Vinyl Help #2

[polishdog90]

Alright I have a few questions for you vinyl experts (I'm looking at you Fogey!).

First off, I made the Vinyl Help #1 topic some time ago, but I just finally got my 1st record player this week. It was a used 70s Panasonic turntable. The cartridge was junk so I bought a Shure one from a local dj store. It might not be the greatest setup, but I think it sounds good. I have been playing records non-stop for the couple of days I have had it.

To the questions:

#1: How do you clean vinyl (Vinyl Records. Not vinyl car seats) to help preserve its life? Are there any special brushes/fluids that I should buy?

#2: What makes audiophile players so much better than standard players? I'm planning on saving for a $500 player eventually, but I would like to understand why it is so great.

#3 What is a good quality RCA cable? I'm just using the standard yellow/white/red one (yellow obviously not plugged in) right now.

#4 Right now I'm using the built in pre-amp on my subwoofer to project my record player. Should I look into investing in a separate preamp or receiver?

Thanks everyone! I'm new to the whole vinyl business but I love it so far. I want to become more knowledgeable in the subject.

[King_Nuthin]

#1 - First you should know there are two schools of thought - one is clean everything even vinyl that has never been played, the other is never clean at all unless a disc is otherwise unplayable. Either way you should always have a good record brush. Something like the AudioQuest record brush is a fairly affordable option just to dust off before you play. You just put the record on the platter and lightly hold the brush over the disc for a couple revolutions. If you want to go the full cleaning route there are plenty of vinyl solutions, I don't have a lot of experience with them and some are made specifically for cleaning machines which will cost you more than you have budgeted for your next table (Nitty Gritty are probably the cheapest machine option). Otherwise you're washing them in the sink and its quite the time consuming process.

#2 - At the entry level price point a lot is about isolating the record surface from as much external noise as possible. The audiophile tables are almost always belt driven, which among other things allows the motor to be placed further away from the record itself. They're also highly adjustable so that you can make sure the table is level and set the tone arm and cartridge to the proper tracking weight and angle. This is important both for sound quality and for prolonging the life of your albums. Most of the entry level tables allow you to upgrade the tonearm if you want to as well.

#3 - You don't want to run a cable with an empty video signal as it is probably introducing interference to the other cables. Ideally you want to get a heavier gauge cable that is properly shielded and that is gold plated or other high quality metal on the jacks. If your turntable has a ground you should also use it.

#4 - You should use a dedicated phono stage for the best results. Your present turntable may have one built in if you are going through your subwoofer because I've never heard of a sub having one. Most modern consumer grade receivers don't even have them now. Something like the Pro-Ject Phono box is the minimum you should get when you upgrade to a more expensive table.

[kwami42]

I have a quick question about record players. Right now I'm using an old Kenwood KD-26R, it's a part of a larger stereo set, made around 1985. I have it plugged into a much newer stereo I got for my birthday 7 or 8 years ago, a Sony MHC-BX2. Would it benefit me to get one of the newer, $100-$200 turntables, or should I not bother until I can get one of the $500+ ones?

[King_Nuthin]

Do you have a specific table in mind? Most $100-$200 tables I'd say don't bother.

[seinman]

While we're on the topic, what about isolation from vibration? I have a turntable already, but every now and then I get humming that stops when I turn down the volume, so i'm thinking it has something to do with the vibration from the speakers. What is the best way to isolate the turntable from vibrations? Alternatively, what's a cheap way to do it? I've heard of people putting sheets of all kinds of materials under their turntables, but I have no idea where to begin with something like that.

[King_Nuthin]

You could try the Sorbothane stick on feet, that's under $10 for a set of 4. Are you sure it isn't your phono stage, cables or something else electrical causing the humming?

[hmxhenry]

#1: How do you clean vinyl (Vinyl Records. Not vinyl car seats) to help preserve its life? Are there any special brushes/fluids that I should buy?

As King_Nuthin pointed out, there are specific record brushed that you can pick up. Some use fluids and other are "dry". The dry ones look like chalkboard erasers, and I've found them to be the easiest to use.

You can get all sorts of anti static air guns as well, since dry vinyl builds up static pretty quickly, especially while brushing. Some other tips that fall more into the common sense category would be to brush away from the label, store vinyl in plastic sleeves and clean paper jackets to avoid dust in the future, and try to avoid handling the vinyl whenever possible.

As for #2 through #4, I have no idea. I'm willing to bet you'll get different answers from every hardcore audiophile you ask. They are a hardcore bunch.

While we're on the topic, what about isolation from vibration? What is the best way to isolate the turntable from vibrations? Alternatively, what's a cheap way to do it? I've heard of people putting sheets of all kinds of materials under their turntables, but I have no idea where to begin with something like that.

I've heard that glass is the ideal base for a turntable, as it is more likely to absorb the vibrations (as opposed to a wood or metal base). The two most hardcore audiophiles I know swear by glass. One of them had his turntable mounted on a 2" thick slab of glass on a countertop and the other one has his turntable set on a glass platter that he suspended from the ceiling of his bedroom (!!!) to reduce any possible vibrations.

[kwami42]

Do you have a specific table in mind? Most $100-$200 tables I'd say don't bother.

No specific table, I was just wondering. Do you think I could benefit from a new stereo system? This is what I'm rolling with right now.

http://www.hifisystem.org.uk/sony/so...-hi-fi-system/

[King_Nuthin]

the other one has his turntable set on a glass platter that he suspended from the ceiling of his bedroom (!!!) to reduce any possible vibrations.

I hear about things like this from time to time, it sounds cool but almost every house I live in has walls or ceilings that vibrate regularly.

I actually have my turntable in a different room from my speakers. Kind of a pain in the butt when flipping sides but it keeps it isolated. Its also on a glass shelf.

[King_Nuthin]

No specific table, I was just wondering. Do you think I could benefit from a new stereo system? This is what I'm rolling with right now.

I'd upgrade that before the table. A receiver that can drive a decent set of bookshelf speakers would be a definite step up.