Turntable help

Fongolio

I agree on the above statement as well. I've got a Thorens TD-160 for my second table and it's one of the best suspended tables for isolating room vibrations I've ever tried. Mines 100% stock except for a custom bottom cover I made for it with feet off an old junk Rotel table I had. It sounds great but with stock arm needs a high compliance cartridge.

Tour2ma

photo,
Got it... you may have raised it above the fray and/or eliminated the floor route Fong mentioned.

The Hum?

Fong,
Wood 2nd floor or 1st w/ a basement... yes? Underfloor space can really eff up the sound as well.

Bp,
Thorens TD-320, 124, 125 here... Love them but they stole their suspesion from AR... at least that's what AR said.

gdphoto

Well, last night on ebay I came across an SL-1210-MK5 with 3 hours to go and a high bid of $325.00. The photos looked real good, not beat up like most 1200's that probably belonged to some DJ commando. Anyway, I threw in a bid of $450.00 and went to bed thinking, no way will I get it. To my surprise the next morning, I checked in to find that I won it for $405.00. There's no head-shell, but I ordered a new original for $26.00. Shipping between them is $57.00. Did I do good?

gdphoto

It's used. Here's the link to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=230577922052&si=e4X54Lv4YuY02qVuokQUxMS1NSo%253D&viewitem=

Tour2ma

So much for be patient and look local...:biggrin:

Looks like a seasoned seller. If he packs well, all should be good.

Good luck...

gdphoto

Thanks! This one was IMO the best one for the money and looked pretty good. I'll find out Friday when it gets here. There used to be a great high end hifi equipment shop near me, but has been gone for maybe 6 yrs. now. It's hard to go somewhere and check this stuff out in person anymore. Anyway, I'm into this one now and I'll hope for the best. I communicated with the seller and he seemed OK. Hopefully, I'll end up with a great stable TT, even if it needs a bit of a cleaning and tune up, that will be around for a long time.

You know, that after I tweek this out and have it running perfect and play it for awhile, I going to start a debate on good LP's vs. remastered CD's.

gdphoto

Quick question. Any problem cleaning LP's using a soft cloth & Windex?

gdphoto

Thanks! It is fun...Everybody needs a hobby. To quote Peppi LaPue.

Tomorrow, according to the tracking info, I should receive the TT & headshell.

I hope I done good. To quote Rocky Balboa.

gdphoto

Random question: I have access to a batch of very clean 78's and I'd like to know if it is at all possible, with the proper stylus and playing with the speed control on the SL 1210 that these can be played?

Tour2ma

^ Shouldn't be more than a different drive pulley.... Yes?

As for Windex, not corrosive to vinyl 'cause it uses Amonia-D... I kid, but corrosivity is not an issue. Residual ammonia is a nutrient for growing bacteria and bacteria will eat vinyl. Plus there are other additives in Windex I'd stay away from.

photo,
IMO your real cleaning issue is having nothing better than a cloth to remove dirt. You can penetrate the grooves (both of them... ) with any number of spray concoctions that will loosen accumnulated gunk. However, unless you follow with some mechanical means of pulling out the garage, much of it will simply reset when it dries. Your cloth may get dirty from the soluble portion of the grunge, but that does not mean that your record is "clean".

Machines and/ or a good brush are essential.

Tour2ma

Nevermind... forgot for a second we were dealing with a direct drive TT... :redface:

gdphoto

Sorry for the delay, but the TT arrived on time. It looks and works fine. The dust cover had some damage and the seller refunded some money. I installed the new Shure cartridge and stylus, adjusted the tone arm and it sounds great. I actually ripped an album to CD and it sounds really good for the first time. I do have a question though, with the tone arms tracking set as per the cartridge, would I be free to adjust it to my liking and if so, what do I listen for and what adjustments would I make?

quadzilla

gdphoto wrote: »

Sorry for the delay, but the TT arrived on time. It looks and works fine. The dust cover had some damage and the seller refunded some money. I installed the new Shure cartridge and stylus, adjusted the tone arm and it sounds great. I actually ripped an album to CD and it sounds really good for the first time. I do have a question though, with the tone arms tracking set as per the cartridge, would I be free to adjust it to my liking and if so, what do I listen for and what adjustments would I make?

The only thing you should ever do is properly align the cartridge and set the vertical tracking angle and tracking force. Carts typically have a range of tracking force listed in their specs. You can play within that range to find what sounds best to you.

Chf

gdphoto wrote: »

Finally got the the M97 Friday night, took 3 trips to the UPS terminal. I put it in last night and it definitely sounds better. Better dynamic range and louder with the dial at the same volume setting. Now my issue is a hum when idling, which I'm sure is present in the background during playback and when I increase the volume it sounds like a helicopter flying over the house. These issues were present even with the old cartridge. I'm sure most, if not all of this is due to the Sony low end TT. Any basic TT set up/environment hints will help. Also, a lot of the advise I'm getting involves vintage 30 yr. old TT's. Is a vintage TT for around $150 better than a new one for around $350? I'd like the one I get to be around for a long time.

Hi Gary,
This is a pretty late response, but I discovered this thread only after experiencing the same "helicopter noise" through one of the speakers.
I first thought it was the turntable itself (Thorens TD160 with DL-110 cartridge), but by moving the preamp around, I discovered that the preamp (Pro-Ject Phono Box S) was picking up noise from my wireless network router that was sitting right next to it.
Solution was as easy: moe the preamp further away from the wireless router.

Cheers,
Charles

Erik Tracy

Die spammer...die..... reported

Chf

Erik Tracy wrote: »

Die spammer...die..... reported

Is this in response to my post above?!

/Charles

chumlie

Chf wrote: »

Is this in response to my post above?!

/Charles

No. Spam got erased so it looks like he's responding to you.