Last audio component for the year: stick a fork in me, I’m done.

Joey_V

Last component of the year, I’m done, toast, finished.

After years of planning and dreaming and research, I finally decided to take it home. Some of you might be able to guess what it is.

Needless to say, this will be a long journey, but I’ll take my time and savor it. Hopefully it closes a chapter.

VR3

Those are some sweet cardboard boxes, minimal deflection from transit, should serve you well in futures shipping endeavors

nooshinjohn

Last audio component for the year: stick a fork in me, I’m done.

Your click-bait headline is as fake as anything I have seen from the New York Times. Given that there is less than three months to go on 2020, you will be back posting about new gear in a matter of weeks...

vmaxer

Clues...

Joey_V

mrbiron

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Emlyn

Where's the phono preamp to match the quality of the turntable, tonearm, and cartridge?

mhardy6647

Just to point out, vis-a-vis this thread's title -- it is October.

Emlyn

There's also "Fiscal Year" vs "Calendar Year" to think about.

Joey_V

mrbiron wrote: »

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Building up my record collection. Can’t wait to show Emma and the kids how to use it or Atleast how it works.

I had a lot of communication with other audiophiles, particularly my crew with the Dallas Ft Worth Audiophiles. It was either spend $4500 on an Project RPM 10 w starling or just get what is typically end game and just slowly build up around it. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide.

A little buyers remorse for sure... but hopefully that will dissipate as time goes on.

displayname

Joey_V wrote: »

mrbiron wrote: »

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Building up my record collection. Can’t wait to show Emma and the kids how to use it or Atleast how it works.

I had a lot of communication with other audiophiles, particularly my crew with the Dallas Ft Worth Audiophiles. It was either spend $4500 on an Project RPM 10 w starling or just get what is typically end game and just slowly build up around it. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide.

A little buyers remorse for sure... but hopefully that will dissipate as time goes on.

I don't have nearly the level of system you do, but I do have a decent size record collection. I'd be happy to let you make some selections and meet up. I'd love to hear and see the Avenger Reference in person.

I'll even bring over my Sutherland 20/20 if you're still waiting on phonostage, but I assume whatever you have coming would clock in above that level.

BlueBirdMusic

I'm glad you are happy, and with all of your helping of others with CONV-19 in 2020, you deserve any and everything you want to have.

Enjoy!

gyosa

Joey ,
What part of the “JethroPlex” do you live ?
I’m Lower Greenville Av ..

Bk

Joey_V

displayname wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

mrbiron wrote: »

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Building up my record collection. Can’t wait to show Emma and the kids how to use it or Atleast how it works.

I had a lot of communication with other audiophiles, particularly my crew with the Dallas Ft Worth Audiophiles. It was either spend $4500 on an Project RPM 10 w starling or just get what is typically end game and just slowly build up around it. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide.

A little buyers remorse for sure... but hopefully that will dissipate as time goes on.

I don't have nearly the level of system you do, but I do have a decent size record collection. I'd be happy to let you make some selections and meet up. I'd love to hear and see the Avenger Reference in person.

I'll even bring over my Sutherland 20/20 if you're still waiting on phonostage, but I assume whatever you have coming would clock in above that level.

Are you close by?

BlueBirdMusic wrote: »

I'm glad you are happy, and with all of your helping of others with CONV-19 in 2020, you deserve any and everything you want to have.

Enjoy!

Thx friend, much appreciate your support

mrbiron

Joey_V wrote: »

mrbiron wrote: »

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Building up my record collection. Can’t wait to show Emma and the kids how to use it or Atleast how it works.

I had a lot of communication with other audiophiles, particularly my crew with the Dallas Ft Worth Audiophiles. It was either spend $4500 on an Project RPM 10 w starling or just get what is typically end game and just slowly build up around it. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide.

A little buyers remorse for sure... but hopefully that will dissipate as time goes on.

Glad to hear you are fulfilling something that you've wanted to do! You must know, what is the record going to be?

I'm on the other end of things. I have maybe 400 records and an entry level table that i am looking to unload.

I just don't have the time for it anymore when it used to be my wife and i's Friday night activity. We would randomly pick 3 records on Wednesday, i would clean them Thursday, and Friday night we would have a couple drinks while playing all three cover to cover. Then kids came along...

All of my stuff has been stored in bins for a couple years now.

SIHAB

Congrats Joey!

what is it going to set on? What about mono recordings?
Sounds like a great adventure.

maxward

Congrats! Good choice. Are you setting it up without help?

Mike Reeter

Congrats on your new deck, I've been a VPI owner for several years now, I really have no desire to pursue anything else, other than Cartridge upgrades.

Which tonearm comes with the Reference Table, a Gimbal or Uni-Pivot?

I like your idea of going all out for a purchase, 'buy once, cry once'.

Enjoy

Emlyn

Agree on the going all out the first time with the core component and building from there. Find the comfort zone with the base and build around the table with further updates to tonearm, cartridge, cables, and phono preamp.

Critically important is to get a quality record cleaning machine. Arguably just as important has getting the right turntable system to work with.

displayname

Joey_V wrote: »

displayname wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

mrbiron wrote: »

I suppose if you're going to make a splash, might as well do it from 80,000ft...

Have you even bought a record yet? If so, what one?

Building up my record collection. Can’t wait to show Emma and the kids how to use it or Atleast how it works.

I had a lot of communication with other audiophiles, particularly my crew with the Dallas Ft Worth Audiophiles. It was either spend $4500 on an Project RPM 10 w starling or just get what is typically end game and just slowly build up around it. It took me 2 weeks to finally decide.

A little buyers remorse for sure... but hopefully that will dissipate as time goes on.

I don't have nearly the level of system you do, but I do have a decent size record collection. I'd be happy to let you make some selections and meet up. I'd love to hear and see the Avenger Reference in person.

I'll even bring over my Sutherland 20/20 if you're still waiting on phonostage, but I assume whatever you have coming would clock in above that level.

Are you close by?

BlueBirdMusic wrote: »

I'm glad you are happy, and with all of your helping of others with CONV-19 in 2020, you deserve any and everything you want to have.

Enjoy!

Thx friend, much appreciate your support

About to shoot you a PM

Joey_V

Mike Reeter wrote: »

Congrats on your new deck, I've been a VPI owner for several years now, I really have no desire to pursue anything else, other than Cartridge upgrades.

Which tonearm comes with the Reference Table, a Gimbal or Uni-Pivot?

I like your idea of going all out for a purchase, 'buy once, cry once'.

Enjoy

Unipivot with dual pivot attachment.

I have the option to buy a gimbal fatboy as a second arm for $2000 instead of $4000, new in box. I got to see it and hold it in my hands. But not sure if I need to be spending more money.

Any opinions of either arm?

Joey_V

SIHAB wrote: »

Congrats Joey!

what is it going to set on? What about mono recordings?
Sounds like a great adventure.

Top of the SRA Scuttle

Mono recordings?

Man I haven’t even thought about that hahaha

Do I need a different cart?

Joey_V

Emlyn wrote: »

Agree on the going all out the first time with the core component and building from there. Find the comfort zone with the base and build around the table with further updates to tonearm, cartridge, cables, and phono preamp.

Critically important is to get a quality record cleaning machine. Arguably just as important has getting the right turntable system to work with.

What cleaning machine do you recommend?

Joey_V

maxward wrote: »

Congrats! Good choice. Are you setting it up without help?

Already set up, then I removed the arm and took the entire unit home as it stood. Have to level it and keep it that way.

Joey_V

Atleast it is up...

Need to reposition but this is a heavy beast and I don’t like asking my wife for help as it leads to.... “questions”....

Clipdat

I would've went with the $15k HW-40 Anniversary, but I guess why not make it rain.

steveinaz

Just call it a "record player" and she won't take it seriously. That is AWESOME.

displayname

Joey_V wrote: »

Emlyn wrote: »

Agree on the going all out the first time with the core component and building from there. Find the comfort zone with the base and build around the table with further updates to tonearm, cartridge, cables, and phono preamp.

Critically important is to get a quality record cleaning machine. Arguably just as important has getting the right turntable system to work with.

What cleaning machine do you recommend?

The VPI 16.5 is the standard workhorse machine that's been around forever and is known to be very effective and reliable for decades. I considered this one, but I liked the design features of the Project unit.
VPI does have the Cyclone with some notable upgrades. Several other companies make solid vacuum based RCMs, and companies like Clearaudio make higher end, more automated units. Essentially as long as the vacuum is powerful enough and the arm can create a decent seal on the record, all of these clean about the same. On some forums you will find endless threads with opinions on cleaning solutions and methods. Everything from chemicals, to enzymes, to homemade cocktails, and rinse cycles.

Ultrasonic machines are the generally considered a technically superior cleaning method, but the time investment is significantly higher. The initial investment is also more, but given where you're at I don't think that difference will be enough to make you sweat. In my mind, the big thing is time. I looked at the Krimuss system, which to me appears to be the most technically superior option on the market. But I just couldn't commit to a minimum of 20-30 of cleaning per LP. When you talk about cleaning 500+ LPs, that's time not everyone is willing to give up. I have jokingly said many times that I'd get a Krimuss when I get a staff member to handle the cleaning in another room. I'll add though that it's much easier to keep up with cleaning if you do it from the start instead of trying to go back and clean a few hundred records you already own.

I've also read some speculation that the sound frequencies being put out by some ultrasonic cleaners could be detrimental for your hearing. I don't think I've ready anything conclusive on that, but might be something to research if you're looking at going that route.

Step 1 - Decide if you want Ultrasonic or Vacuum based.
Step 2 - Decide on a solution (if applicable)
Step 3 - Find the unit in your price point that makes the most sense for your space


I would also suggest investing in some form of poly sleeves when you invest in the RCM. No sense in putting a clean record into a dirty paper sleeve.

Joey_V

Clipdat wrote: »

I would've went with the $15k HW-40 Anniversary, but I guess why not make it rain.

That’s also a nice table. Geez.
Local friend has the VPI direct drive signature. Thing is expensive as heck from my recollection.

Emlyn

Joey_V wrote: »

What cleaning machine do you recommend?

I would stick with the VPI family even though I use a Nitty Gritty system. The 16.5 for occasional use or the Cyclone model for heavy usage and/or some ease of use and reliability benefits.

Joey_V

displayname wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

Emlyn wrote: »

Agree on the going all out the first time with the core component and building from there. Find the comfort zone with the base and build around the table with further updates to tonearm, cartridge, cables, and phono preamp.

Critically important is to get a quality record cleaning machine. Arguably just as important has getting the right turntable system to work with.

What cleaning machine do you recommend?

The VPI 16.5 is the standard workhorse machine that's been around forever and is known to be very effective and reliable for decades. I considered this one, but I liked the design features of the Project unit.
VPI does have the Cyclone with some notable upgrades. Several other companies make solid vacuum based RCMs, and companies like Clearaudio make higher end, more automated units. Essentially as long as the vacuum is powerful enough and the arm can create a decent seal on the record, all of these clean about the same. On some forums you will find endless threads with opinions on cleaning solutions and methods. Everything from chemicals, to enzymes, to homemade cocktails, and rinse cycles.

Ultrasonic machines are the generally considered a technically superior cleaning method, but the time investment is significantly higher. The initial investment is also more, but given where you're at I don't think that difference will be enough to make you sweat. In my mind, the big thing is time. I looked at the Krimuss system, which to me appears to be the most technically superior option on the market. But I just couldn't commit to a minimum of 20-30 of cleaning per LP. When you talk about cleaning 500+ LPs, that's time not everyone is willing to give up. I have jokingly said many times that I'd get a Krimuss when I get a staff member to handle the cleaning in another room. I'll add though that it's much easier to keep up with cleaning if you do it from the start instead of trying to go back and clean a few hundred records you already own.

I've also read some speculation that the sound frequencies being put out by some ultrasonic cleaners could be detrimental for your hearing. I don't think I've ready anything conclusive on that, but might be something to research if you're looking at going that route.

Step 1 - Decide if you want Ultrasonic or Vacuum based.
Step 2 - Decide on a solution (if applicable)
Step 3 - Find the unit in your price point that makes the most sense for your space


I would also suggest investing in some form of poly sleeves when you invest in the RCM. No sense in putting a clean record into a dirty paper sleeve.

That’s a lot of information to digest, thanks Willie.

Let me ask you, what is the best vacuum based cleaning machine and what is the best ultrasonic machine?

Give me top 3 best.

Also, what do you mean 20-30 per LP??