Chris:
 
As it turns out the unit I have is a Harmon Kardon with a Garrard 50 turntable so I have nothing to help me on this end.
 
Speaker cone deterioration could cause some unwanted noise, rattle, or buzz to the sound but It doesn't sound like that is Chris' problem if it is just there in the background. I've heard of doing a heap fix with nail polish or something like that, gluing the tear back together, but it will probably just tear again if the material is dried out. You could try another set of speakers or headphones to see if that solves the problem.
 
Speaker phasing, from my knowledge, shouldn't cause a problem like what Chris is describing. It only causes a mild distortion of the sound from the standpoint of the volume of certain tones. If I remember correctly sounds that are supposed to be in phase due to coming from both speakers at the same time get cancelled out midway between the speakers (or maybe they should if the speakers are in phase). With the RCA speaker jacks that Chris has that shouldn't be a problem (assuming they were wired properly from the factory and not rewired since). In any event to my knowledge you shouldn't get a background hiss from improper phasing and it shouldn't come on all of a sudden.
 
Maybe the internals need a good cleaning? Dust built up on the circuit boards combined with humidity might cause this.
 
I assume your thanking me (in another note, the one that started the SS W/S wastebasket string) was not because something I suggested had fixed the problem but because I offered to check my stock of old equipment to see if I could come up with anything? Your moving on to the corrosion on the SS W/S wastebasket led me to believe that you might have solved your initial problem. Combined with the table mildew problem it leads me to believe you need to spend more time there to keep up with all these things (or maybe you should let the whole place return to nature which seems to be attacking it full force).
 
Bruce
 
-----Original Message-----
From: The listserv that takes flossing seriously! [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Bruce Marcham
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 3:04 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [BP] needed: one of those Radio Club nerds



Chris:
 
Short answer (as I'm sure you know)--anything can be saved if you throw enough money at it.
 
The next question is "is it worth it?" It might cost $50 to $100 or so and look what you can buy for that these days (not much I'd want in my living room).
 
KLH was a good brand at one time.
 
Is the turntable part of the tuner/amplifier, a real wood enclosure with a stylish low slope to the front? I may have one of these at home. My recollection is that it might be an FM-only unit?
 
I had output power transistors go in the "old" amps (post tube era) but I think that would give no sound.
 
Anyway, I'll be home in a while and will look at the one I have to see if there is a switch that might be in the wrong position (I was think of a speaker A/B/A&B slider switch but it seems like that would also give you no sound if in the wrong position).
 
Another possibility is that there is no civilization (read NPR) out there anymore...
 
Is the antenna connected (maybe the cat/mice/poodle chewed through it)?
 
Have tried a record on it with the switch in the phono position (maybe just rub your finger side-to-side under the needle to see if you can scratch out a good rap rhythm...). If you get no static in this mode and a scratching sound when you rub your finger on it then maybe it just a problem with the tuner circuit. 
 
I assume you've spun the tuning knob to see if you get any change in the buzz?
 
I'll check back late this afternoon.
 
Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: The listserv that takes flossing seriously! [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 10:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [BP] needed: one of those Radio Club nerds



Am in MV, land of waxed screens.  Have beautiful old KLH turntable/FM, height of cool modernity in 1969, listed to Jeff Airplane, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, Neil Young, "Eight Miles High" etc. on it.  Heard first confused news bulletins of the Weathermen explosion of rowhouse in Greenwich Village on it.   

Now, with power on but no radio, record, etc., speakers give off almost-loud hissing noise.  Cannot listen to Bach, Donovan, Weavers any more, not that noticeable with Blues Magoos, electric Dylan, Cream.    A real problem with Garrison Keillor.    

Can this instrument be saved?    

Christopher on dfi