Bought My first TT today and Need Help!

treitz3

Hey Nik, concerning the anti-skating weight? Here's a thread I started over at the vinyl engine that discusses exactly what you would like to know. FYI, I'm not using mine.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10763

ben62670

Get involved with her going to find $1 albums at goodwill;) Make sure you clean them before snap crackle popping her out the TT!

nikolas812

How can I clean them and take care of them. With say. A $30 budget for everything? Is it possible?

I'm not really trying to dive head first into this. I just want to spin and enjoy a few records. If I have to live with a few snap crackle and pops. So be it...




Nik

hearingimpared

nikolas812 wrote: »

What would I change it to?

I believe it is felt..





Nik

Felt does not allow the record to be firmly coupled to the platter, (with the clamp) which in your case I believe is glass. If you have the money, Herbies makes an excellent platter mat and you will notice a significant improvement in SQ.

http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/ttmat.htm

hearingimpared

ben62670 wrote: »

Is rubber better than felt?

IMHO rubber mats are awful.

treitz3

nikolas812 wrote: »

How can I clean them and take care of them. With say. A $30 budget for everything? Is it possible?

I don't think that could be done. You could be like a redneck and somehow jerry rig a makeshift vacuum system on a lazy susan or some **** for real cheap. I've actually seen some made up with duct tape. They may not look pretty, but "they" say that it works for them.

Between the Shark, the Nitty Gritty, air compressor and other crap I have to clean my LP's? I've probably blown close to $1,700.00. It works like a dream though. Not too many snap, krackle and pops at all.

hearingimpared

nikolas812 wrote: »

How can I clean them and take care of them. With say. A $30 budget for everything? Is it possible?

I'm not really trying to dive head first into this. I just want to spin and enjoy a few records. If I have to live with a few snap crackle and pops. So be it...




Nik

Nik by playing your records dirty you will be damaging the records as well as the stylus. The Disc Doctor has quite a few options for manual cleaning at or slightly above your $30 budget.

http://www.discdoc.com/

TroyD

The MMF-5 is a good table, I had one for awhile.....very nice.

Yes, get the Herbies mat...

BDT

Fongolio

dkg999 wrote: »

Get a Herbies TT mat. Best bang for the buck IMHO. Toss the felt, it just collects dust.

+1 for Herbies mat and Denon DL-160 a very good entry level high output moving coil cartridge for a decent price. Congrats on a very good table for what sounds like a good price.

hearingimpared

Keiko wrote: »

Congrats, Nik. Another supporter for the Herbies and DL-160. Look into a good record clamp as well. I got one of Joe's clamps, but I've seen him recommend the Clearaudio Twisters. Excellent tweak that will make a big difference.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CLEATWCLAMP

Nik, when the time comes for you to want to start tweaking that table, the clamp Mike recommeded will make a big sonic difference especially if you get the Herbies mat.

nikolas812

treitz3 wrote: »

Hey Nik, concerning the anti-skating weight? Here's a thread I started over at the vinyl engine that discusses exactly what you would like to know. FYI, I'm not using mine.

http://www.vinylengine.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10763

Thanks Tom. Just had time to look over the thread..




Nik

madmax

nikolas812 wrote: »

How can I clean them and take care of them. With say. A $30 budget for everything? Is it possible?

I'm not really trying to dive head first into this. I just want to spin and enjoy a few records. If I have to live with a few snap crackle and pops. So be it...




Nik

If I had only one option I would buy a shark steamer and steam clean them. You would want to have a way of turning the record with your hand as you steam it. Maybe a kitchen turntable?

dkg999

I've seen pretty good record cleaning results by using something like a Hunt brush to dry-brush the LP and then using a spray bottle of distilled or Aquafina water to wash, then dry with a clean microfiber towel, then air dry. It seems to get the major stuff off the vinyl.

billbillw

I've been using the Spin-Clean system for years (available at Garage-a-Records). Its tedious, but I feel that the end result is nearly as good as what comes off of a high $$ record vacuum. I use only distilled water, and dry them completely with micro fiber cloths. Price is about double your $30 budget, but will give much better results than any dry brush type system.

http://www.garage-a-records.com/products.php?cat=118

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

If I had only one option I would buy a shark steamer and steam clean them. You would want to have a way of turning the record with your hand as you steam it. Maybe a kitchen turntable?

I agree but I would suggest in addition, to use a solvent, something similar to what the Disc Doctor sells.

nikolas812

I got this to clean the records...


http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Record-Vinyl-Cleaner-Kit/dp/B000EHYBRC




I am not going to spend the kind of money you guys want me to spend. As long as I can keep from hurting anything. I'm fine. My dad used a product similar to this for 25 years with no problems. And neither his records or needle ever became damaged. In fact. I plan on using his old records. I just pulled out a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon - Master Recording.. It looks brand new... Don't get me wrong. I fully understand that the cleaners you recommend are better. I just think its a little much given the price i paid for the Table....


Please don't take this as being rude. I appreciate all of you recommendations and have looked into them and may consider them down the road. I really appreciate the help.

Fact is. Only paid $100 for the table. So putting a $100 mat and $100 clamp on it, seems silly to me.


I just want the minimum right now to get my feet wet....


Nik

billbillw

Nik,
I understand not wanting to dump the money for a record vacuum at this point. I have been into vinyl for almost 5 years now and haven't been able to justify it either. That said, I did notice a substantial improvement in sound by using that Spin Clean and hand drying versus my previous method of discwasher brush. Just keep it in mind for down the road. Not saying you need it ASAP.

madmax

The steamer is fun to use and if I remember right it is in the $30 to $50 range.
You aren't the first one to get their arm twisted with all this extra stuff, believe me.

Edit: oh yeah, just saw one at the local Bed, Bath and Beyond for $30. Use their 20% off coupon and you got it made.

nikolas812

Keiko wrote: »

I use that AudioTechnica brush as a final sweep just before queuing, Nik. It's a good product.

I used this method before investing in a VPI. It works OK, but it's a pita. I bought some suction cups for 4.99 from Napa Auto Parts to use as Label Savers. This method combined with a Shark Steam worked getting my records clean, cheap.

http://www.gallagher.com/clean_records.htm

Awesome. This is the kind of ideas I'm looking. I have those exact same micro fiber towels. And One suction cup already.



Nik

nikolas812

madmax wrote: »

The steamer is fun to use and if I remember right it is in the $30 to $50 range.
You aren't the first one to get their arm twisted with all this extra stuff, believe me.

Edit: oh yeah, just saw one at the local Bed, Bath and Beyond for $30. Use their 20% off coupon and you got it made.

Can you point me in the direction of this $30-$50 steamer? Linky?




Nik

madmax

http://www.amazon.com/SteamFast-SF-226-Handheld-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B00114LAP8
There are several brands of this style, they all look and work about the same.

Fongolio

Be careful using steam! Too much heat and you can permanently damage records. Several threads have appeared here on CP regarding the subject of steaming vinyl. I strongly recommend reading them before pointing your hot nozzle at some valuable vinyl.

madmax

Fongolio wrote: »

Be careful using steam! Too much heat and you can permanently damage records. Several threads have appeared here on CP regarding the subject of steaming vinyl. I strongly recommend reading them before pointing your hot nozzle at some valuable vinyl.

I figured that to be the case when I first got mine. I took a junk LP and held the nozzle right against the grooves, maybe 1/2", for an extended period and could not damage the LP. I tried that using the Shark and the Sunshine steamer both. Since one spot didn't cause a problem I took another junk LP, but one I liked, and cleaned the whole thing very close for an extended amount of time. The only damage was a much better sounding LP. I suppose there could be a hotter steamer.

madmax

billbillw

madmax wrote: »

I suppose there could be a hotter steamer.

madmax

Actually, you can pretty much assume that all steam coming out of these units is going to be the same temperature, 212F. I doubt any of them will have a superheating pressure unit. That said, vinyl records will easily melt at 200F. However, these little handheld steam unit probably don't produce enough volume of steam to actually get the vinyl up to that temperature.

hearingimpared

nikolas812 wrote: »

I got this to clean the records...


http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-Record-Vinyl-Cleaner-Kit/dp/B000EHYBRC




I am not going to spend the kind of money you guys want me to spend. As long as I can keep from hurting anything. I'm fine. My dad used a product similar to this for 25 years with no problems. And neither his records or needle ever became damaged. In fact. I plan on using his old records. I just pulled out a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon - Master Recording.. It looks brand new... Don't get me wrong. I fully understand that the cleaners you recommend are better. I just think its a little much given the price i paid for the Table....


Please don't take this as being rude. I appreciate all of you recommendations and have looked into them and may consider them down the road. I really appreciate the help.

Fact is. Only paid $100 for the table. So putting a $100 mat and $100 clamp on it, seems silly to me.


I just want the minimum right now to get my feet wet....


Nik

That's understandable Nik. However you might want to look at it a diiferent way. It's not a $100 turntable, it is a $600 turntable and you got a great bargain. Like I said before, once the upgrade bug kicks in, there are plently of options to improve the sound of your table.

Good luck Bro and enjoy your vinyl ride.

hearingimpared

madmax wrote: »

http://www.amazon.com/SteamFast-SF-226-Handheld-Steam-Cleaner/dp/B00114LAP8
There are several brands of this style, they all look and work about the same.

Be careful Nik. There are a lot of refurbed steamers out there. I made the mistake of not noticing the blub in the Shark ad that the steamer was a refurb. What caught my eye was the $19.00 price tag and I went for it. I've had nothing but trouble with the steamer since. It sprays water all over, doesn't keep a steady stream of steam going etc.

BTW be careful using the steamer. I say this because I'm heavy handed and have scorched some records using it. I'd say keeping it no less than 3" to 4" inches above the record would keep it from causing any scorching.

EDIT: just read the posts above . . . good advice there.

chef hans

Nice TT!! Bellari vp 130,Pro ject phono box II and Music hall PA 1.2 ($ 150 new) just to name a view while you wait for nicer preamp

Fongolio

I wrecked a copy of Dire Straits Communique with too much heat from a steamer. You can for sure overheat and melt with some steamers.

hearingimpared

Fongolio wrote: »

I wrecked a copy of Dire Straits Communique with too much heat from a steamer. You can for sure overheat and melt with some steamers.

I have S shaped spirals around some records from scorching them and it is audible.

BlueFox

hearingimpared wrote: »

I have S shaped spirals around some records from scorching them and it is audible.

:eek:

Try using a wire brush. That seems to remove most blemishes.