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Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts

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Posted on November 19, 2015 at 16:55:52
Lance_O
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Location: Penn's Wood
Joined: December 20, 2003
 Does anyone have a Sony PUA-237, in less than stellar condition, with a serviceable bias compensator (anti-skate) cam? My arm was recently serviced, complete with new wiring. Seems it was returned with a broken cam and a broken bias thread. I've heard some tonearms will do quite well without a functional anti-skate feature. Not this one...

 

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RE: Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts, posted on November 23, 2015 at 15:27:33
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 I have the arm and the matching table, but I have no desire to part it out because it is all functional. I don't know how common they are. I lucked into the one I have. In your position, I would try contacting a Japanese company that specializes in vintage. Eifl comes to mind. (See link.)

Dave

 

RE: Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts, posted on November 23, 2015 at 21:28:46
Lance_O
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Location: Penn's Wood
Joined: December 20, 2003
 Dave,

Many thanks for the tip. I filled out their inquiry form. I hope they have a source for Sony parts.

I hope you have good luck with your turntable. I've owned mine since new...bought it when I was on R&R in Hong Kong. For what it's worth, I can attest to the fact that it was an excellent turntable, albeit a fiddly "high maintenance" affair. I'm fortunate it survived, cohabiting with two precocious children, to it's current state. It is the sort of tonearm that requires adjustment to keep it functional...a frequent occurrence with children in the house. I used it well into the mid 80's, when the proprietary phono cable went bad. That is when I learned that Sony did not stock any parts, whatsoever, for this turntable in the US. Since the kids are grown and gone I thought I would dust it off and get it working again. It took two years to find a serviceable "Sony proprietary" phono cable on eBay. That got it working again...but only for about a year. Then the left channel in the tonearm quit.

Since I started this thread I did get in touch with the shop that replaced the tonearm wires for me last month. Before I could take him to task for the broken cam, he mentioned that he thought he was expected to repair it along with the wires. Seems it was broken when he received it. When he inspected the cam he found the plastic cracked in numerous places, especially around the metal pivot pin. It is not uncommon for old plastic to become unstable and this seems to be a classic example. I managed to super-glue it together well enough to work. That, and a new bias thread, has it up and running again.

This turntable is a good one, but I don't believe it lives up to it's current press. Unlike Linn, SME, or Sota (to name a very few) Sony never will provide the same level of support as those manufacturers that come to mind when we think of "classic" turntables. Every few years Sony comes out with a new design and a few years after that they discontinue all support for the previous models. The turntable I replaced the Sony with is a perfect example: I bought a Sota Star with an SME 3009 SII tonearm. I have had to have both the turntable and tonearm serviced over the past 30-years, but in every case procuring the parts (or the service) was a non-issue.

It's a shame, really. Sony has built some exceptional gear in the past. I just wish they would have thought beyond the "model year" and provided some support for what they built.

Thanks Again,
Lance

 

RE: Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts, posted on November 24, 2015 at 15:23:52
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Hi Lance,

I have an LP12, and before that a Hydraulic Reference, so fiddly "high maintenance" does not scare me. I setup turntables professionally trough the 80's. I have the TTS-3000 table. What table do you have? This arm appeared on a few. Actually what I have is a TTS-2000, which is the TTS-3000 and a PUA-237 which was sold as a package with a sprung plinth and a VC-8E MC cartridge. Even though it is belt drive, it was supposed to be a pro table, so I suspect it is fairly rugged. I better check the plastic on my arm more closely. I may be in the same predicament. If so, I will also try glue. I suppose the part can be fabricated but it won't be cheap. 3D printing might even be a possibility. My plan is to get it up an running and see if I like it better than my Linn. People have told me I would.

I found it in a thrift store for a song. The place usually doesn't have much audio equipment. I go there for records and CDs. Imagine my surprise when I saw this sitting on the shelf for a song! Unfortunately, it was missing a headshell, which might have had a Sony VC-8E on it. That would have been fun to play with! I have a Denon 103 with a broken cantilever that I was going to send to SS for a retip. that should work well.

It has also been recommended that I go to a layered Baltic Burch ply plinth, but I will try the stock floating plinth first. So many toys and so little time!

Good luck with your arm and table!!!!

Dave

 

RE: Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts, posted on November 24, 2015 at 17:23:55
Lance_O
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Location: Penn's Wood
Joined: December 20, 2003
 I have the same package you have....a PUA-237 mounted on a Sony plinth, holding a TTS-3000. The dealer in Hong Kong allowed me a trade; the cartridge it came with (I don't recall the model number) for a Denon DL103. At the time the Denon was the cartridge recommended for this turntable by most dealers. You might get a chuckle to learn the other cartridge most often recommended by the dealers at that time (specifically for the PUA-237/286) was the Decca London...go figure.

BTW: I hate the Sony plinth. The springs are far too soft and the only dampening is provided by the 1/4" foam rubber that was glued around the periphery of the top board. The foam quickly takes a set (or deteriorates), leaving the top board to bounce for a ridiculously long time every time you touch it. An acquaintance modified an old Sota plinth (I don't recall the model) to accommodate the TTS-3000 and a PUA-1500L. The package sounds very nice...as well it should since the entire machine has had a complete tear-down rebuild (including continuous Cardas wires, from the Lyra cartridge to the Manley head-amp). Honestly, I don't understand why anyone would spend that kind of money on a system with a Sony turntable at the center. It is good...but not that good.

For what it's worth, I can't imagine anyone preferring this turntable over a Linn...unless it's the all-Basik (turntable/tonearm/cartridge) configuration. I had a Linn LP-12 Sondeck/Ittok LVII/Lingo/Arkiv turntable (fully loaded for the time) on loan for a time. I can honestly say that nothing that sounded THAT good ever came out of my Sony. Don't be too disappointed when you get it finished. But really, after you get into the Sony and see how well (or not so well) it's made, you won't be too surprised either.

I wish you all the best and hope your project pleases you. Nothing would make me happier than finding my kit has unrealized potential. Keep me posted with your progress.

 

RE: Sony PUA-237 Tonearm Parts, posted on November 25, 2015 at 08:33:10
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 My Linn is a 1972 model which is all original (possibly the only one in existence!). It has the original one speed motor and Grace 707 tonearm, which sounds to my ears, quite good with a Shure M97xe. I bought the Shure as a stopgap measure, with plans to upgrade later, but liked the sound enough that I was not motivated to put anything better on it. I do now have an ADC XLM that I plan to give a try, with a Jico stylus. Since it is an all original Linn, the Sony still might have a chance, but the Linn does sound quite good to me. I will keep you (and everyone else here) posted.

Dave

 

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