Magnavox Astro-Sonic Console Info Needed

I have almost the exact same unit in my room except mine is a 1968 and the turntable is diferent.It has seen it's fair share of use over the years.

Ya know...

I forgot that I also have a gutted cabinet (same styling) in mint condition out in the garage. EXCEPT...It has three panels in the front and is about 72" long. It looks like a coffin...LOL. I don't know what "model" it was called, but it's still in very good condition. I do have an extra A575 amp (100W), separate tuner, and micromatic turntable to put in there, but all of the shelving/mounting stuff for the turntable, receiver and record storage is gone. It's just a shell, but a beautiful shell. --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Record-changer wrote:The changer was made in the years 1962, 1963, and 1964. But some of them are in 1965 models.

No - the W620 series changers were made from 1965 to about 1970 or so. The '62-'64 changers have the fat, curved tone arm.

The Maggies W620, W621 and W622. The W621's are in my 1966 Astro-Sonics, and the W620's are in my 1968 Astro-Sonic and a 1968 Black portable. Some have the tall on-off/speed selector. -BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

gerryu21220 wrote:

Record-changer wrote:The changer was made in the years 1962, 1963, and 1964. But some of them are in 1965 models.

No - the W620 series changers were made from 1965 to about 1970 or so. The '62-'64 changers have the fat, curved tone arm.

I wasn't talking about the W620. I was talking about the M series changers shown in the beginning of the thread, with the curved tonearms.

Are you confusing the M620 with the W620?

Magnavox started using the 3-size index in 1966, for the 1967 models.

The M620 and the W620 look alike on the outside, but work very differently.

The M series changers have the odd size capability. You can tell them, because the arm moves back to the rest post after feeling the size.

The W series changers can index only the three standard sizes. The arm does not move back to the restpost after feeling the size.

Record-changer wrote:

gerryu21220 wrote:

Record-changer wrote:The changer was made in the years 1962, 1963, and 1964. But some of them are in 1965 models.

No - the W620 series changers were made from 1965 to about 1970 or so. The '62-'64 changers have the fat, curved tone arm.

I wasn't talking about the W620. I was talking about the M series changers shown in the beginning of the thread, with the curved tonearms.

Are you confusing the M620 with the W620?

Magnavox started using the 3-size index in 1966, for the 1967 models.

The M620 and the W620 look alike on the outside, but work very differently.

The M series changers have the odd size capability. You can tell them, because the arm moves back to the rest post after feeling the size.

The W series changers can index only the three standard sizes. The arm does not move back to the restpost after feeling the size.

Here is the changer shown at the beginning of the thread. It is clearly not the older, curved-arm M Series changers you are referring to, but the W Series:

FreeLantz wrote:Photos to follow:

Okay, Folks...now you're confusing me.

So there is a M620 and a W620? I believe the second pic below is the turntable at the beginning of thread. Nothing was mentioned about the curved tone arm i.e., W602 through W608 series. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I actually had a 2nd unit, same cabinet, except that it had a reel-to-reel-unit. It sat on my back porch under plastic tarp for several years. It was beat up when I got it. Finally gutted it about a year ago and got out the chain saw and minced it up real good for the trash. I don't know the history of it, but someone snipped all the motor wires and removed the molex connection...strange.

Anyhoo, the record mat was completely rotted, but the idler wheels were/are still soft/pliable. I don't know why anyone would snip those wires. The woofers and horns went to another ailing Maggie and they're working okay.

The components seem to be okay...in fact, I fired up the amp this weekend and it kicks pretty good. Ran a CD player through it and it is LOUD!

Sorry for all the history, but my question is, the RCA connections that run from the chassis to the external terminals have (don't have my glasses on) two 48k resistors and a pair of what resemble diodes. They are silver with a red band at one end and are labeled 470K. As far as I can remember, my other units just have cables running from the chassis to the external connections with no caps or resistors.

I would just like to know if this was some type of padding/equalization for that specific reel-to-reel? It was connnected directly to those terminals. A CD player and tape deck play great connected directly to the terminals on the chassis. --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I am buying this exact same set next week, at a local flea maket. I can't wait!! The set looks and sounds great!! This is my favorite
set the Magnavox made, and I can't wait to own it!!

To clear up any confusion. When I purchase the stereo I will take a pic of it. I believe it is a 1965 model, but it does have the
turntable from 1963 or 1964. It says Micromatic record player on it, and it has the black curved tome arm, and the other part
that goes over is that curved gold thing, I will be happy to put a picture of this console once I get it.

That does sound interesting....looking forward to the pics!

So Bobby, did the 72" look like this?

I'm driving 70 miles round trip to Scummerville (Too near Boston) for this one ($40 - CL, I'll haggle).
I have the same as the original poster's but the left side said "POP" and quit working.
I have 4 rectangular & 1 upright in my 20x24' garage. $80 TOTAL so far!
My car's starting to get in the way.
I'd say bye car but I need to get the Maggies somehow

Thats a very pretty unit(to poster above) I finally got my new stereo, which is the same machine as the one posted in this forum.
Record Player works, just gotta try to find a needle for it. Only thing different about my stereo is that the older stlye Collaro
changer is in there. I thought they all would have had the changer that is shown in the Astro-Sonics in this post.

Mowgli,

Space is at a premium, and I had at least six Astro-Sonics turned up on end stacked in a second bedroom, including some Motorolas, Zeniths and something from Canada. Standing room only, and barely had room to pull out my chair to sit at the computer.

Actually, my unit was a larger version of the original posting, and had three panels in the front...It was one of those Astro-Sonic 100's. It looks like you may have an Astro-Sonic 40 or 100. If you remove the back and find an A575-02-02 (or similar) bolted to the floor, you have a 100.

My 100's are from around 1966 and have the W621 turntables.

I do have a Santiago Astro-Sonic 100 which has two 15" heavy duty HIGH-EFFICIENCY woofers with 20 oz magnets. It has a very low profile, but the sound is huge.


I haven't removed the back or even played it (serious cap overhaul in order), but my Francisco (?), Astro-Sonic 100 is supposed to have two 15" SUPER-SONIC woofers with 48 oz magnets. Oh wait...that's combined magnet weight. I think that may apply to the above unit also. From the pics, they don't look like 20 oz magnets. Anyhos this Francisco was also used for the Imperial(?) or Concert Grand. There was one advertised over on MagnavoxFriends.com with the same cabinet. Maybe I have one of those and don't know it.



If these two units are sporting the same tuner, amp and turntable...why would they use different woofers? I know the Santiago is built much lower with less space for resonance. It's amazing how you can have a turntable sitting above a 15" woofer and operate so well. Some do have a small platform that separates the woofer from the underside of the turntable and that could help prevent some feedback.

What was the original post...I forgot. LOL! --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I got it for $20 - she really wanted it gone
It had some issues there that partially resolved with some mad-scientist knob twiddling and frowning interspersed with some "I don't knows".
What a beast, it weighs about 7500 lbs and I had to lay it down in the back of my HHR. All the others fit standing up.
It's 59" long and yes, it has a seperate amp.
The tag says 120 watts W00T!
Big honking magnets on the 15" Woofs and I have extra (matching model #) Horns from another box if I ever need them.

June of 1965 and model #3ST686

I squirted some contact cleaner where I could reach and got the controls fairly smooth.
This one's a keeper if I can resolve a couple of issues.

The tuner needs a restring. How many $$ should that run me? (My hands can't do delicate work anymore.)

It plays @ about 30 RPMs insted of 33. about 67 seconds for 33 1/3 revs.
Imaginary Lover by ARS never sounded so layed back.
Is there a simple adjustment for RPMs or is it more involved than that?

The bigger issue is the tweet doesn't sound right on one side.
I swapped the leads and now the tweet on the other side doesn't sound right.
Could the crossover be shot?
It's like that whether tuner or slowpoke TT are selected.

I guess I could try swapping the leads at the crossovers to see if it's the (R side) output or the (R side) crossover.
That sound like my logical next step?

Thanks for the advice.

Money (PF on the tuner) just doesn't sound right when you only get half the change moving, dropping, etc...