Overahulin' a big ass RCA New Vista solid state stereo system

This one came to us last week with a missing record player. I usually don't work in solid state and am certainly no record player expert. Mistakes were made and blunders abounded. But it all came together in the end.

[@tamarad6561]

As the child of the prior owners of this console I am thrilled it has a new life and looks like the beautiful piece of furniture I remember from my childhood.

[@misterradio5035]

We at the museum REALLY appreciate the donation! I had a LOT of fun taking it all apart and giving it a new life. I will actually be kind of sad when it leaves my garage and goes to the museum. I've been listening to it for 2-3 days now. Again- we appreciate this a whole lot!

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

It's a great piece and someone will make a generous donation to the museum to help sustain them in turn to own it. They should be able to care for it and enjoy it many years to come. I'm happy you are pleased.

[@semperfi-1918]

@@misterradio5035 i love listening to the old furniture and wonderful sound it makes

[@freeagentmick]

My family had one of these. I remember when they bought it new. Awesome sound. We were allowed to play Beatles Albums on it, but no “Hippie music!” Gotta love the Greatest Generation. Good memories.

[@Buglet720]

Because AFC locks onto the station, it is best to have it off while tuning, otherwise the AFC will hold the lock as long as possible, even though you have tuned away from the station. Having AFC on while tuning may also cause theruner to skip over weaker stations in order to lock onto stronger ones.

[@philshifley4731]

Nice to see somebody spending time on a solid state unit. Most people just throw them away if they aren't powered by tubes. I don't understand but it's still kinda cool.

[@jorgeluis7349]

I really enjoy watching these restorations, specially on Consoles. As a kid in Mexico City we had a three channel Motorola (those were great) it did not have the original VM record player as in those times the electrical service was 120V 50Hz so it came equiped with a Garrard, Garrard was very popular in Mexico and just as a comment the SL series were the higher end of their normal turntables, SL stands for Synchro Lab. Thanks for bringing me such nice memories.

[@johnfordjr.5718]

Thanks for the memories,I kept my parents Kenmore 21 inch television console with tube and solid state circuitry amplifier going for 20 years after it was purchased 👍, and I do understand your frustration,cause those parts are extremely hard to find,especially now,but you did a a great job 👍, and I thought I was the only one who liked refurbishing ancient technologies for present uses.

[@iggyfritz7150]

I remember listening to Chicago transit authority, their first album on this console. The sound was loud clean and magical. This I believe was about 100 clean watts. It easily filled a large room. I remember it had a huge soundstage. Had this in my bedroom once with a total of 20 speakers rocking out areosmith, zeppelin, who, sabbath. Great memories. Cant forget the black light and posters ❤😂

[@edwardhannigan6324]

That would certainly fill up a room..! Nice work on that cabinet. Great fix with the record player.. Super nice all round, and it works tubes, or no tubes in this case..Ed..uk..😀

[@alanbuck9237]

Great video. I love the style of that console! It really cleaned up nicely. As for the record changer, the RCA changers of that era were pretty much junk. Even when brand new, they were nothing to brag about. In fact, my folks had one and the motor was so weak that it would stall the turntable out when it went through the change cycle.

[@pcno2832]

6:56 I think that was for tuning weak stations that would be blotted out if the AFC were on while tuning. Realistic had a similar feature ("Auto Magic") which turned off the AFC when it sensed the capacitance change from a hand on the tuning knob. Of course, for really weak stations, even turning on the AFC after tuning will cause most tuners to flip to the stronger station.

[@Denztoi]

Nice work I’m sure it will go quick. It looks very desirable. Keep the great videos coming!!

[@mjg263]

What a beautiful cabinet! Generally with a console when the selector switch is set to phono the power to the entire console is controlled by the changer switch (phono shuts everything off after last record finishes). That Garrard is set up to do that with the extra terminals on the Molex plug. Also I think it might need a preamp for the magnetic cartridge, most consoles came with a ceramic cartridge. That might be why the turntable sounds kinda tinny. Very nice piece, great find!

[@misterradio5035]

Well.... I just got contacted by another member and we found the right changer. I have all of the cabeling still. So we are going to swap out this one for the original. Might have to fabricate a bracket. But we are not in a rush to get this thing out the door anyway.

[@mjg263]

@@misterradio5035 very cool!

[@zulumax1]

17:32 Those small electrolytics on the preamp and tone control board tend to go open or alter the tone. The Magnavox console I recapped had several open or high esr readings and I think they were only 10 volt 5 mfd, but were almost all bad. If you don't have an esr meter, I have seen Shango066 run audio through them to check them. A set of test leads in series with a speaker.

[@misterradio5035]

I may do that... The unit has been functioning well for the past 4-5 days. We have an ESR meter over at the museum and its easy to yank the tuiner chassis to check. We have time as its not going to be until summer for this one to go to a show

[@zulumax1]

@@misterradio5035 I have a series of videos up on the Magnavox Astrosonic console and that journey. Part 1 is when I brought it home and powered it on a dim bulb. One dead channel. I used the blonde colored Old English for the finish restore since it is maple cabinet. I do have the chocolate dark as well.

[@misterradio5035]

@@zulumax1 I have not had great luck with Astrosonics for some reason. The small electrolytics in this RCA are Mitsubishis, which I've had pretty good luck with from this era. But maybe we will yank the tuner chassis anyway.

[@zulumax1]

@@misterradio5035 When I bought the console I was actually looking for a tube powered one, but the cabinet and grille cloth was so nice on this transistor one and paid almost nothing for it. I decided to bring it home. I figured it was cheap and something to learn on, and if I screw it up? No big loss, but it came out just fine after changing the driver transistors to fix the noise issue. Germanium transistors not easy to source.

[@misterradio5035]

@@zulumax1 Yeah, Germaniums are a sort of pain. My daily driver is a 3 channel Motorola console with 6V6 and 12AX7 tubes. Prior was a weird hybrid Fisher transistor/tube unit. The output transistors were hosed. It took me months to find replacements. early Solid state is so fragile.

[@justincase3880]

The monster consoles were boss/badass for a short time .. until component stereos swept in .. first time I heard “Sunshine …” by Cream (Eric, Ginger, etc .. Ginger’s drumming booming out the left channel), was on one of these …

[@cjmarsh504]

That RCA console sounds pretty good for it's age.

[@greggaieck4808]

Mister Radio the RCA solid State streo system is cool oid radios receivers are cool

[@IDPhotoMan]

That's so cool to hear that you found the correct turntable. Awesome!

[@Zickcermacity]

2:35 That has got to be theeee biggest oval speaker driver I've ever seen! 4x10s and 6x9s in cars was about it, but this must be, what, 7x14"?

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

I think it's 9"x15"

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

See General Electric coaxial television. Like 18 or 22 inches. I had one....

[@Jammerk40]

I like your work! You always seem to get things going! I like those stereo consoles some of them had very wonderful sound! My parents had one they got back in the later 60's to 70's range by Magnavox! Two 6X9 on each side and two tweeters in front of the cabinet! Man did that thing put out some sound!

[@bones007able]

The forum I belong to, all the members are scared to death of SS , mainly because of the compactness of the circuit boards , tube sets are easy as it is mostly all point to point wiring...I work on both , and I find SS is not any more difficult to repair than a tube set once you understand the circuit ...the voltage polarity is due to the transistors are PNP ...

[@elcocineroamericano]

That RCA Victor Annapolis was one of the most desirable consoles to collectors until you took a saw to it. The original changer in those is iconic and matches the aesthetic of the cabinet and electronics, and they do turn up once in a while.

[@misterradio5035]

Note: Someone had ALREADY taken a saw to the area where the record changer had been. So there wasn't much I could do other than find something that would fit the gaping hole left by the previous owner..... So you tell me.... What was I supposed to do?

[@misterradio5035]

Update: So one of our members found one of the original changers in their stash. So its going to be fixed to accept that changer. Our record player guys are pretty good and we're not in a hurry to unload this. I might make an update here later

[@hestheMaster]

@@misterradio5035 Glad to hear that Seth .Some of these audiophiles can be picky about things like that.

[@randymoyer5351]

@@misterradio5035 I say that use what ever You Had on hand, as no ones going to see the Motor Board Under the Player, and sice its now working shouldn't be an issue, and Them speakers in those Players are good too, i have A pair of those Just Like the Big ones, need Cases for them.

[@geraldford6409]

SAd someone cut it- better to make wood adapter plates/pieces as needed to non-destructively adapt an incompatible assembly

[@mikegross6107]

Don't forget the 45 RPM adapter for those little, 45 records with the large holes! Other than that, I wish I lived closer to you and was able to snatch that sucker up!

[@benkeysor7576]

RCA just liked to be a little complicated, kinda like Philco but this kinda of Console was getting towards the end of the good stuff. Not too long after this you had the MDF and plastic cabinets that were completely crap.

[@misterradio5035]

This one is definitely..... "cheap". As in I found an internal RCA brief about it and it was like the engineers were in a pissing contest to make it as cheap as humanly possible.

[@benkeysor7576]

@@misterradio5035 well it's still a nice one and seems to be of decent quality. It's also better than the stuff that came after it in the 70's. Just a few years ago a local person to me had a cheap 70's console he was dead set on getting like $200.00 out of. Even to this day I see plastic late 70's stuff that people think are valuable.

[@misterradio5035]

@@benkeysor7576 Oh yeah. I mean sure, its better than for example- the car stereos Zenith started sticking into OSB, plastic wood clad consoles. I restored one like that recently and it was NOT enjoyable as it was so depressingly shitty

[@freddavidson73]

Glorious!!

[@pcno2832]

15:42 I'll venture a guess that back in the mid 1960s, PNP transistors were still significantly cheaper than NPNs, and since a typical amplification stage uses a common-emitter configuration, the emitter, which requires a positive voltage, would be connected on the ground side, making a chassis ground that's positive relative to the supply rail the most convenient way to arrange things.

[@pcno2832]

33:30 Wasn't the usual arrangement with those consoles to have the power for the turntable cut off unless the selector/power switch was in the "PHONO" setting, then use the switched power from the changer (the original changer probably had an extra lead on its power socket) to power the amplifier only in the "PHONO" position, so that when in that position, the amplifier would shut off automatically after the last record? That would require tapping into the switched connection to the Garrard's motor, but with germanium transistors costing an arm and a leg, it might be worth it to avoid accidentally leaving the amplifier powered up overnight.

[@greggaieck4808]

Mister Radio your wife's new car is cool

[@leyland9999]

That auto AFC construction is actually a very clever design. Tuning is better done with the AFC off so that a weaker station between two stronger stations is not overlooked. As a matter of fact, I hardly ever used AFC. I mean, a tuner should be stable enough to grab and hold an FM station. AFC can conceal a mediocre tuner design. I also see the AM loopstick is not rotatable. A major design flaw…..As you know, such AM antenna’s are directional and since such a piece of furniture is at a fixed spot in the room and not to be turned around all the time, it seriously limits the receiving capabilities on AM, back in those days a very important band.

[@hestheMaster]

One of 47 models of RCA Victor New Vista stereo sets at least according to my 1972 RCA Victor R-P-T Service Data Index. I hate doing research on stuff like this to get a good substitute for the record changer for instance. Any mid sixies Garrard would be OK but not the original, which would be preferred. Yours was a little rough but cleaned and lubed it seems an alright substitute for now. Sounds great. Adding a Blueooth feature is also a great thing for a modern touch.

[@greggaieck4808]

Mister Radio my hobbys are painting pictures and lisining to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license I have 4 shortwave receivers

[@ninjabluewings]

Looking at them speakers in that cabinet it must sound AMAZING!!!

[@greggaieck4808]

Mister Radio streo system cabinet look good

[@TheBeau1957]

Brilliant! I gave the video a thumbs up & subscribed. 🙃

[@pcno2832]

29:20 I bought up 3 saber saws with scrolling knobs just as they stopped selling them (still a couple listed at wallmart that are supposedly new, but I don't know if they are actually shipping them). That would be the ideal tool for a job like this, where there is little room to maneuver the body of the saw.

[@dannysunay4386]

Man oh man! You did a magnificent fuckin job on this godamn radio!!!

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

A smooth talking car salesman talked you into a new car.

[@barfoonisland2003]

The Garrard 50 was the standard record changer. The SL-55 has a synchronous motor for a more accurate constant speed. Also the original RCA record changer most likely had a ceramic cartridge. A magnetic cartridge would have a lower output and you would need a pre-amp to make it compatible with the RCA amp. I've done this before in the past. BTW, would you say the cabinet style is Danish modern ?

[@dougd1115]

Was thinking it may need a pre-amp also. Kind of sounded like it was humming when he turned on the table.

[@barfoonisland2003]

@@dougd1115 The green wire with the spade lug usually is attached to chassis ground. That cancels out the hum. It's customary with magnetic cartridges but I'm not sure about ceramic cartridges. Note to Stef, that aluminum wheel with the "cogs' is called a cycle cam according to Garrard

[@hifijohn]

Im guessing those two big electrolytics are output caps, they keep the dc out of the speakers because the amps power supply is single ended (not +/-)

[@Zickcermacity]

That has got to be theeee biggest oval speaker driver I've ever seen! 4x10s and 6x9s in cars was about it, but this must be, what, 7x14"?

[@woodhonky3890]

I came here to make the same comment! Those appear to be huge for an oval speaker.

[@bobwigg761]

Excellent job on this, but I do have an observation. I believe that the record changer is supposed to be wired so that when the system is set to Phono instead of the Radio or Aux position, all power should switch off when the changer shuts off. I noticed that you had to turn the main power off manually after the changer shut off. Maybe because the changer isn’t the OEM unit. Either way, this turned out great.

[@misterradio5035]

Well, after I finished this video one of the guys texted me and said he has the correct changer. We might need to make some small mods to the cabinet to restore the proper mounting configuration but it'll be better than the one I stuck in there

[@dougbrowning82]

@@misterradio5035 Having the original RCA Studiomatic changer will greatly increase the value of the console.

[@wildcman]

The one that we had was a smaller one this should have had a RCA branded BSR changer with a ceramic cartridge which a flip needle for 33/78

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

If you were tuning to a weaker station adjacent to a strong station you would generally need to disengage the AFC. That tuning knob and button make it a snap.... Literally!

[@gerardcarriera7052]

I often wondered why RCA used the New Vista trademark on solid state stuff even though it was an acronym for the nuvister tube?

[@juanmiguelcarballo3200]

Saludos desde Cuba.

[@geraldford6409]

NIce MCM display piece.

[@anthonylawrence60]

i think you will find the buzzing is caused by the turntable no longer floating on its springs .From what i can see you have screwed the thing right down to the wood

[@ryanshon4412]

Long shot here but I have this exact cabinet and only one side of the speakers is being powered. The other side is extremely soft. If I switch the speakers around on the chassis it switches which speakers work. What needs to be replaced if there's obviously an issue on just one side sending power to the speakers?

[@danielbarlow8565]

I know this is a year old post but i have a similar console. Did you have any problems with sound coming through either channel? I am getting sounds out of the midrange but not the large woofer on the left side and trying to troubleshoot

[@andershammer9307]

Why didn't you get a proper RCA record changer ? I might have one.

[@sensibill1]

transitor theory has the current in the opposite direction

[@andershammer9307]

I have an RCA Living Stereo tube console radio phonograph and a Subaru Crosstrek that is blue.

[@davidhamm5626]

You have pnp transistors, in the set.

[@marka1986]

Pnp germanium transistors require a positive ground

[@patrickbrabham4400]

I got a similar era RCA that uses the same huge oval woofers. I not sure I would agree that they did it as a space saving thing since the console that I've got the woofers are on the sides and there would have been plenty of room for full 12-in round woofers. Makes me think RCA was just doing something they thought was different and better, as if this kind of woofer was just simply their specialty or whatever

[@misterradio5035]

I'll have to go dig up the service bulletin we found. I thought we had read somewhere where the engineers screwed up with cabinet design or something and the origional speakers they wanted to put in there didn't fit. That and the engineers were all kidding about how cheaply made the amp was and yet.... It worked fine.

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

RCA had many consoles with the big oval woofers. I have a pair of Benjamin speakers that have oval woofers. They really fill out the speaker board.

[@woodhonky3890]

@@misterradio5035 Did you measure those large ovals?

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

When you say "The Museum," what museum are you speaking of?

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Would it not be better if they had used a Turntable that plays records the way the master is cut on a record cutting lathe.

[@davethomas7088]

How does one purchase a console youve worked?

[@SDS-1]

8x10 woofers?

[@CaiusRo]

That record player was a huge no no. The console deserved better. No offence but the museum should have helped. Not your fault though. I wouldn't buy that crap

[@misterradio5035]

After completing the set I was notified that one member has the correct player. So... we will be removing the garard and installing that one instead. As far as " crap".... let's get real for a second. The ONLY reason this set is desirable is because of the cabinet style. I would bet serious money that if this were in say.... the " French Provential" styled cabinet you wouldn't have given it the time of day. Because in reality? The electronics in this thing and the cabinet are not what I would call "great". Not by a long shot. Its made at the tail end of the American consumer electronics industry and the drop in quality on it compared to what I usually work on is appalling. And the original record player was crap too. Ironically the one in it now is an upgrade. But Like I said.... the correct unit is on its way.

[@CaiusRo]

@@misterradio5035 hmmm didn't know this type was considered cheap. You did the best you could with what you had, that I am sure