New/used vinyl rig on its way...

billbillw
billbillw Posts: 6,766
edited August 2007 in 2 Channel Audio
Well, its been a few months since I took the plunge into vinyl. It started with a freebie Technics from my brother and a handfull of his dupe albums. Since then, I picked up a beat-up, but functionally perfect Yamaha YP-D8 for $30, put a Shure M97xE on it, and aquired more than 400 albums from various sources (a majority were free or less than $1). The Yamie is a nice table, but its ugly and I'm not motivated to restore it. Not enough free time...
Anyway, I've been looking for the last month or so at various tables at various prices up to $500 or so.

Last night, I finally made a significant upgrade to my turntable. I just happened to surf Audiogon at the right time and I found a brand new listing for an Oracle Alexandria MkII w/arm, the original box, accessories, etc, in great shape, been stored for the last 6 years. The guy only wanted $225 for it! The last one on Ebay sold in the UK for 375 GBP (almost $700) and it wasn't even in very good shape. Deals like this on Audiogon move very quick, so I wasted no time emailing him.

I was apparently quick enough, because its mine now! He is shipping it today from only one state away so I should have in a day or two.

There are some talk of motors going bad on these tables, but most have found that its problems with the circuitry that can be fixed pretty easy. The arm on the table will probably be suspect for an upgrade before too long, but after that, if everything is working correctly, I should have a pretty nice setup.
For those who don't know what the Alexandria looks like, there is a nice pic at Vinyl Engine: http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/album_page.php?pic_id=869&sid=340e650c2f979ea5e5a6bef80980ee2b
For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
Post edited by billbillw on
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Comments

  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited June 2006
    Congrats on the new TT.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited June 2006
    Nice. Let us know what you think of it!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited June 2006
    audiobliss wrote:
    Nice. Let us know what you think of it!

    Well, it might take awhile to get 'er fully setup and tweaked. I know it will need a new belt at least, and most Oracle owners recommend getting the "Universal Maintenance Kit" which includes new springs, bushings, bearing oil, spacers, etc. I just want to get it and make sure everything is ok before I spend the extra dough getting the kit.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited June 2006
    Wow. Springs, bushings, bearing oil, spacers, etc? What'd you buy, the front suspension system to a car? :p

    Well, then I hope it's in worthy enough condition to warrant the "Universal Maintenance Kit".
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited June 2006
    Congrats. Looks like you have enough LP's to keep you busy for a long time.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited June 2006
    audiobliss wrote:
    Wow. Springs, bushings, bearing oil, spacers, etc? What'd you buy, the front suspension system to a car? :p

    Well, then I hope it's in worthy enough condition to warrant the "Universal Maintenance Kit".

    Its a sprung subchassis turtable.

    Here is a photo of the kit: http://www.audiomax-ltd.com/oracle_kit.htm

    The Alexandria is somewhat similar to the Delphi models, except it has a plinth whereas the Delphi is kinda like a naked subchassis.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited June 2006
    organ wrote:
    Congrats. Looks like you have enough LP's to keep you busy for a long time.
    Heh, and I'm aquiring more all the time. Every time I'm near a Goodwill or Tower Records...I also find alot through Craigslist and Freecycle.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
    edited June 2006
    Nice score. Audiogn New Today is my home page.:D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • xsmi
    xsmi Posts: 1,798
    edited June 2006
    Nice pickup. I was listening to vinyl last night. After I practice, I get a little nostalgic sometimes and want to hear a little big band music. Those are the only albums I have.
    2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited June 2006
    Gotta love FedEx Ground...The guy shipped it yesterday afternoon, and it was delivered at 8:15 this morning. Damn, too bad I had already left for work :(

    I called my wife and she brought the box in. She said it looks intact, no dented corners or punctures. Hopefully the orignal Oracle double-box setup was sufficient to protect it. Hmm...Maybe I'll have to cut out of work a little early today to start the long weekend!
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited July 2006
    Took me awhile to get it all set it up. I had to resolder some of the tonearm leads and do the usual maintenance (clean and oil the motor and spindle bearings), adjust the suspension, etc.

    I have to say, I'm not really happy with the tonearm that's on there now, but I may get used to it over time. I'd like to upgrade it to something like a Sumiko FT-3/4. They are supposed to be a close match in weight and were recommended upgrades by Oracle at the time. Its also kinda tough getting used to a suspended table after using the heavy direct drive Yamaha.

    Sound wise, it is very good. The improvement in dynamic range is very noticable due to the lower noise floor. Things will only get better with a new belt, and fine tuning the suspension/tonearm. So far, I've only spun a couple of records on it, so its very tough to pinpoint the changes.
    Here are some pics.

    Edit: See my system showcase for newer pictures.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2006
    Nice looking table! I see the 3 caps (?) that probably come off to adjust the table? If so it is suspended like mine and is tough to get right and stay right. Maybe not. :)

    In any case, I was just wondering, after you set it up doesn't the dust cover change everything if you change its position? For example, setting it up with the cover open then playing with it closed. Maybe mine is just too finiky (sp).

    Looks good!!!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited July 2006
    Yes, those are covers for the spring towers and they adjust pretty easily from above. I haven't noticed any change when the dustcover is up or down. The plinth and base of the table are set on solid feet, so the subchassis is pretty much unaffected by the dustcover. Hopefully, once its adjusted, it will stay adjusted, but time will tell. Here's a nudie to help you understand what the table is made like.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited July 2006
    Cool! Thanks for the pic. I see, the cover is on the solid part, not the sprung part. For some reason I was thinking the whole top was on the springs. That looks like a very well made table.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • miner
    miner Posts: 1,305
    edited July 2006
    Damn you, I wanted that table. There is one on Ebay now for $750.
    [
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited July 2006
    miner wrote:
    Damn you, I wanted that table. There is one on Ebay now for $750.

    Ebay? Can't find it...U sure?

    There is one on Audiogon for near $1000, but it has a Grace arm and cart, along with an A-quest sorbothane mat (not really better than the original Groove isolator if you ask me), and some leveling cones.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • starchaser
    starchaser Posts: 354
    edited July 2006
    Nice T/T, and spin that vinyl!
    "There's a lot of places driving up and down I-95 that smell like ****" F1Nut
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited July 2006
    Very nice, enjoy!
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  • Tim15
    Tim15 Posts: 1
    edited August 2007
    Do you still have the Yamaha YP-D8 turntable? If you do, would you like to sell it?
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,766
    edited August 2007
    Tim15 wrote: »
    Do you still have the Yamaha YP-D8 turntable? If you do, would you like to sell it?

    Long gone newb. I don't keep too much gear around, in fact, the Oracle mentioned above is now in New Zealand! I'm sticking with the VPI though. That will likely be my last turntable.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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