What's your favorite Turntable tweak?
For obtaining the maximum from my turntable, Walker Audio Prelude Record Cleaning system, without any doubt. People for whom I demonstrate the results are consistently amazed at the improvement in resolution and timbral accuracy coming from their vinyl after cleaning. I've tried most of the alternatives - this is the solution I would not be without. . |
In my case, with a VPI Scout Signature, there is not one, but a series of tweaks that have transformed my analog experience. I buy mostly used lp's, some at pawn shops and elsewhere, and when I started out with the Scout, many of them I considered unplayable due to surface noise and unwnanted distortion, poor tracking due to set up issues, etc, etc. Now these same lp's sound superb, with surface noise so far in the background, it is nearly unnoticable, except between tracks. What are these tweaks? 1. A solidly mounted Target wall-mount platform 2. A sand box (a Brightstar Audio BigRock2, but home made would be more economical) 3. Four steel coil springs under BigRock for isolation 4. Mapleshade NanoMount system 5. Starsound Audio Points replacing VPI feet on both table and motor. 6. Cutout in lid for motor feet, to isolate that section from table supports 7. Yip's incomparable MintLP arc protractor 8. PS Audio P-300 Power Plant to stabilize voltage to motor All these tweaks combined add up to an analog playback system that has made an ok system into one I just can't get enough of. The issues all of these tweaks addresses so well relegates noise well into the background, and brings what's in the groove to the forefront. If you are not having a similar experience, get back in and roll up your sleeves, you have work to do. I think most any basically good table can be made to sound much, much better if the issues that impede proper playback can be addressed. With this system, motor noise, vibration from the styus, and airborne vibrations are all drained out of the arm, into the plinth, and then into the sandbox sink. There are alternative methods to accomplish these things, but this worked very well for me. I hope by passing this on, others can get as much enjoyment from vinyl as I am now. And to think, at one time I was ready to throw in the towel. Don't do it! My very best regards, Dan |
As an alternative to the Mint protractors, I recommend Ken Willis' arc protractors. The one he made for my JMW 10.5i has separate arcs for Loefgren, Baerwald, Stevenson and VPI alignment, is much easier to use than the Wallytractor I borrowed for a previous arm, and cost just $50 plus shipping. You can reach Ken by searching over at the Vinyl Asylum of AA (his moniker there is kwillis). No affiliation, just a very satisfied customer. Dave |
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...once all else is copacetic = AC motor controller.Lewm, I agree with this for turntables with AC motors -- a good motor controller makes a material difference. For example, I've heard the improvement on every VPI turntable I've tried this on, and Harry Weisfeld strongly recommends it. If you can spring for the additional cost of a Walker Audio motor controller, that's yet a bigger improvement. Hard to believe a different controller will make a difference, but everyone I've demo'd this difference for has wanted to make the shift. . |
I'll put in "my" vote, for AIVS Cleaning Products, just so the "Walker Boys" here don't have themselves a stronghold monopoly,lest everyone think Lloyd Walker is the only one who can market exceptional cleaning products. Ain't so! Yes, cleaning Is very important. Probably the best tweak of all, is a good snifter of Brandy, or glass of Wine before enjoying Music. Mark |
Dear Louisl: +++++ " favorite tweak (or if you consider it a necessity) for obtaining the maximum from your analog rig? " +++++ depend what you mean for analog rig. We can take ( at least ) like analog rig: TT+Tonearm+Cartridge+Phono stage+Tonearm IC cable. Is this what you are talking about? or only the TT like the thread title say. Your answer is welcome. regards and enjoy the music, Raul. |
Hello Dopogue/All, AIVS's new 15# Pre-Cleaner is also a fantastic product, which I'm finding works extremely well, especially on any of my thrifts finds. As for cleaning, we all will pretty much concur-agree, that a good RCM is a wise purchase. And again a huge thanks to those in this forum, who suggested the use of the MintLP Protractor, and the Mr Clean Magic Eraser. These two tweaks have helped extract much better fidelity from my rig, as I'm sure, many others as well. Mark |
Build a closet in the room adjacent the your listening room on the otherside of one of the houses main carrying beam if possable. Then add a solid core door for the closet to the sound room. This will remove any vibration from getting to your TT. There is also a door in the other room for access to the back of the equipment. You could play basketball in the sound room with no ill effect to a record playing on the TT also. There is also zero feedback from your speakers playing at load volumes to the TT or any other equipment in the closet. Best tweek I have ever done. The WAF was minimal for me also because the room is muchless cluttered. |
On my Technics SL1210M5G, any/everything I've done for vibration isolation and control has made the biggest difference in dynamic range, musicality, and inner detail. I have a platforming stack that includes brass cones, Vibrapods, a butcher block cutting board, and 18"w gel keyboard pads. Each of those tweaks made a significant improvement, but the lot of them stack up to a significant performance elevation. Next I'd have to give credit equally to a sorbothane Oracle Groove Isolator mat and an LPGear ZuPreme headshell. And finally, the KAB fluid damper, once the fluid was brought to the proper level (about 1/3 full) greatly improved tracking and took the groove chatter out of the music. |
Raul, Recently I purchased a Music Hall MMF-7, just haven't taken the time to update my A'gon virtual system page. I've been away from vinyl for probably 10 years now (but I was smart enought to keep all my vinyl), and am I enjoying the hell out of it. It's good to be back. Now, I just want to get the most out of what I have. |
an rcm and cleaninf fluid or mint records or well made heavy racks are NOT tweeks! nor are anyother compnent in the play back chain. the medicine man listed is a tweek. cable stands are tweeks. some sound treatments are tweeks. the original listed are necessary components for the play back of vinyl. i mean under this criterior a good cart. would be a tweek. |
Dear Louisl: +++++ " It's good to be back. Now, I just want to get the most out of what I have. " +++++ a come back to analog always is a " experience ", especialy that today our each one audio system is better than 10 years ago. I can see that you care about music and I assume this looking to your system where your CDP choice was a very good one ( and expensive one. ) that you run directly to your amp. Now, you say that you want to get the best of what you have and in this case for me " what you have " is your LP collection. If you want to stay with the MMf-7 that is a decent TT/tonearm IMHO the choice of phono cartridge is critical and if I was you I will try a MM type one that are really friendly with the tonearm matching, there are several choices ( vintage and today models. ) about that can work just fine with your tonearm. If you want to stay with the MMf my first " move/tweak " ( after hearing it. ) will be to make a tonearm internal re-wiring ( I don't know how " friendly " is that tonearm for make this change. ) and try a record mat ( some MMF owners " swears " for the ringmat. ) where there are many choices that you have to test till you decide which one is the best for you. You will need a Phono stage and a line stage to pass the cartridge signal to your amplifier. The choice of a MM type cartridge could make your " life " more easy because you don't need a high gain phono stage or additional SUT for the cartridge that in case you choose a LOMC cartridge you will need more gain stages where the cartridge signal must pass and where the cartridge signal be degraded. You have to take in count that your speakers are of high sensitivity type where the higher noise ( between other tings. ) on a MC phono stage ( due to the low output level in a MC cartridge. ) interfere in higher manner than the same phono stage working/handling a MM cartridge ( that is a high output level item. ) and you will hear that " interference ". So the MM cartridge choice could be a nice option for you. It not only have those advantages but its quality performance compete with any other cartridge designs. If you can try to find a Phonolinepreamp, I mean a integrated unit with phono and line stages in the same unit where you don't need additional cable/connectors that not only means more money but more important that means that the cartridge signal will be degraded through that additional cable/connectors where must pass. IMHO what I posted here are a necessity more than tweaks, as a fact almost all " prefered " tweaks were already posted for the other thread's contributors. Regards and enjoy the music, Raul. |
