I've got a new turntable!!

schwarcw
schwarcw Posts: 7,337
edited February 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Before everyone get's excited, it's not a grand purchase. I bought it for $200 and got $60 back from Microsoft into my Paypal account (and yes I did get my money). It's a Yamaha YB-800 (pic below).

The table is in remarkable condition. Heavy Lexan cover with no scratches, no marks on the plinths , direct drive, strobe control works perfectly and holds the speed. It came with s Shure M91E cartridge, with a brand new replacement stylus. I have a couple of adjustments to make. First the bottom of the cartridge drags ever so lightly on the record. The tonearm raises and lowers easy enough with a thumb screw. How do I set the properer VTA on this machine?

Second, I need a new platter mat. The original rubber mat with the serrated grooves is in excellent shape, but I'm looking to replace it with an "inexpensive' mat. I've thought about the cork mats, carbon graphite mats, Music Hall ring mats, Audioquest gel mat, etc. I don't want to spend more than $150. Hell, I didn't pay that much for the TT.

Any recommendations on VTA adjustment and mats?

GoodluckJB001-1.jpg
Carl

Post edited by schwarcw on
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Comments

  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2009
    Coolness. Enjoy.
    Sharp Elite 70
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2009
    Congrats Carl,, enjoy. :)It's just starting.;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2009
    Hi Carl! Very nice. Check Herbie's Way Excellent mats.
    http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/ttmat.htm

    Various thickness, pick one to match your old mat, priced from $59 to $165. They even have a Micro-Spacer donut (mat diameter, .005" thick) for $5. All his products are covered by the 90-day no-risk trial.
    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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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2009
    George, Carl was already there with a fine Marantz 6300 DD table in his garage system. Part of a fine retro all Marantz system. We spun some vinyl before heading to PF together. (He just has to get a TT into the house system).;)
    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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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited February 2009
    woohoo, nice going Carl!
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,499
    edited February 2009
    Carl, the Vinyl Engine lists a YP-800, no YB? I checked the YP-800 manual and saw no mention of VTA adjustment. Something bent? Incorrect mat? Just grab the headshell and :eek:...never mind.:D

    You need to have an account to DL files there, or I can email it to you.
    http://www.vinylengine.com/library/yamaha/yp-800.shtml
    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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  • Fongolio
    Fongolio Posts: 3,516
    edited February 2009
    Congrats on the new table!! Very nice looking. As a rule of thumb to get the VTA "roughed in" raise (or lower) the whole arm until the cartridge is parallel to the record (same distance off the record surface front and back). This is usually where most cartridge manufacturers recommend vta be set. As for mats, if your place is dry I'd look at an anti-static style mat. Enjoy.
    SDA-1C (full mods)
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  • analog97
    analog97 Posts: 328
    edited February 2009
    Congrats Carl,

    I never saw that table before. Looks nice. For the price you probably can't do better!! Let us know if you get that nice "black" background. Man, you get some deals!!
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2009
    Congrats on the vintage new table Carl. I like those little black shims on it . . . .:D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2009
    Carl's not new to vinyl by any means.
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  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited February 2009
    Congrats Carl. Very nice looking.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,029
    edited February 2009
    That's in pretty good shape. Nice score Carl.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited February 2009
    Nice Carl - congrats. Good luck on all the upgrades.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,337
    edited February 2009
    Thanks for all the well wishes. I ordered a mat from Herbie's Audio Lab today because I want to use Joe's clamp. I was shopping for a Denon PL-160. Buy.com had the for $103:eek: but they were sold out. I'm going to wait to see if it comes in. The Lexan cover weighs a ton. Overall the unit weighs about 27 lbs. It has a leveling bubble build into the metal plinth. The tonearm was made by Micro Seiki (242 mm). The whole arm/mass compliance thing has my head spinning. As does the VTA adjustment. I may get the unit rewired with some RCA jacks on the back to take advantage or trying different cables. I've got a 2 meter pair of Cardas Quadlinks that are ready to go.

    I need to get a phono pre. I'm thinking one of those little battery operated Hagerman units like Analog97 has.

    More to come!:)
    Carl

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  • ESavinon
    ESavinon Posts: 3,066
    edited February 2009
    Nice table.
    SRT For Life; SDA Forever!

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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited February 2009
    ....
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
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    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • izafar
    izafar Posts: 819
    edited February 2009
    schwarcw wrote: »
    Thanks for all the well wishes. I ordered a mat from Herbie's Audio Lab today because I want to use Joe's clamp.

    Joe's clamp is remarkable. If you want to use that then you might not need Herbie's mat. I have tried that combo on Music Hall MMF5 and it didn't work, individually they work very nice and you will get more mileage out of clamp then the mat.
    -izafar

    Goldenear Technology Triton 1 - Benchmark AHB2 - Benchmark LA4 - Auralic Vega - Auralic Aries Mini - Marantz TT-15S1 - Clearaudio Nano
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited February 2009
    Congrats
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2009
    Congrats and enjoy the new TT. Let us know how it sounds.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited February 2009
    That's an early Yamaha tt; not a model that I've ever seen before.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,337
    edited February 2009
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    That's an early Yamaha tt; not a model that I've ever seen before.

    Mark, there is a fair amount of info on this table on vinylengine.com. It was a mid to late '70's vintage, sold for about $500. It wasn't top of the line more of a midfi product. Great build quality. I ordered a Herbie's Audio mat, a cartridge is in the works and maybe get some RCA connectors on the back.
    Carl

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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2009
    What cart did you decide to buy Carl?
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,337
    edited February 2009
    Hi Joe!

    Buy.com has the Denon PL-160 on sale for $103 and free shipping. Unfortuneately the cartridge is on backorder, so I'll wait few week to see what happens. Most retailers want $155 - $179 for this cart. It's a high output MC so I won't have to use a step up transformer. I'll need to use one of my tube amps as a pre until a gt a Hagerman or another phono pre. I'm cutting back on my audio budget as I don't want to sink too much money into this economy. I'm betting on the Socialist policies to fail.
    Carl

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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited February 2009
    schwarcw wrote: »
    I'm cutting back on my audio budget as I don't want to sink too much money into this economy. I'm betting on the Socialist policies to fail.

    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA you are too funny Carl.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited February 2009
    schwarcw wrote: »
    I'm cutting back on my audio budget as I don't want to sink too much money into this economy. I'm betting on the Socialist policies to fail.
    Well, that's kind of paradoxical if you ask me. Stock up on hifi gear; later you can barter for food! :-)
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited February 2009
    wise thinking Carl. Dow Jones Index went back to 2002. I used to wish to wind the time back to college time fun, but instead my portfolio that went back 6 years value. crazy time.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited February 2009
    Nice TT Carl.
    _________________________________________________
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2009
    Hello

    I was wondering also, what cart your going to get for it. I posted in another thread about input on a cartridge I'm thinking about getting but didn't get any response......

    http://www.amazon.com/Denon-DL160-Output-Moving-Cartridge/dp/B000I21PWW

    I have a Pioneer PL 510A that I'm putting it on.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,337
    edited February 2009
    The PL-160 is a very good high output MC cart. But $175 is a little steep. Buy.com had these for $103 with free shipment.
    Carl

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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited February 2009
    schwarcw wrote: »
    The PL-160 is a very good high output MC cart. But $175 is a little steep. Buy.com had these for $103 with free shipment.

    Had, is the word of the day....

    http://www.buy.com/prod/high-output-moving-coil-cartr/q/loc/111/208156821.html

    Well, hopefully they'll get some more in....

    I went ahead and ordered one anyway.

    AND, I need to start reading ALL the posts, geez.....
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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