Vintage Pioneer US Stereo

[HeijoshinCool]

Back in the States temporarily to sell everything that's been in storage for years, returning to LOS next month.

 

But, I have a 1974 Pioneer receiver and turntable that I bought in college. Not a scratch. They look almost new and still work fine. I can't bear to sell them.

 

Is there a relatively inexpensive device I could use to transform Thai electric to American electric. If so, buy here, or there? 

 

Thanks.

[tomazbodner]

Paragon/The Mall used to sell them. You can also find them online.

 

50W: https://www.lazada.co.th/products/220-110v-spectrum-acac-converter-50w-stepdown-i794688942-s1594158618.html

 

If you have a more power hungry item, then of course you'll need something stronger, which is also bigger. I see up to 3000W listed.

 

1500W: https://www.lazada.co.th/products/ac-converter-step-down-110v-1500w-i405124641-s786158732.html

3000W:https://www.lazada.co.th/products/3000w-voltage-converter-110v-220v-st-3000va-us-batte-i1191550734-s2835442217.html

 

Also see the recommendations at the bottom. I've just found these from search. Not recommending any. They were the first hits that showed up.

Edited August 29, 2021 by tomazbodner

[Salerno]

I take it you've checked the voltage and it's only US standard 120V?

 

If so, power converters are available for less than US$50 e.g.

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Adapter-Converter-Voltage-Worldwide/dp/B07VB1YKG2/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=thailand+power+converter&qid=1630251640&sr=8-4

 

https://www.amazon.com/Voltage-Converter-International-Adapter-European/dp/B073J9QWKY/ref=psdc_10967761_t2_B07VB1YKG2

 

Personally I'd probably buy it in the States from a reputable supplier and make sure it had safety features such as inbuilt fuse etc.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Salerno
Typo

[Nojohndoe]

I

[HeijoshinCool]

.

Thanks.

 

Problem is those only convert voltage, not cycles. Might make Linda Rondstat sound like James Taylor.

 

I'll have to dig it out of storage and look at the back of it, like Salerno suggested.

[OneMoreFarang]

I recommend something like this. Simple and it does the job:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/220v-110v-transformer-100w-200w-300w-i2270062244-s7625345389.html

Power rating is obviously according to what you need.

 

Many devices don't care if it's 50Hz or 60Hz so likely you don't have to worry about that.

 

If your "receiver" has also a power amplifier then don't buy a cheap converter with lots of electronics. They add a lot of noise to the power and you don't want that.

[HeijoshinCool]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Many devices don't care if it's 50Hz or 60Hz so likely you don't have to worry about that.

.

 

The receiver might very well fall into that category, though I doubt the turntable will. 

[Crossy]

4 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

The receiver might very well fall into that category, though I doubt the turntable will. 

 

Yeah, a turntable that old will almost certainly have a synchronous motor which is locked to the mains frequency. It would need a different drive pulley to change the "gearing" for 50Hz operation.

 

There might be an enthusiasts group on FaceBore worth talking to.

 

Alternatively one of the cheap electronic variable speed drives beloved by the NC machining fraternity might do the trick to get 60Hz 120V.

[HeijoshinCool]

35 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Alternatively one of the cheap electronic variable speed drives beloved by the NC machining fraternity might do the trick to get 60Hz 120V.

.

 

NC as in numerically controlled?

 

Where would I find such a fraternity, please?

[Captain Monday]

There must be proper transformers available . A couple shops in Chiang Mai deal in used HiFi some of it is marked 100V.  80s stuff from Japan. Would be nice to have a turntable set up vinyl is coming back in popularity,  or more accurately streaming is making the CD obsolete.

 

US MUSIC FANS SPENT MORE ON VINYL THAN CD LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1986

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-music-fans-spent-more-on-vinyl-than-cd-last-year-for-the-first-time-since-1986/

[Crossy]

36 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

NC as in numerically controlled?

Where would I find such a fraternity, please?

 

Lazada or AliExpress would be a good start, this unit is a bit big but is the right kind of thing https://www.lazada.co.th/products/220vac-single-phase-variable-frequency-drive-vfd-speed-controller-for-3-phase-22kw-ac-motor-i2622382023-s9403489466.html 

 

You want something around 500W with a single-phase input, you could power the amp from it too which might avoid you needing a dummy load to stop it going off on output phase-loss.

 

Or you could do some maths and get a local machine shop to make up a re-sized drive pulley.

[Damrongsak]

29 minutes ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.NC as in numerically controlled?

 

Where would I find such a fraternity, please?

Crossy is talking about a variable frequency drive.  They are made in all sizes.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-frequency_drive

 

And yes, he means numerically controlled machines.  CNC machines if you will.

[Crossy]

Or make your own VF drive.

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Many devices don't care if it's 50Hz or 60Hz so likely you don't have to worry about that.

.The receiver might very well fall into that category, though I doubt the turntable will. 

That is in part already good news. Because the receiver (I guess including amp) needs a lot more power (W) than the turntable.

Producing 60Hz out of 50Hz is only expensive if a lot of power is needed. So if you buy a converter for your turntable according to whatever power that thing needs then that converter will likely be a lot cheaper as if you would buy a big converter for both devices.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

There must be proper transformers available . A couple shops in Chiang Mai deal in used HiFi some of it is marked 100V.  80s stuff from Japan. Would be nice to have a turntable set up vinyl is coming back in popularity,  or more accurately streaming is making the CD obsolete.

 

US MUSIC FANS SPENT MORE ON VINYL THAN CD LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1986

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-music-fans-spent-more-on-vinyl-than-cd-last-year-for-the-first-time-since-1986/

And the vinyl is cut from a CD master !!

[Captain Monday]

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

And the vinyl is cut from a CD master !!

Would not classic LPs be available cut  from analog master discs?

 

The other problem is modern receivers and AV units don't have the phono jack (remember the green ground wire?)  or built in pre-amp to bring the signal up to a usable level.

 

The cheap turntables sold mostly being USB models so it not real analog.

[carlyai]

'The cheap turntables sold mostly being USB models so it not real analog.'

if you can push it, pull it or spin it, then it is analogue. If it has 1s and 0s it is digital. I would say a spinning turntable is real analogue, but I understand what you mean. ????

[Crossy]

https://edsgoodstuff.com/edscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7678

 

 

[tomazbodner]

Sorry if this post offends you but... your equipment is vintage and in perfect working order. That could yield a very high price, especially if it is a sought after model. Turntables are being produced today, no I am not talking about cheap plastic ones, but by the likes of Denon, Marantz, Audio Technica,... And their cost is starting at about 400$ new. Running on 100-240V. Any frequency. With pre-amp built in or not. My Marantz receiver (6 months old) has pre-amp, and so do many of the new receivers of other brands. You can also buy a very high quality external pre-amp should you wish to.

 

As such, buying new turntable (or even complete set) might actually not cost drastically more than what it would take to modify your equipment to work in Thailand, and transporting it here in a safe manner, with possibility of import duties being slapped on it.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Some 10-20,000 baht range:

https://www.munkonggadget.com/catalog/category/list/Turntable_828.html

http://www.boomerangshop.com/web/index.php/app/product/fnc/detail/id/813759

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pioneer-dj-plx-500-high-torque-direct-drive-turntable-i1356380473-s3419000125.html

 

Or course there are also more expensive ones:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pioneer-dj-plx-1000-professional-turntable-free-by-av-value-i550890486-s1001378774.html

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/clearaudio-concept-active-turntable-with-satisfy-tonearm-blackdark-wood-i1179516883-s2795056792.html

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/clearaudio-concept-active-turntable-with-concept-tonearm-blackblack-i1166430230-s2747584483.html

Edited August 30, 2021 by tomazbodner

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

Would not classic LPs be available cut  from analog master discs?

 

https://productionadvice.co.uk/vinyl-mastering/

[mtls2005]

SX-636?

 

Don't bother bringing these back. 

 

If you do try one of those converters get one that comes with a fire-extinguisher.

 

You can but a receiver and turntable here.

 

 

 

 

[lopburi3]

As poster knows and has been pointed out - the turntable speed is most likely set to mains frequency which transformers do not change so if made for US market will be 60Hz and have to have a different pulley for 50Hz operation using 110v.  As it is Japanese this may already be built in as Japan used both 60 and 50 power supplies so worth checking unit.  If international model may also be duel voltage.  

[HeijoshinCool]

10 hours ago, Crossy said:

https://edsgoodstuff.com/edscart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7678

 

 

Excellent. Thanks!

[HeijoshinCool]

10 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

Sorry if this post offends you but... your equipment is vintage and in perfect working order. That could yield a very high price, especially if it is a sought after model. Turntables are being produced today, no I am not talking about cheap plastic ones, but by the likes of Denon, Marantz, Audio Technica,... And their cost is starting at about 400$ new. Running on 100-240V. Any frequency. With pre-amp built in or not. My Marantz receiver (6 months old) has pre-amp, and so do many of the new receivers of other brands. You can also buy a very high quality external pre-amp should you wish to.

 

As such, buying new turntable (or even complete set) might actually not cost drastically more than what it would take to modify your equipment to work in Thailand, and transporting it here in a safe manner, with possibility of import duties being slapped on it.

 

Just food for thought.

 

Some 10-20,000 baht range:

https://www.munkonggadget.com/catalog/category/list/Turntable_828.html

http://www.boomerangshop.com/web/index.php/app/product/fnc/detail/id/813759

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pioneer-dj-plx-500-high-torque-direct-drive-turntable-i1356380473-s3419000125.html

 

Or course there are also more expensive ones:

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/pioneer-dj-plx-1000-professional-turntable-free-by-av-value-i550890486-s1001378774.html

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/clearaudio-concept-active-turntable-with-satisfy-tonearm-blackdark-wood-i1179516883-s2795056792.html

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/clearaudio-concept-active-turntable-with-concept-tonearm-blackblack-i1166430230-s2747584483.html

.

 

No offense taken. I will check out your links.

 

Just that I bought her almost 50 years ago and she has been faithful to me since, and I'd miss her. (Don't hear that from too many guys in LOS, huh?)

[Captain Monday]

On 8/30/2021 at 8:30 AM, carlyai said:

'The cheap turntables sold mostly being USB models so it not real analog.'

if you can push it, pull it or spin it, then it is analogue. If it has 1s and 0s it is digital. I would say a spinning turntable is real analogue, but I understand what you mean. ????

 

"What are USB turntables? A phonograph turntable that is used to convert tracks on vinyl records into a digital format such as CD audio or MP3. With a phono preamp and analog-to-digital converter, the USB turntable converts the cartridge's analog signal to digital PCM and sends it to the computer via USB."

 

I think compared to traditional players USB turntables lack warmth, impact and transparency.

- Captain Hipster

 

[Yellowtail]

As it is a higher end unit does it not not a speed adjustment and a strobe to count the r's?

 

You only need 20%...

[HeijoshinCool]

Just now, Yellowtail said:

As it is a higher end unit does it not not a speed adjustment and a strobe to count the r's?

 

You only need 20%...

.

Dunno, but I'll be unpacking her this week and take a look.....