Just picked up a Technics SL-1200mk2 turnable. Some questions!

billbillw

hearingimpared wrote: »

That's great to hear! Have you noticed that with the stabilizer brush down, you can back off the down pressure a bit? It's a good thing to do with those types of cartridges and typically improves the sound.:) Give it shot, it may surprise you.

Joe (and Menasor), its actually just the opposite. With the stabilizer brush down, Shure recommends you ADD .5 grams to the tracking force. In other words, if you find that 1.25g works best without the brush, then you need 1.75g with the brush down. The actual stylus doesn't see any more force, because the brush absorbs the increase.

If you don't increase the force when using the brush, the needle will track too lightly and possibly cause damage. Keep the anti-skate set to the original non stabilizer tracking force (ie: 1.25).

Menasor

billbillw wrote: »

Joe (and Menasor), its actually just the opposite. With the stabilizer brush down, Shure recommends you ADD .5 grams to the tracking force. In other words, if you find that 1.25g works best without the brush, then you need 1.75g with the brush down. The actual stylus doesn't see any more force, because the brush absorbs the increase.

If you don't increase the force when using the brush, the needle will track too lightly and possibly cause damage. Keep the anti-skate set to the original non stabilizer tracking force (ie: 1.25).

Yup thanks bill. I currently have it set at 1.75g (brush down) and anti-skate at 1.25.

Menasor

The only thing I'm not quite sure about is how high the tonearm should be. Which part of the cartridge should be parallel to the record?

hearingimpared

billbillw wrote: »

Joe (and Menasor), its actually just the opposite. With the stabilizer brush down, Shure recommends you ADD .5 grams to the tracking force. In other words, if you find that 1.25g works best without the brush, then you need 1.75g with the brush down. The actual stylus doesn't see any more force, because the brush absorbs the increase.

If you don't increase the force when using the brush, the needle will track too lightly and possibly cause damage. Keep the anti-skate set to the original non stabilizer tracking force (ie: 1.25).

Yep, my bout of mental Duhness today. You are correct Bill I just got it backwards. I stand corrected Menasor. I had a Shure V15 Type V many years ago and I use to experiment with the brush up and down with different down pressures to find the perfect weight. I regret selling that gem.

Glad you made that clear Bill, thanks.

hearingimpared

Menasor wrote: »

The only thing I'm not quite sure about is how high the tonearm should be. Which part of the cartridge should be parallel to the record?

Actually the tonearm should be parallel to the platter or record if you prefer. The cartridge should be made well enough that you don't have to worry about looking at which part should be parallel.

Once you start messing with the VTA whether you raise the arm or lower it at the pivot point the cartridge is then going to be affected but that is a good thing so as the get the stylus VTA set as close to perfect as one can get. Just remember that different records are of different thicknesses and the VTA is never going to be perfect except on the record you set the VTA on.

Menasor

Hey guys. So recently I bought a few pieces of used vinyl and based on the way they were stored, some of them have a lot of static charge on the surface. While playing them, I'm hearing cracks and pops like every second. I've read that some people use 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 1 part distilled water to clean their records. Would this help with the static issue? I'm also going to invest in some anti static sleeves for these records, which should help as well.

If there's a better way to go, I'm open to all ideas. Thanks!

Menasor

Also, are these sleeves any good? Are there better for the price?


http://www.needledoctor.com/12-Paper-Poly-Inner-Sleeve-25-pack

hearingimpared

Menasor wrote: »

Also, are these sleeves any good? Are there better for the price?


http://www.needledoctor.com/12-Paper-Poly-Inner-Sleeve-25-pack

These are the best on the market!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330415236445&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXI7&GUID=c9a3f0151210a09c19f4b0a4ffd0c5da&itemid=330415236445&ff4=263602_263622

hearingimpared

Menasor wrote: »

Hey guys. So recently I bought a few pieces of used vinyl and based on the way they were stored, some of them have a lot of static charge on the surface. While playing them, I'm hearing cracks and pops like every second. I've read that some people use 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 1 part distilled water to clean their records. Would this help with the static issue? I'm also going to invest in some anti static sleeves for these records, which should help as well.

If there's a better way to go, I'm open to all ideas. Thanks!

Your problem with tick & pops is most likely due to dirty records. If you don't have a record cleaning machine, I suggest you get one but in the meantime here is a list of manual record cleaning fluids that would work a lot better alcohol & distilled water. I particularly like Disc Doctor's as they provide of variety of fluids and the means to apply, scrub and rinse records manually.

http://www.google.com/search?q=manual+record+cleaning+products&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Menasor

hearingimpared wrote: »

Your problem with tick & pops is most likely due to dirty records. If you don't have a record cleaning machine, I suggest you get one but in the meantime here is a list of manual record cleaning fluids that would work a lot better alcohol & distilled water. I particularly like Disc Doctor's as they provide of variety of fluids and the means to apply, scrub and rinse records manually.

http://www.google.com/search?q=manual+record+cleaning+products&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Hm, the records are shiny and pristine looking. They don't really look dirty at all. Would distilled water and alcohol be harmful to the record? I'll take a look at one of those cleaning products as well.

hearingimpared

Menasor wrote: »

Hm, the records are shiny and pristine looking. They don't really look dirty at all. Would distilled water and alcohol be harmful to the record? I'll take a look at one of those cleaning products as well.

When it comes to vinyl looks are deceiving! That is why I place no creedance in the vinyl grading method used for preowned records. I have records that look like they are ready for the trash pile and sound wonderful and yet I have records that are shiny and pristine looking, after cleaning that sound lousy. It's a crap shoot when you buy preowned records especially from a thrift store or Goodwill.

See this thread;

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101122

Read it through as there are some manual record cleaning methods discussed.

When I hear alcohol and vinyl in the same sentance, it makes me cringe . . . that's just me though. Some others swear by GRAIN alcohol and distilled water. I would stay away from isopropyl alcohol. If you must use alcohol you can get Everclear 190 proof grain alcohol at any liquor store. It use to come in 199 proof but I don't think that is available any longer.

EDIT; second thought here. PM Keiko (Mike) he use to manually clean his records before buying his much coveted VPI 17 (lucky bastage) and has the manual cleaning system down pat.