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A Newbie's First Week Impressions -- Vinyl Rules

Well after owning my first turntable for a week and having let the cartrige run in a good bit (Music Hall MMF-5.1 with Goldring 1012 cart), I've come to the conclusion that I've heard nothing digital that even comes close to the realism here. In a way it feels as though somehow I have rediscovered music. Up until now, I had never heard a half-decent analog system, so I didn't know what to expect. I certainly didn't expect this much of a difference. So often on these forums I see comments posted by "vinyl zealots" and I can see how it is very easy to become one. And this is all with a very modestly priced turntable setup. I now feel as though my system has room to grow. Before I was always trying to dampen and smooth out the harsh sound of digital. I used to think that the harshness was caused by other things (solid state instead of tubes, bright speakers, etc.). After purchasing this turntable I discovered what the problem had been this whole time. I will probably never be able to afford a cd player that I think is capable of coming close to analog playback (I would imagine it would take a good $10k to reach that level). So to achieve audio playback that is acceptable to my ears, digital is just out of my reach.

So I guess this rant is really just my way of saying hello and welcoming myself to the vinyl crowd. I know I'm gonna be part of it for a long time.

P.S. Do you guys have any recommendations for record cleaning and ways to reduce static? I've already got a humidifer running...
jwglista
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uru975
684 posts
 
Welcome to the insanity of a Sound Mind
A record cleaning machine is considered by me a necessity, there are a number of them out there, those by VPI or Loricraft are usually rated highly, I have a Loricraft myself. Brushes for the records , my favorites are by Disk Doctor, fluids, I've used Disk Doctor, am about to try Walkers, have heard good things about Mofi's and Audio Intelligent's but have not tried them.
Hope this helps for a start, others will surely follow with as good or better tips and/or ideas
Michael
jwglista OP
206 posts
 
Everyone really seems to swear by these expensive record cleaning units. I have to say I'm still very skeptical. I mean after all, how can a record cleaner make a record sound better than it was when it was brand new? It just seems that buying a record cleaner that costs as much if not more than my entire turntable/arm/cart wouldn't make sense. I bought a Spin-Clean for $70 (expensive for what it is) and it seems to do an ok job. Not sure how it would compare with the expensive vacuuming units.
cpttripps
9 posts
 
I considered the 16.5 an investment. I can pick up records for $4 that sound better than a $20 CD, so why not make sure that it won't mess up my cartridge, and will sound perfect every time. That's what a good record cleaning machine is all about for me.
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
You won't be satisfied until you go somewhere over the $3k mark for a table and $2k for a really good moving coil... and a really good dedicated phono preamp. THEN you'll be raving about vinyl. I have a pretty good Nitty Gritty machine but they say the VPI machines are better.. someday I'll upgrade.
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Xiekitchen, I hope that was a joke and Jwglista knows that isnt anywhere near the truth.
I have about a $2500 Vinyl rig and not alot of money but buying the VPI 16.5 was a great investment period, I buy records for as little as $0.50 at Goodwill and cleaning them makes them sound fantastic. Condidering you can buy records for a buck or three think of the money it would cost at retail or for Digital and you will find that buying a machine isnt very hard to justify.
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