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terrible audio experience

Z

Zdsrft

Active Member
So, I'm at a friend's house the other day and all day she was telling me how proud she was of all the really cool vinyl she has been picking up and playing on the TT she just got.

I've recently been getting into vinyl so I was pretty excited to see it.

We get to her place and she says she wants to listen to her new (super nice condition) zepellin LP she paid around 10 bucks for.

She takes it out of the box and walks over to her record player and as we get closer to it my eyes just widen. its some old crap integrated record player by some no oname awful brand (maybe yorx. you know what I mean. basically a crap amp with a crap cassette deck and a crap tt on top).

the speakers were these 8 inch tall things made entirely out of black plastic with black plastic grills.

It was honestly the worst sounding thing I've ever heard. And she was putting this irreplaceable record on the top of it!

I innocently inquired about where seh got the TT. She found it at the dump, plugged it in and started playing records on it! :cry:

I can only say that I have never wanted music to stop faster. I ended up leaving her party later that night because I just couldn't take it.

Should I say anything do you think? She is really proud of that thing, but it is honestly torture to listen to.
 
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Zdsrft said:
Should I say anything do you think? She is really proud of that thing, but it is honestly torture to listen to.
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I don't think you should say anything unless you can help her move in a positive direction - have her listen to your system, find some cheap (or better, free) stuff for her that would be an improvement.
 
RichPA said:
I don't think you should say anything unless you can help her move in a positive direction - have her listen to your system, find some cheap (or better, free) stuff for her that would be an improvement.
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I think Rich is right on the money :thmbsp:

Have the young lady over and have her bring the Zep album. Put it on your setup and watch her jaw hit the floor when she hears what it should sound like, then you have starting point for an audio up grade discussion :yes:
 
The trick is to hide them INSIDE the speakers.....this way you're not appearing pushy before Barry takes over the mood ;)
 
Friends don't let friends destroy vinyl.

Or..............


This is your vinyl on Yorx. Wanna see it again?
 
One good way to start would be to tell her that she's ruining a classic and irreplaceable LP with less than great equipment. I know she's proud of the player, but the damage she's causing is irreversible. After a while that LP and any other is going to be destroyed.

Tom
 
it's her stuff, let her do with it as she pleases. big deal. if ya wanna virgin led zep, you can find one. let her have her fun....
 
Hopefully, you've got a small collection of equipment (unlike everyone else in this nuthouse, who has a LARGE collection of equipment). Make her a basic system, and give it to her. You'll not only be saving irreplaceable vinyl, but you'll also be saving and putting great old gear to good use, as well indoctinating another member into our secret organization, which soon will be large and well equipped enough to ... wha? Where the hell am I? What was I saying?

Oh yeah, you'll make a friend for life.

And if you don't have enough spare gear laying around now to put a system together for her, you now have a reason to start prowling the thrifts...LOL.
 
I think the most immediate concern is that the stylus is likely so worn that one pass on a record may do it serious damage. Apart from that, a crappy tt/changer won't do any harm to the vinyl. What's a little wow, flutter and rumble among friends, anyway? Depending on what cartridge is in it, you may be able to get her a new stylus for short money. Later you can work on the next most cost effective upgrades.
 
Careful here. Even with the best of intentions, I'd be cautious about telling her that she's ruining her records. She may not know enough to know you're telling her the truth and may think you're just being a snob because she doesn't have the kind of gear you have.

I don't know, tough position. We need more information to help. You didn't tell us if she's cute or not. Makes all the difference in how you move forward.

Ed
 
CUlater is right...

Give her a decent vintage setup. Not only will she be bowled over by the sound but she will have you to thank. Nothing wrong with that is there???? :thmbsp:

Regards,
 
Aren't those crappy ceramic cartridges hell on records? I've been told that they mistrack the highs and distort the treble information in the grooves. At any rate, I'd never put any record I cared about on a TT like that one...

I cringe when I see those new radio/CD/phono things that look like old radios, they have a pathetic 'table with a plastic platter and a horrible ceramic cartridge...gotta be a vile record-eating beast!

Todd in Beerbratistan
 
Thanks for all the good and humorous (although mildly disturbing advice. I wonder if some of you guys are prowling the streets looking for stuff other than audio equipment).

I don't have the gear to assemble something nice for her right now. But i will probably end up inviting her over and playing one of her favorite songs on my system. My system is far from perfect, but a monkey banging miniature cymbals together sounds better than that plastic hunk of crap she has. :)
 
Zdsrft said:
(although mildly disturbing advice. I wonder if some of you guys are prowling the streets looking for stuff other than audio equipment)
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yup...i look for vintage fishing lures too. :D
 
shrinkboy said:
it's her stuff, let her do with it as she pleases. big deal. if ya wanna virgin led zep, you can find one. let her have her fun....
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I agree, with one caveat...if she's a good friend, bite your tongue about criticizing her system, but invite her over to listen to your own setup. Should be able to do this without sounding snobbish.

And let her know it doesn't have to cost a fortune to take a huge step up in sound quality.

If she can't hear the diference, or doesn't care (and a lot of women care about audio about as much as the air in their tires), you can say you tried.
 
If she's loving the music, I'm sure she'll hear the difference in your setup... although i doubt you'll get her over to hear your setup anytime soon, I'd look into donating something to help her out. The very least, give her a new cartridge as a new present. Problem solved, for now.
 
At the very least check the condition of the stylus and see if it can be replaced with a needle that will not damage the vinyl.
 
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