[TimArruda]

So I just wanted to thank everyone who posts here, and to let any other newbs know that getting into vinyl can be done successfully, and it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.  For those of you who don't remember, I had posted a while back asking for advice on a new cartridge.  I had decided that i wanted to get back into vinyl, and hadn't really played any since I was a teenager.  I purchased a used, mint condition Music Hall MMF-5, and managed to ruin the stylus that came with it, a Gold Ring 1012GX I believe, by the time I got it home. 

I got some friendly advice on a new cart, and after doing some research decided on a Orotfon 2M Blue.  I've had it for quite some time, but have not even played any vinyl until today. I didn't want to begin this until I had everything I needed to be successful.  I originally thought I would need a decent turntable, cartridge and pre-amp.  I was wrong. 

As I said, I bought a Music Hall MMF-5, and an Orotofon 2M Blue.  I also bought a Cambridge Audio Azure 640P to use as my phono stage.  Then I ended up picking up a digital scale to set the VTF (the one from Deal Extreme that Ericus Rex had recommended.)  So I had to wait for that to come in.  Of course, from all the reading I've been doing here and elsewhere I realized how important having clean vinyl is, so I needed to figure out how I wanted to go about doing that.  After a lot of research and thinking, I decided to go the route that DaveyW went and has posted on his website.  Essentially I wanted to be able to steam clean my vinyl, and basically copied Davey's system.  I picked up a bamboo lazy susan, the same steamer, a small shop vac, two brushes for cleaing, and also ended up picking up an AudioQuest carbon fiber brush.

Once I had the cleaning system together, I finally decided to set up the table, which to be honest I was dreading.  I did not want to ruin another cartridge.  I safely managed to get the 2M Blue on without ruining it, and then used Conrad's arc template generator that I found on vinylengine to generate a template for aligning my cartridge.  Aligning the cartridge was nerve wracking, but I did it as best I could, then set the VTF with my new scale.  Finally, I used my new cleaning system to clean a couple of LP's, hooked everything up and decided to listen.  I started off with a Shawn Colvin album I picked up for $3.00 (Steady On) and when I first dropped the needle onto the vinyl was convinced that I had screwed something up, as I heard only silence.  A couple of seconds later and the music started!  What do you know, I didn't screw it up, the vinyl was just really quiet.  The music sounded great!

So, to anyone contemplating getting into vinyl, yup, there certainly is a certain amount of work involved.  I would say though, do your research, there are a ton of people out there willing to help, here and elsewhere and some fabulous resources.   I would also say, do it right.  Have everything you need *before* you go and try playing some of those LP's you have at home.  I know there is a lot of room for improvement in my setup, but I have to tell you, it sounds really, really good.  At the moment I'm running my 640P out to my Burson Audio HA-160D, and listening via a set of Audez'e LCD-2's and it sounds really sweet.

Thanks again for all the help, I really appreciate it. 

Tim

[Berndt]

OMG, a success story!
Congratulations, clearly vinyl is not for everyone. But those that find joy in the practice can be rewarded richly.
Good work. Bill

[Kinger]

Sweet picture!

[DaveyW]

Congrats Tim,

Great to see you up and running, but more importantly with a great big smile on you face 

Keep on enjoying 

Hey! Post up some pics of your cleaning system - would be interesting to see your interpretation of the approach.

Great stuff 

Dave

[etcarroll]

Great pic - and have a blast.

[pumpkinman]

Now that you're ready, you can help the economy by buying lots and lots of LP's
Now you'll have to posts you're selections in http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=1500.new#new

Welcome back to vinyl  .............Bill

[TimArruda]

Congrats Tim,

Great to see you up and running, but more importantly with a great big smile on you face 

Keep on enjoying 

Hey! Post up some pics of your cleaning system - would be interesting to see your interpretation of the approach.

Great stuff 

Dave

Hey Dave,

I will take some pictures tomorrow and put them up.  I still have work to do on my system.  I don't have a rest they way you do yet, and am holding it by hand at this time. 

Tim

[TimArruda]

OMG, a success story!
Congratulations, clearly vinyl is not for everyone. But those that find joy in the practice can be rewarded richly.
Good work. Bill

Thanks Bill.  I'm looking forward to tweaking and seeing how much I can get out of this system.

Sweet picture!

Thanks Kinger!

Great pic - and have a blast.

Thanks etarroll, I'm having fun so far.

Now that you're ready, you can help the economy by buying lots and lots of LP's
Now you'll have to posts you're selections in http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=1500.new#new

Welcome back to vinyl  .............Bill

Thanks Bill. I've been buying LP's like crazy even though I couldn't play them.    I've been going to the local Goodwill's, and there are a couple of indoor flea markets locally that have vendors that sell vinyl.  I also went to a record show down in Boston which was fun.  I just finished listening to Basin Street East presents Miss Peggy Lee, really nice album.

Also, a quick question.  I know a new cartridge takes some time to break in.  How long should I be expecting my 2M Blue to be breaking in for?

Thanks,

Tim

[SET Man]

Hey!

    Good job Tim. Good to see successful story like this 

    With some simple set up tools, patient and steady hands anyone.... well almost everyone I should say can get a TT running.

    Now just enjoy the music Tim. 

Take care,
Buddy 

[etcarroll]

Can't give you an exact number of hours, but in 'real world' sense expect 3 weeks of playing every day...at least 3-4 albums a day.

" How long should I be expecting my 2M Blue to be breaking in for?"

[Minn Mark]

+1 on the very cool picture.

I'm not familiar with MMF, but if you dont have a record clamp, I'd suggest you look into one.  A great tweak (and necessary, IMHO).

Enjoy your vinyl !

Congrats on the nice TT.

Mark

[TimArruda]

Hey!

    Good job Tim. Good to see successful story like this 

    With some simple set up tools, patient and steady hands anyone.... well almost everyone I should say can get a TT running.

    Now just enjoy the music Tim. 

Take care,
Buddy 

Thanks Buddy, I am certainly enjoying the music.

Can't give you an exact number of hours, but in 'real world' sense expect 3 weeks of playing every day...at least 3-4 albums a day.

I'm looking forward to hearing how the sound changes as it breaks in.

+1 on the very cool picture.

I'm not familiar with MMF, but if you dont have a record clamp, I'd suggest you look into one.  A great tweak (and necessary, IMHO).

Enjoy your vinyl !

Congrats on the nice TT.

Mark

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the tip.  The MMF-5 does have a record clamp, which you can kind of see the edge of in the picture, although it's all fuzzy and out of focus.

[TimArruda]

So here is the basic setup.  The same steamer Dave uses, bamboo lazy susan, a top off of a ziploc container, and a stopper that I found in Lowe's.




I found this piece in the plumbing section at Lowe's.  I think it's supposed to be part of the plumbing under a sink, but was 12 inches long, and 1 1/2 inch opening which was perfect for my shop vac.  All it needed was a plug for the end, which I found in the same section.  A friend cut the slot for me.




Lastly, a small shop vac I picked up.



There are a couple of things I need to work on.  If you look at the vacuum piece, you can see the end of the vacuum resting on a couple of pieces of scrap.  It works, but I'd rather have something permanent like Dave.  Also, I'm not happy with the brushes I picked up, they're not holding up all the great so I may replace them.

I think I'm using the same steps you are Dave.  I hit it with steam, then a small squirt of the cleaner, work with a brush, vacuum that.  Hit with steam again, then a small squirt of isopropyl alcohol, work it with second brush, vacuum that.  Hit with steam one more time as a final rinse, vacuum that up then into the rack. 

So far so good!

Tim

[DaveyW]

Good Stuff Tim.

That's exactly how I started out 

Using the steam as the cleaning, wetting and rinsing agent is the key to this process.

You'll keep tweaking and refining and eventually settle down, but you're most of the way there 

[etcarroll]

You need 'velvet lips' to encircle the slot your friend cut out.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Nitty-Gritty-Vac-Sweep-Replacement?sc=2&category=1183

[TimArruda]

You need 'velvet lips' to encircle the slot your friend cut out.

http://www.needledoctor.com/Nitty-Gritty-Vac-Sweep-Replacement?sc=2&category=1183

Thanks for the link.  I may do just that.  Until I have some kind of permanent solution that will hold the vac a set distance above the vinyl, and/or something that holds the vinyl down, I think that the velvet lips will work really well at protecting the vinyl when it inevitably get's pulled up by the vacuum.

[TimArruda]

Good Stuff Tim.

That's exactly how I started out 

Using the steam as the cleaning, wetting and rinsing agent is the key to this process.

You'll keep tweaking and refining and eventually settle down, but you're most of the way there 

I'd like to thank you Dave for the great information you put out there.  It wasn't all that hard to follow your lead. 

Tim

[madog99]

Great story !! That has happened to me also with clean LP's , reach for the volume thinking it's turned down and the music suddenly starts ! How cool is that