Try a locking adapter -- these are a little longer than a standard plug and have a little screw mount on the stereo plug side.  You can sand down the threads with a dremel tool and achieve the usability you're looking for without sacrificing much build quality or appearance.  However, this may...

  Emergency recable of my Audio-Technica ATH-ES9Ws -- stepped on the simple, beautiful stock cable and that's all she wrote.  Seemed cheap to me at first, guess I was right.   Cable is Star Quad, terminator's a switchcraft.   Obviously the red cable (the only thing I had on hand) will...

Just a quick note -- I have a custom entertainment center done in pine, and while it's gorgeous I find it's way too vibration sensitive. It's great for headphone listening, and if nobody's moving around. But my 20 lb cat jumping off a table across the room is enough to make a record skip. I'd...

I had the time of my life looking at that. I've never felt this way before. We are planning to have our kitchen floor redone in cork. It's cheap, it's very comfortable and it's gorgeous: Lumber Liquidators: 7/16" x 12" x 36" Dali Cork Plus every time I see the sample I want to crack...

Hah! Lovely deal bro, enjoy the music. Now I need to get myself a banana stand!

It is unlikely after paying exchange rate, retail AND tax in Japan that your friend can beat that price.

Open: SR-225i Closed: Audio Technica ATH-ESW9A (technically out of your range but can be found for $220 at Adorama) You'll be happy with either, they're solid performers unamped with accurate, warm sound colored somewhat along the lines of your EQ -- you will likely be able to decrease the...

Disputes of any kind are the reason many businesses are reticent to sell overseas. Customs of course, but also payment disputes, legal disputes (in cases where the local government has copyright, patent, safety or other requirements), warranty and insurance claims, returns, etc. Most...

I work for a dropship services firm. I'm in and out of warehouses all the time. And I'm actually been shocked that Newark, Digikey, Mouser et al don't charge me a handling fee. I wish they would! Pick & pack on some of my 10 line, 20 qty, $10 orders must cost more in labor than they make on the...

The AT440MLa arrived. It's not a silver bullet, but it's a solid step forward -- I'd say about 3/4 of the records with annoying issues have been improved to the point they no longer annoy me. Here's a sample (Apple Lossless): PL-518 with OM-5E PL-518 with AT-440MLa Vocals...

Read the glossary and make sure we're using the same terms -- I always found the Sennheiser sound to be much colder, not warmer, than Grado's. Due to the "coldness," the bass roll-off and the the closed staging, I found the HD-280 to be like being locked in a basement, which actually is quite...

Sennheiser headphones are, in my experience, so neutral as to place more emphasis on source quality and equalization. I haven't personally heard the 800s, but if they continue this trend then that may explain the polarization. Not everybody considers "real" sound to be "good" sound...

Beyerdynamic 880s, or 770s if you want a more intimate closed source. Nice neutral reproduction with plenty of bass, lets you hear what the artist heard. Don't spend too much, thinking you'll get more out of it -- with digitized music, you can find that you're resolving the edges of loops and...

Yeah I saw the Gem Dandy -- it appealed to me. However -- I have an old high torque turntable, a 6 HP shopvac, and the willingness to fail nine times on a dime rather than succeed once on a buck. That's a recipe for DIY.

Psst -- I know where you can get a good deal on a slightly used OM-5E I found Tonearm/Cartridge Capability a most helpful primer, especially their identification of the two different units used to express compliance (um/mN and C (x10-6)).

I picked up an AT440MLA, should arrive soon. I will take before and after samples from my biggest gripe records and post them when it arrives.

Quote: Originally Posted by memepool From previous experience of the Ortofon OM-5 / 10 / 20 on a Dual CS-505, I wouldn't expect it to sound anything like you've described. On a correctly matched arm even at the lower end of OM stylus range this is one of the very best carts I've ever...

Quote: Originally Posted by memepool The first thing you should do is upgrade the cart. This OM-5 is completely mismatched with the arm on the Pioneer 518 which has an effective mass of 16-17gms. The Ortofon is happiest on ultra low mass arms like the SME 3009S2 and Series III or...

Heh yes I am getting the vibe. Clean is a big deal and brushes ain't good enough. I'm going to try a few DIY tricks (DIY Record Cleaner) while looking for a fair price on a used record vacuum. My local shop has a TON of good stuff in their $3 bin and I'd love to be able to play 'em. Floors...

I recently picked up a lovely Pioneer PL-518 down at my local record shop. Speed is right on, all controls work well. I carefully slotted and adjusted a new Ortofon OM-5E, and what I have surpasses (by inches) my fully auto Sony. Preamp is one of these, and I like it alright: Phonopreamps.com...

Hey ya'll chip-heads got any advice on drop-in 8-DIP upgrades? I'm running a CMOY -- actually, two of them, one with an OPA 134 and the other with a OPA 227, which I slightly prefer. I'm interested in experimenting with the sound of different chips prior to building my next amp (which will...

My favorite Picasso painting is the Three Musicians. But I am unable to provide scientific evidence for this.

Check out the Beyer DT770s and you may save some cash (they run around $200 USD) I auditioned them last month and they are EXACTLY as you describe, mostly neutral with a nice, round bass. Many clubbing DJs I know swear by them, both for beat tracking and recording.

Burn in just does not exist. I burnt in my new Audio Technicas for 24 hours and they sound much worse. At 450º -- am I doing it wrong?

Ha thanks for the link...I'm encouraged to fire up the old 1500 PSI pressure washer and see what it can do with this old copy of U2's War, which looks like it's been through one.