TURNTABLE SETUP Questions thread - don't start a new thread, ASK YOUR QUESTION HERE!

[BLACKENEDPLAGUE]

  With Technics, it boils down to under how lucky star you were born : if VERY lucky, you might be having trouble even optically to tell whether the platter spins or is it stationary; if not :
 

 
I have seen similar but lessened in degree even in SP 10 Mk2 .

 
 
Well crap, I haven't looked for that before

 

[CH23]

Analogsurviver,

Do you know what sort of mount is used on the Sony PS-F5 / PS-F9? It's like a T4P but smaller?

And what can i do about the somewhat muddy sound? Do i need to find the opamp on board and replace that, or something simpler?

(I know you don't know everything, but you've become my turntable guru a bit)

 

[analogsurviver]

Analogsurviver,

Do you know what sort of mount is used on the Sony PS-F5 / PS-F9? It's like a T4P but smaller?

And what can i do about the somewhat muddy sound? Do i need to find the opamp on board and replace that, or something simpler?

(I know you don't know everything, but you've become my turntable guru a bit)

It is a cartridge mount unique to Flamingo ( Sony PS-F5 / PS-F9 ). It is the fourth body version for the Audio Technica
AT51/53/55/57/59 family ; there are normal 1/2" mount, SME/IEC , ADC headshell - and Sony Flamingo.
 
Flamingo has been on my wish list longer than I care to admit. There is always something more pressing pressing on my purse - lol ! No idea what causes muddy sound; if it is not downright distorted, specially towards inner grooves, stylus should be still OK and trouble may indeed lie in the electronics. I would replace the ageing capacitors prior messing with opamps; Flamingo is now approx 30 years old ...
 
( I dread the day I will finally get it - because I assumed electronics in so small/battery powered/vintage unit can not be exactly something to write home about - arm and cartridge should on the contrary offer more than just decent performance; I do use AT51 cartridge myself and am awaiting the best stylus for it, ATN 55/57/59 XE ( same thing, it gets its " name " only when mounted on appropriate cartridge. Should arrive any day now and I am really looking forward to see and hear what it can do. )
 
You can not expect stellar sonics from something that barely clamps the record over the label area only and does not 
support the record over playing surface at all.  But it is THE ultimate for checking out the used vinyl at fairs, swap meets etc - if the record is pressed off centre, is warped or excessively worn, it should tell you that instantly. In my book - mission accomplished. 

 

[CH23]

It is a cartridge mount unique to Flamingo ( Sony PS-F5 / PS-F9 ). It is the fourth body version for the Audio Technica
AT51/53/55/57/59 family ; there are normal 1/2" mount, SME/IEC , ADC headshell - and Sony Flamingo.

Flamingo has been on my wish list longer than I care to admit. There is always something more pressing pressing on my purse - lol ! No idea what causes muddy sound; if it is not downright distorted, specially towards inner grooves, stylus should be still OK and trouble may indeed lie in the electronics. I would replace the ageing capacitors prior messing with opamps; Flamingo is now approx 30 years old ...

( I dread the day I will finally get it - because I assumed electronics in so small/battery powered/vintage unit can not be exactly something to write home about - arm and cartridge should on the contrary offer more than just decent performance; I do use AT51 cartridge myself and am awaiting the best stylus for it, ATN 55/57/59 XE ( same thing, it gets its " name " only when mounted on appropriate cartridge. Should arrive any day now and I am really looking forward to see and hear what it can do. )

You can not expect stellar sonics from something that barely clamps the record over the label area only and does not 
support the record over playing surface at all.  But it is THE ultimate for checking out the used vinyl at fairs, swap meets etc - if the record is pressed off centre, is warped or excessively worn, it should tell you that instantly. In my book - mission accomplished. 

Quick and thorough response as always

Knowing the cartridge is unique, i hope it won't ever break...

I was "lucky" to get this one off of eBay, and even though i paid more for this than my 3 SL-7’s combined (which easily outperform this one) it was worth it. I do sometimes use it on the go, but its weight makes it hard to just have with you every day... It's a technological masterpiece for sure.

The reason i'm asking is that i recently moved from room to room, and the wallsockets here aren't grounded yet, leaving my SL-7 humming like a bee.

I think the sound may be either from the electrical components, or the lack of support for the record, stylus is in great condition. I'll see if it's practical to replace the caps.

The most precise description of the sound would be: warm, and a lack of treble.

Speaking of SL-7, i now have those feet under 2 of the 3 TTs i have. Looks really good. (Just checked eBay, there's now an SL-10 with feet for sale, at €700(!))

 

[analogsurviver]

Quick and thorough response as always

Knowing the cartridge is unique, i hope it won't ever break...

I was "lucky" to get this one off of eBay, and even though i paid more for this than my 3 SL-7’s combined (which easily outperform this one) it was worth it. I do sometimes use it on the go, but its weight makes it hard to just have with you every day... It's a technological masterpiece for sure.

The reason i'm asking is that i recently moved from room to room, and the wallsockets here aren't grounded yet, leaving my SL-7 humming like a bee.

I think the sound may be either from the electrical components, or the lack of support for the record, stylus is in great condition. I'll see if it's practical to replace the caps.

The most precise description of the sound would be: warm, and a lack of treble.

Speaking of SL-7, i now have those feet under 2 of the 3 TTs i have. Looks really good. (Just checked eBay, there's now an SL-10 with feet for sale, at €700(!))

Well, it just happened I was still up 

.
 
I did mention previously you could use a mat with Flamingo. The only one I see fit for the use on Flamingo is this 0,3 mm thick carbon fibre mat : http://www.ebay.de/itm/Black-Diamond-CARBON-LP-MAT-die-ultimative-Matte-fur-Transrotor-/360963060245?pt=Plattenspieler&hash=item540b133215  It does not, however, sound more bright than "without" and that means electronics in the flamingo is to blame; AT cartridge is a typical AT sound, leaning towards the brighter side of the  absolute neutral and not the other way around.
 
Yes, the going "rate" for Flamingo technological masterpiece is between 300 (if lucky) and 400+ ( if must emerge as the winner of the bidding war ). 
 
Tall, long, slender sexy looking feet leaning on one side will never cease to fetch pretty penny 

...
That price, considering the low/mid Shure cart, is way overpriced.
 
Miracles do happen (at a price...) : http://www.ebay.de/itm/Sony-PS-F5-PS-F9-Tonabnehmer-mit-Nadel-/321529708452?pt=DE_TV_Video_Audio_Sonstige&hash=item4adca9ffa4
 
At vinylengine there is Service Manual : http://www.vinylengine.com/library/sony/ps-f9.shtml
Pretty much as expected : wrong electrical load for the cartridge, electrolytic capacitor on bipolar input - by now obsolete IC  in the phono preamp, , low power output for phones ... - it SHOULD sound as described !

 

[analogsurviver]

My ATN-55XE stylus arrived today. Although I will not have proper time to adjust it as it should have been ( azimuth, VTF, antiskating, VTA/SRA ) for a week or so, the curiosity got the better of me and I simply replaced ATN-51S with the new arrival, leaving everything as adjusted for the ATN-51S.
 
It works exactly as it should - it is a rather sharph-ish (0.3 x 0.7 mil ) nude elliptical vs bonded spherical stylus, and the cantilever is also better. 
 
I will measure/record the technical performance of both - but what is certain is that XE stylus has much lower distortion and is surprisingly free from the inner groove distortion
where spherical stylus left MUCH to be desired. It creates a bigger soundstage with better separation and tolerates worn records better than spherical, yet is nowhere in the league of Micro Linear in this regard.
 
It is one of the cartridges, counted with fingers of one hand, with finger(s) remaining, that can utilize the characteristics of the Transcriptors Vestigal arm to the fullest. In order to be able to do that, the cartridge really has to be a low mass design - below 3 gram AND have rather high(ish) compliance. This narrows the field to a select handfull indeed.

 

[Kevin Chan]

Ok I just bought a used SONY PS-LX4 and my TCC-TC750LC just arrived about 2hrs ago then I start to setup them and calibrated my tonearm.

This is the best I can get out of it and it sound so terrible.
Does anyone know what is wrong with this player?
Link to the sound:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9kfoymb5n7qd28/Video%20Sep%2024%2C%2014%3A18%3A02.mov?dl=0

Please advice.

 

[analogsurviver]

Ok I just bought a used SONY PS-LX4 and my TCC-TC750LC just arrived about 2hrs ago then I start to setup them and calibrated my tonearm.

This is the best I can get out of it and it sound so terrible.
Does anyone know what is wrong with this player?
Link to the sound:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9kfoymb5n7qd28/Video%20Sep%2024%2C%2014%3A18%3A02.mov?dl=0

Please advice.

That is terrible. One hardly thinks where to begin.
 
Please note which cartridge you have at present - it sounds like stylus is worn and/or damaged - and/or recording is what it is and/or record is damaged/bad. It could also be the correct speed issue - a stroboscopic disk should tell you whether it runs at the correct speed, or you could time the track of music to see if it is at least in the ballpark (exact running times and times printed on label/jacket can vary by few seconds ).
 
Any chance to hear this record on another TT/setup or another record on yours ? In principle, PS-LX4 should be an OK TT. 

 

[Kevin Chan]

I have try this record on another player and it sounds good there. This is just an another cheap record for me to experience how to decode but unfortunately when I setup and this is the sound came out.

Currently this player is using QLM 34 MK III

That is terrible. One hardly thinks where to begin.

Please note which cartridge you have at present - it sounds like stylus is worn and/or damaged - and/or recording is what it is and/or record is damaged/bad. It could also be the correct speed issue - a stroboscopic disk should tell you whether it runs at the correct speed, or you could time the track of music to see if it is at least in the ballpark (exact running times and times printed on label/jacket can vary by few seconds ).

Any chance to hear this record on another TT/setup or another record on yours ? In principle, PS-LX4 should be an OK TT. 

 

[analogsurviver]

I have try this record on another player and it sounds good there. This is just an another cheap record for me to experience how to decode but unfortunately when I setup and this is the sound came out.

Currently this player is using QLM 34 MK III

ADC QLM 34 MKIII is a mid line but FINE cartridge - should not sound like that.
 
Let's start - please first check that the speed of the TT is OK.

 

[Kevin Chan]

ADC QLM 34 MKIII is a mid line but FINE cartridge - should not sound like that.

Let's start - please first check that the speed of the TT is OK.

Unfortunately I don't have the speed tester do I don't need one?

 

[analogsurviver]

Unfortunately I don't have the speed tester do I don't need one?

You can try playing a track with known running time and time it. As noted in my previous post, this method is not 100% accurate - but should answer if it is at least in the ballpark. 
 
You can download for free and print a stroboscopic disc ( 60 Hz for USA ) here : http://www.keystrobe.com/keystrobe/discs.html

 

[AK7579]

If you have an Android phone, there is an app called RPM Calculator that you can use. You simply start the app, lay the phone on the platter and start the platter spinning. It's not perfect but works in a pinch! I used it with great results to check and verify the speed in my Pioneer PL-41
 
Here is the link for the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apkossa.rpmeter

 

[Kevin Chan]

You can try playing a track with known running time and time it. As noted in my previous post, this method is not 100% accurate - but should answer if it is at least in the ballpark. 

You can download for free and print a stroboscopic disc ( 60 Hz for USA ) here : http://www.keystrobe.com/keystrobe/discs.html

Ok I just pick the one which can fit into my (a4 paper) and print it out?
Then what should i do with it?
I'm sorry I am really new in this vinyl field.

 

[Kevin Chan]

If you have an Android phone, there is an app called RPM Calculator that you can use. You simply start the app, lay the phone on the platter and start the platter spinning. It's not perfect but works in a pinch! I used it with great results to check and verify the speed in my Pioneer PL-41

Here is the link for the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apkossa.rpmeter

Unfortunately iOS don't have this one. They have another one but cost $5.00.