Well it’s a brand new cartridge and needle, and I’ve only played 3-4 hours of music on it total so I’m hoping that wasn’t the root cause.I know nothing about nothing but if you played a bunch of old/dirty/whatever records is it worth trying a new needle?
Size of room? Any newer technology you want hooked up? Appetite for going used via local marketplace?Thinking of getting a turntable and speakers for the fam for xmas, have several vinyl records, and more from my dad's old collection for him to send over. Any advice? not a huge audiophile, but i like good music. also have 3 kids - 10, 7 and 5, so super expensive it's out the picture for a while. but i'd like a good solid turntable, receiver and wired speakers. Maybe $1000 budget? Thoughts?
About 25x20 with 9 foot ceilings. I think it would be stand alone at this point. Sure, used would be fine with me.Size of room? Any newer technology you want hooked up? Appetite for going used via local marketplace?
Grab it grab it grab it fuck fuck fucksomeone on craigslist is offering up a 5,000+ record collection:
https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/zip/d/maynard-over-5000-vinyl-records/7227255953.html
Also I went through this about 1.5 years ago. I got a medium range turntable, a pre amp and some bookshelf speakers. It was a perfect setup for what I wanted and probably cost me less than $500 total. I can send over the exact details of what I ordered if you want.About 25x20 with 9 foot ceilings. I think it would be stand alone at this point. Sure, used would be fine with me.
I'd imagine that anyone buying one of those would grab a couple of these cartridges https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/84470/Koetsu-Rhodonite_Cartridge_with_Diamond_Cantilever_Upgrade-Low_Output_CartridgesThe price tag was shocking and beyond that it’s remarkable that it weighs 176 pounds. The power supply is 58 pounds by itself. The tungsten alloy counterbalance is another factor. Tungsten alloys have high density. I never would have guessed that a 21”x16” record player could cost or weigh so much.
That sounds perfect, I'd appreciate the specs!Also I went through this about 1.5 years ago. I got a medium range turntable, a pre amp and some bookshelf speakers. It was a perfect setup for what I wanted and probably cost me less than $500 total. I can send over the exact details of what I ordered if you want.
If you get active/powered speakers you won’t need the pre-amp.
No worries, glad you like your setup (I've heard those K2020 are really nice bang for the buck) - just making things clear for Nomarshaus.Sorry - probably used the wrong terminology. I needed that because my speakers were passive and had no power source, but my turntable had integrated phono you’re right.
I learned about this all when buying everything and apparently have forgotten everything I learned.
Cool.Resurrecting this thread.
During the pandemic, my wife looked into the closet in my office and saw the 9 cartons of LP's I had been carting around since before I had met her, and said, 'get rid of them if you don't use them...' My response: 'No f'ing way'.
Like several of you who had written on this thread, when I was in college I worked at stereo shops, and at one time had a pretty cool system. (Looking at the price for my old components on eBay is really depressing now...)
Anyway, I decided I needed to play those LP's, so I had to build the best system I could find of vintage stuff, that wouldn't cost more than say, $500 total.
I've succeeded way beyond what I thought I could find. (In case anybody is interested- Nakamichi SR4A, Rectilinear III highboys, AR turntable.) Now, getting here was really fun, as I've bought stuff, traded stuff and sold stuff. It's become a little bit of an addiction.
Thursday, somebody gave me a pair of AR2Ax speakers. Back in '70-'71 these were the bomb. Of course, they are completely beat to shit. I'm replacing the foam on the woofers now (I had already done that with another pair of speakers) but I'm going to need to re-cap the crossovers.
Does anybody have experience doing this? Am I crazy as a non-electrical engineer to attempt this?
Can anybody help?
Hello, and welcome to the wonderfully nostalgic world of vintage audio. I'm just a dabbler, but I've been making minor repairs for a few years now. This sounds like a pretty good project for you to gain some experience.Thursday, somebody gave me a pair of AR2Ax speakers. Back in '70-'71 these were the bomb. Of course, they are completely beat to shit. I'm replacing the foam on the woofers now (I had already done that with another pair of speakers) but I'm going to need to re-cap the crossovers.
Does anybody have experience doing this? Am I crazy as a non-electrical engineer to attempt this?
Can anybody help?
I second this recommendation. Very simple and effective.I've had one of these things for many years. It may be overkill for your needs, but it works well.
View: https://www.amazon.com/Spin-Clean-Record-Washer-MKII-Complete/dp/B002UKSZUU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=spin+clean+vinyl+record+cleaner&qid=1659925465&sr=8-3&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18ed3cb5-28d5-4975-8bc7-93deae8f9840
I spent a lot of time in their listening rooms and their Hi-Fi shows were greatListen, to what your money can buy . . . at Tech Hi-Fi
The Spin Clean mentioned is the de facto option for manual/reasonable cost. It's a 70 dollar hunk of plastic but honestly it does pretty much exactly what you need it to do. Great if you have a small volume of records and gets the major gunk out. I'd probably recommend trying a few less valuable records than an OG No Code or Midnight Organ as it can be a bit fussy to start but easy once you get your routine.Resurrecting this thread a little. I have original pressings of Pearl Jam No Code and Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight. Both could use a good cleaning. Any help would be appreciated. I’m pretty new to this vinyl thing.
Have a decent sounding little system with a 90’s vintage Harmon Kardon receiver with a dedicated phono input and some JBL S38’s and a music hall Tt. Most everything else I have sounds good but these two records I got used and “sound” like they have some buildup on them.
Thank you!The Spin Clean mentioned is the de facto option for manual/reasonable cost. It's a 70 dollar hunk of plastic but honestly it does pretty much exactly what you need it to do. Great if you have a small volume of records and gets the major gunk out. I'd probably recommend trying a few less valuable records than an OG No Code or Midnight Organ as it can be a bit fussy to start but easy once you get your routine.
If you want to keep it cheaper, you can go with the truly manual method of a record cleaning solution + hand cleaning brush but honestly I never found it to do the job.
If you want to go more automated higher end, the next step up is probably the Humminguru which is a well reviewed budget friendly (relatively) ultrasonic cleaner, but I think that's really only worth it if you're going very high end systemically or you are going to be cleaning a fairly substantial number of records.
No problem! One other thing to consider if it's a truly small volume and you want them to be cleaned right is to call around to any local record shops/dealers to if they'd be willing to do it for you at cost. I've had flea market sellers run purchases I've made through a Spin Clean they had on site when I bought and I have to imagine most self-respecting record shops have some sort of record cleaning method on hand either privately or as a service to their customers. I don't think many advertise it as there's risk of damage I'd guess but it might be something they do if asked.Thank you!
That's good to know. I think the Spin Clean might be right for me. I have a small collection right now, but my kids like to play the records - they are gentle with them - but their hands aren't always the cleanest. This will let me not cringe as much every time they play something.No problem! One other thing to consider if it's a truly small volume and you want them to be cleaned right is to call around to any local record shops/dealers to if they'd be willing to do it for you at cost. I've had flea market sellers run purchases I've made through a Spin Clean they had on site when I bought and I have to imagine most self-respecting record shops have some sort of record cleaning method on hand either privately or as a service to their customers. I don't think many advertise it as there's risk of damage I'd guess but it might be something they do if asked.
My recently departed stereo system was mostly from Tech Hifi, with the turntable from Nantucket Sound and the later CD player from The Stereo Shops of Newton.I spent a lot of time in their listening rooms and their Hi-Fi shows were great
Where did it depart to?My recently departed stereo system was mostly from Tech Hifi, with the turntable from Nantucket Sound and the later CD player from The Stereo Shops of Newton.
Most of it went to the used record store in Coolidge Corner. Some went to the dump (reel to reel)Where did it depart to?
You probably already know this, but if it is indeed there, don't just plug it in to see if it works.This was my dad's circa 1960 HH Scott 399 stereo receiver Its all tube and beautiful, either off or on. I'm hopefully going to find out if if its still in storage over the next couple of weeks. (long story)
http://hhscott.com/receiver.htm
hhscott.com/_images/300%20-%20RF%20Devices/Receivers/Scott_399.jpg
Thanks coach. This twin dialed totally vacced beauty hasn't been used in about 35 years. So its definitely marked FRAJILLAY and handle with care. I just hope it survived an ex's anger and vindictiveness.You probably already know this, but if it is indeed there, don't just plug it in to see if it works.
Here's a link with some ideas of what you'll need to do:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/powering-up-tube-audio-after-loooong-storage-best-methods.968453/#post-15002645
I love the analogy of turning a tube stereo on after a long layoff is like pouring a bucket of water on a sleeping drunk.
I scrolled right past this and missed it the first time. I AM SO JEALOUS.It's nice to see people talking about vintage hi-fi stuff again.
About six weeks ago, I was checking one of the local "giving stuff away for free" sites, and came across a household which was giving away two pairs (= four cabinets) of Original Large Advent speakers. For free! They said that they just didn't have the room for them anymore. Holy cow!
I drove over the next day and picked them up. They were in good shape. I had to replace the surrounds on the woofers, but that's to be expected for 50-year old units (one pair was made in 1971, the other in 1973). I thought about replacing the capacitors in the crossovers, but when I tested two of them, their values were fine; so, I've left them all in place. I did do a simple refinishing of the veneer, using some Restor-A-Finish and Feed-N-Wax. They look really nice, and they sound nice, too.
It's going to take quite a while for me to top this acquisition!
Ugh. That's disappointing.So, the project is on hold. I still plan on recapping them, and have been rebuilding the pair of woofers the mice chewed through to get to their condo, but until the odor dissipates, I'm out.
Man, that takes me back. My first 'job' was soldering AR turntable parts on the kitchen table for few pennies each. My dad was head of international sales for AR until the sale to Recoton- we didn't want to move, so he spun off his own company instead- and we had tons of AR shit around the house (and then in his warehouse after the sale/move).I scrolled right past this and missed it the first time. I AM SO JEALOUS.
Two weeks ago I saw an ad on Craigslist for two pairs of free speakers, some AR7's and a pair of ADS Braun L710a's. The AR's are little 2-way speakers, covered in cheap vinyl (it's 1974, baby!) but after a recap and a refoaming, they sound better than they should. (this is before the Teledyne takeover of AR, so the quality of the parts shows.) In the bedroom they go.
And then there's the L710a's. These are supposed to be terrific speakers (Audiokarma says so!). I get them up to the workroom, and the first thing I notice is that something STINKS. Now, these had been stored in a garage for a while, but I still was surprised to find that when I traced the bad smell to one speaker, and started to remove the insulation, it became apparent that a family of field mice had decided to live in the speaker, leaving many many nuts, a lot of mouse shit and one dead baby field mouse.
This is supposed to be electronic repair, not biology. I was disgusted.
I removed all the insulation, sprayed with bleach, sprayed with Febreeze, sprayed with bleach again. IT STILL STINKS.
So, the project is on hold. I still plan on recapping them, and have been rebuilding the pair of woofers the mice chewed through to get to their condo, but until the odor dissipates, I'm out.
I always wanted an AR “the Turntable.” Even the AR-XA and AR-XB appealed to me in a more nostalgic way. (Instead I got a Thorens TD-125/ii.)Man, that takes me back. My first 'job' was soldering AR turntable parts on the kitchen table for few pennies each. My dad was head of international sales for AR until the sale to Recoton- we didn't want to move, so he spun off his own company instead- and we had tons of AR shit around the house (and then in his warehouse after the sale/move).
I recommend looking up Cheap Audio Man on youtube. He has recommendations on bluetooth DACs that don't cost a lot and have good performance.A couple of very general questions:
I have a Pioneer SX-990 receiver that is a general-use set up in my kitchen (phono, cds, sox on the radio). I'd like to be able to stream music from my phone through that receiver.
Thoughts about bluetooth audio adapters that could connect via audio cables to one of the open auxiliary inputs on the receiver? I'm more interested in affordability than top-shelf performance.
And, love some recommendations for 1-disk cd players that are reasonably priced.