Finally...it is out

Discussions about Motorola consoles, tube and solid state, stereo and mono.
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electra225
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1296Post electra225 »

I'll limit my attempts at humor. :oops:
I haven't failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.....Thomas Alva Edison
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1314Post hermitcrab »

Well here is my opinion on this set after putting it all back together.... maybe was expecting too much... I heard nothing but hype on how great motorola's sound , even the guy on Youtube DRH4683 claims they will blow you out of the house ...well maybe a higher tube model will....this vibrasonic thing is a carry over from the 50's when it was the 8-track of the day, everyone was putting those under the dash to give the echo effect ... in a home stereo , it's just a gimmick, motorola was just cashing in on the fad it was then ... you can barely hear it unless a commercial or someone is speaking ... then you get a hint of the echo effect.. music ? it reminds me of the timbre control on magnavox's a little more treble is all...the single output 6BQ5 are only good for 5 watts ... my Zenith ml2506 has the same amp... but after the 12AX7's they added a 6FQ7 driver to it before the outputs and it does have more bass, and volume ... IMO on this model motorola cheaped out on the amp to concentrate on the vibration thing for the bass.... it plays decent bass on the radio with the bass all the way up... playing records it is like non existent ... at least this set ....I have tried two different cartridges from Gary... they both sound the same ...it is what it is ....
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Motorola minion
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1326Post Motorola minion »

Hi Elton, Is this a Motorola SK112? I may be able to draw a good diagram of all those connections in mine.
Im using it right now for some jazz while I should be working. I used brady wire tags on this console and also my 62 Magnavox - I would never be able to draw or photograph sufficiently to get it all right again.

I agree that maybe I expected too much when I put it all back together. Yes, that stupid tape input is mono only, limited by that silly selector switch :(
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1350Post hermitcrab »

Hi it is the SK110MB... not sure what the difference would be with the 112
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Motorola minion
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1740Post Motorola minion »

hermitcrab wrote: ↑Tue Aug 24, 2021 9:27 pm Hi it is the SK110MB... not sure what the difference would be with the 112
It must be a different model if it uses single 6BQ5 for R+L channels. The 1963 SK107 I sold used the same for R+L amps but center channel amp is push pull 6V6 and it used a 10" woofer.

The 1963 SK112 uses a trio of push-pull 6V6 for all three channels. That is also same as my SKR151, Motorola's last tube console from 1964. For whatever reason, Motorola started the HiFi era with 6BQ5s and ended using 6V6s.

I would agree that records do not sound as good as FM on my two '63 models noted, I switched ceramic carts on both my players from a vintage Sonotone 9t (with hardened compliance) to an NOS Astatic 133 which was OEM issue. Neither sound real good. The EV 5595 was the recommended replacement and it too needs some type of EQ adjustment to sound better.
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1776Post hermitcrab »

Like I said ... I expected to much for what it is ... everyone knows a single 6BQ5 is only good for maybe 5 watts ... but the 6V6PP for the bass , I thought it would kick a** on the bass.. and on the radio it is decent ... the phono is lousy for bass and the vibrasonic for that matter....it is still a good performer for what it is... just wish they had another stage in the LR channel...
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1812Post Motorola minion »

The amp you have in the SK110 (HS-1051?) uses the same vibrasonic circuit as with my former SK107, not to good effect I would agree. These were advertised in the 1963 sales brochure as 20 watt amps, upgrade being the 51-watt with all three channels as PP 6V6.

The vibrasonic circuit of the SK112 also samples and adds speaker outputs from both P-P 6V6 R+L channels, also feeds back into the center channel amp, but which makes the effect quite different.

Vibrasonic setting of 2/10 is enough just like drh4683's youtube video notes. I even have a delco reverb in my 69 Grand Prix, its mainly useable on instrumental passages but vocals get badly mangled. Don't hit a bump either :roll:
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1815Post Firedome »

Had a Motorola 3 channel all with 6V6GTs, that one in the pic over there ---------->
It DID kick butt with the 15" center woofer and vibrasonic or whatever they called it, but mostly because of the good
amp, not sure it had anything to do with vibe unit.
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Re: Finally...it is out

Post: # 1874Post hermitcrab »

Motorola minion wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 5:21 pm The amp you have in the SK110 (HS-1051?) uses the same vibrasonic circuit as with my former SK107, not to good effect I would agree. These were advertised in the 1963 sales brochure as 20 watt amps, upgrade being the 51-watt with all three channels as PP 6V6.

The vibrasonic circuit of the SK112 also samples and adds speaker outputs from both P-P 6V6 R+L channels, also feeds back into the center channel amp, but which makes the effect quite different.

Vibrasonic setting of 2/10 is enough just like drh4683's youtube video notes. I even have a delco reverb in my 69 Grand Prix, its mainly useable on instrumental passages but vocals get badly mangled. Don't hit a bump either :roll:
I remember My dad had a reverb unit in one of his cars ... and you are correct hit a bump and TWANG! ... :lol:
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