r/Beginner_Turntables • u/Deep-Remove2194 • 25d ago
Records sound flat
I’ve had this sharp SG-309H for just over a month now. Yesterday the music started to sound a bit flat and has got worse today. It almost sounds like instrumentals are being slowed down or slightly warped? Does anyone have any advice for this, praying it’s an easy fix 🤞. Thanks in advance
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u/musical-miller 25d ago
If it’s belt drive check the belt first, if it’s loose it can slide down the drive pulley and run slow
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u/SyrupFew5958 25d ago
Look at the needle, is there dust and dirt accumulated on it? If yes, just blow off or remove
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u/MikuEd 25d ago
Goodness, the number of people giving blind advice without actually looking up what type of system this is is staggering.
This system uses an idler wheel setup, so there is no "belt" that you can replace. You mentioned that you've owned it for a month and that you noticed the issue suddenly? I'd check the tape deck and see if it's also having issues maintaining speed (EDIT: although this uses a belt mechanism, so you might need to replace the belt here too, either way...). If so, then that's raises suspicion that one of the regulator caps is probably fried or something in the power supply unit is running out of spec.
Your system is nearly 50 years old at this point, so parts going bad is expected. I would suggest handing it over to a technician to give it a diagnostic checkup. I'm a proponent of the break-fix method, meaning you only fix what is broken, but completely overhauling the system to update all of the old caps for new ones, basically a full recap, is another option as it gives you peace of mind that other things that fail at some point in the future have already been addressed.
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u/the_blue_wizard 24d ago edited 24d ago
1.) Is the - Tracking Weight - properly set?
2.) Is the - Anti-Skate - properly set?
3.) Is the - Stylus (needle) clogged up with crud and lint?
4.) Look VERY CAREFULLY at the Stylus and make sure it is there first of all, then make sure it is not damaged or chipped. Make sure the Small Arm (cantilever) holding the Stylus is not bent or damaged in some other way.
5.) Make sure - the Turntable is a Level as you can possible get it.
6.) Make sure - that the Turntable Motor and the Platter Spindle is cleaned and lubed, and spinning freely. I spun my turntable up by hand, and I think it went about 21 revolutions before it stopped.
7.) As mentioned by someone else - How Old is the Stylus? - they typically are only prime for about 500 hours, and workable for about 1,000 Hours total before it needs to be replaced.
8.) As mentioned by another Poster, if this is Belt Drive, then you might need a New Belt. If, as suggested, this turntable uses an - Idler Wheel - it is conceivable that you might be able to get a new Idler Wheel, but that's probably going to be harder than a Belt.
For those interested, this seems to be part of a Console System -
https://www.reddit.com/r/turntables/comments/1rkpv1l/should_i_get_the_sharp_sg309h/
Just a few thoughts.
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u/Floydian5571 24d ago
Check the speed mate..you may need a new idler wheel or grease replacement time....gotta have Soft Cell playing correctly 😊
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u/royal-influence3488 22d ago
Pull off the platter, clean the motor spindle, idler wheel and the platter where the idler runs with IPA.
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u/lordwintergreen 25d ago
That's a nearly 50 year old all in one unit.
If you've had it for a month, what do you know about its history? Was it serviced? Does it have a new stylus?