Thank you, all, for your responses to this post! The information you have provided is very much appreciated!
ghdprentice, in answer to your question, my core system is: MoFi Ultradeck+M (Mastertracker), McIntosh MA5200 and Revel Performa3 F206.
Vinyl Lovers
After a marathon session of ultrasonically cleaning some of my vinyl treasures, I discovered that a few of them had what I'll call "skip-scratches" on various cuts. I have many more to clean (i.e. somewhere around 5 to 6 hundred, mostly original 60s & 70s LPs) and fully expect to encounter more bruised babies along the way, not all of which I'll probably replace with vinyl re-issues or re-pressings. Some of my all-time favorites, however, I definitely will want to replace, providing I can find good quality re-issues/re-pressings. I know there is much to learn about this, and I am just beginning to scratch the surface (no pun intended). For example, there are issues of so called "virgin vinyl", quality of the vinyl mix, thickness of vinyl, recording from original master tapes, if still in existence and in good condition, quality of the actual pressing process, etc., etc., etc.
So, I guess my question for you all who know much more about this than I, is where the best places are to buy the best quality vinyl re-issues or re-pressings. Local record shops are few and far between and most of them don't have much in the way of variety or stock in anything other than used records. I'm familiar with Discogs but, frankly, am reluctant to buy used records on-line because I don't entirely trust the purveyors' ratings and the endemic hassles of possible returns. Most of the re-issues/re-pressings I've purchased, thus far, have been from or through Music Direct. I've noticed that some of their offerings actually come from companies like: Island Records; Impex; RHINO and other sources.
So, what are some of your go-to, solid, reputable standbys?
Thanks Much!
Showing 4 responses by oldaudiophile
@ghdprentice Thanks! I'm certain the MoFi Ultradeck+M has a lot to do with the fidelity I'm getting from my vinyl now. It's only the second TT I've ever owned. My previous TT was a Phillips 212 Electronic. Yes! I'm that old! That Phillips was a real trouper, from when I bought it, new, in 1973 to when I replaced it around 5 or 6 years ago! |
@ghdprentice True enough! Technology does improve and march onward, at least most of the time. Take a look at this: photos of Grundig stereo console - Bing images I can't honestly say this was MY first TT because my parents bought it in the 50s when I was just a little shaver. Outside of one of those portable record players one of my aunt's had, this Grundig is what I started listening to records on (mostly 45s). I think its vertical tracking force was somewhere around half a pound. |
@jacksky I don't have the scientific acumen lewn has brought to your dust dilemma. However, just instinctively, brushing records with felt does seem like it would cause static electricity and attract dust like nobody's business. Another reason why I would never use a felt TT platter mat. FWIW, when I go through my ultrasonic cleaning process, I only do about 15 records at a time. That's, easily, an entire afternoon's worth of work, and then some, because of the labor-intensive process I use. I've tried a few approaches to keeping as much ambient dust off the records as they air dry (e.g. putting large high-quality microfiber cloths over them in the drying stand). Alternatively, I've toyed with the idea of obtaining a large rigid cover to put over them, instead, something like a humongous TT dust cover that I could find at a Michael's arts & crafts store or something along those line. Of course, a cover like this would need to be shimmed at the bottom in order to allow for some air circulation. Otherwise, drying would take a very long time. I just accept the fact that there is always going to be some amount of dust in the air and always play my records with the dust cover down. Also, I always use my Audioquest Anti-Static Record Brush and Onzow stylus cleaner before & after every play, Mobile Fidelity LP#9 after every listening session and keep my records in Mobile Fidelity inner sleeves. Until I can afford a man cave with clean room protocols, that's the best I can do. |