Vinyl Educate Me Please

tonyb

TroyD wrote: »

Well, f*ck me....you know, sometimes I wonder why I frigging bother.

Fine, buy a POS table, throw some records on and have a blast.....but, vinyl is a process, some of us LIKE that part of it. If that's what you wanted to do...just frigging say so.

(but, when you DO that and then post back that it sounded like ****, and oh, btw, what do you guys see in this...don't say that I didn't tell you so)

I thought you actually wanted to know about vinyl playback.

BDT

LOL!! In a sad way. Aggravating as all hell,isn't it?

I believe the OP is just looking for a way to cheaply dip his toes into it and then decide if money dictates,upgrade. May not be ideal,but hey,didn't we all fall in love back when these old tables were spinning and dirty records played with that snap,crackle and pop?

miner

IMHO, the Rega P3 is the lowest table to get to enjoy vinyl.

bigaudiofanatic

tonyb wrote: »

LOL!! In a sad way. Aggravating as all hell,isn't it?

I believe the OP is just looking for a way to cheaply dip his toes into it and then decide if money dictates,upgrade. May not be ideal,but hey,didn't we all fall in love back when these old tables were spinning and dirty records played with that snap,crackle and pop?

You are correct, and from what I have read the crackle and all is part of playing records, but than again it probably is dirt on the disk.

concealer404

You have PM, sir.

TECHNOKID

george daniel wrote: »

FWIW,,I don't play anything,new or old without my cleaning process.

Is there a discussion on CP about your cleaning process? I have checked some discussions here at CP and it seems to be quite a process to get back into vinyls.

Face wrote: »

This is how I feel when I read TroyD's replies, take the fun out of it and ratter makes it look like a very tedious task (especially after reading a few CP discussions on the cleaning process). I have a bunch of LPs and EPs an a turntable on stanby but before I can undestand and master the process of cleaning, I am not touching anything. However, I want to listen to the music, not spend most of the time cleaning the records. Also, what is the simplest but efficient way to built the cleaning machine using an old record player (I do have an old player available already)? On anther note, once the big cleaning is achieve can't we simply do the typical "cleaning prior to play" like in the older days, using the record brush?

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

I was looking at these.

http://www.amazon.com/AT-LP2D-USB-Automatic-Turntable-Recording-Cartridge/dp/B000UKUDSE/ref=sr_1_278?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258081669&sr=1-278

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-PS-LX300USB-Stereo-Turntable-System/dp/B0015HOFZI/ref=sr_1_340?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258081858&sr=1-340

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-PL-990-2-Speed-Automatic-Turntable/dp/B00009QORL/ref=sr_1_437?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258082055&sr=1-437

Bigaudiofanatic, just remember you get what you pay for, I have looked at some of those plastic/chinese turn table and there is nothing to impressive there. Much better to use a use turn table than any of those flimsy toys for the task.

Cheers!
TK

bigaudiofanatic

Thanks TECHNOKID. your right about everything you said above.

Fongolio

I have to agree with Troy on this one. I am a huge vinyl fan (over 1300 LP's now) and nothing hits the turntable (Pro-ject 6.9) without cleaning. To truly appreciate vinyl and what it has to offer involves a certain commintment. Even brand new LP's need cleaning to remove contaminents from the manufacturing process. If these are not removed the needle drags through them and the sound is degraded by a fraction. Several plays and the sound is seriously degraded thus negating the advantage in sound quality that vinyl has over redbook cd ( I know many here will argue this statement).

I use a Nitty Gritty 2.5fi record cleaning machine but even manual cleaning is better than just a brush like in the good ol days. Troy's process for cleaning is very involved but guarentee's a super clean record. I'm not quite as picky but very close. Each and every time even a clean record is played the diamond tip of the stylus wears that record out just a little. With dirt in the grooves the wear is accelerated to a much higher rate. If a person is looking for convenience with really good sound I suggest a high end cdp or sacd unit, but if really high end sound is desired clean vinyl on a really good table with a good phono stage can't be beat.

If all you want is the nostalgic effect of playing old records then great, buy a cheap table and an old record brush and listen to the pops and ticks and static but if what you really want is to see what the viny "hype" is all about invest in a good table and take the time to clean those precious records properly and then you'll hear the magic.

My .02 worth.

TECHNOKID

Thanks for the pointers Fongolio!

hearingimpared

Troy & Kelvin are spot on about the vinyl journey. There are no short cuts if you want to really enjoy the superb music reproduction that vinyl has to offer.

Face

TECHNOKID wrote: »

This is how I feel when I read TroyD's replies, take the fun out of it and ratter makes it look like a very tedious task (especially after reading a few CP discussions on the cleaning process).

It wasn't aimed towards Troy.

TECHNOKID

Face wrote: »

It wasn't aimed towards Troy.

I realize that, I am saying that is how I felt reading his replies (just somewhat depressive such labor to listen to a or a few songs). I originally wanted to get my old vinyls on CD but it seemed like cool to back to the old turntable playing but the extensive labor is somewhat depressing. Most of my collection are the old 45 (DJ) can you imagine the extensive labor trying to listen to 10 - 20 songs in the evening :eek: Anyway, if you can provide some good links of previous discussions on what we would be getting in to? Seems like the vinyls and turn table will be parked for a while before any listening can be done. I have piles of 45s and a fair bit of 78s that would need serious cleaning (they've been safely kept in boxes for many years and I can just imagine the extra grime that accumulated over the years) before any playing can be performed.

Cheers!
TK

Fireman32

Dont forget abount cleaning the needle each time before you place it on the nice freshly cleaned record.

george daniel

Fireman32 wrote: »

Dont forget abount cleaning the needle each time before you place it on the nice freshly cleaned record.

Yessir,, got my little acoustech brush and the cool little Oznow thingy bubble,, one week ago I was admiring Troy's phono pre and listening to some Eva Cassidy on vinyl.:)

Just read a few of the previous posts,, actually I enjoy cleaning vinyl,,in writing it seems like a big deal,, it ain't,,and I do mine manually.I think that the intent of the previous posts,was not to discourage anyone,,rather to help/advise folks how to get the most out of a vinyl front end.And no,, you don't have to spend 5K to have a very good front end.I've heard very respectable TT's/Cart/Phono pre for less than 500 dollah.Good luck and enjoy.

Fireman32

Once I get a TT again I will be purchasing the VPI16.5. After spending many hours at Joes and watching him clean his records and the process he goes through to me its all part of the fun. It really only takes a few minutes to do and then you can sit back and enjoy the wonderful sound of vinyl.

bigaudiofanatic

So let me see if I have this proses all down.

1. Find record you want to listen too

2. Get a beer to calm your nerves

3.Dust off the needle with compressed air or brush

4.Take record out clean both sides with soap and water and vacuum or equivalent.

5.Place record on platter

6.Start playing

7.Get another beer and listen

Did I get all that right?

george daniel

You forgot "tubes" :)

madmax

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

I was looking at these.

http://www.amazon.com/AT-LP2D-USB-Automatic-Turntable-Recording-Cartridge/dp/B000UKUDSE/ref=sr_1_278?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258081669&sr=1-278

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-PS-LX300USB-Stereo-Turntable-System/dp/B0015HOFZI/ref=sr_1_340?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258081858&sr=1-340

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-PL-990-2-Speed-Automatic-Turntable/dp/B00009QORL/ref=sr_1_437?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258082055&sr=1-437

I understand the fun part of trying something new then moving on. The selections above will be fun until you sit the needle on the record. After that you will feel as if you threw a few hundred dollars in a paper shredder and the LP's will be out on the curb. Its not even worth trying. It will suck badly.

Pick up a table with a cartridge that costs $300 to $700 used, at least that way it may be worth not throwing it away. I would buy used, personally, but feel free to throw in another 30% in cost to buy new.
madmax

madmax

Oh, and forget the beer. Beer is only good with CD's. On little mishap on any step could lead to the demise of the vinyl, needle or turntable.

Dawgfish

madmax wrote: »

Oh, and forget the beer. Beer is only good with CD's. On little mishap on any step could lead to the demise of the vinyl, needle or turntable.

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to say +1 on this (not because I like disagreeing with you Madmax but because I like beer). Beer drinking had a part in me ruining my stylus on my OM-30 cart a couple of weeks ago. I'm clumsy enough as it is, so the beer drinking just makes me that much more dangerous when working around delicate needles.