Making my record player sound better
 

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
**I was careful not to brand ALL modern vinyl as bad. IME, much of it is
crap. In fact, I purchased my last Australian vinyl (new) back in 1988.

LOL 22 years old, that's hardly modern!
All the LPs I have bought in the last 5 years have been excellent quality
pressings on heavy weight vinyl.

Making my record player sound better
 

David wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
**I was careful not to brand ALL modern vinyl as bad. IME, much of it is
crap. In fact, I purchased my last Australian vinyl (new) back in 1988.

LOL 22 years old, that's hardly modern!
All the LPs I have bought in the last 5 years have been excellent quality
pressings on heavy weight vinyl.



Ditto

Making my record player sound better
 

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...

"Iain Churches" wrote in message
...

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...

"D.M. Procida" wrote in
message
...
My record player sounds pretty good, on the whole (it's a Linn Basik
with Linn arm and cartridge that I got about 17 or 18 years ago).

However, on some records, it can sound a bit glassy. I don't know if
that's the right word. In louder passages - especially towards the end
of a side, I *think* - sustained notes seem to have a brittle edge to
them.

Because nearly all of my vinyl records are second-hand, it's hard to
know whether the records are worn or the player isn't playing them
well.

Are there some basic adjustments I should check, or would I be better
taking it to a hi-fi shop and asking them to check it's set it up
properly?

I'm quite happy taking things apart and making mechanical adjustments,
but I haven't done much messing about with record players.

**Here's what you should do (in approximate order of importance):

* Have the stylus examined under a microscope. Replace (with a
manufacturer's original), if the diamond is chipped, or excessively
worn.
* If the stylus is several years old, you may find that the rubber
damping has hardened. A replacement stylus will sort this problem out
too. This effect is temperature related. In cold weather, the rubber is
harder. Try warming the room.
* Check the tracking pressure and compare to the manufacturer's
suggested figures.
* Check and adjust the 'overhang' of the tone correctly.
* Check and adjust the azimuth of the arm.
* Check and adjust tone arm height.
* Check some of your LPs on a known good TT.

NB: Many modern, contemporary LPs are crap. Do not assume that a new LP
is blameless. NOS (pre-1983) LPs are usually blameless however.

Good advice, Trevor. I agree with everything except the last
paragraph. Due to much slower pressing cycles, and tighter
QC than was every applied in the pre digital era, modern pressings,
especially parallel issues of a new project (those where a CD is
available
also) are actually very good indeed. The manufacturer is keen to
demonstrate just how good vinyl can be.

**I was careful not to brand ALL modern vinyl as bad. IME, much of it is
crap. In fact, I purchased my last Australian vinyl (new) back in 1988.

That was a long time ago, and the period when vinyl was assumed
to be on it's last legs. No one, the record companies in particular,
thought there would be a continued interest. Disc mastering facilities
and pressing plants, those that have not closed that is, have really
pulled their socks up since then.

Three parallel productions were discussed last year 2009 on
your Oz group. A number of people bought both CD
and vinyl versions for comparison.I was one of these
people. The quality of the numbered limited-run
vinyl pressings was impressive.

For many people, the perceived quality of an LP in a 12"
gatefold sleeve, with insert card, session photos, and copious
biographical notes makes it a very pleasing and tactile product,
especially when the sound quality lives up to expectations.

I get the impression that the percentage of serious listeners,
people who sit down in their favourite chair in front of their
speakers to actually *listen* carefully to a recording, either
from CD or vinyl has greatly decreased in the past few years.
There are so many alternative hobbies. People seem to listen
to music while doing other things, at their computers, or in the
car. Hence the popularity of -mp3 and download sites.

I placed both records on my TT and was appalled at the sound quality. So
much so, that I thought I had a chipped diamond. Fearful of testing a
another record on the TT, I finally found one I was willing to sacrifice.
It sounded fine. Both recordings had different labels, but were pressed at
the same plant (here in Sydney). EMI Records. I sent both LPs back for
replacement. I received two new records by courier. They had identical
faults to the previous ones. When I called and complained, I spoke to the
QC department that claimed by equipment must have been defective, since
they were unable to hear any flaws on their reference equipment. I gave up
and asked for replacement CDs instead.

Understood. It seems, according to posters on the Oz group, that EMI
Australia had a poor reputation for pressings. Presumably the plant is
now closed?

In the UK also, EMI had a rather poor reputation, which has been
discussed here on UKRA many times. Jim L has had particularly
disappointing experiences with their product and level of service.
Interestingly, the old EMI plant at Hayes, UK, now owned by an
independent manufacturer is turning out excellent work.

Once again, this is probably due to much slower pressing cycles,
the use of virgin vinyl (no recycled vinyl) as raw material, and
imnproved QC.

Iain

Making my record player sound better
 

Iain Churches wrote:


sneeyip



For many people, the perceived quality of an LP in a 12"
gatefold sleeve, with insert card, session photos, and copious
biographical notes makes it a very pleasing and tactile product,
especially when the sound quality lives up to expectations.



Ho yesss....

:-)


I get the impression that the percentage of serious listeners,
people who sit down in their favourite chair in front of their
speakers to actually *listen* carefully to a recording, either
from CD or vinyl has greatly decreased in the past few years.
There are so many alternative hobbies. People seem to listen
to music while doing other things, at their computers, or in the
car. Hence the popularity of -mp3 and download sites.


I worry when I see the phrase 'serious listeners' and envisage some ****
in a fair isle pullover hauling his chair into a tiny little
'sweet spot' right in front of his system with a notepad and stopwatch
on his knee, logging every little pop and fart....

;-)

Making my record player sound better
 

"Iain Churches" wrote in message


That was a long time ago, and the period when vinyl was
assumed to be on it's last legs. No one, the record companies in
particular, thought there would be a continued interest. Disc mastering
facilities and pressing plants, those that
have not closed that is, have really pulled their socks
up since then.

This is a false claim. It was always understood that there would be valid
reasons for a tiny minority to retain their interest in vinyl.

Making my record player sound better
 

"D.M. Procida"
wrote in
message

My record player sounds pretty good, on the whole (it's a
Linn Basik with Linn arm and cartridge that I got about
17 or 18 years ago).

However, on some records, it can sound a bit glassy. I
don't know if that's the right word. In louder passages -
especially towards the end of a side, I *think* -
sustained notes seem to have a brittle edge to them.

Because nearly all of my vinyl records are second-hand,
it's hard to know whether the records are worn or the
player isn't playing them well.

Are there some basic adjustments I should check, or would
I be better taking it to a hi-fi shop and asking them to
check it's set it up properly?

I'm quite happy taking things apart and making mechanical
adjustments, but I haven't done much messing about with
record players.

Obtain a good test record (technical tests of tracking and the like) and see
which tracks are actually giving you problems. The titles of the tracks will
give you a clue as to a more specific definition of the problem. It will
then at least be fairly easy to determine when the problem is addressed.

Making my record player sound better
 

In article , Iain Churches
wrote:



Understood. It seems, according to posters on the Oz group, that EMI
Australia had a poor reputation for pressings. Presumably the plant is
now closed?

In the UK also, EMI had a rather poor reputation, which has been
discussed here on UKRA many times. Jim L has had particularly
disappointing experiences with their product and level of service.

Judging by comments from other people I knew at the time, and from magazine
articles, etc, I doubt my experience was anywhere close to being unique in
that respect.

Interestingly, the old EMI plant at Hayes, UK, now owned by an
independent manufacturer is turning out excellent work.

TBH I doubt the problem was with the machinery per se. It was almost
certainly with them being driven by bean-counters to make as many LPs as
they could, as quickly and cheaply as they could. So to hell with making
pressings with care, keeping things clean, etc.

Once again, this is probably due to much slower pressing cycles, the use
of virgin vinyl (no recycled vinyl) as raw material, and imnproved QC.

Happy to agree with that as a reason, although so far as I know, I've not
personally had any of their recent LPs so can't say from direct experience.

One curio I've noted over the years is the impression than in many
countries they tended to rate highly 'imports' from elsewhere over their
LPs made 'at home'. Does make me wonder if various factories tended to take
more care with export copies than with those for the 'home audience'.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
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Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Making my record player sound better
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"D.M. Procida"
wrote in
message

My record player sounds pretty good, on the whole (it's a
Linn Basik with Linn arm and cartridge that I got about
17 or 18 years ago).

However, on some records, it can sound a bit glassy. I
don't know if that's the right word. In louder passages -
especially towards the end of a side, I *think* -
sustained notes seem to have a brittle edge to them.

Because nearly all of my vinyl records are second-hand,
it's hard to know whether the records are worn or the
player isn't playing them well.

Are there some basic adjustments I should check, or would
I be better taking it to a hi-fi shop and asking them to
check it's set it up properly?

I'm quite happy taking things apart and making mechanical
adjustments, but I haven't done much messing about with
record players.

Obtain a good test record (technical tests of tracking and the like) and
see which tracks are actually giving you problems. The titles of the
tracks will give you a clue as to a more specific definition of the
problem. It will then at least be fairly easy to determine when the
problem is addressed.

**IGNORE THIS ADVICE! This is extremely bad advice. Any faults with the
existing equipment will permanently damage any (expensive) test recording
(IOW: Subsequent playback will likely reveal faults that do not exist, due
to prior damage). The equipment MUST be fully and completely checked, BEFORE
using any form of test recording. Other than this, quite seriously bad piece
of advice, Mr Krueger is correct. A test recording is a good idea. AFTER
performing the requisite mechanical checks and adjustments, of course.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Making my record player sound better
 

Well, I wonder how you would really know about the status of discs? Many of
them routinely clean them first and some even have new inner sleeves. The
only way to be sure is if they are skin sealed and with the sales stickers
attached, Even then you have no idea how they have been stored of course.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Keith G" wrote in message
...
Brian Gaff wrote:
Well lots of other responses to choose from, without reading them my
first thought was yes, wear, but also the compliance of some carts that
old will have become either too soft or too hard, particularly true I
recall with moving coil units.

However if this has occured over time, it may well have damaged records
you play a lot.

Another think is any lubricants in the arm. These can go sticky over
time, and may need cleaning out and replacing.

As you say, old second hand vinyl is not exactly going to be a test disc
worth relying upon. You need a known good sounding copy of something.


Just an observation: Unless it has changed radically in the last two or
three years, it is/was not difficult to find unplayed or played only once
or twice vinyl in charity shops. Boxed sets for song with only the first
disc ever having seen the light of day were quite commonplace.

I reckon I have hundreds of unplayed discs yet to do!

Making my record player sound better
 

On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 06:45:54 +1100, "Trevor Wilson"
wrote:

**IGNORE THIS ADVICE! This is extremely bad advice. Any faults with the
existing equipment will permanently damage any (expensive) test recording
(IOW: Subsequent playback will likely reveal faults that do not exist, due
to prior damage). The equipment MUST be fully and completely checked, BEFORE
using any form of test recording. Other than this, quite seriously bad piece
of advice, Mr Krueger is correct. A test recording is a good idea. AFTER
performing the requisite mechanical checks and adjustments, of course.


If it may only be played on a perfectly set up system, what is a test
record meant to test?