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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment.

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Old 6th Feb 2023, 12:33 am   #1
Karl999
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Default Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Hello
I’ve recently acquired a Panasonic SG-2080L
History largely unknown
I have very crackly volume control with right channel
Cutting out or low, is this just a clean needed?
To give as much info as possible
This comes with the original speakers ;are these any good or is there
Any benefit to using some other speakers?
The turntable goes ok at 33 although if I try 45rpm
First no movement and checking the belt
Which is in one piece is not tight and so I will replace it.
The sound from a record is not clear and tends to skip.
So I looked at replacement stylus and it looks
Nothing like what’s fitted.
I’m assuming the original cartridge was replaced.
Can anyone help identify?
I’ve attached a pic
What would be a good upgrade cartridge?
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 9:56 am   #2
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The speakers that came with your Panasonic will be the weakest link. You will get a dramatic improvement in sound quality with a "pre-loved" pair of UK speakers e.g. Tannoy, Wharfedale, Goodmans, Celestions, Mordaunt-Short et al - for about £50-00 a pair. Search for "Reflex" enclosure types as they will have a higher sensitivity. As for the cartridge, is that shown a Ceramic or MM type?
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 11:58 am   #3
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

That is a magnetic cartridge. The current AT95 is a fair bet as a replacement.
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 1:02 pm   #4
Karl999
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Thank you for the suggestions I will look into them

The cartridge according to the manual is a moving magnet Type
However the one fitted does not the same as in the manual
It doesn’t look like the stylus is removable.
Hence my question..
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 1:51 pm   #5
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

That is an Audio Technica magnetic cart, but there seems to be a piece missing off the stylus assembly. It's not clear how that stylus is attached!

In any case, it'd be easier to just replace the cart. The AT3600 as an entry level magnetic would be fine in a music centre like this.
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 1:59 pm   #6
Beobloke
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The cartridge is an Audio Technica AT-11E and it looks like the plastic part of the stylus has been removed for some reason (possibly accidental damage; possibly for dubious "audiophool" reasons!).

You can buy a replacement stylus but getting that old one out without the proper holder to grip onto will be a bit tricky.
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 7:20 pm   #7
Karl999
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Thank you for the suggestions
Any difference between a 95 and 3600?
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 7:35 pm   #8
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The AT3600 is the successor to the very popular AT91, an entry level cart with a spherical stylus but still capable of good performance. The Rega Carbon is based on it. The AT95E is one step up with an elliptical stylus and is better suited to proper HiFi decks, though it will probably be fine in this Panasonic.

I use a Rega Carbon and am very satisfied with it, though I'm not a serious vinyl enthusiast.
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 11:49 pm   #9
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

I have found that with more worn records, elliptical styli perhaps due to the tip shape tend to reveal more of the distortion. With discs in decent nick, they will likewise give a more detailed sound especially at the high end. They also require very low tracking weight, so handling the arm with an elliptical stylus requires a lot of care. Also, with a higher mass tonearm, I'd go for spherical rather than elliptical. If you have lots of singles, they're not a good idea either.

So I'd say it depends what you're going to be playing on it and who is going to be using the system. You could always start with a spherical and upgrade later, or even have two headshells with one of each type! I have this on my Technics D3 - the factory fitted EPS-270 elliptical in one, and another with Stanton 500 spherical, which will take a lot of abuse!
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Old 6th Feb 2023, 11:59 pm   #10
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The AT11E has an elliptical stylus, and the AT95E is the closest equivalent to it, but that may not be the original factory fit cart anyway. Personally I would probably go for an AT3600 in a deck of this type.
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Old 8th Feb 2023, 8:15 pm   #11
Karl999
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edward Huggins View Post
The speakers that came with your Panasonic will be the weakest link. You will get a dramatic improvement in sound quality with a "pre-loved" pair of UK speakers e.g. Tannoy, Wharfedale, Goodmans, Celestions, Mordaunt-Short et al - for about £50-00 a pair. Search for "Reflex" enclosure types as they will have a higher sensitivity. As for the cartridge, is that shown a Ceramic or MM type?
Thank you for this , can you suggest some speaker models?
Also the existing speakers are 4 ohm
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Old 9th Feb 2023, 9:35 am   #12
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Go for something like the Tannoy "Mercury" series. However, these (and most other UK makes) will be rated at 8 ohms so will play slightly less loud than a 4 ohm unit. It's important that these speakers should have a high-sensitivity at aound 91db.
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Old 10th Feb 2023, 2:20 am   #13
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The standard speakers with this unit are very good for what they are! I used a B & W kit built pair of speakers with my SG2800 in 1985 and results were superb - the 2080 has one of the best amps I have heard in a music centre! An AT95E will work very well in your machine!
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Old 10th Feb 2023, 7:06 pm   #14
Karl999
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

Thank you
I’ve progressed today, volume control is now ok.
I fitted a new belt and I had difficulty finding at3600 so I bought a
Rega Carbon which is said to be similar.
Anyway I’ve set it up and stopped it skipping with adjustments although
I don’t have any scales.
It plays ok although the speed at 33 seems to occasionally waver and
45’s sometimes just stop which is odd. Any thoughts?
I’ve also noticed the record player is a lot quieter than the Tuner say about 40%
Is this to be expected?

The previous cartridge was not as expected I’ve attached a picture.
Does it make any difference.
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Old 10th Feb 2023, 7:23 pm   #15
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Default Re: Panasonic Sg-2080L cartridge

The AT-VM8 is very like the AT3600 / Rega Carbon so you have bought a very suitable replacement. The output levels should be very similar.

Radio nowadays is heavily processed to sound LOUD so it's reasonable for it to sound louder than the record deck, though it will depend on what you're playing.
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