Hello Everyone
First time posting here so thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help with my query.
Recently I inherited a Garrard AP 76 turntable and Armstrong 521 amplifier (both originally purchased in the early 1970s I believe). Excited that I finally had some classic vintage equipment to play my vinyl collection on I first took the two items to a specialist repair shop as I figured since they had not been used in years they would at least require a little fixing up.
The shop quoted me £90 each for the two pieces of equpiment and later communicated to me that the service had involved a full replacement of many of the corroded components within both systems.
Unfortunately after setting up at home I quickly noticed the volume was particuarly low (even when turned up close to maximum) along with a noticeable hum emanating from the speakers when no music was playing.
After contacting the shop again the owner speculated it could be a further cartridge issue but to bring both iterms back for a further look.
The first problem regarding the volume level was solved when it was clarified that the turntable cable was plugged into the wrong port on the amp (may sound a little silly but I had orginally been told this was the correct connection!). However, I was told that the hum was still present but this was simply down to the build of the amp and not any further issue that needed or could be addressed.
However, this last explanation concerns me. From a brief bit of research I've carried out online it would seem that a hum almost always points to some form of technical fault and not a natural occurance unless it's particularly cheap equipment which I don't believe in this case they are.
More optimistically it could be that what I'm being told is the truth and that both items have been restored as best as they possibly can be. If so I'd be happy, and truth be told relieved, to carry on using the turntable and amp as they are right now.
Either way I would sincerely appreciate any advice or insight before considering my options or going back to the shop a second time which ideally I would very much like to avoid.
First time posting here so thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to help with my query.
Recently I inherited a Garrard AP 76 turntable and Armstrong 521 amplifier (both originally purchased in the early 1970s I believe). Excited that I finally had some classic vintage equipment to play my vinyl collection on I first took the two items to a specialist repair shop as I figured since they had not been used in years they would at least require a little fixing up.
The shop quoted me £90 each for the two pieces of equpiment and later communicated to me that the service had involved a full replacement of many of the corroded components within both systems.
Unfortunately after setting up at home I quickly noticed the volume was particuarly low (even when turned up close to maximum) along with a noticeable hum emanating from the speakers when no music was playing.
After contacting the shop again the owner speculated it could be a further cartridge issue but to bring both iterms back for a further look.
The first problem regarding the volume level was solved when it was clarified that the turntable cable was plugged into the wrong port on the amp (may sound a little silly but I had orginally been told this was the correct connection!). However, I was told that the hum was still present but this was simply down to the build of the amp and not any further issue that needed or could be addressed.
However, this last explanation concerns me. From a brief bit of research I've carried out online it would seem that a hum almost always points to some form of technical fault and not a natural occurance unless it's particularly cheap equipment which I don't believe in this case they are.
More optimistically it could be that what I'm being told is the truth and that both items have been restored as best as they possibly can be. If so I'd be happy, and truth be told relieved, to carry on using the turntable and amp as they are right now.
Either way I would sincerely appreciate any advice or insight before considering my options or going back to the shop a second time which ideally I would very much like to avoid.