Advice please

[Bbdave]

I have my father's old Quad 303 and 33 tuner also an SME tone arm arm, the 33 has a channel not working he told me.
It has been languishing in my loft for 3 years but im starting to think if its worth getting working.
All I want is a decent record player to listen to and wandered if I'd be better off selling these bits to fund a fully operational system?

Dave

[Macca]

I'd sell the 33 for spares or repairs, keep the 303 and get a passive pre-amp and a phono stage.

Assuming the speakers you have are compatible with the 303

[Bbdave]

I'd sell the 33 for spares or repairs, keep the 303 and get a passive pre-amp and a phono stage.

Assuming the speakers you have are compatible with the 303

I dont have any speakers or any idea what a passive pre amp or phono stage is but ill google those. I do have a thorens td160 to use if I can figure out how to fit the tone arm to it.

Dave

[Macca]

I dont have any speakers or any idea what a passive pre amp or phono stage is but ill google those. I do have a thorens td160 to use if I can figure out how to fit the tone arm to it.

Dave

For speakers you'll need something the QUAD 303 is comfortable with driving, that usually means vintage speakers of 8 ohm or above nominal impedance.

Something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136344695338?

Or these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/136635363158?

Not saying go for these specific models but just to give you an idea of the sort of thing to look for. If you have a large room you might want to go bigger.

I can't help with fitting or calibrating the tonearm - I'm no turntable expert - but plenty of members here who can advise on that if you need assistance. It's important that it's done right or it will sound bad.

[hifi_dave]

I have my father's old Quad 303 and 33 tuner also an SME tone arm arm, the 33 has a channel not working he told me.
It has been languishing in my loft for 3 years but im starting to think if its worth getting working.
All I want is a decent record player to listen to and wandered if I'd be better off selling these bits to fund a fully operational system?

Dave

Contact Quad service about the 33. They will put it right for a reasonable sum.

You should be able to find instructions for the SME on the www.

[Bbdave]

Thanks for the replies I'm just not sure i have the expertise , knowledge or money to get it all working and just wander if a ready to go system would suit me better as I only have a small room to use it in. I could just put it back in the loft for a few more years.

Dave

[Wakefield Turntables]

Send it to Quad, saves a lot of buggering about and they are very reasonable.

[Pigmy Pony]

Pro-ject do a lot of low-cost phono stages, like this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197791366...Bk9SR-KKvKrCZg

And get something like this to plug into it. Simpler than trying to get your SME set up into an armless deck (save that fun 'n' games for a later date).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/277455295...Bk9SR6zRiKvCZg

And speakers as per Macca's suggestion. Or maybe KEF or Celestion.

Just a thought.

[majex45]

Please don't put them back in the loft. The environment in lofts is not kind to delicate electornics and or metal mechanisms.
Lofts are usually cold (above the insulation layer) and hot in summer and this causes condensation, I've seen many a lovely piece of equipment ruined by regular layers of condensation. In one case a steel item in a plastic bag that was completely rusted to black dust and crumbled when touched.
If size is no object I like these, not fashionable but give a very good performance for little money.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297737932...Bk9SR67_ztrKZg

Nothing to do with me, there are several pair available for low prices as they are too big for most modern houses.