Admiral Console Record Player

I have a Admiral console record player that I am having issues with. I only get sound to one of the two speakers when I play records but the radio works in both speakers. I originally thought that it was the cartridge (admiral 78-1) so I purchased a new one. Once I received the new cartridge I removed the old one and installed the new. I had no sound at all from the record player now. The cartridge was determined to be faulty and I then went to another cartridge. When unplugging the cartridge, the wires on the back of the adapter came off. I reconnected the wires placing the white and red wires on the two outside terminals of the adapter, and then tying the bottom two prongs of the adapter together via the clear ground wire. Sound then transferred from the speaker that did work to the one that didn't. With all that being said, does anyone have any information regarding the order that the three wires are supposed to be hooked up to the four terminals on the back of the adapter. This is becoming quite frustrating.

Do you have a meter ? If so, find the two wires that read "short"--they will be the two ground wires. Look at cart. hopefully it's marked L-R, or sometimes just G.
The L and R are the two "hots"--- Check both wires and cart. with meter, and just "matchem". Good luck, Ron Rich

Also, look on the back of the cartridge...there may be some "+" and "-" on the back. Sometimes, if you have a cartridge with four pins but you only have three wires, there's usually a small wire/connection strapped to the two negatives to act as one.--BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Admiral "78-1" doesn't come up with any info online..... perhaps posting a photo(s).
Admiral didn't really make their own cartridges.... maybe Astatic... Tetrad.... again, a photo would help.
There are much too many styles/types to try and suggest a proper fix.

According to my 1972 E-V catalog, the Admiral 78-1 is a Tetrad cartridge. It sounds like the OP has the connections correct.

Brian McAllister wrote:According to my 1972 E-V catalog, the Admiral 78-1 is a Tetrad cartridge. It sounds like the OP has the connections correct.

Sorry,
If it's a 70's Tetrad cartridge, they're not wired as usual cartridges.... (a.k.a. outer pins +/inner pins -).
Tetrads are out-of-phase cartridges, so the OP has the connections reversed.

MattTech wrote:

Brian McAllister wrote:According to my 1972 E-V catalog, the Admiral 78-1 is a Tetrad cartridge. It sounds like the OP has the connections correct.

Sorry,
If it's a 70's Tetrad cartridge, they're not wired as usual cartridges.... (a.k.a. outer pins +/inner pins -).
Tetrads are out-of-phase cartridges, so the OP has the connections reversed.

That is good to know, although I usually hate any TT that uses a Tetrad, even though I have a good sized box full of Tetrad Cartridges.

Brian McAllister wrote:

MattTech wrote:

Brian McAllister wrote:According to my 1972 E-V catalog, the Admiral 78-1 is a Tetrad cartridge. It sounds like the OP has the connections correct.

Sorry,
If it's a 70's Tetrad cartridge, they're not wired as usual cartridges.... (a.k.a. outer pins +/inner pins -).
Tetrads are out-of-phase cartridges, so the OP has the connections reversed.

That is good to know, although I usually hate any TT that uses a Tetrad, even though I have a good sized box full of Tetrad Cartridges.

Tetrads are actually decent cartridges.
Their application flexability is unique and wide-ranging.
Depending on the stylus shank length, they can track from 2 to 8 grams, and with varying output levels.
The color-coded sockets can be confusing, I never really understood them, but their small form factor and various mounting adapters makes them suitable for just about any tonearm.

The one issue some have now due to age, is the contacts inside... corrosion and metal fatigue cause intermittent operation.
With care, some tools and a good magnifier, (and a steady hand) they can be brought back to life, I've done it. It requires removing the socket/needle retainer assembly by shaving down the melted end of the studs and pulling the socket off. (this is where it gets tricky)
"Springing" the tiny contact blades that slide next to the elements, insures a tighter connection.
A tiny smear of Super Glue on the socket mounting studs finishes the job.
These older cartridges have the brass metal needle retainer.

The newer versions (TC8HO) with the grey plastic connector/needle retainer arn't so easy, but then again, I haven't seen any bad ones yet.
Also, the really new stock made now in Korea are in-phase copies, as I've found out, nevertheless they perform and sound the same way.