KLH Model 20 Stereo Radio/Phono with University Sound spkrs

[bwiggity]

I have a KLH Model 20 that used to be my dad's, found in our storage unit. I plugged it in recently and it was playing slow. Probably need to lubricate and clean it out as it hasn't been used in quite a long time. But I can't seem to be able to lift up the plate to get at the inside with all the wiring? Hopefully you can help me out with this.

[bwiggity]

I have a KLH Model 20 that used to be my dad's, found in our storage unit. I plugged it in recently and it was playing slow. Probably need to lubricate and clean it out as it hasn't been used in quite a long time. But I can't seem to be able to lift up the plate to get at the inside with all the wiring? Hopefully you can help me out with this.

[LazarusLonger]

What model is the Garrard in that unit? Does it have fine-pitch adjustment capability?

[arthurkrieck]

The KLH units all had Pickering magnetic cartridges. You could purchase a 78 stylus too and 78s sounded superb on them. The Model 20 did indeed come with KLH 17 speakers, modified for 4 ohms, with a built-in bass boost. I used a KLH 20, also AM-FM, well into the 1980s and used the speakers long after that. I still have a pair of KLH Model 32s, with 8 inch woofers, that out-perform anything comparable today...and the bass drivers, with cloth surrounds, still sound marvelous after almost 40 years.

[benno6664]

Whats the song on the record??

[kraftpr]

I vividly remember a KLH self-contained portable back in my college days (around 1967). It was gray & speakers folded in and latched so it could be fairly easily toted about. We could sign one out from the college library overnight but if you were lucky to find one available on a Friday, you got it for the whole weekend! I was in heaven being able to listen to my classical recordings on that great-sounding machine. They had an amazing sound for the size.

[damusician]

Is that the RCA Victor Orthophonic HiFi next to the speakers and under the Hamilton record player that's similiar to my 1956 7HF45?

[retrochad]

Yes it is...I haven't got around to working on it yet but will definitely get to it sometime.

[gli7utubeo]

The KLH 20 used to come with a pair of KLH 17 speakers.

[clydesight]

Those old KLH machines were very fine indeed. Congrats on finding one that works so well after all these years! Quality sounds good and quality lasts! I wonder how many MP3 players will still be around and playing after 40+ years? Good luck with your GE, a comparison video of the two would be much appreciated!

Thanks for your video!

[KT88seamp]

It appears you have tons of this old audio junk, actually not. The new stuff is junk. How much time are you able to dedicate each day to repairing all that equipment?

[retrochad]

It's hard to do much during the week, after work and chores and errands and all that sort of stuff...I am able to do some on the weekends though.

[EmersonCollie]

Wow, that does sound good. Awesome. :)

[monkeylad44]

You damn lucky fool you!Lol I look for stuff like this all the time and I can't ever find

ANYTHING!Sounds great, they all look great too.

[pcgod8]

Wow... impressive sound quality!

[kirbykallen]

Awesome sound on this unit, Chad..What a find!

[KT88seamp]

That a tube or an SS unit?

[retrochad]

It's solid state...the circuitry is made to wrap around the turntable inside.

[HD41117]

Really interesting. I wonder about a couple of things: what was causing the pumping compression while playing the vinyl via phono? Was it the KLH or the camera? And what would make you want to change the caps on the GE before even turning it on? I'm relatively inexperienced when it comes to restoration and that sounds like something pretty important to look out for.

Thanks for making these videos. I enjoy them all.

[retrochad]

The compression was not in the live listening to the unit...It might possible be a limiter/compressor circuit in the camera but am not sure if it is there or somehow in Youtube itself.

I have found that on anything older than about 40 years old there are almost always bad electrolytic capacitors and sometimes they don't appear until after using the unit for a little while but can cause damage. This GE used a wax cardboard type of electrolytic whic h is almost certainly bad.

[vwestlife]

YouTube is reprocessing the audio with extra compression. They do this to almost all videos and it usually sounds awful. As far as I know, there's no way to get around it. :-(

[Nalora]

Wow, the GE looks awesome!!

[damusician]

i want those klh stereos especially the suitcase style one. even the speaker looks like klh too. i love paula abdul music too.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Vernier Dials very nice. Both look like good buys.

[wilkes85]

hey cool stereo!! OOOH I LOVE THAT GE!! get those capacitors in! I gotta hear it!! lol

and the other one is really cool too. I really like the control panel, and the radio dials.

Looks like someone put a magnetic cartrige on it, instead of the crystal or ceramic one that probabally would have originally came with it. I was considering putting a modern magnetic cartridge on my '67 RCA Victor, and installing a pre-amp in it, but then I couldn't play my 78s.

[tubeie07]

No problems there... There are many Shure cartridges that allow 78 stylus replacement stylus - and they are quite reasonably priced! Try 'Needle Daddy' on eBay :)

[retrochad]

Garage-a-records is good too...I checked the needle on this and it still looks good. I think it is the type you'd use on a Pickering NP/AC cartridge.

[retrochad]

As far as I can tell, it was originally equipped with magnetic for the best sound quality...I have seen other ones and they use the same cartridge set-up. Also a magnetic cartridge with 78 stylus will give really great sound from 78's.

[chrisw71]

those KLH's were great systems in the days when Henry Kloss was in charge.