Often times the value of a turntable is dependent on the condition of the cover. This one is in very good condition and has a mild smokey color to it. Has one scrape on the inside backside interior and a couple of deep scratches that could be polished to the point that they would hardly be noticeable. There are no cracks or breaks. An hour with the Novus plastics polish system would make a huge difference. Most of the Philips line of turntables have small cylindrical pieces of rubber inserted into the front corners of the cover. This dampens the vibration from the cover being closed. Without them records will skip when closing the cover during play. Over time they melt. On this particular unit they have not been replaced, but will be at a later date. The cover pops off easily and the hinges can be tightened or loosened as needed.
The deck could use a little polishing with a high grade wax and perhaps a tiny bit of paint touchup. Other than that, it is in excellent condition and causes no issue. The brightly lit center LED also shows a dimmly lit one next to it. This indicates the turntable is running a little low. A quick adjustment of the pitch control knob will bring the platter up to the correct speed.
After the pitch adjustment was made the center LED is bright and the other LEDS are off. The adjustment is rather precise. There is a pitch control for each speed.
On/Off and speed selection buttons are mechanical and not touch sensitive like the 800 and 900 series turntables. Have never seen any of these mechanical type buttons fail. Has a built in stylus force gauge and an anti-skating dial. The unit also has a tiny button on the platter that determines the size of the record without assuming size based on the speed selected.
The deck without the aluminum platter shows 2 locking knobs for transport and adjustments for leveling the platter itself. A lot of these units were poorly adjusted at one time or another and as a result the platter dug rings into the deck. The belt is still available as of December 2017 and is a square belt.
This is an image from another 777 with the mechanics and circuit boards exposed. The circuit boards are simple, but still require someone very capable in order to diagnose and repair if needed. Have never heard of one failing for this model.
This is the headshell and it screws off rather easily. The headshell wires have been replaced with oxygen free copper with gold connects. They are a step up from the typical ones. The next step up would be oxygen free silver with gold connectors. Replacement of the headshell wires is highly recommended. The headshells can be still found and having an extra is worth the money and time spent. The rubber top for the platter is a soft rubber and this one is in excellent condition.
Over time most of the Philips line of turntables have bottoms that tend to sag to the point where the unit does not sit flat. This unit has a sagging bottom and would benefit from isolation spikes or another type of vibration isolation. A worthwhile inexpensive fix.
A very nice turntable that is easy to maintain and a good value if found in nice cosmetic condition at the right price.
An advertisement found that describes the operation and specifications in more detail.
Philips AF 777 Electronic Automatic Turntable, Circa 1978
A collection of images from an upgraded and fully functioning electronic automatic 2 speed belt driven precision turntable. A high end turntable considered to be of near audiophile quality back in 1978. It was in production from 1978 - 1980. Retailed for nearly $200 and may have included a lower grade cartridge for an additional fee. A fine piece of engineering from the Netherlands (Holland) and one of the finest turntable values that can be had. It is mostly mechanical and super reliable. Very little effort is needed in order to maintain.
The camera flash makes the unit look more dusty or dirty than it really is. You can zoom in on the images if you mouse over them. During autoplay zoom is disabled.
Valued in the range of $175 - $250 (depending on the cartridge included)