Topic: The Turntable Thread (Read 45113 times)

Deep Funk · « **Reply #190 on:** February 23, 2015, 10:14:59 PM »

Quote from: Mr.Sneis on February 23, 2015, 09:20:51 PM

I see this asked from time to time but anyone do vinyl + headphone listening?

I'm finding a few things:

-Far too revealing of surface noise and flaws. If I have about 100 records I could probably only pick out a handful that are tolerable. I get that part of this is psychological.
-I need to try with my other TT but I can hear the movement of the spinning record along the needle IE any blackground really suffers as a result. I have records with lots of surface noise but this second point is always there even on clean sounding records.

I admit the cartridge is just an old Shure m95ED which leads me to the question of would a better cart significantly help both of the above?

I used to have my humble little "crackle and pop" set-up with a Philips Synchro Belt Drive 437, Sansui AU-217 and an AKG K240 DF.

As long as the records were dust free and the recording was good the AKG would sing. How clean can you get your vinyl sound: CD-sound clean with the warmth and depth of vinyl? Can you go beyond into the bliss of musical plankton?

I am just curious. This thread always makes me want to build a vinyl set up again.

OJneg · « **Reply #191 on:** February 23, 2015, 10:28:03 PM »

I can enjoy myself with vinyl into HD800 most of the time. Have you tried wood glue cleaning?

Mr.Sneis · « **Reply #192 on:** February 23, 2015, 11:04:28 PM »

I have not tried wood glue cleaning but I've gotten some of my records cleaned at a local shop with a VPI 16.5 which is supposed to be a pretty solid unit.

Results are mixed, some records with minor noise are a little better while records that are in rough shape had almost no change. Surface noise is surface noise as well so I get that there's some stuff that just won't clean out no matter what (rears ugly head even in brand new vinyl).

I use a little bit of a process myself, I use distilled water and diluted isopropyl alcohol to clean every record and store them in somewhat fancy sleeves. I also use a stylus brush and magic eraser on my needles.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #193 on:** February 24, 2015, 02:12:47 AM »

Quote from: Mr.Sneis on February 23, 2015, 09:20:51 PM

I see this asked from time to time but anyone do vinyl + headphone listening?

I'm finding a few things:

-Far too revealing of surface noise and flaws. If I have about 100 records I could probably only pick out a handful that are tolerable. I get that part of this is psychological.
-I need to try with my other TT but I can hear the movement of the spinning record along the needle IE any blackground really suffers as a result. I have records with lots of surface noise but this second point is always there even on clean sounding records.

I admit the cartridge is just an old Shure m95ED which leads me to the question of would a better cart significantly help both of the above?

A better cart would very likely help, some carts are much quieter than others. Aside from that, I keep my records clean via a Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro. Headphone listening with just basic washing and brushing would likely be somewhat unpleasant, though admittedly I rarely do it regardless, and my records are all pretty mint, I don't really have anything that's heavily worn. For the most part when I'm listening via headphones its to my needle drops, which thanks to post processing are nearly as quiet as the CD versions while maintaining the awesome sound of the vinyl master. I've given up on CD pretty much entirely. About 2% of the new releases I'm interested in aren't brickwalled to hell.

Mr.Sneis · « **Reply #194 on:** February 24, 2015, 03:44:02 AM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on February 24, 2015, 02:12:47 AM

A better cart would very likely help, some carts are much quieter than others. Aside from that, I keep my records clean via a Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro. Headphone listening with just basic washing and brushing would likely be somewhat unpleasant, though admittedly I rarely do it regardless, and my records are all pretty mint, I don't really have anything that's heavily worn. For the most part when I'm listening via headphones its to my needle drops, which thanks to post processing are nearly as quiet as the CD versions while maintaining the awesome sound of the vinyl master. I've given up on CD pretty much entirely. About 2% of the new releases I'm interested in aren't brickwalled to hell.

I've tried to stick with budget carts so far simply because the replacement cost of the stylus is usually as much as an entire cart especially the higher up in price I look. Maybe I can step up to a AT440mla or DL-110/103r in the future as an in-between cost/performance now that I'm deeper down the rabbit hole.

I can get the CD thing. Before I was into vinyl, about 75% of my listening was SACD/CD but I do actively labor extensively to find older masters and albums with better DR values. The latest Aphex Twin, Marilyn Manson, even Beck are huge disappointments on CD despite being great albums. Guess we can't win them all

Deep Funk · « **Reply #195 on:** February 24, 2015, 09:11:37 AM »

When CDs are intolerable due to the loudness treatment they are either destined to be ignored or speaker only.

When music does not sound dynamic enough through the headphones, speakers are the last resort...

DaveBSC · « **Reply #196 on:** February 24, 2015, 04:02:38 PM »

Quote from: Mr.Sneis on February 24, 2015, 03:44:02 AM

I've tried to stick with budget carts so far simply because the replacement cost of the stylus is usually as much as an entire cart especially the higher up in price I look. Maybe I can step up to a AT440mla or DL-110/103r in the future as an in-between cost/performance now that I'm deeper down the rabbit hole.

The 440MLA is a nice cart. The 103R is a great fairly low cost way to get into the world of MC - provided you've got the right setup for it. It's low compliance and pretty low output for an affordable MC, so you'll want to give it a heavier arm, at least a good 60dB of gain, and around 100Ohm loading.

BlackenedPlague · « **Reply #197 on:** February 24, 2015, 11:43:25 PM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on February 15, 2015, 06:41:19 PM

For a moderately priced phono pre, check out the Musical Surroundings Phonomena II. All of the MS pres are lovely, but this one in particular is a standout in its price range.

http://www.stereotimes.com/acc010209.shtml

I refuse to buy something without any specs

DaveBSC · « **Reply #198 on:** February 25, 2015, 12:59:08 AM »

Quote from: BlackenedPlague on February 24, 2015, 11:43:25 PM

I refuse to buy something without any specs

You could ask MS about measured specs if that's so important. Sutherland doesn't quote any bench measurements for the Duo, didn't stop me from buying it, because it's an absolute beast of a phono pre, one of the best SS pre's I've heard under $10K.

Now a company like Benchmark OTOH will sell you all day long on their measurements. Good luck with that.

audiofrk · « **Reply #199 on:** February 25, 2015, 04:21:17 AM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on February 25, 2015, 12:59:08 AM

You could ask MS about measured specs if that's so important. Sutherland doesn't quote any bench measurements for the Duo, didn't stop me from buying it, because it's an absolute beast of a phono pre, one of the best SS pre's I've heard under $10K.

Now a company like Benchmark OTOH will sell you all day long on their measurements. Good luck with that.

can you talk a little bit about the other pre you heard under $1000?

Author Topic: The Turntable Thread (Read 45113 times)

Deep Funk

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OJneg

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Mr.Sneis

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DaveBSC

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Mr.Sneis

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Deep Funk

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DaveBSC

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BlackenedPlague

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DaveBSC

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audiofrk

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