Hi-Fi Corner - Vinyl, CD, Cassettes and the rest

[eightiesrobin]

You have to be old to recall this:

 

[Vanni]

Ha. What about ''but I sold the pair after only for a couple of months'?

Multitasking is clearly not my forte.

 

[eightiesrobin]

Found this today in a charity shop, £1.
Vanni - are these your bag? I actually saw this outfit in 1989, they were the absolute darlings of the NME at the time.

 

[Vanni]

Found this today in a charity shop, £1.
Vanni - are these your bag? I actually saw this outfit in 1989, they were the absolute darlings of the NME at the time.
View attachment 9211

That's a very good album imo. I got that one on vinyl and cd, though I only got the cd much later on as it was in the 1.99 rack. The odd thing about this album is that the cd sounds way different than the vinyl album. I'm aware of different mixes being made specifically for vinyl and cd/digital (though I strongly suspect that presently most artists only do one mix for all formats) but to this day I have never come across an such a different sounding example like this particular Sundays album.

The one you've got is their debut and IMO the best work they ever did. I've got their second and third ones on cd only but they aren't as good as this one.

 

[Stevencc]

I have the record player and the speakers now and the amp and relevant wires will be arriving today.

These are exciting times.

 

[Stevencc]

All set up and working.

Thanks for the help Vanni and eightiesrobin

 

[Habbinalan]

All set up and working.

Thanks for the help Vanni and eightiesrobin

Well done Steven but there is still a bit of refinement to go.

You probably need to consider whether you can position the speakers better without adding too much hassle.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/speaker-placement/

You certainly need to find a better place to position the deck/record player. You need to get it away from the magnetic field from the amp and the vibrations from the speakers. It might sound OKish but could be so much better.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/get-the-best-sound-from-your-record-player-guide/

Happy listening.

 

[Stevencc]

Well done Steven but there is still a bit of refinement to go.

You probably need to consider whether you can position the speakers better without adding too much hassle.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/speaker-placement/

You certainly need to find a better place to position the deck/record player. You need to get it away from the magnetic field from the amp and the vibrations from the speakers. It might sound OKish but could be so much better.

https://thevinylfactory.com/features/get-the-best-sound-from-your-record-player-guide/

Happy listening.

Oh yes, it's only set up as you see temporarily, that room is soon to become one of my daughter's bedrooms and I'll be moving the equipment elsewhere and putting more thought into placement.

Cheers for the links, though - I didn't know a fair bit of that.

I did know the Art track though, the album is very good!

 

[Vanni]

Stevencc Well done mate, nice little set up you got there. Looks like you didn't need any help in setting up the Audio Technica, though I'm assuming AT were helpful enough to supply an easy to grasp user manual?

Nice little Pioneer amp there, looks like one of the models from the A-xx series?? I'm guessing it has enough power to drive those Wharfedale speakers.

 

[Stevencc]

Stevencc Well done mate, nice little set up you got there. Looks like you didn't need any help in setting up the Audio Technica, though I'm assuming AT were helpful enough to supply an easy to grasp user manual?

Nice little Pioneer amp there, looks like one of the models from the A-xx series?? I'm guessing it has enough power to drive those Wharfedale speakers.

I'd done a bit of research on the net with regards to setting it up - suitably prepared for once!

Pioneer A-10-K 50W and a pair of Wharfedale 9.1s.

 

[eightiesrobin]

Nice one Stevencc

 

[Vanni]

Right, we all know the importance of a good carbon fibre record brush. I would even go as far as say that owning over 10,000 vinyl records is worthless if you don't have a record brush (this is a dig at people like my old man, who does indeed have a couple of brushes but they're still as new as the day he bought them back in the early 80's, I think).

Now I've had multiple examples of CF brushes, and I thought they all looked more or less the same so I decided to order a couple from Hong Kong at only 3 quid each. I can confirm that they are exactly the same as the other much more expensive offerings from the likes of Pro-ject, Milty, AM, etc etc. All these brands do is to print their name over the brushes, or in the case of SRM Tech, just plaster a sticker over the side of the brush. I've used mine for some 10 weeks now and they haven't scratched my records or anything, although I was warned by some hobbyists that these Chinese 'knock offs' would. I've even gone as far as brushing a cheap mint record I don listen to for some three days a day for these 10 weeks and I'm not seeing any scratches or scuffing at all.

So if you're thinking of getting a branded one then don't, you'd only be wasting your money.

Please feel free to disregard the above post. I just got a couple of cheap CF brushes from two separate Hong Kong based sellers and sadly the brushes aren't the same as the ones before - the bristles are now far too stiff that will easily scratch a record.

Could it be that the major brands like Pro-ject et al have told the Chinese to stop selling the same make of brushes they supply them with? I don't think so but who knows.

Anyways, one good brand of CF brushes that is among the cheapest (though not as cheap as the Chinese ones) is Monacor. A lot of the branded ones are sourced from this brand, or so I'm told, but I can definitely confirm that one of the CF brushes I've got (SRM) is a Monacor.

 

[eightiesrobin]

That's a very good album imo. I got that one on vinyl and cd, though I only got the cd much later on as it was in the 1.99 rack. The odd thing about this album is that the cd sounds way different than the vinyl album. I'm aware of different mixes being made specifically for vinyl and cd/digital (though I strongly suspect that presently most artists only do one mix for all formats) but to this day I have never come across an such a different sounding example like this particular Sundays album.

The one you've got is their debut and IMO the best work they ever did. I've got their second and third ones on cd only but they aren't as good as this one.

It's a nice album, having listened a few times now

 

[eightiesrobin]

Vanni I bought some records today off an old chap, and he threw in a Garrard DD400 turntable. I know you like the Direct Drives, so wonder if you had any experience with this?

It spins at both speeds, strobe checks out, arm lifts and lowers fine, but the cantilever was pointing just short of 90 degrees!

The stylus is a Shure (I'm guessing M75 or similar), I could take a chance that the cartridge is OK and get a cheap stylus in the first instance.

Question is, is it worth trying to resurrect it? There doesn't seem to be much info online (I suspect it was a very mid-fi table, like a Dual 505 maybe?)

 

[Vanni]

eightiesrobin never had any Garrard DD so I can't help you out. Hmm, you're right, I googled it up but there's literally nothing on the web - a bit odd for a British made turntable I think.

It looks to be in a good enough shape from what you describe, but what about the tonearm - does it move freely up and down + sideways? That's the first thing I check out when I'm looking at a second hand turntable.

Re. the cartridge, do make sure it is an M75. A lot of the vintage Shures do look the same (to me at least!) but the styli are different - mostly the length of the shank - and are not interchangeable. If it is a M75 then all styli from that series are fine.

If by 'resurrecting it' you mean getting a new stylus, then yes I'd say go for it. A cheap generic stylus shouldn't come to more than a tenner. But I'm not sure what you mean by mid-fi? Unless you mean entry level because the Dual 505 is most definitely a starter turntable. For what it's worth, I divide audio gear into 3 cats - entry level/mid level/TOTL. Naturally, it all depends on what the brand is - an entry level Thorens will still be superior to a TOTL from Sanyo

 

[eightiesrobin]

Hi Vanni, yes I think I did mean entry-level.

I'm not sure what the cartridge is now, it doesn't appear to have any identifying markings. The stylus just says "Shure", with no model number, annoyingly.

It is odd that the table came with an owners manual for the Garrard 130-1, which appears to be a better-known model.

The records were in fabulous shape, which makes me think the TT is probably working, but the cantilever is a worry - what else happened when that got bent?

I shall sleep on it, cheers for the help.

 

[Vanni]

Hi Vanni, yes I think I did mean entry-level.

I'm not sure what the cartridge is now, it doesn't appear to have any identifying markings. The stylus just says "Shure", with no model number, annoyingly.

It is odd that the table came with an owners manual for the Garrard 130-1, which appears to be a better-known model.

The records were in fabulous shape, which makes me think the TT is probably working, but the cantilever is a worry - what else happened when that got bent?

I shall sleep on it, cheers for the help.

It's hard to say if it's entry or mid level just by looking at a couple of pics on the net. A look at Garrard's product catalogues from that era (late 70's?) would also help a lot.

I know what you mean about the cantilever, but I wouldn't worry too much about it tbh, if the turntable itself looks good. The condition of the plinth and the acrylic lid do tell one a lot about the way the TT was handled by it's previous owner/s.

 

[Vanni]

Not sure where to put this but I thought this was as good a place as any.

I don't know if you good people can help me out but anyway here's my problem. Simply put, I can't rip vinyl onto my pc anymore as nothing's coming in. Does this mean the sound card is kaput? But if it is, then why do sites like Youtube et al work fine?

Cheers.

 

[Habbinalan]

A rush of blood and the smell of vinyl caused me to spend to spend more than double what I've ever coughed up before for music on a burst of nostalgia last Friday. I'm only now sufficiently recovered to be giving them a listen.

A shot of Chivas Regal is calming the pulse for a selection of Hendrix and The Who on Track Samplers that I used to own 40 years ago. Some tunes from Bahia are maintaining the South American connection; I'll leave the Damon Albarn offering for later, so the climax will be either Ramones or the White Album. No competition really.

 

[coronakopite]

A coronavirus hand snitiser tip for some of my old muckers.

 

[Modernist]

Found this today in a charity shop, £1.
Vanni - are these your bag? I actually saw this outfit in 1989, they were the absolute darlings of the NME at the time.
View attachment 9211

I had that album until recently (having a big clear out), probably best known for Here's where the story ends, but it didn't make my cull....still it opens a lot of room for a load more music.

Edit: It looks like it did avoid the cull...I still have the album.