Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes

Azrael · Post by **Azrael** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 3:52 am

MS_39455 wrote:This short discussion has peaked my curiosity since my interest in audio gear sometimes borders on the pretentious. What kind of vinyl/general playback set-up is everyone running? Specific turntable specs, preamp/EQ/processor (if any), receiver, speakers, etc?

I've got an early 80's (don't know the exact year) direct drive automatic JVC QL-F300 turntable running into a JVC A-X404 integrated receiver from the same era (dual stereo output). Pretty sure the turntable has the factory stylus. The original owner I got them from a few years ago hardly ever played them. The receiver has a phono stage, but the turntable's a bit quiet. I'm using an old BSR EQ-3000 equalizer with the reciever to fatten up the sound. Right now it all runs to a pair of run-of-the-mill Sony bookshelf 2 way 6"/1" dome 50W speakers and another pair of Sony single 4" 25W midrange speakers. Got a JVC AM/FM tuner that matches the receiver, an early 90's Sony dual cassette deck, and Sony 5 CD changer to round it all out.

I am a complete and total amatuer, but I've neen working on a DIY turntable preamp on and off for about a year now, too. Hoping to warm the whole sound a bit and lower the signal to noise ratio between the table and amp. Got the chasis, faceplate, and sweet VU meter I built into it completely finished so far. Been having problems with running the actual preamp guts. Trying to correct a bad hum right now, but it looks great.

How's that for being a pretentious asshole?

Shit has sounded great everytime I heard it.

Moloc · Post by **Moloc** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 8:48 am

I don't think I can beat that level of pretentiousness, Tommy.

I've got a portable Numark turntable that I used to take to record shows when I was looking for comedy/novelty music for the Oddly Enough show on 88.5. I get it out every once in while and hook it up to a very loud and portable Samson PA system. The last thing I listened to on it was some old 78's I inherited from my grandmother.

It's not much, but it does the job. I should leave it as a permanent fixture in the living room and play more vinyl. But since I download everything, I guess I'm not trve enough for vinyl. Good thing i don't give a shit about being trve. My iPhone does wonders and it's so much easier.

I do have to rip some of those old lp's to mp3 though. They're just sitting in boxes crying out to be played again. Lot's of old George Carlin and Barnes & Barnes and that sort of stuff.

badcarburetor · Post by **badcarburetor** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 12:46 pm

I'll post my rigs later, but they are nothing too special and definitely don't count as audiophile quality. Down the line I plan on building an English system in the $5K area. That's entry level audiophile money and that's good by me. However, I have other life costs that will take precedence over the next year or so. This is part of a longterm plan. When I do make the move I'd like to go with tube power. I'm not sure if it's really worth the hassle, but I tend to think it is.

Tommy, are you familiar with Audiogon? It's a website for audiophiles and lists a lot of quality used gear. I'm not really into it, but the audiophiles I know treat it as the holy grail of information and reselling. You might want to look around there just for reference info. Since you are building your own gear (cool!) check out this guide: http://www.amazon.com/Audiophiles-Proje ... 265&sr=1-1 (it's also available for check out through Fulton County libraries) and for general audiophile 101, this book is very readable: http://www.amazon.com/Introductory-Guid ... 485&sr=1-1 (also available through FulCo)

I'm think that's there's probably a fairly simple fix to your quiet turntable situation. Since your amp does have a phono stage you should be good and the turntable should be running as - wild guess - about 85% of the CD or receiver volume. If it's lower than that, I'd say there is an issue that should be easily fixable, I just don't know what it would be.

As a total aside, while completely not audiophile or anything of the kind, two systems that I use for my iPod are made by Kicker. Our house is kind of sprawling, so there's need for music stations in a few areas.

This is in the bedroom and functions as an alarm clock:
http://www.kicker.com/ik150
Waking up to Amon Amarth or Motorhead as my alarm clock wasn't quite as rad as I expected, so I generally use it at night.

This one my husband just got me for my birthday. It's in another part of the house:
http://www.kicker.com/ik350

Both sound very decent for little iPod docks with good sound spectrums and surprisingly good bass response and and both charge while playing which is very cool.

Music is funny some of it sounds rad on great systems and sometimes it's better on shit systems.

Post by **MS_39455** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 4:03 pm

Audiogon is indeed way cool, but usually far beyond my price range...which is almost nothing. The most I've paid for any piece of equipment was that BSR EQ. It was a whole $60 on an awesome eBay snag. Everything else has been yard sales and trashed or abandoned units that I've repaired and resurrected. You'd never know by looking or listening to them. That's how I sort of fell into the DIY thing. Maximum sound on a minimum budget.

Thanks for those book recommendations. I'll definitely check 'em out. Most project books I've come across have been way out of my league. My knowledge is very rudimentary and I'm really only filling in the blanks with this preamp. I ordered a couple of solid state preamp PC board kits with schematics from a really cool company called Velleman and then have been picking and choosing my individual components mostly from ACK Radio Supply here in Midtown. One board's the main stereo preamp for boosting the signal and the other is for RIAA correction (in case I was to use my turntable with a non integrated amp). Your volume drop guess is about right. It still sounds great, but I'm hoping that added line voltage will give it some real luster.

I'd like to be brave enough (and safe enough) to try a tube project some day. I've got some really cool schematics for another preamp that uses 12AX7's. I've always got a handful of those laying around and would love to put them to use.

Post by **Metalfreak** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 4:58 pm

I've been meaning to get a turntable for a few years now. When I lived at my godfather's, I would play my vinyls there since he has one and also I played them when I was at 88.5 still. Now, they just sit there...

badcarburetor · Post by **badcarburetor** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 5:29 pm

If anyone is looking for a decent system or component, turntable, anything...Craig's List is loaded with super cheap gear.

Generubin · Post by **Generubin** » Thu May 12th, 2011, 6:12 pm

Odinson666 · Post by **Odinson666** » Fri May 13th, 2011, 3:05 pm

i think they are on a few comps that got vinyl pressings but i think their normal catalog albums came out before the 2nd hipster vinyl wave , as far as the early folk black metal stuff i think bathory and skyclad are the only two bands along those lines on vinyl

Azrael · Post by **Azrael** » Fri May 13th, 2011, 4:06 pm

Most of my vinyl is crust punk. My jewels are a clear blue Aus Rotten from Australia, His Hero Is Gone - Monuments to Thieves, an original '82 Maiden Number of the Beast and my gate fold 180 gram Sworn to the Dark. I'm also proud to have 3 out of the 4 released Otophobia 7"s.

Doomed Youth · Post by **Doomed Youth** » Fri May 13th, 2011, 7:52 pm

Do you have the source of confusion Otophobia 7"? If not, I would be willing to trade since I have it recorded on tape.

Azrael · Post by **Azrael** » Sat May 14th, 2011, 2:22 am

Doomed Youth wrote:Do you have the source of confusion Otophobia 7"? If not, I would be willing to trade since I have it recorded on tape.

Yep, it's my favorite one. Thanks for the rad offer.

Post by **Brian** » Tue June 5th, 2012, 1:59 pm

badc, I figure you'll probably have a solid answer, but anyone else with the knowledge should chime in -- what do you use to clean your records? I'm thinking about getting a KAB EV1. $180 shipped and it's pretty much a vacuum cleaner without dropping the $500. Cheaper would be better of course.

badcarburetor · Post by **badcarburetor** » Sun June 17th, 2012, 3:50 pm

Hey, sorry for the delay in answering. I've been off the board for a couple weeks.

It's interesting that you bring this up now as I've recently been delving into some of my older, not so frequently played records and found some albums that are in just terrible, terrible condition. Like, I'm not being a snob; it legitimately sounds like a track of an angry vacuum was recorded on top of the mastered tracks. So, I've been kicking around the idea of picking up a Nitty Gritty cleaner. Even cheaper than what you posted and I've heard good things about them. Check them out here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_elect ... Spin-Clean

Look around on here. I've heard this a good source for tools at a fair price http://store.acousticsounds.com/cate...quipment&id=87

Usually, I'm not obsessive about cleaning my vinyl. Generally, I just brush clean with an Audioquest type brush. If a record is just a little extra dusty, I'll use some Discwasher solution and a brush. Most folks say to dilute it a bit or use diluted isopropyl. Unless you have some seriously fucked up records, don't do much more than this. Less is more, ya know. You don't need to put chemicals and shit on already clean vinyl. Only use a washer on records that are really fucked up.

As with all things audiophile, there are a gazillion opinions out there and you can spend as much as want you, though getting to entry level can hurt a bit. Look around on some audiophile forums and find some users that you trust and use them as a resource. I don't know anywhere near as much about this shit as I'd like. I avoid getting to deep into it because it will get into my head and I don't want to trash my systems and spend thousands that I shouldn't on new ones.

Knucklehead · Post by **Knucklehead** » Thu July 18th, 2013, 10:06 am

Resurrection.

My main rig for listening to music is:

- Technics SL1200MKII from 1981. Snagged on eBay. Came from a radio station in Iowa. A friend freakin' gave me a Shure V-15VxM. I also have a Denon 103 that I haven't tried, yet.
- NAD 1020 preamp. Definintely the weak link. I'm looking to replace it.
- JoLida 302b. A used, "cheap" Chinese tube amp with awesome sound.
- Klipsch KG4's.

The reason for the resurrection: does anyone have suggestions on where to get speakers re-coned? I have a pair of bookshelf speakers that I bought back in '89, which I refoamed myself. But reconing is more than I want to take on.

Holiday Rambler · Post by **Holiday Rambler** » Thu July 18th, 2013, 11:13 am

I bought an old Pioneer turntable/tape deck/receiver/6-disc changer and two speakers off some lady in Roswell for $30. Couldn't tell you the exact model without looking, but it kicks the shit out of the record player I had had.

I often end up laying on my living room floor after a long day and cranking Fandango! at high volumes.

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Record Collectors Are Pretentious Assholes

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