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Argos record player help?

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Thud bought a record player from Argos with his Xmas money  (Audio-Technica AT-LP60XUSBGM Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable).

But I can't get it to work.

Plugged into my old-skool (1990s) NAD amplifier but nothing. Amp plays CD player etc fine and I've swapped cables around.

Turntable turns etc and I can hear the stylus playing the record.

Am I missing something (another way to check output ?) or is it a return to Argos job ?

(Hopefully for a refund so I can buy Thud something decent on ebay),

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 12:08 pm
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I'm no expert but does it have an integrated pre amp? Either turntable or amp needs one.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 12:12 pm
jamj1974 and leffeboy reacted
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That model looks like it has a switchable pre-amp.

Is that switched to the correct output for your NAD amplifier?

If it was bought with vouchers Argos will almost certainly give you refund for the same value in vouchers.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 12:16 pm
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Have you tried switching the selector on the back; think it's something like 'Line' & 'Phono'?

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 12:19 pm
chakaping reacted
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Without googling any quirks of your specific devices,

Record decks typically need to be connected to the Phono input on an amp. If you've unplugged a CD player and plugged the deck into the same connectors, it's not going to work without some form of phono stage pre-amp (which seriousrikk suggests the player has built in?)

A phono signal is way lower than line voltage, so either you need to connect it to a Phono input or throw that pre-amp switch. But, really not both!

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 12:42 pm
mattyfez and zntrx reacted
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According to the [url= https://docs.audio-technica.com/eu/AT-LP60XUSB_UM_162501371_V2_EN_web_190502.pdf ]manual[/url] it comes with the phono cable to connect up, and has a pre-amp, so you should just need to connect that cable to the phono on your amp.

Connect it up and switch the pre-amp / line out switch on the TT to see if that makes a difference. (page 4 , 15)

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 2:10 pm
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Thanks all.

I'd not clicked that phono output needs a pre-amp. Doh!

That said, swapping to line-output still doesn't work :/

Humph.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 2:49 pm
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What 90s NAD amp do you have? Most of them would have a phono input that can take a record player.

If you have tried the phono input, with the record player switch set to 'phono' and it doesn't work, then try another input on the amp (such as CD or Aux) and switch the record player to LINE.

The only other thing that might affect it, is whether the cartridge/stylus is MM or MC. The specification says it's a VM stylus which a touch of Googling reckons is a MM (Moving Magnet) stylus.
If you are using the phono input on the amp, you might have a switch on the amp that will flick between MM & MC.

EDIT - I was a bit slow there; seems you've also tried the line input.

Only other thing I can think of - not got the 'tape monitor' button selected on the amp?

If you turn the amp up higher than you normally would, can you hear anything at all when the record player is playing?
Might need to try a different cable. If that doesn't work, try it on another amp if you know someone else who has one and if no joy from that maybe its just faulty.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 2:57 pm

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I bought a mates kid the AT-LP70BXT model for his xmas with a Wiim ultra and Kanto speakers, nice turntable that sounds good.

As mentioned you need to switch to line out on turntable and connect the RCA leads and ground connection to the AT line out then to the Aux-In on your Nad amp, connect the ground lead to the post on your amp and it should just work.

Try the RCA from the turntable to another RCA input on the Nad amp to see if it works.

The only other thing that might affect it, is whether the cartridge/stylus is MM or MC. The specification says it’s a VM stylus which a touch of Googling reckons is a MM (Moving Magnet) stylus.

It's a moving magnet cartridge.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 3:13 pm
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 connect the ground lead to the post on your amp and it should just work.

You've lost me here.  How ? I have connected the RCA leads to the Aux in. Do I need to do anything else ?

Thanks.

He's bought a vinyl album I own on CD, FFS !

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 3:33 pm
ctk and mattyfez reacted
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I don't think that turntable has a ground lead by the looks of things.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 4:40 pm
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Ah good...not just me then. Daughter has discovered vinyl and is spending a small fortune on albums she wants - which all seems to ones I've got on cd. Only saving grace is she thinks my musical taste is good and I'm just thankful she has taken after my musical tastes and not her mum's tastes!

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 4:48 pm
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Do you get anything out of the USB? Maybe the needle is in contact, but not enough…

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 5:56 pm
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Do you get anything out of the USB?

That I don't know. I'll report back. Thanks.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 6:17 pm
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Try the same input on your amp that the CD player is using (because you know that is working) with the PHONO/LINE switch on the turntable set to LINE.

 
Posted : 14/01/2025 10:43 pm
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The only other thing that might affect it, is whether the cartridge/stylus is MM or MC. The specification says it’s a VM stylus which a touch of Googling reckons is a MM (Moving Magnet) stylus.

Very highly unlikely that a TT like that will have an MC cartridge - you’ll be paying several times the cost of the TT at least for the cartridge! I have an Audio Technica MC cartridge that a rep left at a hifi shop I worked at, and never returned for; I think it retailed around £3-400…

 
Posted : 16/01/2025 1:03 am

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Pity he didn't leave an ART1000

 
Posted : 16/01/2025 9:12 am
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The record player is faulty.

Plugged into a second amp and speakers (purchased by Thud on ebay) and everything worked fine except the record player - again!

So - It's getting returned to Argos,

Thanks all.

 
Posted : 17/01/2025 6:45 am
leffeboy reacted
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Ah, bugger!

 
Posted : 17/01/2025 10:51 am
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Perhaps show him the AT-LP70XBT as it is the newer model of the AT-LP60 with an easily changed stylus and improved button placement/build quality.

Bought one for a mates son xmas and it sounds really good

 
Posted : 17/01/2025 2:49 pm
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-- Update --

Thud returned the record player back to Argos and they exchanged it. New one works!

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 2:53 pm
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Selecta!!

 
Posted : 04/02/2025 3:00 pm

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