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

[CH23]

I have a pretty easy question.  I bought the auido technica at-lp120-usb.  It is being delivered on Tuesday 7/21/2015.   I need to buy a longer usb cable.  I am pretty sure the cable I need is
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MSU1HG?colid=2X166QX7JZ31I&coliid=I8LBR6W9N3FES&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl

I need someone that has it to verify that it is the correct cable.  What I am trying to do is have it reach my computer from my dresser and the cable that it comes with is probably not long enough.  Thanks in advance.

Does your computer have an audio input? (Mic in, or audio in) because i would advise you to use that instead of USB.

 

[analogsurviver]

TV antennas on the roof don't really quality, unless the gear is a total POS. Try radio/TV/microwave transmission towers.

And, why should one have to modify a phono stage (what is a tubestage), when perfectly competent models are available?

Yep, perfectly competent model$$$$$$$$$ are available ... - it is more cost effective to tie some loose ends in a comparatively lots cheaper component with about the same potential on paper as the "perfectly competent". But it does require knowledge, skill and experience - most definitely NOT something for novice.
 
Sometimes, it does not require too much to get an otherwise pedestrian performing piece of gear to really start singing as the original promo brochure is promising. 
That is particularly true of better Technics vintage gear - when given "enough", it can hold its own against anything ever made, regardless of price. However, DO expect the parts needed alone, without the work, will usually exceed the cost of the "donor" unit.

 

[dead99]

I worked in the audio business for ~15 years and have had more high-performance gear travel through my room than most folks have seen in magazines during the course of their lifetimes. Hence, my comment. Where I live, you couldn't pay me to own a tube phono stage. And the Chinese are able to build such an animal, with acrylic panels and tubes, no less, for a MSRP of $150 that isn't susceptible to RFI? It's a nice dream.

thats exactly why I asked this, it seemed a bit too good to be true

I've seen that Little Bear before, and I think it's sort of ok from a technical point of view. I would probably modify it straight away, I would never use MKP10 as couplingcaps. Makes it sound dull. But it is lots better than commercial offers at this price. But keep in mind that there can be extra costs for customs (~€50 BTW+inklaring).

Beetje crea-bea en klank is ok maar beetje braaf.

I have a Yaqin MS22 tubestage that had quite a bit of hum but is now dead quiet after modifying the internal wiring and earthing. I live on the 15th floor in an old flat with several antennas on top and not the greatest electrical wiring but I have no issues with RFI. So as always, YMMV.

I haven't had too many problems with RFI yet, but modifing the Little Bear won't be too hard after the Bottlehead Crack I think.

 

[Shaffer]

Yep, perfectly competent model$$$$$$$$$ are available ... - it is more cost effective to tie some loose ends in a comparatively lots cheaper component with about the same potential on paper as the "perfectly competent". But it does require knowledge, skill and experience - most definitely NOT something for novice.

Like the NAD that can be had for ~$150? :rolleyes:

Sometimes, it does not require too much to get an otherwise pedestrian performing piece of gear to really start singing as the original promo brochure is promising. 
That is particularly true of better Technics vintage gear - when given "enough", it can hold its own against anything ever made, regardless of price. However, DO expect the parts needed alone, without the work, will usually exceed the cost of the "donor" unit.

Technics had a pure tube phono stage? Really? And you worked on it?

 

[Shaffer]

I haven't had too many problems with RFI yet, but modifing the Little Bear won't be too hard after the Bottlehead Crack I think.

Good luck. You may not have any problems at all, or you'll have an antenna that lets's you hear interference louder than the softer passages in your music. Never know, but one can take an educated guess. If you live, say, in the country the odds of getting noise are smaller than living in a city. Depends on the situation. FWIW, many folks have been dealing with RFI issues for decades, trying everything from Faraday cages on down, and still haven't solved the problem. You want to take the chance? Fine. Chasing RFI is not like soldering resistors.

 

[dead99]

Good luck. You may not have any problems at all, or you'll have an antenna that lets's you hear interference louder than the softer passages in your music. Never know, but one can take an educated guess. If you live, say, in the country the odds of getting noise are smaller than living in a city. Depends on the situation. FWIW, many folks have been dealing with RFI issues for decades, trying everything from Faraday cages on down, and still haven't solved the problem. You want to take the chance? Fine. Chasing RFI is not like soldering resistors.

Wel I do live in the south of Limburg so I'll take my chance and see what Will happen.

 

[Shaffer]

Wel I doen live in the south of Limburg zo I'll take my change and see what Will happen.

Good luck and please let us know how it sounds.

 

[foolsgold1986]

Does your computer have an audio input? (Mic in, or audio in) because i would advise you to use that instead of USB.

I am in the process of looking for a sound card that would have that input.  I went to micro center and they were no help.  I went over and looked at the sound cards and they only had microphones.  From how I understand microphones they amplify sound so that would be difficult.  If you know of a sound card to suggest please do.  Thanks for the post.

 

[]eep]

Ok Shaffer, we get it. You know how to sell electronics. You know how to buy expensive gear. You're the man. :rolleyes:

But I have ears, know-how, experience and a philosophy. Creativity coupled with knowledge of physics. I make my own stuff sing. I don't just believe anything I read, nor some sales pitch. What Analogsurviver says is exactly right. 'Perfect' components are 100k$. Derivatives with compromises and inherent flaws are way cheaper. Copied by industrious Chinese they are even way, way cheaper. If you know what to choose and how to bypass the worst flaws and compromises you will get close to perfect components to bargain basement prices. But you wouldn't have any experience with that because you wouldn't want to be spotted there.

I don't always agree with Analogsurviver but I respect him and know he is right most of the time. He knows his stuff and isn't just blowing smoke.

I have had all sorts of phono stages, tubed, solid state, transistor and mixes of either. I have never had any problems with RFI. Sure I have caught a radiostation every once in a while, but that was never caused by the phono-stage and always solvable. Trouble with low level signals and RFI are always caused by cables with lack of shielding, dumb cable routing, unnoticed ground loops and capacitance trouble.

@dead99, If you want you can visit me in Ede, thats about an 90 mins. drive. De Yaqin is evt te koop en ik doe ook mods. Of hulp daarbij. Laat bovengenoemde patser maar lullen.

 

[Shaffer]

Ok Shaffer, we get it. You know how to sell electronics. You know how to buy expensive gear. You're the man. :rolleyes:

$150 is expensive? That's what the OP was planning on spending in the first place, As for the rest, I'm not sure what to say. Congratulations, I guess.

But I have ears, know-how, experience and a philosophy. Creativity coupled with knowledge of physics. I make my own stuff sing. I don't just believe anything I read, nor some sales pitch. What Analogsurviver says is exactly right. 'Perfect' components are 100k$. Derivatives with compromises and inherent flaws are way cheaper. Copied by industrious Chinese they are even way, way cheaper. If you know what to choose and how to bypass the worst flaws and compromises you will get close to perfect components to bargain basement prices. But you wouldn't have any experience with that because you wouldn't want to be spotted there.

I don't always agree with Analogsurviver but I respect him and know he is right most of the time. He knows his stuff and isn't just blowing smoke.

I have had all sorts of phono stages, tubed, solid state, transistor and mixes of either. I have never had any problems with RFI. Sure I have caught a radiostation every once in a while, but that was never caused by the phono-stage and always solvable. Trouble with low level signals and RFI are always caused by cables with lack of shielding, dumb cable routing, unnoticed ground loops and capacitance trouble.

@dead99, If you want you can visit me in Ede, thats about an 90 mins. drive. De Yaqin is evt te koop en ik doe ook mods. Of hulp daarbij. Laat bovengenoemde patser maar lullen.

I see you're trying to sell him your phono stage, the one you rewired to get rid of its RFI issues in your area and love so much, which doesn't mean it won't have any in his area, and insult me with a little profanity at the same time. Nice.

Edit: Forgive me, I just can't get over the irony of you calling me a salesman, when I have nothing to sell, yet you're actively and clandestinely hoping to sell the guy your supposedly RFI-fixed phono stage. It's a wonder of logic, or its lack thereof.

 

[]eep]

I suppose you read other peoples diaries too? That will teach you not to be so nosy. It was just some friendly advice that I couldn't put in words in English carrying the same intent. In Dutch it is not something we wouldn't say in your face, in English it would sound offensive. If you think google translate is your friend ... try to get some better friends because it is not helping you feel better. That wasn't profanity, just slang. The meaning of which you already demonstrated very amply yourself. But now you know what it's like standing on the other side of the languagebarrier. On the other hand, you make it an art not to even understand English. You are showing lack of respect to other people so do not expect to be met with respect yourself. So get off your high horse and get on topic.

As you probably didn't understand we live in generally the same area with similar conditions. I don't have to rewire anything to get of RFI. RFI is something you came up with as some perceived horror for tubed phono-preamplifiers. The true irony here is you are selling bull***. I'm merely offering a chance to meet and exchange ideas, offer a helping hand or whatever.

 

[Shaffer]

I suppose you read other peoples diaries too? That will teach you not to be so nosy. It was just some friendly advice that I couldn't put in words in English carrying the same intent. In Dutch it is not something we wouldn't say in your face, in English it would sound offensive. If you think google translate is your friend ... try to get some better friends because it is not helping you feel better. That wasn't profanity, just slang. The meaning of which you already demonstrated very amply yourself. But now you know what it's like standing on the other side of the languagebarrier. On the other hand, you make it an art not to even understand English. You are showing lack of respect to other people so do not expect to be met with respect yourself. So get off your high horse and get on topic.

As you probably didn't understand we live in generally the same area with similar conditions. I don't have to rewire anything to get of RFI. RFI is something you came up with as some perceived horror for tubed phono-preamplifiers. The true irony here is you are selling bull***. I'm merely offering a chance to meet and exchange ideas, offer a helping hand or whatever.

Ummm...you posted the comment on a public forum and I translated it. Clearly, my Dutch is not as bad as I thought. A shame you got so angry.

 

[Skylab]

Hey guys - as the starter of this thread, I respectfully ask you to quit sniping at each other here. TIA.

 

[analogsurviver]

  I am in the process of looking for a sound card that would have that input.  I went to micro center and they were no help.  I went over and looked at the sound cards and they only had microphones.  From how I understand microphones they amplify sound so that would be difficult.  If you know of a sound card to suggest please do.  Thanks for the post.

Where are you from ?
 
For Europe,  I know (of) two sound cards that do have line input, which you could feed from phono preamp. The cheaper card
http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product/872990/USB-SoundBox-71?ref=list
is also available in the USA under different name ( sorry, forgot it, but it looks exactly the same save for lettering and/or colour )
the better and more expensive one
http://www.terratec.de/details.php?artnr=10546#.Va5RiPntmko
is more "restricted" to Europe.
 
These are perhaps the extremes in price - but in-between does not make much sense. As always, YMMV.

 

[penmarker]

Alternatively there are USB phono preamps out there. Maybe you can try getting this one instead
http://m.ebay.com/itm/ART-USB-Phono-Plus-PS-Phono-Preamp-with-USB-Interface-245-8686-/221581498962

Sorry eBay mobile link, one the phone most of these days.