1960s Magnavox Astro Sonic Console Stereos (PART 3: Finale) 

good job in restoring these lovely console systems

I seen some of those arms on the turn tables go crazy never knew what it was all about but after watching your video I understand what causes some of the problems!!! Good video Brad!!!👍🏼😊

Thanks for thorough video Have you seen situation when auto mode just returns to rest? Also with records stacked that the arm swings out BEFORE the records drop?

The overarm on the older changer looks like it was transplanted from a V-M.

The 1965 unit is the closest one I've seen on any videos that resemble the one my parents bought in I think 1964 but it may have been 1965. It was a great unit with that sounded great with radio and records (33 & 45's). My mother played a lot of classical music on it and my Dad played country on Saturday nights and football, (am) on Saturday afternoons. I seem to remember it having tubes but I may have been seeing light from the control panel. One thing that was different was it had a Timbre control. It currently sits in my Dad's garage with a bunch of empty cardboard boxes on top of it. I am thinking of relieving him of it if he will let it go. He's almost 95 years old and will never use it again. I checked the speakers when I was a kid(always looking at details of things) and remember it having 4"X10" horn tweeters and 15" woofers. Like I said, it sounded amazing back then. Our friends always wanted us to play records on it and it would get very loud but had a lot of headroom, too.

Well done Brad. That Micromatic really brought back some memories. Good catch on the wow/flutter. I totally thought rubber wheel slippage and not motor (didn't EVERYTHING have those type motors back in the day?). Really well done.

i bought one those flat adapters and found it also works on the older micromatics with the black or white tonearms

RadioTv Phononut Repaired A 1965 Magnivox Astro Home Console Stereo System & All He Had To Do Is Replace One Of The Transisters. Before He Replaced The Transister It Tuned In Stations Good But After He Replaced the Old Transister It Really Tuned In Staions Alot Better Then It Did Before.

I got a 78 magnavox round box table, with radio and 8track. Was free and happy all I had to do was put the needle back in. Missing the 45 adapter tho.

Nice work on this. I have the same amp in a different cab, and you've given me all kinds of ideas! When it comes to music reproduction, do you find your Astrosonic to be a bit on the boom-y side and missing some necessary highs? Mine sounds great with records up through the '70s, but when I play anything from the '80s on (Def Leppard, Kix, Prince, Kaiser Cheifs) it seems to distort a bit in the higher frequencies. I also dumped my surround system and use the aux in for the tv in my living room, but again, I'm noticing the highs are off. Any ideas?

HI! I have the older console with the arm that gets hooked. For some reason stayed in the middle of the way to the record and did not go down or come back. I watched the videos and I do not know if I missed information about arm problem-solution or if this is not in the videos. Please advise.

What type of grease did you use for the phonograph motor? Is it the same grease for the mechanical parts?

I Have Relation Downthere In Louisville I Live In Minnesota. I Used To Go Downthere Every Summer To See Then. I Used To Do Some Electronics Projects With My Uncle Boby. Cause That's What He Liked Doing. Boy He Could Fix Almost Anything. If I Lube Anything I Use Lucas Red Or Green Machinery Grease.

i have a collaro[Magnavox] similar to that but has a taller spindle that was giving me the same trouble as that . how did you fix that?

I've got a changer slightly newer than the one on the right that seems to work quite smoothly in the changing cycle

These old consoles are cool... I'd love to fiddle with these as a project, but I've already got some beauty vintage turntables that are much better fidelity wise. I've got too many side projects... I wish I could make my living playing with this stuff, but alas, I must keep fixing computers as I've done for years

Boy I wished I knew someone that could get my turntable working in the Zenith stereo I have. Was given to me by my brother in law after my sister passed away..so many memories of her and I back in the 70's listening to Elvis and Jackson Five. Sad. Just sitting in the corner.

Love your work very cool to see the restoration process. Any idea how much these things are worth?

I also noticed that the tone arm cover looked like the 1965 model. I always presumed that those units were complicated but wow, I don't think I want to tear into one like you did. Maybe replace caps or anything else that looks bad.

What is the golden arm called next to the tonearm called? A record pressure arm? Mine somehow got stuck after a friend tried to play records, and I can't seem to figure out how to safely get it unstuck. Also can't find the manual anywhere. Any tips?

Hi I have a magnavox astro-sonic stereo high fidelity imperial series 1rp704 console. The turntable started making a noise and dragging...can anyone help me with some info!!!!!!! Thank you

What oil do you use for lubrication ? I need to clean my console Magnavox console console.

Thank You so much for sharing your detailed analysis. Do you offer consultation service? Also, what would you expect the sale price to be for the micromatic cabinet?

That overarm is from a Voice of Music changer, not a Collaro.

I have one nearly identical to the larger one which I use every day. The model no. Is 1ST639

Exuse me sir but could you please contact me in some way, I have a Magnavox Astro Sonic Console, turntable works fine, radio kinda works, but I am missing the needle, I have already looked for a model number and I can't find anything

the needle you really need for that cartridge is ev2619

EV 2620 or 2622 may also be good replacement needles

i have one just a few years newer[1967 or'68 and it suddenly decided to not work properly. Any Idea what would have caused this?

What oil are you lubricating the motors with?

Thank you so much for such great videos on these pieces, I've watched all three in the series! I have the Magnavox Stereophonic Hi-Fidelity (the second one you worked on)...a Craigslist find for me too. My issue is the turntable does not spin. Can you give me some tips for that? Also how exactly did you remove the turntable from the stereo (there are small clips I don't want to break to remove). Once again ty so much for ALL the tips n tricks :)

there's a pointed piece on the switch that may be causing the problem with knob not turning all the way

Maybe the owner had a cat that sat on top of the stereo produced the fur you found.

I have a 19'69 version of this, the Flamenco. It sounds amazing. The TT motor isn't working well but otherwise pretty good. If anyone wants it, write me. I'm in NY.

on the older one with the big arm it does lock the arm into place and in order to lock it u just set it on the arm rest and push down on it and it locks it down. I own 2 of them stereos and they do lock down when u push down on it above the arm rest while it's sitting on the arm rest just push down but not very hard or forceful just push down snug and it lock into place. try it. the older ones was made like that.

ev 2623 is actually the one you'd need for the older stereo

Magnavox seemed to be a very popular brand back in those days:however, the only thing I didn’t like about their changers is that you couldn’t repeat a record automatically. I wonder why Magnavox’s changers wouldn’t repeat.

How do I safely transport one of these?

I just bought a Magnavox Astro-Sonic console that looks very similar. Sliding top with speaker switching on left side. Mine is Model # 4ST677. Only some static heard when clicking the speaker selector. Turntable looks same as yours. One owner family seller. Great video, but that first album......wow, horrible.

Don't take the clips off. They flip vertically. Clean the drive system, you contaminated it (motor steps, idler wheels, inner platter rim). Oil the motor bearings.

i used an old toothbrush and fels naptha soap on an idler pulley it sparkles and turns at perfect speed

I have a very similar changer but mine was a lot cleaner when it came

cigarette smoke is the worst thing ever.. I bought a vox amp from a smoker last year, it was so bad I had to let it air out in the garage for a couple of months and it still smelled some. Not sure what removes smoke stain/smell from tolex and other substances... drier sheets??

Amazon Has Needles Too.

yes the wow and flutter went away in a big way. those motors are very powerful but need to be oiled occasionally

ugh! What does cigarette smoke not damage, including human beings? I've had my share of refurbishing smoker gear, what a pain!

mice may have been in that

I get these all the time... they're a positive TREAT to work on over the real monsters... the worst ever being a relative of Dual called "Perpetuum Ebner" or P/E... with the most comically insane over-engineered west German changer mech. Both the Dual and P/E use a system based around a thing called a "stuerpimple"... and they might as well have called it the G spot... it's sent many techs to the loony bin... because they get to a point where adjustments are no longer possible... and the real reason for this abomination is, that it was the only way these makers could avoid patents on the other more tried and true, basic changer mechanisms... so they were forced to reinvent the wheel, but forced to do so using a FORK... AND a STUERPIMPLE... and next in line were the Garrards... slightly better engineered, and Repairs are at least POSSIBLE... but they'll send you down a week long rabbit hole as well. Mostly the micros only ever need adjustments... having two idlers makes them infinitely more reliable... aside from the drive idlers, which are very prone to becoming rock hard and irreparable... the rubber actually breaks down. And unlike the zenith, VOM, BSR and Garrard, cannot be GROUND DOWN to good rubber. I know this from experience... when they go, they're gone, and nothing short of a new one works.

Obviously the wrong needle, that company you ordered from should have known better ... no wings for these models , they are all flip over

Buy the correct flip needle instead of hacking off the wrong needle. A LOT of bad advice given here.