Sony TC U5 Cassette player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

AdrianM · 17th Mar 2024, 3:45 am

Hi ! Looking for an advice if is possible. Just found a Sony TC U5 cassette player in a quite good condition , just some dust. I give it a good clean , belts are still working but old ( struggling a little bit at the end of the tape ) , I will change them anyway. The advice that I'm looking for is regarding the output volume level which is very low on both channels. If I applied a signal at the input line the sound is loud and clear so the amplifier is ok. Also a recorded tape payed on other cassete player sounds OK meaning the head is ok too.There is a white noise when the unit is just power on ( not so loud ) and disappear when REC is on , but remains on PLAY. Measured some voltages and some components , seems to be OK. Check and clean all switches , including the Play - Record ( the long one ) witch was blamed by many for this type of fault , but nothing changed. I don't have an oscilloscope for deeper tests , just a Fluke multimeter. Thank you for any advices or suggestions.

17th Mar 2024, 3:45 am	#1
AdrianM Diode Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 1	Sony TC U5 Cassette player Hi ! Looking for an advice if is possible. Just found a Sony TC U5 cassette player in a quite good condition , just some dust. I give it a good clean , belts are still working but old ( struggling a little bit at the end of the tape ) , I will change them anyway. The advice that I'm looking for is regarding the output volume level which is very low on both channels. If I applied a signal at the input line the sound is loud and clear so the amplifier is ok. Also a recorded tape payed on other cassete player sounds OK meaning the head is ok too.There is a white noise when the unit is just power on ( not so loud ) and disappear when REC is on , but remains on PLAY. Measured some voltages and some components , seems to be OK. Check and clean all switches , including the Play - Record ( the long one ) witch was blamed by many for this type of fault , but nothing changed. I don't have an oscilloscope for deeper tests , just a Fluke multimeter. Thank you for any advices or suggestions.