Turntable Tips - Buying, enjoying and upgrading your vinyl sound
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Thursday April 20, 2023
David Mellor
David Mellor is CEO and Course Director of Audio Masterclass. David has designed courses in audio education and training since 1986 and is the publisher and principal writer of Adventures In Audio.
@stinkenstine: Curmudgeonly & narcissistic. This guy finds negatives and gets pleasure in pointing out why people are stupid & why he’s the authority on all things. We bow to your better knowledge…
@hakuroo1: I think for me its more about the event of listening to vinyl. The ritual of stopping to listen to an entire album that you like and savoring it. Do I need vinyl to do it? no, but as a consequence now I have some beautiful and classy trinkets/furniture(euipments/cds/vinyl) on my table that is also fun to collect. No need to buy it all as physical media, just start with your favorite albums and leave the rest to qobuz lol
@kaporum: I had a Rega P1 record player. It was the worst I've ever had. The motor made noises. I changed it to another Rega p1, same problem. Then I had a Rega P8, but not for long. It sounded boring and exaggerated.
Now I have a Linn LP 12 and it sounds like heaven. I will never replace it again. But everyone has their own taste.
@barry5787: As a heavy goods mechanic I made the assumption that if Crossley made great buses then their turntables would be just as good. Everything in life is character building. Still looking for that illusive Routemaster.
@r.o.g.79: Yea I'm listening on a Technics
@chuckmaddison2924: Just wondering, does anyone know of an add-on kit I can fit to my turntable to give it Bluetooth.
Magnetic pick-up.
@kawawete: The Rega carbon cartridge is just a rebranded AT3600L, I'd just get a cheap Audio Technica deck instead, same cartridge, same sound
@VintageGearMan: Just sent this vid link to my buddy in Seattle. Very cool! Great video as always.
@VintageGearMan: Wow!
@VintageGearMan: I just heard the most amazing guitar on Lonely Is The Word,, Black Sabbath with Dio. It is so detailed with so much feel and thought I have no idea how Tony could have pulled that off live! It is a masterpiece!
@memcdm: The soul is in the power of the music passionately played by the artists and carefully recorded mixed and mastered... not in the particular method used to get it to your home. Focus on the music not all the electronics. Modest systems can deliver the soul of the music. The "need".... desire..... lust for "more" is between your ears not "in" your inspired by adds, reviewers, and so-called "audiophiles."
@kellygrant4964: Have my Technics SL-B202 (from 1981 - 43 years old now). Instead of buying a new player I upgraded it. New belt (of course), fully cleaned all the workings inside. Also used dynamat to dampen the entire chassis. Also damped that metal platter as well. No more ringing at all. Ortofon 3m red cartridge. Also upgraded the headshell wires. What a fantastic sounding player now! It also sits on a sound isolation board. And as a bonus it is semi automatic. That is something that is just sorely missing in new players. I do want some convenience after all.
@kellygrant4964 replies to @kellygrant4964: And not to mention all that money saved I can now buy myself those wonderful new records.
@michaelgreene5703: you don't like vinyl i don't understand ? didn't you do a video vinyl is so wrong for so many reasons WTF?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @michaelgreene5703: Many audio enthusiasts like vinyl despite its problems. I don’t think I’ve said in any of my videos that I don’t like vinyl. But the issues are, for me, hard to ignore.
@GeneSavage: I'm finally breaking down and getting a turntable after inheriting my parents' record collection and my in-laws' record collection and still owning some vinyl I had growing up. My main goal is to make listening to vinyl not irritating compared to listening to digital (which I love). Yes, I miss the big album covers, yes, I miss watching the record label turn 'round, but I've always been about the audio, and being able to get perfect sound out of a $50 CD player has been my idea of audio heaven.
I'm looking at the Electrohome Montrose, partially because that's what I can talk my wife into, and partially because it is shockingly good for the price: accurate speed, amazingly good (and cheap) Audio Technica AT3600L Cartridge, and (don't tell my analog-loving friends) Bluetooth!
My wife's a little excited. She told me, "I remember how to play a record! Certainly easier than our current stereo system." She doesn't know she'll need to pair it to the sound bar. 🤣
I'm already looking forward to upgrading the cartridge in a year to maybe the Audio-Technica AT95E... but I do wonder if I'll actually hear any difference...
(TLDR: After growing up with the snap, crackle, pop, rumble, distortion, and wow and flutter of vinyl, I can't believe I'm buying a record player in 2024.)
@shazmanbound1496: I payed $70,000 for my record player. Digital sound just can't compare to the experience of physical vinyl. Anyways you fail to mention that digital audio can also sound like crap if is not good quality at all.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @shazmanbound1496: Oh yes, digital audio can sound truly dreadful. I won’t disagree on that.
@pbford71: The 2 channel driven specs go back to, I think, the '70's when the FTC issued a rule that equipment power ratings had to comply to the "rms" continuous output standard. This was supposed to make it easier for the consumer to make "fair" comparisons between brands. I remember when small handheld transistor radios were rated as having "20 watts of music power", LOL, in a rats arse they did. If you want to see all channels driven specs talk to the FTC. I love Onkyo equipment but the TX-NR 7100 box says "210 watts per ch. into 6 ohms @ 1khz @ 1% THD, 1ch driven". This is not false advertising or misleading but it is an indication of dynamic headroom. Just my 2cents.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @pbford71: I'm with you and the FTC on this. Just my two new pence coin.
@flacopico: My friend, turntabe, pickup, cartrige needle vinyl were sn important parte of my youth. I was kinda fetishist😂
@ozgurinsan: I dont understand if he is serious or ironic?
@AudioMasterclass replies to @ozgurinsan: Vinyl lovers should take it seriously.
@fredashay: I still have my Technics SL-Q2 that I bought back in the 80's while in college.
It was a cheap turntable by "audiophile" standards, but I was a poor college student at the time, and it was a step above a Radio Shack record grinder, lol.
It's still sitting in my audio rack along with the rest of my retro audio components with about 30 years worth of dust piling up upon it being that I bought CD versions of all my vinyl albums (which I still own stored away for sentimental reasons) long ago, and which is why I never bothered to buy an "audiophile" turntable when I could finally afford one.
@bottomendbliss: Great channel. Love it
@robcherry695: I'm intrigued by your comments about 'digital' sound versus 'analogue' sound. A vinyl record is a means of transmitting an audio signal in an analogue fashion, to be sure, but modern vinyl records are analogue pressings of a digitally-recorded signal (unless Dave Grohl's recorded it on his Neve and Studers then pressed vinyl records, just like the old days). The mixing desk is digital; the recording device is digital; the post-production process is digital. The only stages in the chain which are analogue are the microphone, the record player and the speakers. Maybe the amp. Is it possible to warm up a cold, soulless digital recording (eg a CD) by pressing analogue grooves in a vinyl disc and tracing them with a stylus? Answers on a postcard please...
@AudioMasterclass replies to @robcherry695: Many people enjoy the vinyl sound. I may point out the deficiencies in vinyl from time to time in my videos, but it isn't going to stop vinyl lovers enjoying their interest, and why would I want to do that?
@robcherry695 replies to @robcherry695: @AudioMasterclass I first heard a CD back in the early 80s, played through large KEF studio monitors in the radio drama studio at BBC Pebble Mill. It was a classical piece, can’t remember what, but I mostly remember the clarity, the absence of extraneous noise like surface clicks, and – something I’ve never forgotten – the silence between movements/tracks so intense that I stumbled forward into it. I’ve been a fan of the CD ever since. When we had children, also in the early 80s, I put all the hi-fi – Technics SL120/SME/Shure V15 III, Quad 33/303, (no CD player at that time) on shelving in an alcove, LPs beneath, and put our big CRT TV in front of it to protect it from the children. Unfortunately it also protected it from me as I could hardly reach it, and my vinyl collection fell into disuse.
But there is something organic, personally engaging, committing, even, about the physical process of taking out an LP, removing it from its sleeve, placing it on the turntable, starting it, siting the arm and lowering the stylus. To a lesser extent it’s applicable to the CD or the DVD, rather than streaming everything or playing files on the computer. After many a year of hinting that I’d really like to play my vinyl records (sitting in the garage following our move down to Somerset nine years ago), my wife is finally softening. The Technics combo is sitting in a cupboard upstairs, still in its original box. I’d forgotten it’s a direct drive so there’s no belt to have perished. I’ve got a phono pre-amp so provided we can agree on what to stand the turntable on, I can just plug it into my Denon AV receiver and Bob’s your uncle. Sadly the Quads (also in another cupboard in their original packaging) would require probable rebuilding at enormous cost and in any case I don’t want to push my luck. So it’s probably not ideal, but I’m deaf now, anyway, after 40 years doing sound, and I’m technically listening via digital hearing aids.
You may have gathered I’m not very good at parting with stuff. I suspect I couldn’t afford to replace the Technics/SME/Shure with equal quality so, provided it works (and my wife can bear the sight of it), it seems daft to look for anything else. I confess, however, that I really like the look of the Roksan Attessa, which is available for £399 and originally cost over a grand, I think. Have you any thoughts on that? I’ve actually seen my setup on sale for more than £1,000, which makes it tempting to try to sell it (if I can overcome my reluctance) and get something like the Attessa instead, but it’s a dilemma!
I’ll only play my existing, analogue start-to-finish, LP collection. I really can’t see the point of paying a price premium to listen to an analogue rendition of a digital music recording when the CD does it so well.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @robcherry695: @@robcherry695 You have been on quite an audiophile journey which I hope you have enjoyed over the years, so congratulations on that. Regarding the turntable, I can only discuss equipment that I use or have used so I can't help you on that. I'm sure there must be other YouTube reviewers who can advise. DM
@nycrhythmcom-Vnylperv9pmfriday: Technics or Die
@christophergleason4746: this guy sucks
@AudioMasterclass replies to @christophergleason4746: Thank you. I always enjoy a good compliment.
@ranbirgill4718: Rather spend 30k on on vinyl than on the tt
@Slightlyinterested: Had a Planar 1 for years, recently went to Planar 3 with exact cartridge, nice.
@kwchalky02: Happy Planar 1 owner. 😊 At least for now 🤣
@Synthematix: I used to enjoy vinyl in the 80s, we used to put records on top of cups and run a blowtorch over them, they make excellent ashtrays and plant pots. especially with des oconnors "i pretend"
@Tyco072: How to upgrade vinyl -> Buy a CD
@williamdenton5716: Omgoodness, this Dude is hilarious !!😂
@richardmarkham8369: Funny how we all hope that there is sonic bliss hidden in that vinyl record, if only we had the right kit to extract it!
Many years ago, I upgraded my Rega Planar 3 by putting the tone arm and cartridge onto a Pink Triangle deck. I could not believe my ears! I had a frenzy of playing old favourite records because they sounded so much better. Still got the same rig!
@HuiswerkGitaarles: You are very ironic to me. What you seem say is: digital is best, period. No noise, no distortion, no problems in frequency response. Analog is subjective, which means it is more fun. Or I don't get it.
@DuzBee: I’m confused 7:26 you commend playing records, yet in your other video dedicated to vinyl, you demonise those going into playing records. Was that video about vinyl being bad satirical? Please help.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @DuzBee: There are many music and audio enthusiasts who love vinyl despite its imperfections and problems. I see no reason why they shouldn't want to get more fun from it.
@spyderhead7160: 👍
@eggshellskullrule7971: I like my Pioneer Pl-L1000A tangential TT. All these years the pivotal TT was nothing but noise. Now finally, music. Alongside, my Technics SL-10 is just as capable.
@robertbailey8003: In 1972, I replaced my Garrard SP25 with a Pioneer PL12D, and I still have it. The cartridge is a Shure M95HE (possibly overkill). I have never considered upgrading because I can't imagine anything else to improve the inherent sound of the LPs I own. To prove myself wrong I recently bought a copy of George Martin's "In My Life", supposedly a "SuperThunderStingThing" pressing. The music is good but the surface noise ruins it. So the PL12D and Shure remain.
@EddyTeetree: Let’s just ignore the endless arguments over digital sound playback hey. Why are you so desperate to appear modern? Let the AI take over. She has much nicer tits.
@Lif-999: I too grew up with Analog.
A journey culminating with the addition of a Garrad 301/Autophon combo, for which, I too built my own [splendidly over engineered] plinth.
This fed my trusty Sugden A21 [12 whole RMS watts of pure class A] amp, all driving a monsterous, but highly efficient [93 dB] pair of Ditton 66 floor standing Studio monitors.
Musical nirvana, I am sure we can all agree!
But no, I cry! One day, a friend brought round his newly aquired, fangled CD player [a Phillips model, as I recall] to '"try out" on my behemoth of a system and, oh dear, this changed everything.
The difference was literally night and day! In every subjective way - soundstage, range and fidelity the Phillips excelled.
But, for me, the clincher was the now bottemless noise floor and utter lack of surface noise.
I am sure, Mr AM, that you are not surprised by the above revelation. That you, no doubt, have had your own, similar moment of audio catharsis. This whole presentation with your gentle smile at the very end, is indicative of a man who has his tongue firmly in his cheek.
SO I will end with this: If one wishes to upgrade one's turntable, junk it [or if it's a 'good' one, perhaps donate it to a museum] and invest instead in a good digital source.
Let the fireworks begin!
Keep 'em coming, AM.
Phil.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @Lif-999: Another Phil. Who'd have thought it?
@Lif-999 replies to @Lif-999: Hahaha. It's a fair cop. The hi fi society is to blame.
@ronhutcherson9845: That was great! But what about the joy of record washing?
As for why my main reasons for vinyl are:
• A whole library of used records in a store nearby. Literally. They bought the classic Buder Branch and filled it with vinyl.
• The physical interaction with old LPs.
• The format doesn’t change and nobody comes to your house and takes your records because of a change in some streaming contract.
• A friend gave me a fancy cartridge.
@norcatch: I listen to records on a vintage Technics SL-7 turntable I got for free and an old Kenwood receiver that came with two sets of decent enough speakers for about 50 bucks. Speaker cables came with the Kenwood, as did the RCA cables. It's just about the fun.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @norcatch: An SL-7 for free? Win!
@norcatch replies to @norcatch: @@AudioMasterclass Yes indeed! Expedited inheritance. Me and my dad drove to the cabin and picked up the turntable and the record collection, about 180 liters of records. To be fair, I bought a cheap new Audio Technica cartridge as well, so let's say 70 bucks total.
@stevengagnon4777 replies to @norcatch: @@AudioMasterclasswent dumpster fishing about 15 years ago. I saw a plug from a power cord so I grabbed it and reeled it in. It was buried under a fair amount of garbage. It put up a fight but it was looking like sterio equipment so I kept digging and pulling. When I finally got it outleaning half way into the dumpster trying to not fall back in with this little whale. Yes indeed it was a Technics SL-7. Replaced the RCA plugs and much to my surprise it worked fine inspite of the dent on the front. It is what I'm using now with a Stanton 680ee complete with the brush. Self cleaning close"n"play; put a record on close the lid and press play😊. Now the difficult part finding a new stylus . Europe a nude mounted hypereliptical Jico easy ,but they can't ship me one.The USA not so easy nobody seems to be revealing the sorce or what it is. I still prefer that induced magnet moving iron cartridge. Thinking about everyone of my m half dozen turn tables were trash picks . Technics SL-1200 mark II plus a few more Technics,a Dual,BIC and a couple Phillips 212 electrics. I'm not going to be buying any soon.
@leonardopapantoniou4227: Digital has its journey too. Laptop and headphones. Then add a Dac such as ifi zen. Or choose a dac amp with multiple inputs and then add a streamer. Change the dac amp and buy separate parts , the dac, the amp, the preamp. Add internet switches. Buy better analog and digital cables. Buy linear power supplies. Buy Roon subscription. Who says digital purchases are boring ? Ahh I forgot. You can add an external clock
@drbarney1000: Here is a misgiving I have over moving coil vs moving magnet cartridges. The stylus lasts about 1000 hours and can be changed on a moving magnet cartridge. Moving coil cartridges cost almost as much to replace as to have a factory replace the stylus. This is not a good idea because the moving coils eventually fatigue fracture shortly thereafter. Sime moving coil cartridges cost as much as $10,000. For 1000 hours it costs $10/hour to use them. I could not enjoy a subtle improvement in sound quality that requires paying attention to notice if I knew it was costing me that much. I can live with a good moving magnet cartridge which can be made good with skilled engineering.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @drbarney1000: Misgiving indeed, and hopefully known in advance to any moving coil purchaser. This is a topic I might cover in a future video, including whether hi-fi enthusiasts actually do ever replace their stylus. P.S. I replace the stylus on my 78 picnic gramophone every two sides, but I don't need a spreadsheet to keep track of that.
@birgitnielsen-j6f: Electric guitarists have the same kind of fun: Better pickups? Better cables? Valve or solid state amplifiers? Different valves? Change speaker in the amp? Etc. And then the entire circus continues when selecting the right effect pedals. We forget to practice and play in the midst of this Tone Quest 🙂And the manufacturers make money.
@johnbull5394: A brilliant, honest, ironic, and entertaining video!
I've been doing it all wrong. I was given a 1970s turntable years ago. I bought an amplifier and speakers to go with it. I replaced the original Goldring cartridge with an Ortofon one as I wanted a stylus for 78rpm records so I could play them too (on advice from the local hifi shop - which wasn't great advice seeing as my tonearm isn't height-adjustable and now the stylus hits the record at the wrong angle (which makes no discernable difference to the sound, and, oh... turns out 78 styluses for the Goldring cartridge were still available).
Then I added an expensive new CD player, and a cheap secondhand tuner and cassette deck. At this point, all the amplifier input connections were used so I couldn't expand the hifi, nor could I think of any other source to add (except 8-track, which is a format I'd rather not be able to listen to). Instead, I concentrated what time I spend on my hifi at all on listening to my records (etc) and finding out what music I liked best. It's been at least 10 years since I spent any money at all on my hifi itself.
I'll try to find something that dissatisfies me. Perhaps I should switch back to the original cartridge?
@jonathanpowell3769: I enjoy using an inherited Technics separates system form the early 90s and am delighted with it. It was bought as the bees knees at the time. The only change I’ve ever made is a conical stylus instead of round. The reason? I’m 62! How good can my hearing be? I can only properly enjoy what I’ve got at the volumes that let me hear the detail properly when I’m the only person in the house.
@Paul-D-Hoff: I often said to my ex-friend and vinyl lover that they should make a CD player with lots of dials on the front that he could play with. Not that they did anything, but he would have something to play with.
@johnbull5394 replies to @Paul-D-Hoff: I think the second knob from the left tweaks the frequency of certain high-pitched sounds that the human ear cannot perceive, but that affect how we perceive audible frequencies. The second knob from the right adjusts the volume of these frequencies. Perhaps I could help with the instruction manual? ;)
@NullStaticVoid: I found out a while ago that 2nd DJ turntables are really good. Most vinyl DJs will start on a Numark or Stanton then move up to a 'real' Technics. There is not audio quality difference. The Technics 1200 just spins up faster.
You do have to change the stylus to something that doesn't prioritize hard use over audio quality. But thats simple.
I went with an Ortofon on a mid tier Stanton turntable. I really don't care about varispeed or beat matching, so anything farther up market in the DJ arena is useless to me.
One thing I have noticed is a lot of turntables taht are USB and line level only. Preamp is built in.
This might be good for someone in a small apartment? But I found them to all be toy like construction.
@semperfi-1918: Well i dont have alot for HiFi but i have scored several quality older systems for cheap. And newbies like one guy i met told him to ignore people tell him off. And its great to see him getting into it with the entry level table. Then tols him when he upgrades to figure what his budget is and what type of system he wants and how its set up for the room/ place he will have it in. Its so much more than just the system.
@wrongIQ: Exact to the tiny point. Currently I'm at the stage of Rega P1 + better cartridge and better preamp and amp. It took me 11 years :)))
@jro7075: wow you were fun to watch ,for a sec I thought you were a certain former Beatle or wings perfomer but I will not mention it I am sure you get a lot of comments about this as I kept on watching I stayed and watched the vid you made a lot of sense just wanted to say I am not a fan of manual TT"s I have a pr0-ject debut 3 I love it but I get real relaxed when listening to records so I went back to automatic turntables found me a Dual 1009sk,and a 1237 then I found a garrard AT-60 and a mpk2 autoslim and 2 BSR's they work fine no problems with scratching also do not know if you know this or not the Rega Planar with the rega carbon cart is really a audiotechnica 3600L which averages about 20.00 $ or 24.00 $ from the last I saw I got one to replace the ceramic cart on my Garrard Autoslim cause the tone arm even though it was spring controled tracking I was able to rewire the 3600 it sounds even better a lot of people do not realize that they are using an entry level cart ,but it is a good cart ,on my dual turntables they both came with shure carts m91ed was impressed how they sounded the dual 1237 stylus on that one came with the stylus looking like it was never used and it sounded fantastic JRo
@idontsmile666: Ive been living with my rega p1 for around 6 years now and it is probably the best turntable I've owned, although the lack of a speed switch is annoying, after changing the cartridge to a higher end mm, it performs extremely well. Ive not come across anything for the price and i highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good long lasting deck for listening purposes. Easily upgradeable as ive changed the belt, platter and cartridge which has improved its performance by alot. If someone is thinking of getting a p1 I'd say change the resin platter to acrylic as it reduces the wobble to bearly anything and gets rid of the need for a mat.
@jro7075 replies to @idontsmile666: Yes you are correct the acrylic platter does a fantastic job I have the Pro-Ject debut 3 before the carbon tone arm came out my TT came with the heavy metal platter it was good but always worried about metal platter slipplng out of hand and scratching the TT when switching speeds I found one that came from a rega turntable the model I forgot what it was but the seller said that it was compatible to the pro-ject model I had and it did fit perfectly and improved the sound by a lot JRo
@tobiasrybing5631: Excellent video. My mother gave me her old vinyl records and I played them on a simple Sony ps lx 310 bt. I liked the sound and it was very FUN listening to music. Then I fell into the hole of upgrading, and now it's not that fun anymore.
@markphilpot8734: The turntable can be an analog nightmare. There are so many ways to go, but I would never go with a close and play player as a start. Some vinyl is near unobtanium, so that is a no way option. There are are a variety of rabbit holes one can go into as you mentioned, but only those who are interested in taking care of the media and keeping the needle free of debris need bother with this option of analog. Failure to take care of your vinyl and the stylus has consequences you would rather not deal with. If you take care of your collection and the stylus, your enjoyment will be satisfied. Failure has it’s price also. Make no mistake, this is not for the lazy or the indifferent. You must be willing to invest your time as well as money when you venture into this abyss. Your efforts will be rewarded however, provided you are willing to keep the vinyl and stylus clean. Otherwise, why bother!
@shipsahoy1793: Idk Dave,
based on my experience, I think it takes about $1500-2500 on a record player, cartridge, and phono preamp combo before we hit the “I can get by with this” territory. It’s just that good record collections are expensive and should be somewhat preserved. That said, if it were me, I would possibly start with a Planar 3, the 2 factory upgrades, (motor and counterweight) and an Ortofon Bronze or something. A $600 record player is pushing it imho. The P3’s tonearm is a benefit over the others.
@spacemissing: My method was to ADD a CD player to my system, not Replace anything with it.
While I prefer the sound of CDs, my system has and always will include phono capability.
@andymouse: Awesome channel ! Hard to tell sometimes if your serious or taking the piss !...cheers.
@nate_d376: The slow-mo head bob is somewhat hypnotic. Makes me worried that you're trying to subliminally control me, into just listening to that awful digital music...are you?
@keithholmes6776: Got a Moth Alamo years ago, more recently added an isolation plinth from SRM Tech, upgraded the cartridge from the stock AT95E to a Nagaoka MP110. I'm currently very happy with the setup!
@TS-ex4dl: Yes --I dug mine out during covid-lots of fun setting it up properly ---.Like the sound. I have an old digital theatre system that I am still discovering! Not as advanced as you though with my understanding. Anticipating a new advancement/ revolution in technology to tweak too!
@xprcloud: Listening to digital masters mechanically engraved into plastic, makes as much sense as printing iphone photos on to Agfa Slide film to project them on the wall.
You cannot pay me enough to go back to the stone age, WOW FLUTTER NOISE and random ticks, (been there). T
he RIAA Phono preamp itself has S/N of 80db, the hiss is built in from the get go, before needle even touches the record, and fighting 60/50Hz hum, and clicks when the fridge does its thing. And bass feedback, gotta miss that one.
@fredericktennant9151: Wow I purchased my house for the price of a Linn Turntable lol
@pedrocols: Rega Planar 1 are currently going for almost $600 US. 😒😒
@georgeanastasopoulos5865: For the most part, I agree, thumbs up. However, from my listening experience, and logic, it is the phono cartridge, that very small magical box, that can make a big difference; and a definite improvement. I have two turntables in 2 audio only systems; a harman kardon T25 semi-automatic turntable, (of 1983) - belt drive - that's connected to my Sony DH520 Receiver (of 2012) of 85 Watts. I replaced the Audio Technica AT70 MM Cartridge with a new stylus. Then I lubricated the spindle bearing of the HK T25 Turntable with a special oil; a Sintered Bronze Safe Turntable Oil by Audio Vault. I've also put an MDF board of half inch thickness underneath the HK T25 turntable as it sits atop my wooden fiberboard stereo cabinet.
Then, I recently replaced the above MM cartridge from the harman kardon T25 with a Denon DL-80A Moving Coil together with a phono pre-amplifier (or phono amplifier as you British call it) that also has a Moving Coil setting. Therefore, to me I get the sound that I like, and prefer.
I also bought a used Rega Planar 3 plinth of early 1980s, and I had to hunt around for a used Linn Basik Plus Tonearm since the previous owner drilled a larger hole for the turntable post! I bought a platter mat, coloured red by Hudson Hi Fi. I installed a new Audio Technica AT95E MM cartridge; and I aligned it with a Linn Basik Tonearm, Cartridge Protractor. Then I aligned the AT95E MM Cartridge.
Then I bought, and installed a silicone drive belt, a new silicone motor, "Rega Planar 2 / 3 Turntable Motor Suspension Belt"; and is a "Silicone Upgrade". I later re-soldered a new capacitor, then a new resistor; and a bit later installed a, "SRM TECH TURNTABLE MOTOR THRUST BEARING". Then I bought a new Rega dust cover; does not fit so I've got to make a new one from five plates of plexiglass. I had to adjust the VTA, besides the top of motor pulley was touching the bottom of the glass platter. Besides I also bought, installed a, "SRM TECH PLATTER ISOLATING KIT FOR REGA TURNTABLES".
I also have to bend the used Linn Basik Plus Tonearm Stay (as I call it) to a more horizontal position, because the Tonearm cannot be lifted with the Cue Lever at the end of a record's play. I'm also going to add a, "SRM TECH MOTOR VIBRATION ABSORBER" around the motor, soon. And I also bought a Rega turntable manual, also from the Canadian ebay.🔉🎵🎶
@darrellstyner0001: Ha, that was brutal and way too close to home. You really should have been in Monty Python. Love that dry British wit!
@rodneyarnoldi: Thank you for the nice video.
I recently purchased a Rega Planar 3 with Exact cartridge and Rega phono amp.
As a retired OAP this has given me some pleasure going around the charity shops looking for LPs and taking them home to clean on my VinylStyl Deep Grove machine. It is also a bit of exercise having to get up every 20 minute to turn over the record!
@JeffWardMusic: Another great video, thank you. I know is going to sound bonkers but I miss my vinyl days not so much for the endless messing around with ("upgrading") the kit (which I'll happily admit I did more than a little of)... but for the experience of it. The experience of owning something of physical dimensions and colour that was stored on display. Of selecting a record, studying the sleeve, the artwork, the notes, the lyrics, getting the record out, cleaning it and mounting it on the turntable. It was an event. A ritual. An enjoyable experience, precursor to the main event. Like buying the tickets and having a drink in the bar before the concert. And after all that effort, one had to listen to the whole album to make sense of it all and appreciate it as the composer, artist or producer intended. That whole experience was decimated by CD then completely obliterated by MP3/WAV/streaming. There's no experience now, just super-clean audio and a track-skip button. A poor substitute in my mind (but not to my ears) But no, I've not gone back to vinyl as the albums are just too darned expensive!
@jro7075 replies to @JeffWardMusic: Just wanted to say YES I AGREE I still listen to records DO NOT LIKE PAYING 20.00 dollars for a record that is still warped at times even though they are 180 grams thick I have albums thinner than these new ones that are flatter and not as sharp I even got a vinyl cut on my finger ,I could probably throw this at someone and cut their head off ,I love looking at album covers and reading them and all info they had never liked c d's they always seemed cold to me small cases and hardly any info and listening to mp3 you losing a lot of music content .I have tried buying used records so far I found several records that were demos ,when I worked in a record store in high school the record companies when ever a new album was made they would send us a copy or so called demo record of the full album but stamped demo we could not sell those in those days but finding them I have been lucky cause a lot of them were rarely played and were a lot in better condition and some I found really cheap thats what I found myself doing so I try not to buy new albums just trying to find the ones I never got a chance to get while in high school the most I will pay is 12.00 so far it has worked I do not see why they are so expensive its riddiculus ,IZ have added to my collection so far JRo
@semperfi-1918 replies to @JeffWardMusic: Depends what you mean by too exspensive. Sure ive got dofferent systems, and over 1k records. And i dont think ive spent too much. Alot yes but not too much.
@semperfi-1918 replies to @JeffWardMusic: @@jro7075why some are exspensive is supply and demand plus inflation while its what someone will pay for it. Ive paid quite a bit for a few records that are rare and harder to find. Others.... well 90% of the ones i find these days comes in bundles or the dollar bin.
@rabarebra: This guy is probably fun at parties. 🙄
@AudioMasterclass replies to @rabarebra: No, I'm absolutely no fun at all. DM
@rabarebra replies to @rabarebra: @@AudioMasterclass You can make a lot of plug-in jokes.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @rabarebra: @@rabarebra Perhaps, but I prefer to avoid common vulgarity. DM
@sagwawichich: Comedy gold 😂
@TheEllis197: I just recently picked up a Fluance Rt82. Great price and awesome sound, if I ever need more I’ll upgrade it.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @TheEllis197: $299, with very detailed information and technical specifications at https://www.fluance.com/rt82w-reference-high-fidelity-vinyl-turntable-natural-walnut DM
@Trojan0304: Pulled my old records out of closet. Hooked up old Pioneer 518, Technics 1600mk2 & Technics J33, music heaven reborn
@simonheffernan1767: Great video. I own 3 Lencos. I love doing all the upgrades. It's fun.
@brucevair-turnbull8082: While Rega tone arms are very good quality for their price point, their cartridges are sub-standard. I tried several (all poor) and settled on a Goldring 1042. This trounced the former.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @brucevair-turnbull8082: For comment readers, this will be the Goldring 1042 that is available for a street price around £325 GBP. Or if you just need a replacement stylus then £215. DM
@StylusDrop: For those who like jazz there has never been a better time to invest in a good record playing system. We are currently in a golden age of audiophile vinyl jazz reissues such as the Blue Note Tone Poet series, mastered by arguably the worlds best mastering engineer (Kevin Gray) and cut via an all analogue process and pressed at one of the world's best record pressing plants (RTI in the USA). These reissues sound far better than CDs and in most cases they sound superior to the original 1950's or 1960's pressings (even if you can find a mint copy).
@CharlieMessing replies to @StylusDrop: Yes! Just got the 1955 Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane Blue Note. Wow. Was likely a 10" LP - about 19 minutes a side.
@CrueLoaf: Thank you. Your presentations are always classy. 👍
@MrAustrokiwi: I started my vinyl journey by building my own. My aim was the building( with three tone arms for the design challenge). As for resonance problems Korf audio have suggested the resonance issues go back to decades old research that is less relevant with modern cartridges( specifically the stylus suspension material)
@AudioMasterclass replies to @MrAustrokiwi: Hm, I would collect opinions on this before going further, but traditionally it's always been the case that the arm is a mass supported by the cantilever which is a spring together making a resonant system. The resonant frequency must not be so high that the system is excited by bass in the audio, nor too low that it is excited by warps in the record. If there is modern technology that can sidestep all of that, then that would be interesting. DM
@LyleFrancisDelp: A good record cleaner also helps a lot. I've resurrected quite a few of my old classical LPs (I started collecting in 1972, at age 11), using my VPI vacuum LP cleaner. I play them on an Acoustic Research ES-1 player (purchased in 1986), and it sounds fine to me.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @LyleFrancisDelp: I don't know why cleaners are not a bigger thing. The only reason I never had one was the cost. The only one in those days as far as I was aware was the Keith Monks machine and it was way out of my price range. DM
@LyleFrancisDelp replies to @LyleFrancisDelp: @@AudioMasterclass I resisted for many years for the same reason….cost. But about 15 years ago, I broke down and bought the VPI…paid about $500 IIRC.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @LyleFrancisDelp: @@LyleFrancisDelp Cleanliness is next to godliness. DM
@LyleFrancisDelp replies to @LyleFrancisDelp: @@AudioMasterclass Brilliant reply!!! 🤣🤣🤣
@jamescarter3196 replies to @LyleFrancisDelp: Good record cleaning and lubrication is essential for making them sound their best. I learned some techniques about five years ago that have changed my mind about records, about which I used to think 'CDs are better but I still have records that sound ok', but after figuring out how to 'do better' with records, I've gotten sound out of some of them that absolutely blows my mind, overwhelming sound. It's been a game-changer, and I'm only using a 1982 Technics table with a Pickering cartridge.
@stefanzantes8818: Buy a vinyl washing machine with inbuild fluid suction. Well cleaned vinyl sounds much better. Most of my friends can't tell CD or vinyl apart in respect to cleanliness of sound, when I play cleaned records on my Yamaha PF 800 with Vinylmaster System, it doesn't need more Investment😊.
@rolandrodgers5201: Ha ha ha ha Ha😊
@steveprice9737: Pretty amusing vid. I've ended up with a 401 with a decent tone arm and selection of cartridges, old shure thing for tatty vinyl and better ones for the less trashed or occasional new records acquired at the local record emporium.
Probably never need to get anything more than the 401 , my ears are too knackered to make it worthwhile and having a selection of cartridges keeps it fresh, ... the previous planer 3 would do the same job but the 401 fell into my possession for 25 quid from a junk shop.... with a spare arm and mc cartridge... as my kids used to say
"Get jealous losers" 😂
@MikhailKulkov: No, thanks. Loose time of my life to get a bad turntable for to understand that it is bad, then sell it for buying a better one and so on... I think it's worth to buy a best vinyl setup that can and want to afford and listen to best quality of music even understanding nothing in it.
@AudioMasterclass replies to @MikhailKulkov: I don't disagree. When you have a system you like it's a pointless effort to try to go further. Time to sit back and enjoy. DM
@richardsinger01: You have convinced me. Digital all the way!
@kennetheis3588: Tongue in cheek at its best. Bravo!
@carlsitler9071: I upgraded my record player. I bought a CD player in 1985.
@jamescarter3196 replies to @carlsitler9071: Yes, CDs are so much easier to deal with even when they sound worse. But, convenience isn't quality, and the best records are better than the best CDs.
@Sonnell: Instead of the Rigas, I would defenitely suggest buying a used high end model from the 80's and 90's. For the same price you'll get an incomparably better device in every way. Like quartz controlled, direct drive, with heavy platters, and usually a very sophisticated tonearm. My 2 cents...
@richardsinger01 replies to @Sonnell: But risk the possibility of it being faulty, shabby or in need of periodic servicing. Second hand probably isn't the way to go for the beginner.
@jamescarter3196 replies to @Sonnell: "Second hand" doesn't just mean 'thrift stores'. There are stores that specialize in used hi-fi gear and can help newbies, maybe not as many 'in real life' these days but there are some out there, and many more online. Getting a recently-serviced or tested used machine from a reputable dealer with a warranty is a great way to go which often costs much less than a comparable new machine.
@rogerturner5504 replies to @Sonnell: Oooh no!! Direct drive is a no-no for hi-fi.
@Sonnell replies to @Sonnell: @@rogerturner5504 LOL... I am getting very tired of these audiophile myths... stuff which people do not understand, do not hear, but believe like a religion.
Could you please explain why is direct drive so bad? lol....
@rogerturner5504 replies to @Sonnell: While direct drive record players are reliable, they often have a lower playback quality. Their high torque and consistency is a benefit, but they frequently suffer from motor vibration noises. To maintain the desired rotation speed, the motor is continually being pulsed and this can be audible.
For most, the direct drive record player’s unwanted vibrations are enough to opt for a belt drive. Many direct drive record player owners, in fact, purchase shock absorbers to lessen the noise. What direct drive turntables possess in durability they sacrifice in overall quality.
@Noone-of-your-Business: When it comes to analog, it is sometimes difficult to tell your transition point between seriousness and irony.
This is one of those examples.
@jamescarter3196 replies to @Noone-of-your-Business: It's always a bit disconcerting hearing anyone (especially someone as knowledgeable as him) try so hard to fuel 'format wars' with extremely-clickbaity video titles and a lot of non-practical information that cites the 'extreme' version of everything-- the worst this, the most-expensive that. I like this guy's videos but he resorts to a lot of the same snarky throwaway arguments that people use to laud themselves for having 'the newest' whatever. Bottom line to me is 'the average digital music online sounds worse than cassette tape, and lots of my records sound noticeably better by direct comparison to the official CD, let alone online'. I swear, it's crazy how many people blindly pit 'the worst aspects of records' in THEIR OWN experience, to 'the highest-quality digital music' that they've never even heard, instead of being honest about real-life average usage (which this guy often ignores) and what they're hearing.
@johnbull5394 replies to @Noone-of-your-Business: I'll have to admit I was hoping for more DIY practical advice, like the squash-balls under the record deck, or filling speaker stands with sand, cartridge alinement et al. But taken tongue-in-cheek, I must say I enjoyed watching this. @@jamescarter3196
@arturhawk98: I like your English sense of humor!
@hoplita2213: Excelent, Mr. McCartney...!
@analogkid4557: I still have my B & O turntable from the 80s. I also have most of my record collection from then too.
@mymixture965: The Linn LP12 is just an expensive Thorens 150, don't buy it.
@mariokrizan1400: Very good information and advice David 👍👍👍 I didn't know the benefits of Rega capsules. What do you think of Ortofon's 2M and Audio Techniva's VM lines! Thanks in advance and greetings from Buenos Aires.
@rabarebra: "Pure perfect digital music" 😂
@georgeogrady449: Dont see dj use them lol
@kevinriley4213: Wasn't it a Shure M95 rather than a V15 David ? Keep the videos coming by the way!
@ReasonablySane: I'm guessing that video was tongue-in-cheek. Very well done!
@scsitransfer: You forgot about including pre-amp in your upgrade chain, just another way you can go wrong too as it has to match your cart as well especially if upgrading from an MM to an MC cart.
@rabarebra replies to @scsitransfer: You didn't get the video. DM is not being serious.
@whssy: This English bloke who lives in Denmark had a good giggle at your pronunciation of "Ortofon". The correct pronunciation is more like "oar-toe-phone".
@AudioMasterclass replies to @whssy: I think my attempt at genuine pronunciation might be even more amusing. DM
@NathanOakley1980: Excellent advice ❤
@markmoore2625: I always listen to vinyl, but it's easy to fall into the upgrade path. That's ok if you have the money. I just find digital sources fatiguing after a while. I must have analogue ears.
@Crossfire2003: To me, vinyl is all smoke & mirrors.
Hi-res digital audio is the way!
At the studios, music is being recorded and saved into computers, not on tape!
Mixing & mastering, both, are digital processes.
So why downgrade all of that to vinyl?
@jamescarter3196 replies to @Crossfire2003: LMAO, you're so fucking clueless it's hard to believe. "Hi-res digital audio" outside of recording situations is mostly a myth that almost nobody ever actually listens to regardless of how much they PRETEND to (and let's be clear: CDs are fine but it's a stretch to call them 'hi-res' compared to 24-bit, and records are capable of exceeding CD limitations also), but every moron listening to bad mp3s acts like 'digital so much better' just because 'digital'. 'downgrade all of that to vinyl" huh? LOL, please stop making up dumb shit. "Mixing and mastering" blah blah blah. You sound like you're five years old.
@erwinvb70: Well “pure perfect digital music” requires a DAC and unless you’re going to spend a lot of research and money on that subject it’s hard to compete with good analog material where either the whole process was analog or somewhere in the process a very high end DAC was used in the process. Streaming is great for music consumption and discovering new music, but consumption and active listening are different.