[CrazyRay]

Thanks Skylab and analogsurviver!
 

 

 

[Silent One]

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Thought I'd share this one since we were sorta talking about Metal with the new Maiden LPs. 
 
This record reminds me of Maiden a bit with less shrill vocals. I'm not much of a Trash fan, but this record is good. Sounds great, looks great. All these Metal 45 cuts make me so happy. 

Good idea of using a mirror below the cartridge in resting position. Makes cleaning the stylus much easier. Even more recommended for naked cartridges - the ones without protective body. It will alert you each and every time just what you have at the end of the arm - your once forgetting will prove $$$. Not to mention The Ultimate Nemesis of Cartidges - "the cleaning lady". 

 
Brilliant!

 

[analogsurviver]

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Brilliant!

I use a mirror or white piece of paper "reversibly glued" under the naked cart ( a la Blackbird ) since the times immemorable. Learned it the hard way... - after lightening the piggybank for say a Grasshopper, I guess that piano black ( or any other ) aesthetics do not count much.
 
The most reasonable "stylus guard" on naked carts has Rega Apheta MC cart. But it still is not a really well protected species.

 

[Silent One]

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Brilliant!

I use a mirror or white piece of paper "reversibly glued" under the naked cart ( a la Blackbird ) since the times immemorable. Learned it the hard way... - after lightening the piggybank for say a Grasshopper, I guess that piano black ( or any other ) aesthetics do not count much.
 
The most reasonable "stylus guard" on naked carts has Rega Apheta MC cart. But it still is not a really well protected species.

 
I needn't confess, do I? 

 Well, I had been kneeling and looking up... frequently. 

 

[analogsurviver]

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I needn't confess, do I? 

 Well, I had been kneeling and looking up... frequently. 

This is an unexpected and  awkward situation.
 
I remember a funny audio cartoon from High Fidelity / Stereo Review / Stereophille /  TAS  where a guy is seen on his knees, with his arms begging for mercy - with his better half pointing a big gun at his probably too much beloved turntable, caption reading :
 
Now that I finally have your full attention...
 
Hearing about a member of the prettier gender confessing kneeling at the turntable must be statement of the month

 yea.. 

 year OK, let's make it a decade 

- but it is in any case a first 

for me.

 

[BLACKENEDPLAGUE]

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I needn't confess, do I? 

 Well, I had been kneeling and looking up... frequently. 

*cough*

 

[Silent One]

 So wrapped up in the moment when spinnin' vinyl. I'm sure if you heard Candi Staton's honey-drenched voice...

 

[penmarker]

Been playing my vinyl records these few days. Found out that my setup don't suck, the records do. A lot of them bad stylus or bad VTF playing over them over the years.
 
Mind your VTF guys, don't make the next guy who buys your record cry.

 

[Grevlin]

Proper VTF - must the tone arm be perfectly parallel to the record/platter?
 

 

[MorbidToaster]

VTF is the tracking force.
 
VTA is what you're thinking of.
 
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Proper VTF - must the tone arm be perfectly parallel to the record/platter?
 

 
EDIT: Get yourself a proper scale and set your VTF properly.

 

[Grevlin]

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VTF is the tracking force.
 
VTA is what you're thinking of.
 
 
EDIT: Get yourself a proper scale and set your VTF properly.

Ooops - thanks for that. One little letter...

 
So VTA - the angle - must the tonearm always be perfectly parallel as a rule, or does the cartridge determine what slight angle (if any) is needed?

 

[MorbidToaster]

It should indeed be parallel. At all times, IIRC.
 
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Ooops - thanks for that. One little letter...

 
So VTA - the angle - must the tonearm always be perfectly parallel as a rule, or does the cartridge determine what slight angle (if any) is needed?

 

[awsanderson]

I was talking to some "older" people today and they were telling me records will wear out after being played a bunch, is this true?   newb question

 

[Skylab]

If you have a good cartridge that's properly set up, record wear is negligible. 

 

[MorbidToaster]

Truth.
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If you have a good cartridge that's properly set up, record wear is negligible.