Its all his fault.......

[Gordon Steadman]

.. that Firebottle bloke has a lot to answer for.

I was rummaging around in the loft, as one does, amongst all the boxes that have been there since we moved in six years ago. What should I find but a huge pile of 78s. I always intended to get them recorded somehow.

But...... I no longer have anything with tone controls or filters (which I reckon would be necessary) 'cos that Firebottle person made me a swap offer that I couldn't refuse and my Quad 34 now resides elsewhere.

After a bit of "oh bugger" I remembered that even deeper in said boxes was a Sugden C51 control unit.

I tried the net but there is no clear help. So, if anyone knows I would appreciate a bit of guidance.

I need to use it on its own. As I understand it, it was designed to be used with the partnering amp and voltage flows both ways.

Is it possible?? The output socket says 'output' and 'low tension' but I have no idea which pins carry what or indeed, if the preamp will operate at all without the amp or if the amp just gets it voltage from the C51. As there is no transformer in the C51, I assume that I will need to input some DC somewhere.

It has a mains socket and it all lights up happily when I switch on but I am loathe to experiment without checking with you hexperts first.

[DSJR]

If nobody can help here, ask Sugden themselves ;)

[Gordon Steadman]

If nobody can help here, ask Sugden themselves ;)

Funnily enough I sent hem an email about ten minutes after posting here. Not sure why I didn't think of it before, presumably decrepitude:doh:

[Barry]

The Sugden C51 preamp is powered by 16 -18 volts applied to pins 1 and 4 of the "output" DIN socket. Pins 3 and 5 carry the two audio signals.

The design of the C51 followed the convention used by earlier valve amplifiers. The mains supply was switched on/off at the preamp (often called a control unit) and the switched mains then supplied the power amplifier. The DC power supply of the power amplifier was then used to provide the DC voltage required by the preamplifier.

Thus, when you plug the C51 into the mains and switch it on by turning the volume control clockwise, the neon will light and the two three-pin sockets on the rear of the preamp are energised. One of these would be used to supply mains power to the A51 power amp. The DIN socket on the power amp connects to the DIN socket on the C51, carrying both the L and R audio signals and the low voltage supply to the preamp.

[Gordon Steadman]

The Sugden C51 preamp is powered by 16 -18 volts applied to pins 1 and 4 of the "output" DIN socket. Pins 3 and 5 carry the two audio signals.

The design of the C51 followed the convention used by earlier valve amplifiers. The mains supply was switched on/off at the preamp (often called a control unit) and the switched mains then supplied the power amplifier. The DC power supply of the power amplifier was then used to provide the DC voltage required by the preamplifier.

Thus, when you plug the C51 into the mains and switch it on by turning the volume control clockwise, the neon will light and the two three-pin sockets on the rear of the preamp are energised. One of these would be used to supply mains power to the A51 power amp. The DIN socket on the power amp connects to the DIN socket on the C51, carrying both the L and R audio signals and the low voltage supply to the preamp.

Thanks Barry,

I just need a power supply then. There is space on the back for another modern socket or two so I'll have a play:)

[Firebottle]

I'll sort a little power supply out for you Gordon.
Plenty of stuff in the 'spare' stock. You should be able to bolt it in somewhere.

:cool:Alan

[Gordon Steadman]

I'll sort a little power supply out for you Gordon.
Plenty of stuff in the 'spare' stock. You should be able to bolt it in somewhere.

:cool:Alan

It had better be very little then Alan, its all a bit tight in there.

I suspect I will end up bringing it with me:eyebrows: :cool:

[Barry]

I used a C51 for several years, powered by a simple external power supply.

The power supply used a Gardeners's transformer with a 24V secondary winding, a simple bridge rectifier, 250uF smoothing capacitor and two 16V Zener diodes to drop the voltage down to 16V (one for each channel). Nowadays using a 16V regulator would be the preferred option.

Sadly, there isn't really enough room inside the case of the C51 to house a power supply.

[southall-1998]

Pair of Tannoy Cheviot Speakers.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tannoy-Cheviot-Dual-Concentric-Speakers-Reconed-by-Lockwood-Audio-/310658711112?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudio HiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item4854b3be48

EDIT: This was supposed to go in the ''Bargains on ebay'' section!

[Roy S]

Pair of Tannoy Cheviot Speakers.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tannoy-Cheviot-Dual-Concentric-Speakers-Reconed-by-Lockwood-Audio-/310658711112?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudio HiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item4854b3be48

Spotted them earlier, hmmmm :interesting: