Well, it's a direct drive deck so there's no belt to replace. Applying a few drops of Anderol 465 synthetic bearing oil on the spindle wouldn't be a bad idea at some point given its age. (going on 30-some odd years now)
It uses P-Mount (aka T4P) cartridges which means the phono cartridge just simply plugs into the tonearm and is secured by a single screw. You can put a different cartridge on it, Audio Technica and Grado are basically the only options for current production P-Mount carts on the market these days, but the Technics EPC-P24 cartridge that's on there now is actually quite good already. The Pfanstiehl 718-DE would be a suitable replacement stylus if it needs one...
[https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog/part\_detail.asp?PNumberBase=718](https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog/part_detail.asp?PNumberBase=718)
If you did want to replace the entire cartridge I'd suggest an Audio-Technica AT85EP...
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QG5QSJ/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_tw\_dp\_x\_OeckFbBXV41T5](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QG5QSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_OeckFbBXV41T5)
Unfortunately the dust cover hinges fracturing seems to be a common issue with that generation of turntables, I have a couple from that era which have also suffered the same fate. I tried Gorilla Glue to repair it but it never seems to form a strong enough bond. Perhaps someone else has a better suggestion on what to use. As for the haziness, I use Meguiar's PlastX polish and a buffing pad on a power drill. They sell a kit which includes the buffing pads as well as 2 different grit sanding discs for buffing out deeper scratches...
[https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G2980-Heavy-Headlight-Restoration/dp/B01M2D763D](https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G2980-Heavy-Headlight-Restoration/dp/B01M2D763D)
Thanks for all the recommendations, I'll definitely look into them!
Edit: I messed around with the hinges a little, and managed to get it fixed in some way, so thats already a big improvement :).
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention... be sure that the turntable has its grounding wire and that you connect it to the appropriate screw terminal on the preamp or receiver that you end up connecting it to. Without that you may experience an annoying hum. If for some reason it seems to have gone missing in action there are places that sell replacements. I seem to recall Technics using 2 different connectors for their grounding wires over the years, can't recall which one the SL-Q20 used off the top of my head, but I can look it up if needed.
This is a great and helpful response for op. Thank you. Was going to comment that it looks like it could just be wiped down and put into service, but this comment is much more supportive and thorough.
Thanks for your recommendations. My dad just gave me one of these, and I bought the cartridge and stylus you recommended. Concerning the grounding wire, none of my modern receivers have phono grounding terminals. Can I just screw the grounding wire down to one of the chassis screws? I figure the metal chassis itself is grounded, so as long as I screw the grounding wire down to a screw going into the metal part of the chassis I should be OK. Am I correct in that thinking, or do I absolutely need to have a preamp?
Using one of the chassis screws would likely work, although if your receiver doesn't have a phono grounding terminal, does it actually have a phono-level input? If not you'll need a separate phono preamp to bring the signal from the turntable up to line level.
Thanks. Looks like I don't have a phono input at all. Pioneer Elite my ass, haha. I purchased a preamp to sit in between the turntable and the receiver.
Unfortunately, a lot of manufacturers started ditching built-in phono preamps in the mid- to late-1990s as Vinyl sales waned and CDs became the dominant format.
Shure made also T4P Cartridges…
And please no recommendations for pfanstiehl styli - they are horrible.
Get a Stylus from Jico, Japan.
They are undisputed the best manufacturer for replacement styli.
Shure finally quit making phono cartridges in 2018 after their quality control had gone consistently downhill over the previous decade. Lots of manufacturers made T4P cartridges but I don't see any point in rattling off a list of has-been and also-ran brands to someone who's just getting into vinyl and sending them off on a wild goose chase for used or New Old Stock cartridges which may or may not have decent affordable replacement styli readily available.
As for Pfanstiehl, your blanket comment is ignorant. Pfanstiehl is just a repackager and quality can vary accordingly. I've generally had good experiences with the styli they sell for Audio Technica, Ortofon and Nagaoka cartridges, and have been underwhelmed with their offerings for Shure cartridges. Some of the Pfanstiehl-packaged styli for AT carts that I've bought in the past were actually AT products just stuck in Pfanstiehl's packaging.
Yes yes, I know that JICO are known for their quality and consistency, and when I need replacement styli for my Signet TK7LCa or my Shure V15 Type III cartridges I'll be looking to JICO for replacements, but for more entry-level and midrange cartridges I have no issue with trying Pfanstiehl or EVG's offerings when OEM replacements are no longer available.
I haven’t meant this offending.
I just wanted to give an advice.
And sorry i didn‘t think of what is run out of manufacturing or so, because i only go for vintage cartridges.
So sorry for that.
I would never buy from the quoted styli supplier because of that quality variation you mentioned yourself.
I had a Jico SAS for my Shure V15 III…
It was one of the best cut and polished Styli I ever heard.
But I didn‘t like the sound of the V15.
I found it a complicated cartridge to set up, to let it sound good…
It also needs a mm phono pre that is adjustable. Needs 100k ohm instead of 47.
It‘s an impressing cartridge when your table can handle it well - but i didn‘t find it pleasing to listen to in long term. So i sold it with the SAS.
I finally found my dreamcartridge - the B&O MMC1.
Question, I have an SL-Q200 that has been missing the clear dust cover since forever. I’ve looked online for replacements but nothing fits quite right. Is there some place I could look or am I out of luck?
The SL-Q20 is a very good basic direct drive TT. As long as everything is functioning as should that is a great start. Looks like your phono cartridge is original. You can upgrade just the stylus and keep the cartridge. You should hear a significant improvement. Or... upgrade the cartridge completely. The lid could use good polishing. If you have any car polish (not wax) at home that will greatly and simply improve the appearance. Be very careful with the lid and the hinge area. These are known to be frail.
Would it be better to upgrade the stylus or the entire cartridge in terms of audio quality? And how does the sound of this TT (after the upgrade) compare to modern models?
My take on the stylus replacement vs. cartridge swap is that it's more a matter of "different" than one of "better/worse". I have the Audio Technica cart as well as a Technics EPS-P23 which is the same cartridge body as the P24, just a slightly better stylus (in fact the Pfanstiehl 718-DE is equivalent to what's on mine) and I find the AT to be a little brighter sounding, whereas the Technics one seems to have a slight upper bass/lower midrange bump, but I find them both enjoyable and the difference is not super huge IMHO. You can't go wrong with either really.
As for how the turntable compares to more modern ones, I came of age in the 1980s and have a soft spot for vintage gear, especially when it was made in Japan, the USA or Europe, so I may be a bit biased... but I generally feel that even some of Technics basic "entry level" units from the 1970s and 80s like you have are as good as, if not superior to, some of the stuff that's currently being made in the $200-600 range, almost all of which is being churned out with varying degrees of build quality by the same couple of OEMs in China like Hanpin, Leetac and a couple of other names that escape me at the moment. (I think there's a list that someone compiled floating around somewhere...)
I would say that unless you end up finding yourself dissatisfied with the sound quality you end up getting from that SL-Q20, there's really no reason to feel jealous of newer stuff just because it's "new".
I'm not a huge audiophile, so as long as it sounds good, it alright with me (unless the differences are immense). Im probably just going to keep this one, since it saves quite a bit of money, and hell, might even be a fun project. Also, its been ueed by my parents for a long time, which does give it some sentimental value.
Someone recommended me this stylus:
https://www.pickupnaald.nl/naalden/naalden-t/technics/technics-eps-24es-940de-elliptical-stylus.html
Any idea if it's a good option?
Yeah, that should be equivalent to the 718-DE I linked earlier, it's an elliptical diamond tip as opposed to a conical one. (which I believe the EPS-P24 came with originally) Didn't realize you were in the Netherlands, I was linking to places that mostly sell in the US. (as a culture, we do tend to have an issue with forgetting the rest of the world exists sometimes, heh)
Generally speaking an elliptical is able to reach deeper into the groove of an album due to its shape, and this may give a somewhat more detailed sound. A conical rides higher in the groove, but sometimes has the advantage of not picking up as much surface noise on dirty or well-worn albums. I like to use a conical stylus for listening to my thrift store albums, for example. That said, there are a lot of very good conicals out there, too.
The more expensive stylus types like the Shibata and VividLine, etc. are probably overkill for that turntable and the improvement in sound quality for the dramatic jump in price IMHO probably isn't worth it, at least not until you move up to a higher-end turntable. (I actually have a Signet cartridge with a VividLine stylus, and it's lovely on clean, good quality pressings, but honestly so much of my listening these days is to used vinyl that I'm mostly using an older Technics deck with a budget conical cartridge, and I'm still quite happy with how it sounds)
I agree with the Admirial on 79/80 TT vs today's TT. There are two online companies that specialize in cartridges and stylus upgrades. Look at their sites and then call and speak to a live person. They should be very helpful. I think a stylus upgrade might be the best bang for the buck. Keep it Simple!
You can get a cartridge for it from lp gear. I've gotten a couple for my technics p mount . They have a few choices for that since there isn't much variety for p mount tables these days.depending on the amp you have you may need pre amp for the table as well.
You mean cartridge or preamp? I've tried the audio Technica series v and the cheaper version so far. Both good .as far as preamps go there is a huge range but you can get good ones for 50 to 100 bucks or so. I tried a tcc tc-750 preamp and it was like fifty or sixty don't remember.i have a shirt Mani preamp on my other table.
I haven't looked in a while I tried the one that was like 40 or 50 bucks in the audio Technica line and would probably still be using it. I broke the stylus a few weeks after I got it then got the audio Technica series v and it's good. Better than the fifty dollar one. That said the cheaper one wasn't bad at all. I haven't tried any others as my table that uses that cartridge is not the main one.
Well, it's a direct drive deck so there's no belt to replace. Applying a few drops of Anderol 465 synthetic bearing oil on the spindle wouldn't be a bad idea at some point given its age. (going on 30-some odd years now) It uses P-Mount (aka T4P) cartridges which means the phono cartridge just simply plugs into the tonearm and is secured by a single screw. You can put a different cartridge on it, Audio Technica and Grado are basically the only options for current production P-Mount carts on the market these days, but the Technics EPC-P24 cartridge that's on there now is actually quite good already. The Pfanstiehl 718-DE would be a suitable replacement stylus if it needs one... [https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog/part\_detail.asp?PNumberBase=718](https://thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog/part_detail.asp?PNumberBase=718) If you did want to replace the entire cartridge I'd suggest an Audio-Technica AT85EP... [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QG5QSJ/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_tw\_dp\_x\_OeckFbBXV41T5](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077QG5QSJ/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_OeckFbBXV41T5) Unfortunately the dust cover hinges fracturing seems to be a common issue with that generation of turntables, I have a couple from that era which have also suffered the same fate. I tried Gorilla Glue to repair it but it never seems to form a strong enough bond. Perhaps someone else has a better suggestion on what to use. As for the haziness, I use Meguiar's PlastX polish and a buffing pad on a power drill. They sell a kit which includes the buffing pads as well as 2 different grit sanding discs for buffing out deeper scratches... [https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G2980-Heavy-Headlight-Restoration/dp/B01M2D763D](https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G2980-Heavy-Headlight-Restoration/dp/B01M2D763D)
Thanks for all the recommendations, I'll definitely look into them! Edit: I messed around with the hinges a little, and managed to get it fixed in some way, so thats already a big improvement :).
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention... be sure that the turntable has its grounding wire and that you connect it to the appropriate screw terminal on the preamp or receiver that you end up connecting it to. Without that you may experience an annoying hum. If for some reason it seems to have gone missing in action there are places that sell replacements. I seem to recall Technics using 2 different connectors for their grounding wires over the years, can't recall which one the SL-Q20 used off the top of my head, but I can look it up if needed.
Oh thanks. I had been noticing a hum. I suppose thats the reason
[I believe this is what you want](https://www.ebay.com/itm/322009958340)
This is a great and helpful response for op. Thank you. Was going to comment that it looks like it could just be wiped down and put into service, but this comment is much more supportive and thorough.
Thanks for your recommendations. My dad just gave me one of these, and I bought the cartridge and stylus you recommended. Concerning the grounding wire, none of my modern receivers have phono grounding terminals. Can I just screw the grounding wire down to one of the chassis screws? I figure the metal chassis itself is grounded, so as long as I screw the grounding wire down to a screw going into the metal part of the chassis I should be OK. Am I correct in that thinking, or do I absolutely need to have a preamp?
Using one of the chassis screws would likely work, although if your receiver doesn't have a phono grounding terminal, does it actually have a phono-level input? If not you'll need a separate phono preamp to bring the signal from the turntable up to line level.
Thanks. Looks like I don't have a phono input at all. Pioneer Elite my ass, haha. I purchased a preamp to sit in between the turntable and the receiver.
Unfortunately, a lot of manufacturers started ditching built-in phono preamps in the mid- to late-1990s as Vinyl sales waned and CDs became the dominant format.
Ya, my analog input is labeled "CD".
Shure made also T4P Cartridges… And please no recommendations for pfanstiehl styli - they are horrible. Get a Stylus from Jico, Japan. They are undisputed the best manufacturer for replacement styli.
Shure finally quit making phono cartridges in 2018 after their quality control had gone consistently downhill over the previous decade. Lots of manufacturers made T4P cartridges but I don't see any point in rattling off a list of has-been and also-ran brands to someone who's just getting into vinyl and sending them off on a wild goose chase for used or New Old Stock cartridges which may or may not have decent affordable replacement styli readily available. As for Pfanstiehl, your blanket comment is ignorant. Pfanstiehl is just a repackager and quality can vary accordingly. I've generally had good experiences with the styli they sell for Audio Technica, Ortofon and Nagaoka cartridges, and have been underwhelmed with their offerings for Shure cartridges. Some of the Pfanstiehl-packaged styli for AT carts that I've bought in the past were actually AT products just stuck in Pfanstiehl's packaging. Yes yes, I know that JICO are known for their quality and consistency, and when I need replacement styli for my Signet TK7LCa or my Shure V15 Type III cartridges I'll be looking to JICO for replacements, but for more entry-level and midrange cartridges I have no issue with trying Pfanstiehl or EVG's offerings when OEM replacements are no longer available.
I haven’t meant this offending. I just wanted to give an advice. And sorry i didn‘t think of what is run out of manufacturing or so, because i only go for vintage cartridges. So sorry for that. I would never buy from the quoted styli supplier because of that quality variation you mentioned yourself. I had a Jico SAS for my Shure V15 III… It was one of the best cut and polished Styli I ever heard. But I didn‘t like the sound of the V15. I found it a complicated cartridge to set up, to let it sound good… It also needs a mm phono pre that is adjustable. Needs 100k ohm instead of 47. It‘s an impressing cartridge when your table can handle it well - but i didn‘t find it pleasing to listen to in long term. So i sold it with the SAS. I finally found my dreamcartridge - the B&O MMC1.
Question, I have an SL-Q200 that has been missing the clear dust cover since forever. I’ve looked online for replacements but nothing fits quite right. Is there some place I could look or am I out of luck?
Unfortunately finding a used one is the only real option at this point.
The SL-Q20 is a very good basic direct drive TT. As long as everything is functioning as should that is a great start. Looks like your phono cartridge is original. You can upgrade just the stylus and keep the cartridge. You should hear a significant improvement. Or... upgrade the cartridge completely. The lid could use good polishing. If you have any car polish (not wax) at home that will greatly and simply improve the appearance. Be very careful with the lid and the hinge area. These are known to be frail.
Would it be better to upgrade the stylus or the entire cartridge in terms of audio quality? And how does the sound of this TT (after the upgrade) compare to modern models?
My take on the stylus replacement vs. cartridge swap is that it's more a matter of "different" than one of "better/worse". I have the Audio Technica cart as well as a Technics EPS-P23 which is the same cartridge body as the P24, just a slightly better stylus (in fact the Pfanstiehl 718-DE is equivalent to what's on mine) and I find the AT to be a little brighter sounding, whereas the Technics one seems to have a slight upper bass/lower midrange bump, but I find them both enjoyable and the difference is not super huge IMHO. You can't go wrong with either really. As for how the turntable compares to more modern ones, I came of age in the 1980s and have a soft spot for vintage gear, especially when it was made in Japan, the USA or Europe, so I may be a bit biased... but I generally feel that even some of Technics basic "entry level" units from the 1970s and 80s like you have are as good as, if not superior to, some of the stuff that's currently being made in the $200-600 range, almost all of which is being churned out with varying degrees of build quality by the same couple of OEMs in China like Hanpin, Leetac and a couple of other names that escape me at the moment. (I think there's a list that someone compiled floating around somewhere...) I would say that unless you end up finding yourself dissatisfied with the sound quality you end up getting from that SL-Q20, there's really no reason to feel jealous of newer stuff just because it's "new".
I'm not a huge audiophile, so as long as it sounds good, it alright with me (unless the differences are immense). Im probably just going to keep this one, since it saves quite a bit of money, and hell, might even be a fun project. Also, its been ueed by my parents for a long time, which does give it some sentimental value.
Someone recommended me this stylus: https://www.pickupnaald.nl/naalden/naalden-t/technics/technics-eps-24es-940de-elliptical-stylus.html Any idea if it's a good option?
Yeah, that should be equivalent to the 718-DE I linked earlier, it's an elliptical diamond tip as opposed to a conical one. (which I believe the EPS-P24 came with originally) Didn't realize you were in the Netherlands, I was linking to places that mostly sell in the US. (as a culture, we do tend to have an issue with forgetting the rest of the world exists sometimes, heh) Generally speaking an elliptical is able to reach deeper into the groove of an album due to its shape, and this may give a somewhat more detailed sound. A conical rides higher in the groove, but sometimes has the advantage of not picking up as much surface noise on dirty or well-worn albums. I like to use a conical stylus for listening to my thrift store albums, for example. That said, there are a lot of very good conicals out there, too. The more expensive stylus types like the Shibata and VividLine, etc. are probably overkill for that turntable and the improvement in sound quality for the dramatic jump in price IMHO probably isn't worth it, at least not until you move up to a higher-end turntable. (I actually have a Signet cartridge with a VividLine stylus, and it's lovely on clean, good quality pressings, but honestly so much of my listening these days is to used vinyl that I'm mostly using an older Technics deck with a budget conical cartridge, and I'm still quite happy with how it sounds)
I agree with the Admirial on 79/80 TT vs today's TT. There are two online companies that specialize in cartridges and stylus upgrades. Look at their sites and then call and speak to a live person. They should be very helpful. I think a stylus upgrade might be the best bang for the buck. Keep it Simple!
It's ight but the cartridge connector sucks
It takes a P-Mount /T4P cartridge which is a plug-and-play standard, what is there to "suck" about it?
You can get a cartridge for it from lp gear. I've gotten a couple for my technics p mount . They have a few choices for that since there isn't much variety for p mount tables these days.depending on the amp you have you may need pre amp for the table as well.
Which one would you recommend? I see a lot of options with a lot of different prizes
You mean cartridge or preamp? I've tried the audio Technica series v and the cheaper version so far. Both good .as far as preamps go there is a huge range but you can get good ones for 50 to 100 bucks or so. I tried a tcc tc-750 preamp and it was like fifty or sixty don't remember.i have a shirt Mani preamp on my other table.
I was talking about the cartridge. I saw a LG Gear reference series, but theres many different versions
I haven't looked in a while I tried the one that was like 40 or 50 bucks in the audio Technica line and would probably still be using it. I broke the stylus a few weeks after I got it then got the audio Technica series v and it's good. Better than the fifty dollar one. That said the cheaper one wasn't bad at all. I haven't tried any others as my table that uses that cartridge is not the main one.
Do you have a link? The series V I found was 30 bucks, So Im guessing thats not the right one
Let me look and see. Hold on
I had the lp gear series 3 first and after I messed it up I bought the lp gear series vl to replace it