My Technics SL-QD33 Turntable

[@80sGuy.]

This was one of the last great turntable from Technics. I still have mine which I purchased from Circuit City back in 1992.

[@EzeeLinux]

NOTE: I inadvertently said "SL-QDR33" at the beginning of the vid. I've been looking at so many numbers lately and my brain got overloaded... I was actually running with the satilizer brush in the up position in the video. The brush can be pushed up out of the way as long as you can adjust the tracking force to get 1.25 grams. This table will let me do that so I have been running it like that and finding the sound to be a bit better with out the stabilizer. :)

[@h.collier3544]

Great video. Just dug out my SL QD33 that I purchased in the mid-80's. It still has the original cartridge and stylus. Sad to hear that upgrading it is so difficult & expensive.

[@DaveSomething]

it's purty, mine hasn't fared so well over the last 40 yrs... but I still use it occasionally. I'd buy it...

[@Edizipek]

i just found this under my parents bed. never seen it works. i will try to find a way to listen to natural music from this lovely machine.

[@georgedoughly8682]

That’s a Beautiful Technics Turntable, Joe! My favorite P Mount cartridge is the Audio Technica AT-92ECD. An Excellent sounding Cartridge.

[@ashleycox432]

LP Gear still offer some excellent P mount cartridges as far as I remember with more exotic styli

[@EzeeLinux]

They also have Shure N104E styli that will work on this cart. I might give one of those a spin. :)

[@allensmith5088]

Sure why not! I like all of your videos. I remembered in mid 80's I spent some money on vinyls and I still own them and I'm looking for a good cartridge for my turntable.

[@yurockhd]

Technics SL-QD33 is my first turntable, later I had SL-Q202 and now I have Pro-Ject RPM 5.

[@Dukica-h4j]

SL Q33 and SL QD33 iis not the same Turntable. SL Q33 ➕✔

[@scott-b.2161]

I had this when they came out. Nice turntable. I had an Ortofon p-mount Cartridge on mine.

[@alexxbaudwhyn7572]

Scored a sl-qd33 this week at thrift for $10 Complete, clean condition appears to work perfect. Shure M92e cart installed

[@sirsuse]

Nice table Joe. 👍 Your not wrong about the M97xe. I had one on my Pioneer PL-518 turntable. I was disappointed at the rolled off high end. I took it off and put my beloved SHURE V15 Type IV with hyperelliptical stylus back on. Never turned back.

[@linuxacc7366]

Nice passion for the past! I really like that! Buy the proper one because this is your hobby and you like it!

[@brianraider5893]

Just picked one up at Goodwill for $15 and works Great

[@thetubesrock]

Great video Joe! I'm with you on reliving the old days when you can. Keep an eye out for p-mount turntable for sale that have the cartridge you are looking for on it. I've gotten lucky sometimes. 😉

[@EzeeLinux]

I bought a crappy Akai just to get the cart several years ago... LOL :)

[@audubon5425]

Picked up a forlorn Technics liner tracker at the thrift store last year. Got around to working on it a few months ago and discovered it had a P-mount Pickering XSV-3003. Of course, same problem with those as Shure now regarding styli. Bought a Pfanstiel for testing it out and yeah, just doesn't sound right.

[@F15Flyer]

Such a beautiful turntable Joe! I have the same one that I just brought out of storage. Unfortunately there's something up with it as the tonearm goes back and fourth and doesn't seat correctly either. Trying to figure out if I can get it repaired for a reasonable cost.

[@user-xk5mj2go9s]

I got the same pb, did you find anything on how to fix it ?

[@F15Flyer]

Only that it would be more expensive than its worth to get it fixed /cry. I ended up buying another turntable, I still have this one though. Not sure what I'm going to do with it.

[@michaelruggiero8284]

Just found one in the trash and it works perfect!

[@gotham61]

Shure is still very much in business, they just stopped making phono products. They are one of the biggest microphone and headphone manufacturers in the world.

[@ocularcavity8412]

I have one of these as well got it years ago for $10 I upgraded to an AT92E and I love it but it has always had the slightest 60hz Hum not a deal breaker it is grounded though, does yours have any hum at all, also I highly recommend an AT92E and use the Shure Cart for special records and if possible buy an upgraded Stylus for the AT92E I managed to find a nude shibata stylus for mine and it makes a BIG difference

[@jeffersongrindle2305]

Very nice. I used to have the Technics SL-6 which is linear tracking and it was great! Direct drive models are better. One motor for the platter and one for the tone arm. The only issue I had was the drive belt for the tone arm wearing out but I replaced it.

[@EzeeLinux]

Techmoan posted a ncie vid about the SL-6. Neat machine! :)

[@jeffersongrindle2305]

@@EzeeLinux yes, and no tracking error inherent with swingarm models which is prevalent when you hear the faint sound of the following song in the silence between both before the song starts, due to the position of the stylus and it's pressure on the groove walls. I heard it myself and used to read about it in articles about audio equipment during my mid-teens, which served me well when I started assembling a decent audio system in 83. The reason for the tracking error is a standard tonearm tracks a record grooves in an arc, when linear tracking is in a straight line, which Is how the grooves of a record are cut by the master lathe. At the time of my research, I was enamored with the pioneer linear tracking model (champagne gold series) turntable, and had a small catalogue of their equipment, but while in Holland, I chose Technics instead, and it outlasted all the other audio components I had lol.

[@gotham61]

@@jeffersongrindle2305 A pre-echo has nothing to do with cartridge alignment. It can be cause by two things. Either the record was cut too hot for the cutting pitch, so each groove actually affects those directly to either side of it, or the tape used for mastering was stored in a way that magnetic signals were transferred from one layer on the tape reel to the next.

[@denniskidder6698]

I have a sl qd33 I bought new, dust cover is a bit rough but other then that it has less then a mile rotation on it. Also have an x- tra Carthage for it. Disc was a big thing so I did not use it a lot. Looking for a pre amp for it.

[@rocinante176]

i bought one but it was damged during shiping the tone arm holder was broken and the dust cover. sounded awsome when testing it hopefully i can send it back and get another one.

[@audubon5425]

Also, I made my own Technics ground cable - there's a common size uninsulated butt connector that's a good fit for the table end.

[@EzeeLinux]

That's a good idea too. :)

[@audubon5425]

@@EzeeLinux ot came from Napa - snug enough but not too tight. Can't remember the size unfortunately.

[@wolfsmane]

Can you give more info on how to make this ground cable? Also, where do you ground it to? Thanks

[@lysol911]

Do you have the Ebay seller’s username? I am on the hunt for a near pristine SL-QD33!!! This thing looks amazing

[@denniskidder6698]

I have a sl qd33 I bought new , it's in beautiful condition except for the dust cover is a bit rough. I have an x- tra Carthage for it.

[@nickcollins7568]

Love that turntable. Stick with the shure for now. As long as existing stylus ok. Could get another p mount cartridge as backup from the likes of Audio technica. Easy to interchange and put the Shure on for best performance for something special. I picked up an AT92ECD cartridge some years ago for my own technics P mount turntable to upgrade the original one that it came with. Sounds wonderful but I don't think you can get that one anymore.

[@EzeeLinux]

I found that the Shire N104E stylus will work nicely with this cart. There are plenty of those around so I'm gonna stick with it. :)

[@georgedoughly8682]

The AT92ECD is an Excellent sounding P Mount Cartridge!

[@chronictragedy]

Hello! I just bought one of these and I'm having some trouble. Whenever I hit the on button, the start/stop button just flashes red and it doesn't start playing. I have no clue why this is happening or how to fix it.

[@gottogonow8949]

First time I have ever been first on the likes YAY! Loving the history of this beautiful deck. But as ever a purchase such as this always brings a smidgen of cognitive dissonance regarding how to proceed from here. I get that all the time. mostly concerning vintage motorcycles, tools and tech. I hope your deck serves you well for a long time. PS buy the Shure when it emerges from either .. you know it makes sense.

[@netoe]

Beautiful machine, I wish I could buy it from you

[@Mcphersonnick413]

This is the turntable I’m currently using but with an at85ep. One day I’d like to get one of these carts but they’re pretty up there in price. What do you think a happy medium would be? Or should I get a new tonearm to have more options?

[@EzeeLinux]

You're not missing much. The Shure carts are good but you can't get good replacement styli for them. I have switched to an AT3472 cart because there are lots of great styli available. P-mount carts are generally of good quality by deign.

[@DaveSomething]

mine is direct drive, I believe yours is as well, no belt to rot... my cover is long gone though, can't find a replacement that doesn't cost as much as a new turntable, so...meh.

[@kiwicory100]

will this turn table hum without ground wire? I have this one....I don't have a ground wire and there is a humming. Also do you have it hooked up with a pre amp? Finally, there is a slight drag on the table when it spins, like a metalic drag sound...wonder what that could be? Thanks for the video. ps does this turn table need a preamp?

[@EzeeLinux]

Yes, it needs a ground wire. I have it hooked to my Sony receiver with proper phono input here. The drag? I got no clue.. :)

[@LarcR]

How good a cartridge do you want for your SL-QD33? Check LP Gear for their T4P Reference Series. The top cartridge in that series is the VML that is made for Audio-Technica in Japan. There are also Vivid-Line and Shibata versions. LP Gear has a fairly good selection of P-mount cartridges.

[@EzeeLinux]

I found me a NOS Audio-Technica AT3472P that is just sublime... Wanted one for a long time. Styli are plentiful and I have three to choose from on hand right now. :)

[@Trojan0304]

Nice TT, have a restored 1600 mk2 that was in very good shape. Think it outlast me,lol

[@krotson6647]

I got this one from my dad a couple weeks ago, but mine just does not want to start. The start button just blinks and when i press it nothing happens. Very frustrating

[@dougtilaran3496]

My grandkid asked is it good for cooking eggs. HMMMMM ? But Joe. Sit on it and spin came to mind at the thumbnail ? ;-)

[@davidcollins1853]

Glad you got it. I think you shold stay with a cartidge you have for now.

[@calleha01]

I have one of these turntables with the elliptical audio technica cardtridge. It sounds fantastic but has so much wobble that the metal part occasionally touches the bottom causing the record to slow down.

[@EzeeLinux]

That's not good.... I'm not sure what you're taling about but I can tell you it's not normal at all.

[@sizzle19322]

@@EzeeLinux he said that the metall platter is touching the ground inside of the tt when it is spinning.

[@jeffkelly5972]

Joe do you ever play reel to reel or cassette tape ? Do you think records sound better than cd?

[@EzeeLinux]

I don't fool around with tape much anymore... Records and CD's sound different. Which one sounds "better" is up to the listener. For me, it really depends on how a recording is mastered. An original record of an album from the 70's or 80's will most likely sound very good and it will be what the artist and producer wanted you to hear. That's why I collect records. :)

[@jeffkelly5972]

@@EzeeLinux Thanks Joe

[@vladimirlem1104]

Does it have a built in phono preamp ?

[@EzeeLinux]

No.

[@mariokellen1]

My turntable is also technics direct drive

[@72vespa]

Audio-Technica AT331LP phono cartridge

[@phillipmaxwell6882]

Your viscous damping is not operating correctly on your tonearm. Have to replenish viscous gel in queing system. Requires tonearm motor removal to get to viscous rod.

[@EzeeLinux]

No, it's fine... It's the brush on the Shure cart that caused the issue. All is well with the AT that's on it now. :)

[@allensmith5088]

I subscribed with another account so that I can click the liked button. I hope that you'll recouped your money spent for your turntable. Your quiet Subscriber my friend.

[@suvidhvongpunsawad4]

Veryinformatvewxcellentreviewihhavethesameonebrandnewfrombestbuylongtimeago

[@Dukica-h4j]

Kameraman is KATASTROFE. If you can not keep camera steel, dont make Videos I had Hadake.

[@gragcouger6795]

Sure why not! I like all of your videos. I remembered in mid 80's I spent some money on vinyls and I still own them and I'm looking for a good cartridge for my turntable.