i agree wholeheartedly with those who suggest that, if you're going to invest in something, put the money in the cartridge. Then maybe something like the Cambridge Audio phono-preamp. More than anything else in the audio hobby, I've found that vinyl is very much something where you get out what you put in. It really depends on what your goals are. You're just starting out, there's no reason to jump all in, but getting a little bit above the entry-level in cartridges might be rewarding enough to keep you going. Good luck...those JVC tables are nice.
You guys are FREAKING me OUT!
- Thread starter spazus
- Start date
wianieq
Well-Known Member
I can't say I'm hardcore about it, but I thought I did very well with the Grado Black, vinyl engine downloadable protractor and Hagerman Bugle pre.
Magic Eraser for cleaning the stylus. $2-$3 at Lowe's/Home Depot etc. Just dunk the tip a couple of times.
I have a decent turntable and using the arm balancing directions to zero out the tracking force guage worked fine. I just recently got a digital scale and checked my tracking force and it was right on.
You don't need to drop a lot of money right away. Fine if you can, but its too easy to get caught up thinking that you need to have all this stuff to enjoy vinyl.
Magic Eraser for cleaning the stylus. $2-$3 at Lowe's/Home Depot etc. Just dunk the tip a couple of times.
I have a decent turntable and using the arm balancing directions to zero out the tracking force guage worked fine. I just recently got a digital scale and checked my tracking force and it was right on.
You don't need to drop a lot of money right away. Fine if you can, but its too easy to get caught up thinking that you need to have all this stuff to enjoy vinyl.
Tucker99
Super Member
Very sage advice.
That sentence alone should be sticky at the beginning of every forum!
Hopefully you got all that before but I thought I would post anyway.
When I bought my first TT back in 1978 (Technics SL-23), the TT was $95 and the cartridge was $120! Talk about your sticker shock!
Retro
Retro
ricohman
Adventure Rider
You don't need to spend huge $ to get nice sound.
Here is one of my systems:
$35 Technics SL-1700 MKII turntable with Pickering XSV3000 cart
$200 for an original Pickering stylus
$100 Sansui AU717 amp
And since speakers are so individual you need to decide what kind of sound you like. But you can buy nice sounding speakers for $100 if you look around.
Here is one of my systems:
$35 Technics SL-1700 MKII turntable with Pickering XSV3000 cart
$200 for an original Pickering stylus
$100 Sansui AU717 amp
And since speakers are so individual you need to decide what kind of sound you like. But you can buy nice sounding speakers for $100 if you look around.
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
The key here is, as SA-708 says, it's an alternative to the protractor. Aligning the cartridge in this way sets it to the manufacturer's specs which may be different from (but not necessarily better or worse than) a Baerwald, Stephenson, etc. protractor. It's a hell of a lot easier though. This method is pretty standard for Japanese "S-arm" tables from the '70s. Pioneer uses 49 mm and Technics uses 52 mm but the method is the same.
John
Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Don't step over a dollar to pick up a dime! It's one thing to be frugal, and another to waste the money you spend by being cheap. You have invested some decent money into this, and you need to spend just a bit more to see it through.
1. Buy a good cartridge. Don't break the bank, but don't waste money by buying something you are going to upgrade from shortly.
2. Use the free set up tools to get it aligned. Borrow the pressure gauge if you can, or order an inexpensive one like one of the previous posts referenced. Might not be accurate to the thousandath of a gram, but its good enough to get tarcking weight to the tenth position.
3. Buy good stylus care fluids, and use common sense and the experiences of others to develop a good record cleaning system. This will get you better sound, and longer life out of your stylus.
Don't be cheap! The experience of poor sound lingers far longer than the elation from a "fantastic" price. Common sense and a bit of ingenuity in record cleaning will go a long ways to making your foray into vinyl a successful one.
Regards
Mister Pig
1. Buy a good cartridge. Don't break the bank, but don't waste money by buying something you are going to upgrade from shortly.
2. Use the free set up tools to get it aligned. Borrow the pressure gauge if you can, or order an inexpensive one like one of the previous posts referenced. Might not be accurate to the thousandath of a gram, but its good enough to get tarcking weight to the tenth position.
3. Buy good stylus care fluids, and use common sense and the experiences of others to develop a good record cleaning system. This will get you better sound, and longer life out of your stylus.
Don't be cheap! The experience of poor sound lingers far longer than the elation from a "fantastic" price. Common sense and a bit of ingenuity in record cleaning will go a long ways to making your foray into vinyl a successful one.
Regards
Mister Pig
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drobertson17
Member
Paper Protractor Tip
I used a sewing needle to perforate the circle and then punched out the center holes on my paper protractor. Worked great. The most important thing is to verify the printout is to scale.
I used a sewing needle to perforate the circle and then punched out the center holes on my paper protractor. Worked great. The most important thing is to verify the printout is to scale.
drobertson17
Member
Paper Protractor Tip
I used a sewing needle to perforate the circle and then punched out the center holes on my paper protractor. Worked great. The most important thing is to verify the printout is to scale.
I used a sewing needle to perforate the circle and then punched out the center holes on my paper protractor. Worked great. The most important thing is to verify the printout is to scale.
moinau
Je me Souviens
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cfranz
That's my boy
For needle (stylus) care, many suggest using the 'Magic Eraser' found in 'Cleaning Supplies' in many grocery stores, etc. Use the white, not the blue side. Total cost, a buck or so.
As for cleaning, you'd be supprised how good, Dawn, water, and a polyester paint brush works. When you feel like it and can afford it, there are some esoteric enzyme cleaners out there for cleaning Vinyl which get good reviews.
For really bad records, Titebond II really does work. It's just a pain to use.
As for cleaning, you'd be supprised how good, Dawn, water, and a polyester paint brush works. When you feel like it and can afford it, there are some esoteric enzyme cleaners out there for cleaning Vinyl which get good reviews.
For really bad records, Titebond II really does work. It's just a pain to use.
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
Small correction:
Porte-cellule = Cartridge
Tete de Lecture = Headshell
Extrémité de la pointe de lecture = stylus (needle) tip
Alignez les lignes medianes du Porte-cellule et de la Tete de Lecture = Align the center lines of the cartridge and the headshell.
The remaining step would then be to set the distance between the rear shoulder of the headshell, (including the neoprene washer), and the stylus tip at 48 mm as shown.
Tres simple, non?
John
John
moinau
Je me Souviens
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boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
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That is the best advice I've read on AK in a very long time. You don't have to break the bank, but being cheap for cheap's sake is a good way to have a turntable with a lot of unrealized potential.
boreas
"If it sounds good, it IS good." E.K.E.
The diagram in this thread is from the manual for a JVC QL-A5, so it's perfectly appropriate for the OP's table.
John