Assembling the TT setup

steveinaz

I've decided on the following for my turntable setup:

1. Marantz TT-15S1 (thanks Shack for reminding me about this gem)
2. Clearaudio Virtuoso ebony wood MM cartridge (comes w/Marantz)
3. Simaudio Moon LP3 phono stage (purchased)
4. Hero .5mtr IC's between LP3 and Benchmark analog in (pass thru to Placette)

Picked up the Simaudio LP3 for $276 ($500 retail) as a demo from Music Direct.

Shack-master, if by some strange, awful epiphany I find I don't like vinyl anymore, you'll get first crack at the Marantz at Stevie's extra-special (T-O-P-S-E-C-R-E-T) pricing.

dkg999

Good grab on the LP3!

steveinaz

I lucked into that one...LOL, happen to stumble over some reviews while getting my research on--and hit a link from Music Direct, and there she was.

madmax

Congrats! Now, go make some music!
madmax

madmax

Oh wait, now you need to spend tons of money on cleaners, demags, brushes, sleeves, holders....

phipiper10

Looks reeaaaalll nice! When do we get to come over and listen?

steveinaz

Max--

Yeah, I know...cleaners, brushes, incense, clamps, de-ionizer's, de-magnetizers, medical marijuana; as Doro says "TT's are a money pit."

I had pretty much everything (back in the 80's) accept a record cleaning "machine" (never owned one of those) Wish I would have kept that stuff.

madmax

Really, you can get by with just a vpi vacuum cleaner, one platter brush and some fresh sleeves to put the cleaned lp's in. I was into trying all sorts of brushes and all the other crap you mentiond but for daily use I only clean once in a very long time after the initial cleaning and all is good. Oh yeah, I use one of those Onzow stylus cleaners every now and then to clean the dust off the stylus.

steveinaz

Got my set of .5mtr Hero IC's, Clearaudio stylus brush and record brush ordered. My Simaudio LP3 arrives Monday.

I'm gettin' there.....

steveinaz

Yessir, likely in January. I'm about as giddy as a 7yr old girl about getting back into vinyl. LOL

shack

steveinaz wrote:

Shack-master, if by some strange, awful epiphany I find I don't like vinyl anymore, you'll get first crack at the Marantz at Stevie's extra-special (T-O-P-S-E-C-R-E-T) pricing.

I'll hold my breath...:rolleyes:

You are just enough of an audio geek to get totally wrapped up in vinyl.

I don't expect THAT particular TT to be coming my way.

steveinaz

Here's a purtier pic (cut me some slack, I'm excited, alright). I'll probably order mine in mid January:

madmax

The only thing I don't care for is that silly clamp. I tried one once and thought it was crap.

steveinaz

Oh, is that what that is? I thought it was an ashtray.

steveinaz

hehe...

disneyjoe7

LOL good one.

steveinaz

Thanks to good ol Fedex, it was delivered 2 days early! This is the Simaudio Moon LP3 phono stage, looks mint for a "demo" unit:

steveinaz

My Kimber Heros are on back order, the Clearaudio stylus brush and cf record brush are on the way. Baby steps, baby steps...

Thanks to George Grand (of the Jersey Grands), and my new purchase of Heaven and Hell, I have 14 albums!

hearingimpared

Excellent choices Steve, congrats and welcome back to the wild world of vinyl. Now all we have to do is convince you on a record cleaning method and saving up some money for a reflex clamp!:eek:

steveinaz

I'm thinking about the Clearaudio Twister...good idea?

I made me some DIY fluid for the time being (25%--91% alcohol/75% distilled water), and picked up a 5-pack of microfiber cloths. It worked miracles on a couple of albums already.

doctor r

Steve you have made some excellent choices that are going to start you down a long and winding road. The cleaning issue is more improtant than most people think so definitly start working towards a RCM. Many of my recent vinyl aquisitions come from that famous "New Jersey" family man and a good cleaning has moved most fron very nice to excellent. I personally found a good deal on a used VPI 16.5 a few years ago and have never looked back. Joe's advice on the clamp will be coming from the "authority".

steveinaz

Doc
I'm pretty sure a 16.5 is in my future--but I want to make sure I'm going to be committed to this thing befoe I dig in too deep.

Where does the jury lie on the issue of felt platter mat or not? The TT-15 comes with one, but also has an acrylic platter...should I ditch the mat and go for coupling directly to the platter? FWIW, my base floor is concrete, 10" thick of it, so isolation/vibration is not an issue...

hearingimpared

steveinaz wrote: »

I'm thinking about the Clearaudio Twister...good idea?

I made me some DIY fluid for the time being (25%--91% alcohol/75% distilled water), and picked up a 5-pack of microfiber cloths. It worked miracles on a couple of albums already.

That's the clamp I was going to recommend. You have a PM coming.

hearingimpared

steveinaz wrote: »

Doc
I'm pretty sure a 16.5 is in my future--but I want to make sure I'm going to be committed to this thing befoe I dig in too deep.

Where does the jury lie on the issue of felt platter mat or not? The TT-15 comes with one, but also has an acrylic platter...should I ditch the mat and go for coupling directly to the platter? FWIW, my base floor is concrete, 10" thick of it, so isolation/vibration is not an issue...

Felt Platter Mat NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Go for the acrylic and don't look back. Once you get the twister clamp you can couple the record directly to the acrylic platter with no need of a mat! Best match made in heaven for a record.

VPI 16.5 Steve from the guy I told you about. Ask Keiko about the deal Stephen Monte gave him.

steveinaz

So ditch that mat...check. Needed to know before I setup tonearm height. I'll definitely let you know on the 16.5 when the time comes.

hearingimpared

steveinaz wrote: »

So ditch that mat...check. Needed to know before I setup tonearm height. I'll definitely let you know on the 16.5 when the time comes.

Got your PM, let me know when you order your twister clamp and yes indeed that felt mat will cause more problems. Why they are still offered by TT makers is beyond me. Just use the ashtray clamp :biggrin: to clamp the record down directly to the platter. You can't hurt anything and once the acrylis platter is in place you're Gold Jerry Gold!

doctor r

I understand the need to move a realistic" aquisition pace as you get into vinyl. The two things that helps me stay "back" in vinyl was well cleaned albumx that reudeced some additional surface noise (will not help previously damaged grooves though) and additionally on your list will to look at getting a Mint LP protractor. This tool allows for such a precise alignment of the cartidge that the sound actually improved 15% on my table, but that 15% was magic. So enjoy what you have now, ditch the mat as Joe said, and if the musical notes sooth special nerves and increase you musical experience as the black discs spin (as we expect it will) - then the list of future aquisitions should include these two article.

hearingimpared

Doctor R wrote: »

I understand the need to move a realistic" aquisition pace as you get into vinyl. The two things that helps me stay "back" in vinyl was well cleaned albumx that reudeced some additional surface noise (will not help previously damaged grooves though) and additionally on your list will to look at getting a Mint LP protractor. This tool allows for such a precise alignment of the cartidge that the sound actually improved 15% on my table, but that 15% was magic. So enjoy what you have now, ditch the mat as Joe said, and if the musical notes sooth special nerves and increase you musical experience as the black discs spin (as we expect it will) - then the list of future aquisitions should include these two article.

Doc, do use a record clamp or stabilizer on that magnificent turntable? If so, excellent, if not then I whole heartedly recommend a good reflex clamp. The benefits will make that "improved 15%" seem like a drop in a bucket. Just some friendly advice.

steveinaz

Thanks guys for the tips.

madmax

steveinaz wrote: »

So ditch that mat...check. Needed to know before I setup tonearm height. I'll definitely let you know on the 16.5 when the time comes.

Be sure to set the height according to the type of lp you want to shoot for. 180 grams are much thicker than your standard lp. It gets to be a tough decision when you have a thousand thin lps vs a small handful of audiophile 180 and 200 gram lps. Personally I forget which height I last chose but I'm betting it is optimized for thinner lps.

doctor r

I have used weight stabilizers in the past, but not clamps. Presently I am considering a outer ring and then a clamp as my next endevors (there is always something to get for vinyl bliss )