[nocrapman]

Hi guys,
  I am looking to get my first taste of Vinyl, thanks to an old relative who let me have his Dual 1249 TT and a huge box of about 150 LPs!
I am getting the Dual serviced from Bill at Fixmydual.com. This might be my final setup (unlikely) or a transitional piece to get a feel for this thing. If I think I am in this long term, I am likely to get a better setup as far as a TT is concerned. Before that happens I need help with some groundwork.

Phono Stage: My current Preamp from rotel (1072) has a phonostage inbuilt. Is this sufficient or do I need an outboard Phono? If yes please make some suggestions.

Cleaning: Need guidance in purchasing the right supplies - brushes/solutions/machines?

Good place to source more Vinyl of my taste?

Anything else I need to worry about?

[orthobiz]

Run it through the Rotel and see how it sounds.

This cleaning system has been getting good press lately,
Mikey Fremer likes it, too.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SWSYS

Paul

[Stu Pitt]

I agree in regards to phono stage.  See what you've got and how well it works before contemplating changes.

The Spin Clean has gotten good press.  I haven't used it, so no comment.  I use the KAB EV-1 vacuum machine.  You connect your own vaccum, so you save a good amount of money.  Works just as good as any other vaccum machine, so I'm told.  No complaints at all from me.  Knowing what I know now, I'd have bought one years ago.

What cleaning fluids you need depends on the condition of the records you'll be cleaning.  I just got some absurdly dirty albums from a friend - about 7 crates worth of stuff sitting in his attic for almost 30 years.  So far I've cleaned about a dozen or so with a combination of a hand held steamer and MoFi Super Record Wash and everything's come out pristine.  A lot of people have a bunch of different home brew cleaners and/or commercial cleaners.  I say keep it simple at first, then experiment later if the mood should strike you.

Music Direct has a decent package that should get you started -
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/86243

The inner sleeves are essential IMO.  No sense in cleaning an album and sticking it back in a dirty/moldy sleeve.  Paper sleeves suck.

In addition to a brush like the MoFi one (the one that came with my vac cleaner), I use a KAB USA carbon fiber brush for wet scrubbing.  I also use an Audioquest carbon fiber brush for dry brushing - as in a clean album on my deck that has a little dust on it.  I use each brush for its own purpose and never for anything else.

If you don't have a hand held steam cleaner, you definitely should get one.  Its a cheap investment that'll make a huge difference.

Here's a great YouTube video of a guy cleaning his vinyl with a vaccum machine and a steamer.  I use a similar process, only my machine is a lot cheaper, and I don't use as many setps as he does.  It seems like overkill to me, but I haven't heard his albums, so who am I to criticize?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OjtKUZ048

Lastly, welcome to the obsessive compulsive world of vinyl.  Why do we deal with all these 'annoyances?'  Because vinyl rules.

[Stu Pitt]

Also...

Not sure about what your taste in music is.  There are several places to find good new vinyl.  I use Music Direct, Acoustic Sounds, and Elusive Disc. 

[Ericus Rex]

Your Rotel phono section probably only supports moving-magnet (MM) cartridges, or VERY high output moving coil.  Anything over 2.5mV should be no problem.  Keep that in mind.

A buddy turned me on to the Mobile Fidelity brushes.  You can get them from any of the above mentioned websites.  They work wet or dry.

[TheChairGuy]

I think the guys gave you great leads above - welcome to vinyl

Plug here for Bill at FixMyDUAL....I had a very good experience with him and he is recommended. 

John

[nocrapman]

Run it through the Rotel and see how it sounds.

This cleaning system has been getting good press lately,
Mikey Fremer likes it, too.
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SWSYS

Paul

I was eyeing this one too... seems decent for the price!

[nocrapman]

I agree in regards to phono stage.  See what you've got and how well it works before contemplating changes.

The Spin Clean has gotten good press.  I haven't used it, so no comment.  I use the KAB EV-1 vacuum machine.  You connect your own vaccum, so you save a good amount of money.  Works just as good as any other vaccum machine, so I'm told.  No complaints at all from me.  Knowing what I know now, I'd have bought one years ago.

What cleaning fluids you need depends on the condition of the records you'll be cleaning.  I just got some absurdly dirty albums from a friend - about 7 crates worth of stuff sitting in his attic for almost 30 years.  So far I've cleaned about a dozen or so with a combination of a hand held steamer and MoFi Super Record Wash and everything's come out pristine.  A lot of people have a bunch of different home brew cleaners and/or commercial cleaners.  I say keep it simple at first, then experiment later if the mood should strike you.

Music Direct has a decent package that should get you started -
http://www.musicdirect.com/product/86243

The inner sleeves are essential IMO.  No sense in cleaning an album and sticking it back in a dirty/moldy sleeve.  Paper sleeves suck.

In addition to a brush like the MoFi one (the one that came with my vac cleaner), I use a KAB USA carbon fiber brush for wet scrubbing.  I also use an Audioquest carbon fiber brush for dry brushing - as in a clean album on my deck that has a little dust on it.  I use each brush for its own purpose and never for anything else.

If you don't have a hand held steam cleaner, you definitely should get one.  Its a cheap investment that'll make a huge difference.

Here's a great YouTube video of a guy cleaning his vinyl with a vaccum machine and a steamer.  I use a similar process, only my machine is a lot cheaper, and I don't use as many setps as he does.  It seems like overkill to me, but I haven't heard his albums, so who am I to criticize?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OjtKUZ048

Lastly, welcome to the obsessive compulsive world of vinyl.  Why do we deal with all these 'annoyances?'  Because vinyl rules.

Thanks a Lot!
That was a lot of useful information.
I Like the idea of the EV-1. i will look closely at it!

now with the steam cleaner... doesnt the high temp of the steam destroy the vinyl over time?

And do you have any experience with the DISC DOCTOR stuff or is it just hyped?

[vinyl_guy]

And do you have any experience with the DISC DOCTOR stuff or is it just hyped?

I got back into vinyl in a serious way in 2006 when I bought the Sumiko Pro-ject Perspective/Blackbird TT/cartridge combo. I also bought a VPI 17-F vacuum record cleaning machine. I have tried virtually every cleaning fluid on the market. There are several good ones, and in my experience, some are better than others. I found the Disc Doctor fluid cleaned used records better than any of the others I tried and it is my perferred cleaning fluid. You do need to give the record a good rinse with pure water (I use a reverse osmosis dionized water I buy from Culligan in a 5 gal container for $3.00). I read in one of Michael Fremer's columns that Aquafina works well as a rinse. I also like the Audio Intelligent Fluids. It is a more time consuming 3-step process, but does a good job.

Happy Listening

[Stu Pitt]

Thanks a Lot!
now with the steam cleaner... doesnt the high temp of the steam destroy the vinyl over time?

I haven't had any issues with steaming, and haven't heard about any.  Maybe if you over did it everyday you'd have issues.

[nocrapman]

I got back into vinyl in a serious way in 2006 when I bought the Sumiko Pro-ject Perspective/Blackbird TT/cartridge combo. I also bought a VPI 17-F vacuum record cleaning machine. I have tried virtually every cleaning fluid on the market. There are several good ones, and in my experience, some are better than others. I found the Disc Doctor fluid cleaned used records better than any of the others I tried and it is my perferred cleaning fluid. You do need to give the record a good rinse with pure water (I use a reverse osmosis dionized water I buy from Culligan in a 5 gal container for $3.00). I read in one of Michael Fremer's columns that Aquafina works well as a rinse. I also like the Audio Intelligent Fluids. It is a more time consuming 3-step process, but does a good job.

Happy Listening

how do you like the Sumiko/blackbird combo?
One of the contenders for my ultimate system is a Sumiko Pro-ject RM9.1 with a Blackbird: http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/products/rm9_1.htm

And whats been your experience with the VPI vacumm machines?
And when do you use these vacumm based machines as compared to the DD brush and fluid?

[SteveFord]

I've got the VPI 17 and use it before every play.  VPI fluid with distilled water and 91% isopropyl alochol works for me.  I follow that with a Milty ZeroStat to help keep dust from being attracted to the clean album.

[vinyl_guy]

how do you like the Sumiko/blackbird combo?
One of the contenders for my ultimate system is a Sumiko Pro-ject RM9.1 with a Blackbird: http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/products/rm9_1.htm

I love the Blackbird. It is a great performing cartridge that outperforms several more expensive cartridges. IMO, it might be the best performing cartridge out there at the <$1,000 price point. It has good extension throughout the frequency range, especially in the bass and top end. The mids are good too, but maybe not at the same level of performance as the bass and top end. I recently sold my Perspective but kept the Blackbird to use with my SME 20/2 (along with the Lyra Skala I acquired a couple of months ago).

 

And whats been your experience with the VPI vacumm machines?

My VPI does an excellent job of cleaning records. I apply the cleaning fluid with Disc Doctor or Mo Fi brushes and use the automatic fluid dispenser for the pure water rinse. I like the 2-way direction feature of the platter for cleaning. The vacuum wands do a good job of removing all the fluid and crud that was in the grooves. I have no complints at all with the performance of the VPI machine. I bought extra tubes so I have one that I sue with the cleaning fluids and the initial rinse and a seperate tube for the final rinse.

And when do you use these vacumm based machines as compared to the DD brush and fluid?

I use the DD fluid and brushes with the machine. As mentioned above, I apply the cleaning fluid with the brushes and use the automatic fluid dispenser for the water rinse. I clean all new and used records before the initial play and then as needed. I use a Zero Stat and a carbon fiber dry brush before every play.

I hope this helps.

Laura