HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

MyGiveA · 21st Mar 2023, 5:39 pm

Hi all,
I'm a newbie to all things turntable.
I'm trying to help out an old couple that have the HMV 2030 record player and they would like to record onto an old tape cassette recorder.

I've attached images to aid understanding of the equipment they have.

Question:-

What type of audio connectors does this HMV 2030 front panel use?

Is the front panel TAPE connection for audio out to a external tape recorder?

dazzlevision · 21st Mar 2023, 5:53 pm

Looking at the 2030's circuit diagram, the Tape, Stereo and Radio sockets on the record player accept a 3.5mm mono Jack plug. The Tape socket is an output signal, for recording the record being played.

Use the cassette tape recorder's 5 pin, 180 degree, DIN socket to connect the output from the record player - don't use the microphone socket, as the signal from the record player would overload it and cause distortion on the tape recording.

On the DIN socket, pin 1 (the right hand pin) is usually the signal input pin and pin 2 (the middle pin of the five) is screen/common. If the tape recorder is a stereo one, pin 1 and pin 4 (the one between 1 and 2) should be connected together. If it is a mono recorder, then pins 1 and 4 may well be connected internally in the recorder.

The Stereo socket is for use with a matching HMV amplifier and speaker unit, to play records in stereo (the record player then outputs the left channel and the add-on unit, the right hand channel).

MyGiveA · 21st Mar 2023, 6:49 pm

We'll, let's just kick off with saying fabulous response time and the details are precisely what I was thinking about but didn't yet ask...top man, saved a lot of head scratching.

I don't suppose I can buy a 3.5 mono to 5/180 din cable?

MyGiveA · 21st Mar 2023, 6:51 pm

Tape cassette recorder

Edward Huggins · 21st Mar 2023, 9:52 pm

Well it is a mono tape recorder so it only needs a mono signal from the "tape socket".
The record player is mono also, but it should have a stereo compatible cartridge

dazzlevision · 21st Mar 2023, 11:44 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyGiveA

I don't suppose I can buy a 3.5 mono to 5/180 din cable?

Well, in times past, you could but I'm not so sure nowadays.

Maplin would have been a probable source.

You could try searching on Ebay.

I'll have a think about other possible sources.

The Matsui (a Currys own brand) cassette recorder is a basic mono machine.

ben · 22nd Mar 2023, 12:19 am

That tape recorder is meant for home computers and will sound pretty lousy for music. Plus, its belts will probably need replacing by now.

The record player uses slightly different (rounded tip) 1/8" jack plugs than new ones, so you may get intermittent connection, if you are lucky then careful positioning of the plug or some regapping of the internal contacts of the socket may help.

Still, you can give it a go if you are curious and have time to experiment. I would buy a DIN to 4x RCA cable, that will allow you to use any of the DIN socket's pins (this gives you access to all of them, as we don't know which are in use on simpler cables). Also you would need a 1/8" jack to RCA/phono female adaptor to try on each of the four plugs.

If all this sounds like a load of hassle, it might be best to find cassette copies of the records on ebay and buy those!

MyGiveA · 23rd Mar 2023, 10:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Well it is a mono tape recorder so it only needs a mono signal from the "tape socket".
The record player is mono also, but it should have a stereo compatible cartridge

What is a "The record player is mono also, but it should have a stereo compatible cartridge"

Thanks very much for your reply, especially the direct links to the images of the items you mentioned, thought that was very helpful.

Edward Huggins · 24th Mar 2023, 10:38 am

Sorry if this confused you. Your HMV record player is a Mono unit, although it has a Stereo output socket to feed a second amplifier aka "stereo adapter unit". It is also fitted with a Stereo cartridge which means that you can you can play your Stereo records safely, but of course it will only be reproduced in Mono. Now the "Tape" output socket is for feeding a Mono signal to a Mono tape recorder, which yours is. Has this attempt at clarification helped?

MyGiveA · 24th Mar 2023, 9:35 pm

Yes, that's gives me a better idea.

I'll now get back to the elderly couple with a cable and show them what they need to do.

Thanks very much to everyone and for replying so quickly, much appreciated.

21st Mar 2023, 5:39 pm	#1
MyGiveA Diode Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: London, UK. Posts: 5	HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette Hi all, I'm a newbie to all things turntable. I'm trying to help out an old couple that have the HMV 2030 record player and they would like to record onto an old tape cassette recorder. I've attached images to aid understanding of the equipment they have. Question:- What type of audio connectors does this HMV 2030 front panel use? Is the front panel TAPE connection for audio out to a external tape recorder? Attached Thumbnails

21st Mar 2023, 5:53 pm	#2
dazzlevision Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Near Swindon, North Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,608	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette Looking at the 2030's circuit diagram, the Tape, Stereo and Radio sockets on the record player accept a 3.5mm mono Jack plug. The Tape socket is an output signal, for recording the record being played. Use the cassette tape recorder's 5 pin, 180 degree, DIN socket to connect the output from the record player - don't use the microphone socket, as the signal from the record player would overload it and cause distortion on the tape recording. On the DIN socket, pin 1 (the right hand pin) is usually the signal input pin and pin 2 (the middle pin of the five) is screen/common. If the tape recorder is a stereo one, pin 1 and pin 4 (the one between 1 and 2) should be connected together. If it is a mono recorder, then pins 1 and 4 may well be connected internally in the recorder. The Stereo socket is for use with a matching HMV amplifier and speaker unit, to play records in stereo (the record player then outputs the left channel and the add-on unit, the right hand channel). Last edited by dazzlevision; 21st Mar 2023 at 6:09 pm.

21st Mar 2023, 6:49 pm	#3
MyGiveA Diode Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: London, UK. Posts: 5	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette We'll, let's just kick off with saying fabulous response time and the details are precisely what I was thinking about but didn't yet ask...top man, saved a lot of head scratching. I don't suppose I can buy a 3.5 mono to 5/180 din cable?

21st Mar 2023, 6:51 pm	#4
MyGiveA Diode Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: London, UK. Posts: 5	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette Tape cassette recorder Attached Thumbnails

21st Mar 2023, 9:52 pm	#5
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,326	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette Well it is a mono tape recorder so it only needs a mono signal from the "tape socket". The record player is mono also, but it should have a stereo compatible cartridge __________________ Edward.

22nd Mar 2023, 12:19 am	#7
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette That tape recorder is meant for home computers and will sound pretty lousy for music. Plus, its belts will probably need replacing by now. The record player uses slightly different (rounded tip) 1/8" jack plugs than new ones, so you may get intermittent connection, if you are lucky then careful positioning of the plug or some regapping of the internal contacts of the socket may help. Still, you can give it a go if you are curious and have time to experiment. I would buy a DIN to 4x RCA cable, that will allow you to use any of the DIN socket's pins (this gives you access to all of them, as we don't know which are in use on simpler cables). Also you would need a 1/8" jack to RCA/phono female adaptor to try on each of the four plugs. If all this sounds like a load of hassle, it might be best to find cassette copies of the records on ebay and buy those! __________________ Regards, Ben.

24th Mar 2023, 10:38 am	#9
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,326	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette. Sorry if this confused you. Your HMV record player is a Mono unit, although it has a Stereo output socket to feed a second amplifier aka "stereo adapter unit". It is also fitted with a Stereo cartridge which means that you can you can play your Stereo records safely, but of course it will only be reproduced in Mono. Now the "Tape" output socket is for feeding a Mono signal to a Mono tape recorder, which yours is. Has this attempt at clarification helped? __________________ Edward.

24th Mar 2023, 9:35 pm	#10
MyGiveA Diode Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: London, UK. Posts: 5	Re: HMV 2030 audio output to tape cassette Yes, that's gives me a better idea. I'll now get back to the elderly couple with a cable and show them what they need to do. Thanks very much to everyone and for replying so quickly, much appreciated.