I hate turntables
- Thread starter Old-School
- Start date
DCH
Well-Known Member
Ooooh no I do not. I love my Thorens.
Nor do I hate the Pioneer I've been working on this week, even though it's kinda cheesing me off. Fanciest puzzle I've ever put together.
KDAC
Addicted Member
If this site made available a smiley for applause, I'd reply to you with one without hesitation, Old-School. Every single incident you mentioned, in addition to a toddler and kindergartner at the time, led to me permanently packing up my belt drive Sony turntable in 2004 after "ripping" the records and CDs I owned at the time to .mp3 while in the process of setting up a server to access my family's music via LAN around the house and WAN while away from it. The good thing is that I didn't have to go through what you went through to arrive at the same conclusion - I simply became sick of the trebly hiss, pops, cracks, and, as you so eloquently stated, speed variations and decided that I want to enjoy listening to music without it being so laborious to do so. Fourteen years later, I'm averaging two to five CD purchases/borrows a month, ripping them to my server, and am simply lost in the music. On the opposite side of the coin, I will admit that a table with the aforementioned issues resolved, situated on a stable surface, and in a decently "treated" room with a good amount of watts per channel sounds divine. While I do miss the jacket/gatefold/label art and larger liner notes, I simply don't like having hundreds, if not thousands of LPs occupying a large footprint in my house, having to flip through them to find a selection, and having to flip an album to hear the other side. The CDs that make up the overwhelming majority of my collection are well maintained, stored properly in their original jewel cases in a room at the appropriate termperature and are readily available if I ever need to "re-rip" one due to hard drive damage/failure. As several posters mentioned, they love the degree of involvement a turntable brings. More power to them. Like yourself, I don't, simply don't miss the format, and have no plans of returning to it - even if I do admittedly drool over the photos in "Vinyl only spin list" thread.
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Old-School
Well-Known Member
Haha! That was more of a rant than anything! but thanks everyone lol
Gchief I dont smoke. Not into pills either lol maybe a beer will help
I'm sure there are plenty of tables out there I wouldnt hate. And your right. I need to find a good one. I'm waiting on an epic world event (can I say second coming without getting moderated) .. and a good turntable!!!!!!
That QL5 was a stop gap.. and sure I cant expect much from damaged stuff.. I think the actual drive unit is nice. Any super expert Plinth makers on here???
Really I think its just the tedious nature of playing a record versus dropping a CD in a tray that has me spoiled.
On the up side I did get a good phono stage!!!
Gchief I dont smoke. Not into pills either lol maybe a beer will help
I'm sure there are plenty of tables out there I wouldnt hate. And your right. I need to find a good one. I'm waiting on an epic world event (can I say second coming without getting moderated) .. and a good turntable!!!!!!
That QL5 was a stop gap.. and sure I cant expect much from damaged stuff.. I think the actual drive unit is nice. Any super expert Plinth makers on here???
Really I think its just the tedious nature of playing a record versus dropping a CD in a tray that has me spoiled.
On the up side I did get a good phono stage!!!
Exactly why I have gone back to vinyl twice now, there won't be a third time, my TT isn't going anywhere.
Beer is good
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
There are a number of plinth makers here on AK.
I remember your TT search in a recent thread. You have the ability to get a nice table and just haven't quite pulled the trigger on that yet. There is still time, before that second coming, I expect, but I don't know.
From your rant, you seem to be kinda like a friend that was over yesterday. He admired a couple tonearms just sitting there on armboards out on the open. Indicated he wouldn't be into all the work needed to keep them running. Heck he had just told me of the days and days of work he did to his new to him, high mileage Honda, effectively solving a start up clatter that goes away quickly (known issue, replace parts) and cleaned the oil system to increase oil consumption from 1 qt per 1000 miles to 1 qt per 500 miles, not his goal. He works on his cars a lot, but the SME was too 'fiddly'? I think it is more that he is not as comfortable with small and needs to work on medium-sized parts. I don't know your penchant for working on gear, just thought this anecdote might be close.
There is a turntable for you out there. We just need a bit longer to find it for you.
Maybe a plinth builder will drop in a pm you about getting your QL properly clothed.
I remember your TT search in a recent thread. You have the ability to get a nice table and just haven't quite pulled the trigger on that yet. There is still time, before that second coming, I expect, but I don't know.
From your rant, you seem to be kinda like a friend that was over yesterday. He admired a couple tonearms just sitting there on armboards out on the open. Indicated he wouldn't be into all the work needed to keep them running. Heck he had just told me of the days and days of work he did to his new to him, high mileage Honda, effectively solving a start up clatter that goes away quickly (known issue, replace parts) and cleaned the oil system to increase oil consumption from 1 qt per 1000 miles to 1 qt per 500 miles, not his goal. He works on his cars a lot, but the SME was too 'fiddly'? I think it is more that he is not as comfortable with small and needs to work on medium-sized parts. I don't know your penchant for working on gear, just thought this anecdote might be close.
There is a turntable for you out there. We just need a bit longer to find it for you.
Maybe a plinth builder will drop in a pm you about getting your QL properly clothed.
OutlawSun
Well-Known Member
Yep definitely think there's some good options out there if it comes down to taking another spin with a turntable. Thought I think in the OP's case I think their best bet for used would be to find one that's been gone over and serviced by someone reputable and has a reputation for being well made and good performing.
Tim D
Super Member
Funny... I have a bunch of CD's, a massive changer that holds hundreds of them, and CD player's in both cars and I hardly ever use them. I go home spin LP's and enjoy them so much more because of the (almost) bygone technology that is involved. It's like working on vintage cars. I can understand them. The new cars - not so much. I love refurbishing old TT's and love to bring them back to their original glory. For me it's not just about the music. It's also about the subjective sound of LP's that is missing with the sterility and automation of CD's.
Do I hate TT's? Nope.
Do I hate TT's? Nope.
Harvey/ Ga
Super Member
Well, Even my "worst" TT was better then what you had.
My Pioneer PL-L 1000 was serviced 7-8 years ago, and plays beautifully.
The Micro-Seiki needed a new belt, so I FINALLY found one about 6 years ago. End of story..works great for a semi-automatic
Never a problem with the Mitsu LT-20 in the 6 years that I've had it
The JVC is my main TT. The E-bay seller had to buy me a new needle. It's about 4 years old and magnificent.
As said before, buy a good TT if you REALLY want one, unless you just wanna gripe about junkers
that you can't fix.
My Pioneer PL-L 1000 was serviced 7-8 years ago, and plays beautifully.
The Micro-Seiki needed a new belt, so I FINALLY found one about 6 years ago. End of story..works great for a semi-automatic
Never a problem with the Mitsu LT-20 in the 6 years that I've had it
The JVC is my main TT. The E-bay seller had to buy me a new needle. It's about 4 years old and magnificent.
As said before, buy a good TT if you REALLY want one, unless you just wanna gripe about junkers
that you can't fix.
frankmarsi
Active Member
9-12-18
Aim high to be personally satisfied and there’s no need to look any further.
When one buys quality and understands that level of quality, then one would not find set-up difficult or using it a hassle.
I use the three arms that I lusted for back in the 1970s’ and then later in life I made it my business to seek them out.
Once I acquired each of them I knew they would deliver all of the quality I sought back then except, it’s now. These splendid vintage arms offer top shelf play-back quality to a point where you would be content enough to simply sit back and enjoy the music with-out the need to buy anything else.
I might add that once you familiarize yourself (it isn’t difficult) to set-up these arms, they’re basically set once and forget. From there on, it’s listening and hunting for your favorite disks and life becomes good once more.
In using vinyl disks, these days we all have the benefits of using ‘brush and vacuum’ machines or, with the better method that I have enjoyed for more than two years now and that’s the ‘ultrasonic’ method in cleaning of vinyl records.
Below are my favorite tables in use mounted with the arms I mentioned as used in my main system. In my second system, I use doubles of what is in system #1 because I like them that much and have no need to stray on an endless search for other arms or tables.
FM
Aim high to be personally satisfied and there’s no need to look any further.
When one buys quality and understands that level of quality, then one would not find set-up difficult or using it a hassle.
I use the three arms that I lusted for back in the 1970s’ and then later in life I made it my business to seek them out.
Once I acquired each of them I knew they would deliver all of the quality I sought back then except, it’s now. These splendid vintage arms offer top shelf play-back quality to a point where you would be content enough to simply sit back and enjoy the music with-out the need to buy anything else.
I might add that once you familiarize yourself (it isn’t difficult) to set-up these arms, they’re basically set once and forget. From there on, it’s listening and hunting for your favorite disks and life becomes good once more.
In using vinyl disks, these days we all have the benefits of using ‘brush and vacuum’ machines or, with the better method that I have enjoyed for more than two years now and that’s the ‘ultrasonic’ method in cleaning of vinyl records.
Below are my favorite tables in use mounted with the arms I mentioned as used in my main system. In my second system, I use doubles of what is in system #1 because I like them that much and have no need to stray on an endless search for other arms or tables.
FM
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Old-School
Well-Known Member
maxhifi
Addicted Member
I wonder what you did, to end up with such bad luck!
I have used all manner of turntables over the years, from BSR to Thorens to Clearaudio. One thing they all have in common is they play records with minimal fuss. I think your issues are likely due to fiddling, either by you or a previous owner. Ever try and take a wind up alarm clock apart as a kid, and then put it back together? I did, and I was quickly in over my head.. it ended up ruined as a result. I'm not sure blaming the clock would help matters.
I suggest to find someone who knows what they're doing with turntables, get him to pick one for you, and set it up.. then just use it to play records, don't adjust anything or play with it. If you do that, your luck should turn around. I'm paraphrasing someone else, but I think that if you look high and low to see the problem, and you can't find it, you'll probably find it in the mirror.
I have used all manner of turntables over the years, from BSR to Thorens to Clearaudio. One thing they all have in common is they play records with minimal fuss. I think your issues are likely due to fiddling, either by you or a previous owner. Ever try and take a wind up alarm clock apart as a kid, and then put it back together? I did, and I was quickly in over my head.. it ended up ruined as a result. I'm not sure blaming the clock would help matters.
I suggest to find someone who knows what they're doing with turntables, get him to pick one for you, and set it up.. then just use it to play records, don't adjust anything or play with it. If you do that, your luck should turn around. I'm paraphrasing someone else, but I think that if you look high and low to see the problem, and you can't find it, you'll probably find it in the mirror.