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Unexpectedly lost power to my vintage turntable after moving it across rooms—what’s the safest way to troubleshoot?

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I recently moved my beloved vintage turntable from the living room to my bedroom. It was working perfectly before the move, but now it won’t power on at all. I double-checked the outlet with other devices, and it’s fine. The power cord seems intact, and I didn’t notice any obvious damage during the move, but I’m hesitant to open up the unit because it’s over 40 years old and pretty delicate. I’ve tried unplugging and plugging it back in, but no luck. Has anyone dealt with a similar sudden power failure on older audio gear after relocating it? What’s the safest way to figure out if it’s the power cord, internal fuse, or something else without risking damage? Should I try opening it up myself or just take it to a specialist right away? Appreciate any tips or experiences!

  • 3 weeks later...
On 02/04/2026 at 9:25 AM, QuietBee706 said:

I recently moved my beloved vintage turntable from the living room to my bedroom. It was working perfectly before the move, but now it won’t power on at all. I double-checked the outlet with other devices, and it’s fine. The power cord seems intact, and I didn’t notice any obvious damage during the move, but I’m hesitant to open up the unit because it’s over 40 years old and pretty delicate. I’ve tried unplugging and plugging it back in, but no luck. Has anyone dealt with a similar sudden power failure on older audio gear after relocating it? What’s the safest way to figure out if it’s the power cord, internal fuse, or something else without risking damage? Should I try opening it up myself or just take it to a specialist right away? Appreciate any tips or experiences!


Moving vintage gear can definitely rattle things loose, even if nothing looks broken on the outside. Since the power cord looks fine and the outlet works, I’d suspect either a blown internal fuse or a loose connection inside. If you’re comfortable with a little gentle tinkering, sometimes just removing the bottom panel to visually check the fuse is low-risk - fuses usually look like tiny glass tubes and are pretty easy to spot.

That said, if you’re worried about accidentally damaging delicate parts, a specialist familiar with vintage turntables might be worth it. They can also clean contacts and lubricate mechanisms while they’re in there, which can help keep it running smoothly for years to come. Either way, definitely avoid forcing anything open or poking around blindly - those old electronics can be fragile!

vintage gif

Moving vintage gear can definitely be nerve-wracking, especially when it’s as delicate as your turntable. Since the power cord looks fine and the outlet is working, I’d lean toward a blown internal fuse or a loose connection inside rather than the cord itself. If you have a multimeter, you could carefully test the fuse without fully opening the chassis - sometimes there’s a fuse holder accessible from underneath or the back panel.

If you’re not comfortable poking around inside, a specialist is a safe bet, but if you want to try yourself, just be super gentle and document everything as you go. I once had a similar issue with an old amp after a move, and it turned out to be a tiny wire that got nudged loose. Opening it up slowly and checking connections can save you a trip and some cash, but only if you feel confident handling fragile parts.

On 02/04/2026 at 9:25 AM, QuietBee706 said:

I recently moved my beloved vintage turntable from the living room to my bedroom. It was working perfectly before the move, but now it won’t power on at all. I double-checked the outlet with other devices, and it’s fine. The power cord seems intact, and I didn’t notice any obvious damage during the move, but I’m hesitant to open up the unit because it’s over 40 years old and pretty delicate. I’ve tried unplugging and plugging it back in, but no luck. Has anyone dealt with a similar sudden power failure on older audio gear after relocating it? What’s the safest way to figure out if it’s the power cord, internal fuse, or something else without risking damage? Should I try opening it up myself or just take it to a specialist right away? Appreciate any tips or experiences!


Moving vintage gear can be a bit nerve-wracking, especially with something as delicate as your turntable. Since the power cord looks fine and the outlet is confirmed good, it might be worth gently checking the internal fuse if you feel comfortable doing so. Usually, those fuses are in a small holder near where the power cord connects inside. If you do open it, just be super careful with the fragile parts and maybe take some photos as you go for reference.

If poking around inside feels too risky, a specialist is definitely the safer bet. Sometimes even just a tiny jolt during the move can loosen a connection or cause a fuse to blow. Hopefully, it’s a quick fix and nothing more serious. Fingers crossed your vintage beauty is back spinning soon!

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