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

[Silent One]

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Texas is obviously closer.
 
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Will you be selling the 16.5, priced to move...to Cali? 

 
Not so fast...it's Winter!  

 

[analogsurviver]

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Hey guys, just got back from the flea market. Too bad there weren't much turntable sellers because it was a saturday and most of them work on saturdays. They only go to the flea market on sundays as part time jobs.
One thing though, I went to the person who wanted to sell of his Marlux turntable as my previous posts. He was a very nice person who only is selling it because he now has a son around 2 years old and wrecks almost everything he got his hands on.
But wait, there's more.
The turntable was immaculate, and perfect. I was blown away by his careful care on the turntable and almost feel bad paying, to me, a cheap price on it.
He know so much about vinyl and turntables and he gave me a few pointers in taking care and playing the records.
I bought some records at the flea market, some of them in not really good shapes while one is in very good condition. My first record ever is Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley!! And he pointed out that the condition is very good, albeit some minor scratches just touching the surface.
The turntable has no flaw at all, and he was decent enough to change the defective stylus he detected yesterday. He was playing a Paul McCartney record when it snapped and scratched through the record badly. The tonearm and antiskate was set up by another friend of him whom he refers to as a senior record listener. And yes even from my shaky hands I managed to move and play the cue down to the middle of the record without it skating inward or out.
Now all I need is a good phono stage to feed my tube amp and I'll be all set.
Thank you so much for everyone who had given such lengthy advice and opinions. Now I am proud to say, I own a turntable.

Welcome to the analog club !
 
Getting such turntable under such circumstances equals striking gold to me.

 

[penmarker]

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Welcome to the analog club !
 
Getting such turntable under such circumstances equals striking gold to me.

Thanks analogsurviver, you're one of the most welcoming person around here I've placed an order for a Behringer UFO202 phono stage. For now I have no place to put the turntable and no way of listening it by myself. Other than that I'm pretty much good.
 
He sold me a few near-mint condition used records too for RM50 (about $17). His house has a proper hi-fi setup, and he can tell really tell differences even I cannot detect such as the quality of the record and the instrument separation and such. At first this turntable gave me the impression of a cheapo starter pack, but now I have acquired a new sense of respect towards it and the previous owner.

 

[Skylab]

Will you be selling the 16.5, priced to move...to Cali? 

Ha! Sorry pal, but I gave it to my Dad for XMas. He was using an old manual Nitty Grity RCM, so the 16.5 is a nice upgrade for him.

 

[Silent One]

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Will you be selling the 16.5, priced to move...to Cali? 

Ha! Sorry pal, but I gave it to my Dad for XMas. He was using an old manual Nitty Grity RCM, so the 16.5 is a nice upgrade for him.

 
Great move.

 

[analogsurviver]

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Thanks analogsurviver, you're one of the most welcoming person around here I've placed an order for a Behringer UFO202 phono stage. For now I have no place to put the turntable and no way of listening it by myself. Other than that I'm pretty much good.
 
He sold me a few near-mint condition used records too for RM50 (about $17). His house has a proper hi-fi setup, and he can tell really tell differences even I cannot detect such as the quality of the record and the instrument separation and such. At first this turntable gave me the impression of a cheapo starter pack, but now I have acquired a new sense of respect towards it and the previous owner.

Penmarker, glad you decided this way - goes for the Behringer too, as I expect its next to nonexisting weight does have special allures in your case.
In cojunction with a computer via USB, you will be able to make PCM recordings of vynil - money really well spent.
 
That TT is ANYTHING BUT cheapo starter pack - it may not be the last word in TTs, but is decently/solidly built and should give you a good start in analog. Despite previous owner obviously was/is a good guy, he would have not preserved it in this condition if it was a crap - would he ??
 
Frankly, when I saw your post first, I did not pay much attention to it - but after learning where you are located, I did my homework. Never heard of the brand before, as it was not sold over here, but- you know how it is (was) with turntable brands.
 
You should clean the thing thoroughly, as it is probably full of Primal Dust - that is that fine, fine black powder dust that only 20+ years old stuff can accumulate, no matter how "clean" was its previous owner. You should oil the DD main platter bearing - do not panick regarding the exact lube, a drop of oil for sewing machines IS better than dried out bearing - if you feel like complicating here, again sky is the limit. Go pragmatic about it.
 
And inaugurate a Test Record Piggybank.
 
Which cartridge/stylus did come in the end with your table ?
 
After you receive your phono stage, please report how your TT sounds with S500s !

 

[penmarker]

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Penmarker, glad you decided this way - goes for the Behringer too, as I expect its next to nonexisting weight does have special allures in your case.
In cojunction with a computer via USB, you will be able to make PCM recordings of vynil - money really well spent.
 
That TT is ANYTHING BUT cheapo starter pack - it may not be the last word in TTs, but is decently/solidly built and should give you a good start in analog. Despite previous owner obviously was/is a good guy, he would have not preserved it in this condition if it was a crap - would he ??
 
Frankly, when I saw your post first, I did not pay much attention to it - but after learning where you are located, I did my homework. Never heard of the brand before, as it was not sold over here, but- you know how it is (was) with turntable brands.
 
You should clean the thing thoroughly, as it is probably full of Primal Dust - that is that fine, fine black powder dust that only 20+ years old stuff can accumulate, no matter how "clean" was its previous owner. You should oil the DD main platter bearing - do not panick regarding the exact lube, a drop of oil for sewing machines IS better than dried out bearing - if you feel like complicating here, again sky is the limit. Go pragmatic about it.
 
And inaugurate a Test Record Piggybank.
 
Which cartridge/stylus did come in the end with your table ?
 
After you receive your phono stage, please report how your TT sounds with S500s !

The cartridge and stylus is the same model that came with the turntable, and he changed it with the same model that had broken. It doesn't have any specific model label on it except for a GT sticker and Made in Japan lettering. I'd send you a picture of it but its 4.15 am here and my camera phone is crappy.
 
I wanted to get a sealed Test Record, it was there at the mall (the flea market is actually in the Lower Ground floor of a small old shopping mall. The mall has some music stores in it) but the record costs quite a lot and I'm afraid I might break my bank if I buy it. I guess I'll have to trust the judgment of the owner's friend in tuning it. He did emphasis on "DO. NOT. MESS. WITH. THE. COUNTER. WEIGHT. AND. ANTISKATE." since it was tuned perfectly yesterday by his senior friend. If I open the TT to suck out the 'Primal Dust' I'm afraid I might have to redo his calibrations. I have no equipment for that (gram scale, test record) so I wouldn't want to mess with it, for now at least.
 
He was quite surprised when I arrived at his doorstep, "Three youngsters, coming to my house to get himself a turntable. Unbelievable." He brought up the "aren't you too young to listen to vinyl?" point quite a few times, but in a joking manner. He looked so proud to know there are still young adults out there who are seeking for vinyl in the age of digital music. Also the TT looked a lot better in person than in the picture. 
 
The plinth however isn't artificial concrete or whatever you were mentioning. It was thick plastic with some hollow space inside. Though tapping on it makes quite a good 'meaty' sound instead of plasticky taps like how Soundstage turntables I found back at the flea market mall. Yeah I've never heard of the brand Soundstage before. They do sound too plasticky, but playing a vinyl on it sounded quite ok. Not really half bad I gotta say.

 

[analogsurviver]

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The cartridge and stylus is the same model that came with the turntable, and he changed it with the same model that had broken. It doesn't have any specific model label on it except for a GT sticker and Made in Japan lettering. I'd send you a picture of it but its 4.15 am here and my camera phone is crappy.
 
I wanted to get a sealed Test Record, it was there at the mall (the flea market is actually in the Lower Ground floor of a small old shopping mall. The mall has some music stores in it) but the record costs quite a lot and I'm afraid I might break my bank if I buy it. I guess I'll have to trust the judgment of the owner's friend in tuning it. He did emphasis on "DO. NOT. MESS. WITH. THE. COUNTER. WEIGHT. AND. ANTISKATE." since it was tuned perfectly yesterday by his senior friend. If I open the TT to suck out the 'Primal Dust' I'm afraid I might have to redo his calibrations. I have no equipment for that (gram scale, test record) so I wouldn't want to mess with it, for now at least.
 
He was quite surprised when I arrived at his doorstep, "Three youngsters, coming to my house to get himself a turntable. Unbelievable." He brought up the "aren't you too young to listen to vinyl?" point quite a few times, but in a joking manner. He looked so proud to know there are still young adults out there who are seeking for vinyl in the age of digital music. Also the TT looked a lot better in person than in the picture. 
 
The plinth however isn't artificial concrete or whatever you were mentioning. It was thick plastic with some hollow space inside. Though tapping on it makes quite a good 'meaty' sound instead of plasticky taps like how Soundstage turntables I found back at the flea market mall. Yeah I've never heard of the brand Soundstage before. They do sound too plasticky, but playing a vinyl on it sounded quite ok. Not really half bad I gotta say.

Go off to zzzzzzz - you right about cleaning, it would mess with the calibration. It is 9:40 PM here - and FINALLY I want to go to bed early once in a very long while. You can be happy with and proud of your today's achievements. Will be back tomorrow.

 

[penmarker]

You can tell I really am.

 

[analogsurviver]

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You can tell I really am.

Your happy face needs no explaining. Made my morning, as I woke up and checked head-fi.

 

[penmarker]

I was trying to hook it up to my amp without a phono stage anyway. I noticed the stylus itself is vibrating enough to produce some audible music.
 
Is that even normal?

 

[Skylab]

Sure is. If you have a quiet room, you can hear the sound of music just from the needle on the record if you are close enough.

 

[analogsurviver]

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I was trying to hook it up to my amp without a phono stage anyway. I noticed the stylus itself is vibrating enough to produce some audible music.
 
Is that even normal?

Quite normal. I was wondering whether you will do just that...
 
By the time you reach an analog record player quiet enough to be almost inaudible when listened to without being hooked to phono etc, the sound of audibility of money notes in your wallet will also all  but cease. 
 
The better the analog player, the less is this sound of vibrating needle audible. The quietest are cartridges with solid stone cantilevers, particularly those made out of diamond - couple that tiny sound to some very massive platter and it really gets close to inaudible.

 

[penmarker]

Aah I see, then nothing to worry about then.
 
I've placed an order for the UFO202 but the seller hasn't responded yet so I cancelled it. I'll probably look for another model later.

 

[analogsurviver]

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Aah I see, then nothing to worry about then.
 
I've placed an order for the UFO202 but the seller hasn't responded yet so I cancelled it. I'll probably look for another model later.

Take a peek at the calendar - most people have closed the shop to visit relatives, friends, etc - as much as I can understand your exitement regarding your first turntable, wish to hear it , etc, etc, Behringer already at home yesterday, etc,etc - it is 
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR !