There are some turntables from Japan, at around the $ 200 magic number, however, I am awaiting a JVC turntable as I mentioned, for the cost of shipping only. There may be some questions raised about 'paying 200 dollars for an used record player' ...We shall wait and see. There is also the Sony ? 333 that I intend to look at when I get home, and possibly diagnose and fix.
Yes, there seem to be many turntables from the UK and Japan with reasonable shipping costs. It think a brand new AT from Bankok could also be an option, given the fact that shipping will done by carrying it here. Used, there, maybe not. Provided it is an original Audio - Technica.
This one is about $ 185
I have good records and and somewhat overplayed records - let's say damaged - records in my collection. At this stage, I will be buying and recovering records in "Good" condition, with scratches and so on, the quality of even these is better, in my opinion, than some of the other options. I have no problem listening to sub-standard source material, however, sometime in the future all these will be slowly upgraded.
Obviously I need to purchase some record cleaning stuff, and accessories. I have the USB microscope and I can hand-wash the records.
Here is a random list: Anything missed? Someone recommended an ultrasonic cleaner some posts back.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-vinyl-accessories/
Here is a random list: Anything missed? Someone recommended an ultrasonic cleaner some posts back.
https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-vinyl-accessories/
There are lots of suggestions out there: distilled water, special solutions. In the past, I used tap water back then. One persons suggests immersing the vinyl in water and soap. Brushes, rollers: I am going through the expert opinions now, and have lined up a video on a Michael Fremer debate on cleaning records.
Here are pictures of my record before cleaning (not cleaned yet) with an USB microscope upto 1,000 magnification. The black wire is a human hair, and the twine like thing is lint. You may be able to spot oily fingerprints next to the strand of hair, pretty sure that is it. Very revealing. All images taken by myself.
Here are pictures of my record before cleaning (not cleaned yet) with an USB microscope upto 1,000 magnification. The black wire is a human hair, and the twine like thing is lint. You may be able to spot oily fingerprints next to the strand of hair, pretty sure that is it. Very revealing. All images taken by myself.
Yes, that came through after I wrote and posted. I also didn't look much at the other threads, I've just been reading this one. Some of the info in here has slipped my memory, but rather that than going back through every page and wading through all the Linn Linn Linn.
I'd suggest that a USB microscope is somewhat surplus to requirements at this stage. You have it already, so no matter, I just think it's of limited use until youneed to check for wear. For new cartridges, it should be a long time before that is necessary.
I'm not that focused on accumulating vinyl accessories, personally. I own the following
A carbon fibre brush, rather ancient now, and probably overdue for replacement.
Bottle of stylus cleaning fluid.
A record weight, more of a decoration than anything else.
Spin Clean. Definitely makes an audible difference to a lot of secondhand records I buy.
Digital tracking force gauge.
Spirit level.
Allen keys, precision screwdrivers. What you need is often provided with the cartridge though.
Late additions to the stable, 20 years after returning to vinyl:
An alignment protractor, which was pricey but useful if setting up multiple turntables fairly frequently
Zerostat gun, for the very dry winters that I have to deal with.
I think that's the lot. I'm not really drawn to miracle cures or experimenting with every pricey gadget on the market.
If I pared the list down to what I think someone starting out actually needs (on the understanding that some of the other items could be added later), it would be carbon fibre brush, stylus cleaning fluid (or equivalent), spirit level, and tracking force gauge. Later, some record washing method, though for people exclusively buying new vinyl, it's not an urgent requirement.
Not needed: Record weight/clamp.
Alignment protractor. They're nice to have, but I'm not sure that cheap ones exist, and for a one-time or very occasional setup, they're not really going to justify the cost.
Uh, yeah, somewhere in these threads I advised to search for aluminum tube...hollow...for starting to think of which geometries sort out from different arm lenghts.
That awful S shaped arm May be repurposed to be a straight arm, Say a 8" arm considering the 'masses'.
The fixed Pieces on the table, be It suspended or not, are so retro HiFi (racks) and It not our priority to have a 42 cm width rectangle.
That awful S shaped arm May be repurposed to be a straight arm, Say a 8" arm considering the 'masses'.
The fixed Pieces on the table, be It suspended or not, are so retro HiFi (racks) and It not our priority to have a 42 cm width rectangle.
Of course if you can get hold of that JVC, that's a real Victory!!
And I bet you wouldn't touch It...
And you'll transcribe to digital format the content of the discs so they'll be preserved...
That doesn't sound new...
And I bet you wouldn't touch It...
And you'll transcribe to digital format the content of the discs so they'll be preserved...
That doesn't sound new...
Thanks.
I have an small digital weighing scale which shows grams to 1 decimal point. Mobile phones have spirit level apps available, and I think they should be accurate or I just measure in both orientations and take the average, assume the error is linear.
Could you recommend a carbon fibre brush, off Amazon or Ebay (I can get those down here)?
I have got into watching some videos here: the Fremer debate, and an RMAF 2019 with Charles Kirmuss.
There is a dispute of a sort here.
Some of the statements I have picked up: playing a record melts the vinyl on repeated plays, so play a record once every 24 hours, cleaning solutions leave a residue, and new records are dirty and need to be cleaned. Not sure what to make of it yet.
RMAF 2019 Record Cleaning Made Difficult has a panel discussion, which should be interesting, with Fremer and Kirmuss on the same stage.
Either the JVC, or the Audio Technica. Of course I will use it.
Yes, I will convert to digital, as long as I think it preserves the same sound quality of the vinyl, and many experts have stated that it does to an almost undetectable degree, at least it will be with my system.
Maybe someone else knows. I doubt that mine was expensive, though at the time, I would have paid whatever. It's probably a Stanton but most of the name has been rubbed away by now. In the ensuing years, it looks like the market has split into Chinese no-name (or every-name) brushes, quality unknown, and the familiar older names in the record accessories business like Audio Technica. But I see theirs listed at over 5000 yen, about $40 I suppose, which seems steep to me. Now I remember why I haven't replaced my old one.
40$ is steep yes but... for how long have you used it?
Once factored the number of years of use the investissment seems way more reasonable.
Had same issue with Onzow's... but for the last 8 years i used it a lot and still do... and expect from it another 8 years at least...
Once factored the number of years of use the investissment seems way more reasonable.
Had same issue with Onzow's... but for the last 8 years i used it a lot and still do... and expect from it another 8 years at least...
Last edited:
Invest in an ultrasonic cleaning machine or better diy one yourself there is a nice thread about it here. No contact, a few drop of surface tension fluid for 6liters of purified water ( much less chance to 'polute' the surface of your disc)... and you can clean yours glasses, vegetables, carburators, false teeth, as a bonus... 🙂
Won't be cheap though even diy.
You are overthinking things in my view BasicHIFI1: get your deck, a nice cartdridge, some discs, a carbon brush and let the music play.
If ( or when) you'll need some other gear to take care of your collection then it'll time to explore options and make your own point of view about things ( theres not only one answer and way to approach things which is nice).
About carbon fiber brush: do you think there is a lot of factory doing this kind of things this days? Anyway if one is low quality you'll quickly see it: loose fiber on the surface will be easily spoted.
And don't touch your brush fibers with fingers: once there is grease on it it's mostly dead ( you could ecpect to clean it with alcool but i've never tried it).
Last edited:
Yes, I do tend to apply that calculation, along with "if I need it, I need it". For now, I have an old brush that as far as I know is still functional.
I think we are on same line of thoughs.
For diy Ultrasonic Cleaner:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/my-version-of-an-ultrasonic-record-cleaner.218276/
If you are convinced on the need for one then don't focus too much on frequency: a 40khz will be more than ok in 90% of cases.
The thing about the slow speed of rotation of disc is much more important in my view.
For diy Ultrasonic Cleaner:
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/my-version-of-an-ultrasonic-record-cleaner.218276/
If you are convinced on the need for one then don't focus too much on frequency: a 40khz will be more than ok in 90% of cases.
The thing about the slow speed of rotation of disc is much more important in my view.
Anyone use hard plastic protective sleeves for records, with an silica gel packet humidity can be cut reduced, and records can be air tight, dust free, and protected.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392594249090
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392594249090
Clean you records before you play them.
Throw away the old inner sleeve.
Use these instead: https://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-SOUND-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY ...4.9 stars at Amazon with over 4,000 reviews. That's about the best score I've seen for anything.
Get cleaning brushes (the low cost one's) and cleaning fluid from this place: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/record-cleaning-s/1872.htm ...Suggest calling Todd and discussing what you want for cleaning (e.g. low cost, but still good).
Throw away the old inner sleeve.
Use these instead: https://www.amazon.com/MOBILE-FIDELITY-SOUND-INNER-SLEEVES/dp/B001LQSFKY ...4.9 stars at Amazon with over 4,000 reviews. That's about the best score I've seen for anything.
Get cleaning brushes (the low cost one's) and cleaning fluid from this place: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/record-cleaning-s/1872.htm ...Suggest calling Todd and discussing what you want for cleaning (e.g. low cost, but still good).
Could I have been wrong about CDs? I once again pulled out some CDs in my collection, one from 25 years ago, and the other one from about 19 years ago.
I listened on my computer with headphones, and again these sounded harsh, metallic at the high end, almost giving me a headache.
What made it better was applying reverse RIAA equalization to the track, of course the bass was boosted out of range, but the treble sounded much better.
The 'Treble' Cut' EQ setting on Audacity helped a little, but the higher frequencies still sounded like they were breaking up.
All subjective, it can be said, but it looks like right now I cannot listen to CDs without equalization, or artificial smoothing of the sound.
All this while listening to a record on the EzCap over my desktop amp, and enjoying the music.
Michael Fremer warned us.
I listened on my computer with headphones, and again these sounded harsh, metallic at the high end, almost giving me a headache.
What made it better was applying reverse RIAA equalization to the track, of course the bass was boosted out of range, but the treble sounded much better.
The 'Treble' Cut' EQ setting on Audacity helped a little, but the higher frequencies still sounded like they were breaking up.
All subjective, it can be said, but it looks like right now I cannot listen to CDs without equalization, or artificial smoothing of the sound.
All this while listening to a record on the EzCap over my desktop amp, and enjoying the music.
Michael Fremer warned us.
and you listen to CD and EzCap (which is the toy turntable) with what (system)?
A photo is sufficient...
A photo is sufficient...