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turntable lessons learned during 2019

TT lessons of 2019:
  • How good a decent, properly adjusted, turntable and cartridge can sound.
  • Idler drive 'tables can be really good. I remember the crappy old idler changers that my parents and grandparents had.
  • One needs a big, clean work area for working on a Dual, or at least I do. I had several parts launch into the unknown depths of the garage when I attempted to service it.
  • The most amazing sound I can remember in a home setting was from a turntable, my 1219, through good vintage electronics and a pair of Altec 604B's.
  • The importance of really clean records vs them just looking clean.
  • Cartridge alignment and proper turntable servicing are real talents.
  • How quiet a good phono stage (in a preamp or external) can be and how much they can affect the sound.
 
I learned that the simple AR-XA can be the tougher to restore than a Dual, mine was a mess mechanically. That being said, it was a very rewarding project. I really appreciate the sound coming from it as well, much more impact than I anticipated and quiet running too.
 
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What I have learned is why aren’t at least a dozen of you AK TT fanatics my neighbors! I would be twice as fast on the learning curve!

I have the Absolute, and Kettle One, and Bombay Sapphire, and Maker’s Mark and Oban, and a bottle of The Balvenie aged 21 years in portwood.

I would gladly help out with any Absolute problems if you ever would stop over and share your record spinning wisdom. Just sayin’.

Also learned that I shouldn’t buy any fancy JVC tables if I can’t fix them myself. Matter of fact any of the JVC models that I have purchased I just should not have tried even though most are very nice looking.
 
1. No matter how much you spend it's never the end game
2. No mater how much time you take it's never set up perfectly
3. No matter how many LPs you've got, you've never finished your collection
4. No matter how beautifully your current cartridge sits in your system, there's another cartridge out there somewhere that you know would be better
 
That I've learned a lot in the last year.
I still don't know as much as I want to.
Without all the fine people here at AK, and wouldn't know half the stuff I think I do now.....and that half would probably be wrong.
It's important to have one, decent, reliable, good-sounding turntable. It allows one to be patient while restoring/saving for/searching for your "dream" TT.
Same with cartridges .
Having back-up styluses, when possible, is a Good Thing.
.I could use some basic instruction: How to replace captive RCA cables. Cartridge loading. That kind of thing.
Everyone hates one of my favorite TTs, the Pro Ject Debut Carbon. Mine still sounds pretty good after 4 years. Maybe my ears suck and I have no appreciation of what "good" is. I'll accept that... But it still sounds good.
 
2526 said:
Learning to do a proper cartridge alignment is a totally frustrating process.
Click to expand...

I've learned that something that takes me ~10 minutes to do is an exercise in frustration for some.

FWIW: The first time I used a protractor to set up a cartridge was in the early 80's. I used a DB Systems protractor and it took me roughly 20 minutes. I still use the same protractor.

I've posted these directions before. It won't hurt to do it again.

"With a 2-point protractor, set the stylus on the crosshairs of the outer grid, and square the cartridge to it.

Move to the inner grid, stylus on crosshairs.

If the cartridge angles toward the middle of the record, move it forward a bit, and start over.

If the cartridge angles away from the middle of the record, move it back a bit, and start over.

When the cartridge sits squarely in both grids, stylus on crosshairs, you are done.

When you have used a protractor, do not then try to adjust the cartridge to any other "overhang."

Thanks to Alec124c41@vinylengine.
 
Setting up a turn table is harder than it looks.

But it's not THAT hard.

Search and find the correct protractor for your table.

Read and think when you set it up.

Learn from others.

Share that knowledge.

Learned design elements and basic simulation for a phono pre amp
and built a working version of it with the help from
very smart and intellectually curious gentlemen here on AK.

As I'm going through the set up process I wrecked the alignment
of my cartridge, so it's back to step 1.

Finally, the first time through is always the most time consuming, like
many things the more you do it, the better you get and quicker you can do it too.
 
illini said:
What are your turntable lessons learned during 2019?

My lessons for 2019:

1. The stylus wears out no matter how well the record and stylus are taken care of, cleaned, etc. See the link:
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/new-thread-at150mlx.460301/page-2#post-12597976

2. An extreme vocal track is necessary to accurately test the viability of a phono stylus. My choice of vinyl track, based on experience (see #1), is The Knife - Silent Shout - Na Na Na

3. A separate turntable and cartridge are necessary to fully implement the #2 point (see above)

4. I love vinyl, even though most of mine is in storage at the moment

5. Vinyl records can withstand cold temperatures. See the link: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/i-stored-a-lp-in-my-freezer.887845/

6. AK is unreceptive to environmental experiments on vinyl records (see #5).
Click to expand...
Use quality lube....on your spindle and motor bearings...LOL!
 
mjwraw said:
1. No matter how much you spend it's never the end game
2. No mater how much time you take it's never set up perfectly
3. No matter how many LPs you've got, you've never finished your collection
4. No matter how beautifully your current cartridge sits in your system, there's another cartridge out there somewhere that you know would be better
Click to expand...

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go

It could have been written about audiophiles...
 
USMC Spike said:
Setting up a turn table is harder than it looks.

But it's not THAT hard.

Search and find the correct protractor for your table.

Read and think when you set it up.

Learn from others.

Share that knowledge.
Click to expand...

All two point protractors are universal. Arc protractors are TT/arm specific. www.vinylengine.com has several different 2 point protractors and instructions for creating a custom Arc protractor for your specific TT/arm. All are available as a free download.
 
2019 lessons:

1. Phone apps are fun to play with to compare wow and flutter between various turntables, though not the last word in accuracy.

2. I like Japanese direct drive linear tracking turntables a whole lot, despite spending the last 30 years reading about how bad they are.
 
No upgrades to Vinyl rig specifically this year but have upgraded other components on my mains.

Lesson learned this year? … every time you think you have got at all the information contained in the record grooves ..
your wrong. There's always more there .
 
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