Mort’s TV & Video Blog

So you’re in the market for a record player or tape player. As a store that specializes in vintage audio repair in PA, we have a few suggestions on what you should consider before you make your purchase.

Select a Source Component

First, figure out what you want. The source component is the part of the vintage audio equipment where you put in the music media (record, tape or CD). Once you have this part narrowed down, you can build your vintage stereo from there.

Inspect the Equipment

Take the time to go over the source component. You don’t want to make a purchase and then have to immediately hand it over to us for vintage audio repair! Take a look at any belts or other parts that can be easily damaged. Ask the current owner about any recent repair work done to the equipment.

Choose an Amplifier

The amplifier is one of the most important parts of your new audio equipment. There are a few different options: a separate preamp and power amp, a stereo receiver or an integrated amp. There are two things you should keep in mind. The first is the amp’s watts per channel. If you are just using the equipment for home use, a lower wattage amp should work just fine. The second thing to keep in mind is the total harmonic distortion (THD). This means how much you can expect the amplifier to decrease the sound quality from the recording. Many consider the 1970s to be the best era for amps, and amps from that time frame will usually have a THD of less than 0.1%.

Pick Speakers

Look at the size of the speaker cones and how many the speakers come with. Three cones are best – a woofer, a mid and a tweeter – will generally produce a better and richer sound than speakers that only have two cones. Again, be sure to inspect the speakers before you buy them and look for any obvious signs of damage so you’re not bringing it to us right after you buy it for vintage audio repair.

Do some research before you make any definite decisions about buying any vintage audio equipment. While we offer some of the best vintage audio repair services in the area, you should be sure the equipment you are buying is in the best shape possible.

But when you do need vintage audio repair in PA, call Mort’s TV & Video at 215-945-8381 or Contact Us.

A lot of music fans are also fans of vintage audio equipment. There are few things that are more thrilling to a vintage audio and music fan than finding that perfect record album or perfect record player. So what are a few precautionary measures you can take to ensure vintage audio repair isn’t in your future? As a company that provides vintage audio repair in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas, we have a few suggestions for you.

Most vintage audio equipment is not still under warranty, so you will not have to worry about voiding it. If you suspect the equipment is dirty and needs to be cleaned out, use a soft brush to dust off the power supply and circuit boards. Do not use compressed air because it could damage the components of the equipment. The air could send the dust and dirt onto other components. And then you will definitely need more help with vintage audio repair! (You can use a Q-tip moistened with isopropyl alcohol to clean smaller parts of the equipment.)

If you are using a turntable, try to remember to not lift the record off of it until the turntable has come to a full and complete stop. If you do that, you could damage the needle, not to mention the record itself. Try to keep your records clean as well. Clean records play better and sound better. Plus, when the stylus hits the record to play it, it can push the dust and other dirt into the record and cause permanent damage.

However, when you’re in doubt about how to properly clean your vintage audio equipment, or if you suspect you’re in need of vintage audio repair, call on professionals like the ones at Mort’s TV & Video.

For more information on vintage audio repair in Bethlehem, call Mort’s TV & Video at 215-945-8381 or you can Contact Us.

Vintage turntables are often seen as a collector’s item. They are incredibly popular and thanks to a resurgence in vinyl’s popularity over the past couple of years, vintage turntables are a hot item. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re buying a vintage turntable. We here at Mort’s TV & Video are experts in vintage audio repair, so if you end up buying a used turntable and it needs some TLC, we’re here to help with all of your vintage audio repair needs!

Vintage turntables are popular not just for their retro feel, but also because they can play 78s, which are records that are played at 78 RPMs. Most of the time, 78s were made before 1940, so you’ll find a lot of old music on them – classical, blues, jazz, etc. Trustworthy vintage audio repair is especially needed for these older record players!

These older turntables are usually made out of plastic, steel or aluminum. A plastic turntable is generally less expensive than steel or aluminum. They became popular in the 1980s, and they usually have weak-running motors, no mats and a plastic plinth and the plastic arms generally won’t have any counterweight. Turntables used to be made out of steel because they were less costly to make, but it also resulted in more unstable motor speeds, which were then more pronounced when one listens to a record. An aluminum turntable was generally more expensive but it has a much higher sound quality, and these turntables were topped with rubber. There was less friction and noise because ball bearings or roller bearings were used in the spindle.

Another thing to look at is the drive type of the turntable. A belt drive system uses a less expensive motor than an idler-wheel drive system, but it still absorbs a lot of the vibrations and motor noise. An idler-wheel drive system was the most common type until the 1970s. This was a rubberized drive system that wore down and decomposed over time, which could mean that if you buy one, vintage audio repair might be in the cards for you later down the road! A direct drive system is usually one that you see in DJs turntables, not audio turntables. These caused the motors to vibrate, which would then cause the entire record to vibrate. So these types of turntables are not produced that often anymore.

When you buy a vintage turntable, maintaining it is key. Finding a reputable and trustworthy vintage audio repair shop is your first step.

So when you need vintage audio repair, call or visit Mort’s TV & Video. Call us at 215-945-8381 or Contact Us to learn more about vintage audio repair.

Collecting vintage audio equipment can be pretty addictive. When you’re an audiophile, you’ll take any excuse you can get to go out and buy a new piece of equipment. Vinyl has been making a comeback for years now – there’s even an annual event called Record Store Day (April 19, 2014) that celebrates independently-owned record stores. Participating stores offer special discounts on vinyl and other music formats. And thanks to this surge in all things vintage audio, a service like vintage audio repair in New Jersey is even more necessary than ever.

So why are people so gung-ho about vintage audio equipment, leading to this need for vintage audio repair? Well, for one thing, vintage audio equipment has a clear and outstanding sound quality to it. People who truly appreciate this type of old-school equipment probably have a keen ear for music. Audiophiles believe vintage audio equipment is superior to what’s available nowadays, and they will search high and low for just the right equipment or parts. And when their precious apparatus breaks, vintage audio repair is all the more necessary!

Plus, people seem to have a soft spot for things that remind them of their childhood and teen years. CDs and even tapes are relatively “new” when compared to vinyl and 8-tracks. So when people want to take a trip down memory lane, they often think of putting a record on a turntable and dancing and singing along. And when that turntable breaks, they want vintage audio repair they can trust! After all, sometimes it’s hard to find just the right turntable, so folks don’t want to trust their vintage audio repair to just any old store.

And that’s where Mort’s TV & Video comes in. We are a trusted name in vintage audio repair around New Jersey and we can repair just about any piece of vintage audio equipment. So when you need our help, give us a call at 215-945-8381 or Contact Us.