thick felt - but then, I have the turntable sitting on a Mission turntable platform that has sorbothane feet. Still, I don't find anything here to worry about as, as far as I can tell, the machine spins records at 33 1/3 RPM and lets the cartridge do its thing!

I have one other issue, and that's the auto play likes to drop the arm a little too far in, but, since I'm already up there at the table, I start the machine playing in full auto, but, once it starts, I raise the lift arm. Then I just tweak its position in and drop it. Nothing that you don't already have to do for a fully manual table.

The PITA to me, though is that, and we're talking about a turntable that's pushing 40 here, so I don't worry about it all that much, at the end of a record, it doesn't always lift and return the arm to the start. Again, nothing that anyone who's ever used a fully manual table (that's like almost everyone here, right?) isn't used to.
Click to expand...


Glad to hear your 829 is still going strong. Hard to believe it still has its original belt! If I recall, it has a rather unique servo controlled drive... not just your run-of-the-mill belt drive.

I would think you could adjust the touch down and lift up set points. Take a look at the service manual on Vinyl Engine.
 
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