Vinyl such a PITA

chgolatin2 · « **on:** 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm »

Ok newbie here with Vinyl just received my new TT (Clearaudio Emotion) today along with a Pro-ject phono and a cartridge. I dont have a clue as to how to setup the TT, plus I dont even own a single Lp

record cleaners, alignment tools, other tools, TT table and the list goes on. I am not saying that I regret my decision but for what I can see that Vinyl is going to be a PITA hopefully my journey into the new adventure of Vinyl will be worthwhile.

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...

eric the red · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:03 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm

Ok newbie here with Vinyl just received my new TT (Clearaudio Emotion) today along with a Pro-ject phono and a cartridge. I dont have a clue as to how to setup the TT, plus I dont even own a single Lp record cleaners, alignment tools, other tools, TT table and the list goes on. I am not saying that I regret my decision but for what I can see that Vinyl is going to be a PITA hopefully my journey into the new adventure of Vinyl will be worthwhile.

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...

Boy were my ears burning...I just got back into it too and if you REALLY want a fun way to kill a few hours, try adjusting the VTA on a MMF-5 TT using the Music Hall manual and the world's hardest to get to allen screws. Between having no idea if my TT is set up correctly (I have to drive 75 miles just to have someone help me with proper set-up), all the dust and crap that you have to deal with plus the mystery of wondering how scratchy that LP you just bought will sound when you get it home, I'm really on the fence on this one. I don't remember vinyl being quite as complicated in my youth...

And from what I've seen selling on Agone as far as complete almost new TT set-ups, I'm guessing yes a few people have gone back to cds. Reminds me of all the sport bikes with zero miles on them with all riding gear that I see here for sale.

woodsyi · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:10 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm

Ok newbie here with Vinyl just received my new TT (Clearaudio Emotion) today along with a Pro-ject phono and a cartridge. I dont have a clue as to how to setup the TT, plus I dont even own a single Lp record cleaners, alignment tools, other tools, TT table and the list goes on. I am not saying that I regret my decision but for what I can see that Vinyl is going to be a PITA hopefully my journey into the new adventure of Vinyl will be worthwhile.

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...

Take your time. You have time since you don't have any LP yet. The best bet is send out an SOS to the guys around Chicago area to come and set it up for you. They can bring their tools. Some may even have extras they want to get rid of.

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:20 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm

Ok newbie here with Vinyl just received my new TT (Clearaudio Emotion) today along with a Pro-ject phono and a cartridge. I dont have a clue as to how to setup the TT, plus I dont even own a single Lp record cleaners, alignment tools, other tools, TT table and the list goes on. I am not saying that I regret my decision but for what I can see that Vinyl is going to be a PITA hopefully my journey into the new adventure of Vinyl will be worthwhile.

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...

You have no LP's and you bought a TT?

Try to find somebody who has some experience (if on your table, great, but general knowledge is cool also) and get them to come over and mentor you.

Take your time and be patient!! Setting up a TT for an experienced person can still be frustrating and can take many hours or days.

And for god's sake, go buy a record or two so that you have something to listen to!!!

George

macrojack · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:46 pm »

Analog playback is about precision. The degree of precision you require is your call. The better it is set up the better it will sound, however, I think you will find that there is a diminishing returns point in the fussiness area.
Some call it ANALogue for good reason. You should be able to bring it to the point of sounding decent with just a little training and some knowledge of geometry. After that, audiophilia nervosa may kick in causing you to spend irrationally and fret interminably. For most people these symptoms are permanent. Get out while you can because once this thing gets started its damn hard to kick.

Brian Walsh · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 04:46 pm »

I consider it a dealer's responsibility to set up and optimize every turntable he sells. You got short-changed.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 05:46 pm »

Quote from: macrojack on 12 Apr 2007, 04:46 pm

Analog playback is about precision. The degree of precision you require is your call. The better it is set up the better it will sound, however, I think you will find that there is a diminishing returns point in the fussiness area.
Some call it ANALogue for good reason. You should be able to bring it to the point of sounding decent with just a little training and some knowledge of geometry. After that, audiophilia nervosa may kick in causing you to spend irrationally and fret interminably. For most people these symptoms are permanent. Get out while you can because once this thing gets started its damn hard to kick.

I sort of thank god I've been using a Rega tonearm for so long because it really doesn't allow me to do much in terms of tweaking. Once that cartridge is aligned and I have an approximate VTA, there is not much else for me to do aside from maybe fooling with anti-skate or VTF, but I don't really bother with those once I'm in the recommended parameters for these.

Marbles · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 05:54 pm »

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...

I rarely if ever listen to vinyl since I got my computer/empirical modded DAC digital gear.

The only reason I would listen to my LP's is if I wanted to listen to music I don't have on CD.

woodsyi · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 06:00 pm »

Have you checked your azimuth lately? aa

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/74644.html

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 06:14 pm »

Quote from: woodsyi on 12 Apr 2007, 06:00 pm

Have you checked your azimuth lately? aa

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/74644.html

I believe it is as properly set up as I can get it.

Don't get me wrong...it sounds pretty darn good, but has a higher noise floor (than about 0 db for my digital) and is not as convienent as my digital.

woodsyi · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 06:35 pm »

Quote from: Marbles on 12 Apr 2007, 06:14 pm

Don't get me wrong...it sounds pretty darn good, but has a higher noise floor (than about 0 db for my digital) and is not as convienent as my digital.

Likewise, I am not saying my digital playback is bad -- it's damned good. But there is something more with analog...

BTW, I am having a quiet PC built so I can go wired and see if I can get improve my off ramp. Are you running Foobar 0.8.3 with SRC at 24/96?

Marbles · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 06:37 pm »

Yes, that's how I run it, but USB wired.

boead · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 07:01 pm »

Quote from: eric the red on 12 Apr 2007, 04:03 pm

Quote from: chgolatin2 on 12 Apr 2007, 03:44 pm
Ok newbie here with Vinyl just received my new TT (Clearaudio Emotion) today along with a Pro-ject phono and a cartridge. I dont have a clue as to how to setup the TT, plus I dont even own a single Lp record cleaners, alignment tools, other tools, TT table and the list goes on. I am not saying that I regret my decision but for what I can see that Vinyl is going to be a PITA hopefully my journey into the new adventure of Vinyl will be worthwhile.

Has anyone tried to do the switch and went back to Cd's? Just curious...
Boy were my ears burning...I just got back into it too and if you REALLY want a fun way to kill a few hours, try adjusting the VTA on a MMF-5 TT using the Music Hall manual and the world's hardest to get to allen screws. Between having no idea if my TT is set up correctly (I have to drive 75 miles just to have someone help me with proper set-up), all the dust and crap that you have to deal with plus the mystery of wondering how scratchy that LP you just bought will sound when you get it home, I'm really on the fence on this one. I don't remember vinyl being quite as complicated in my youth... And from what I've seen selling on Agone as far as complete almost new TT set-ups, I'm guessing yes a few people have gone back to cds. Reminds me of all the sport bikes with zero miles on them with all riding gear that I see here for sale.

I agree!

I’ve had TT’s for many years and still do. Its so NOT worth it. Surface notice is inevitable, recorders hard to get and yeah, even the once that look perfect can sound like crap. MFSL’s are VERY expensive for anything I want. I’ve had $500+ carts and a half dozen tables, granted none have been awesome like some here have but I have never even gotten the feeling like a high end table would or could be worth the haste.

Once I heard a choice few CDP’s from Meridian, Arcam, Naim and Carry to just name a few, I came to the conclusion that vinyl was an absolute waste of my time and money.

I keep a table on hand with a decent cart and tube phono stage for my 500 +/- records that I’d never get rid of but that’s as far as I’d be willing to take it. Even if I had a $5000 vinyl rig, I’d likely hardly use it. But that’s me.

eric the red · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 07:14 pm »

I do regret dumping my Denon TT and 200 lps in great shape about 15 years ago for 100 bucks. I see copies of some of the LPs I sold selling for $100.00-$250.00 now

Digi-G · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 07:52 pm »

Not worth it if you ask me. And those pops and crackles that everyone else seems to enjoy, I don't.

Whitese · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 07:59 pm »

Quote from: Digi-G on 12 Apr 2007, 07:52 pm

Not worth it if you ask me. And those pops and crackles that everyone else seems to enjoy, I don't.

If you get good condition LP's and keep them clean, I dont see why you need to live with crackle and pops....I dont...and i dont even clean my LP's.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 08:13 pm »

Quote from: Digi-G on 12 Apr 2007, 07:52 pm

Not worth it if you ask me. And those pops and crackles that everyone else seems to enjoy, I don't.

Who enjoys pops and crackles? I certainly don't and I love vinyl.

Whitese · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 08:25 pm »

Tvad, I agree about the crap shoot. But once you narrow who you buy from, its smooth sailing. I have bought hundreds of LP's from the same few vendors online or in Atlanta and am yet to get burned...If i buy from thrift or unkown, its a 50/50.

rollo · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 09:00 pm »

You got screwed by the seller IMO. It should be set up for you, period. When it finally is, buy a reissued edition LP from Acoustic Sounds that you have on Cd. Then get back to us with your findings.
IMO you will keep the TT and buy mucho LPs

rollo
P.S. To the snap, crackle and pop crowd. Just because you did not take care of your collection, please do not blame the medium, look in the mirror for the offender. Yes I know some come that way, however to date I have not rec'd one from Acoustic Sounds. You just need to spend the money.

Marbles · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 Apr 2007, 09:42 pm »

In my case I would make improvements to either my analog front end, or my digital. Whichever had the latest improvement seemed better.

That is until I went computer based and upsampled to 24/96.

My digital front end is around $4K not including the quiet pc.
My analog front end is over $10K.

My analog front end is more revealing then most as the silver tonearm wire goes directly from the cartridge, a Symphonic Line RG8 (modded VDH Grasshopper), with one turn directly on the cartridge with no leads, straight through the tonearm, an SME IV and out to the RCA's that plug into my phono pre.

That is there are no cartridge clips, the tonearm wire IS the clip, and no breaks in the wire from the cartridge to the phono pre.

This was rewired by Ridge Street Audio. Thanks Robert!

I never mentioned pops or clicks..I mentioned a higher noise floor...there is a big difference between the two.

I also mentioned the convienence of the digital over the TT.

Woodsyi, if you are not yet upsampling to 24/96, I can certainly understand how you feel. Once you get your new pc up and going and upsampling. Please let me know your thoughts.