I would definitely recommend a carbon fiber cleaning brush. If you clean all your records good the first time, and pass over them after each play with the brush, you shouldn't have to clean them again for a long time. 

Maybe I just don't have audiophile ears. But my vinyl setup that I spent about $250 on (turntable, cartridge, pre-amp) sounds better than my digital setup, but that only consists of a uDac, so maybe if I spent $250 on a dac I would have different opinions.    Also do note my turntable and...

Deoxit on the pots will probably work. Make sure you get it on the speed control pot and work play with the speed switch to work it in. My pioneer turntable had issues keeping a consistent speed, but ever since I sprayed some Deoxit on the speed pot it's been spinnin' good as new.

Check your local craigslist for turntables. You won't really be able to find a retail new turntable for under $100 that is worth a crap, but you'd be surprised how well vintage tables hold up. I picked up a pl-518 for $40 and used some deoxit on it and it works like new. If you do buy on...

Quote:   In between the source and receiver? So like: source > amp > receiver ? Do most tube amps even have an output (well headphone obviously)? Maybe I'm not understanding you here.

Vintage electronics sure are a gift from god. You can spend a fraction of the cost of new stuff and get sound just as good.

yeah they sound really similar to me honestly. the one in the marantz seems to be a tad cleaner sounding though. I think it would be in my best interest to sell my amp and upgrade my dac or something.

Hello. I own a little Marantz 2015 receiver which I hook all my components on my desk up to, I have my Millet Hybrid tube amp hooked up through the tape out, but recently after switching between the amp and the headphone jack on the receiver I have began to question the boost in sound quality...

Quote: Ok, thanks. What do you think about Kee's mod? Will that improve my sound for rock?

Ok so I currently listen to most of my music (classic rock mostly) on my turntable hooked through my little marantz receiver, to a millet hybrid tube amp, to my ultrasone pro 750. I really like my ultrasones but I feel they shine more with electronic music. I have $100 to amazon and since I have...

Alright thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking about getting a vintage receiver so I could maybe hook some speakers up in my room as well (dunno if I could get my dac and my turntable hooked up to be able to switch between my headphones and speakers or not).      

Ok, so I've recently got into the vinyl scene, and with a good clean record it sounds good, but it could be better.   My question is this, is this little $40 pre-amp from guitar central really holding back my setup? I have a budget setup as it is: pl-518 with shure m97xe > cheap pre-amp >...

The DAC in the iPod (well some of them) is pretty good, but to really take advantage of it you need to mod it. Of course, buying an expensive high performance DAC is going to be better than any iPod. Your music is only as good as it's source.

I own a 750, I don't find it bright (maybe it's the overwhelming bass?) A lot of people here either hate Ultrasones or love them, I can't say yet because mine aren't fully broken in, but they're sounding better.

I did return the stanton by the way, so I have about about $200 to spend on something else (most likely going vintage), I'm still looking at that PL-518 on craigslist for $60, the guy says everything works fine but I've only seen one badly taken picture of it and I'ma wait till he verifies the...

Quote: Heh, you trying to make jokes about Texas?  

Ok I'm off for tonight (err this morning). Thanks grokit (and everyone else) for the suggestions/help so far. I was just too over anxious when I bought this stanton, I don't mind how it sounds but I don't want to damage my records.

I guess I'ma need a voltage adapter then? That won't affect the consistency of the motor will it? Well whatever I decide, I have about $165 (give or take a few dollars) after restocking fee that I should get back for this stanton.

Mm, I wish I had that type of money, that Denon is sexy. I'm almost positive my cart works well with that pioneer, the only thing I don't like about it is that it's direct drive. I'm worried it will hum with my cart (doesn't hum currently on my direct drive TT). It's been listed on craigslist...

OK, I wasn't aware I was really damaging my records, and I did just buy a new cartridge with an elliptical needle, but I'm putting the old one back on for now so I don't do any more damage. I've seemed to have misplaced my receipt, It hasn't been 30 days since I purchased it yet so hopefully I...

I dunno if I'm understanding you correctly, but you only need one or the other. If you get a USB Dac, it's going to completely bypass your sound card. Most would agree a USB DAC is the most cost effective option.

Ok, my cartridge is definitely aligned pointing inward, not straight. I'll probably save up for a while, buy a better cart, then sell this TT eventually and buy a technics 1200, but I'm happy with this one for now. I really do need to get some cleaning materials though, most of my 80s records...

Hmm, ok. It sounds real nice to my ears, but I haven't heard other turntables. If the straight arm is really going to wear my records quickly then I might need to look into something else. The needle is not straight, it's angled to fit the record (not sure if this is what you mean by the...

I ended up buying a Stanton T.62 Dj TT and a phono pre-amp from Guitar Center. I decided on this TT over buying a cheaper $100 usb model and upgrading the cartridge. I'm very pleased with the sound (my records are old and could definitely use some cleaning though, I'd like to see how a brand new...

Ok, thanks for the suggestions so far. Say I can't find anything vintage locally, would a new USB turntable from Guitar Center with an upgraded cartridge sound decent?