Making my record player sound better
 

"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
o.uk...
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
...
Trevor Wilson wrote:

Like a broken (analogue) clock, you are not wrong 100% of the time.

Are you implying that a broken (digital) clock would be wrong 100% of
the time?

**Possibly. It depends on the failure mode.


Ok.

**Good. I'm pleased we have established that.

What's an excapsulated active cicuit as a matter of interest.

**No idea. 'excapsulated' and 'cicuit' are not words I am familiar with.
Perhaps you could refer to an English dictionary, before you post again.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Making my record player sound better
 

Trevor Wilson wrote:
"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
o.uk...
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
...
Trevor Wilson wrote:

Like a broken (analogue) clock, you are not wrong 100% of the time.

Are you implying that a broken (digital) clock would be wrong 100% of
the time?
**Possibly. It depends on the failure mode.


Ok.

**Good. I'm pleased we have established that.

What's an excapsulated active cicuit as a matter of interest.

**No idea. 'excapsulated' and 'cicuit' are not words I am familiar with.
Perhaps you could refer to an English dictionary, before you post again.


Well a rather nice looking used Nakamichi CA-5 on your website is advertised as
having 'all excapsulated active cicuits'...just wondered what they were.


--
Bill Coombes

Making my record player sound better
 

"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
o.uk...
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
o.uk...
Trevor Wilson wrote:
"bcoombes" bcoombes@orangedotnet wrote in message
...
Trevor Wilson wrote:

Like a broken (analogue) clock, you are not wrong 100% of the time.

Are you implying that a broken (digital) clock would be wrong 100% of
the time?
**Possibly. It depends on the failure mode.


Ok.

**Good. I'm pleased we have established that.

What's an excapsulated active cicuit as a matter of interest.

**No idea. 'excapsulated' and 'cicuit' are not words I am familiar with.
Perhaps you could refer to an English dictionary, before you post again.


Well a rather nice looking used Nakamichi CA-5 on your website is
advertised as having 'all excapsulated active cicuits'...just wondered
what they were.

**Read it again. You may assume that it was a typo.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Making my record player sound better
 

In article , Trevor Wilson
wrote:

"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.

I doubt that is so "bad" in this case TBH. Note the comments the OT
originally made wrt to "sound pretty good on the whole" but then explains
audible problems with some discs or near end of side.

Any faults with the existing equipment will permanently damage any
(expensive) test recording

Again I doubt *any* (if by that you mean every possible kind) of faults
would do so.

From what the OT actually wrote I'd suspect that checking with a decent
test disc would be quite reasonable if he'd first checked the stylus was
clean and that aspects like playing downforce was reasonable.

I'd agree though that playing almost any disk with almost any stylus may
lead to disc wear - at least for the first playing. But I'd expect that to
be a risk with many cartridges even when setup and working as expected by
the makers with no faults.

So on the whole I don't agree with saying the advice is "extemely bad" in
this case. However what would make sense is to check what kind of test disc
and how it could be used.

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
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Making my record player sound better
 

In article , Trevor Wilson
wrote:




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).

Only if the problems are really severe, and usually only after a
number of playings.

**WRONG! A chipped stylus will cause immediate and permanent damage.

What part of the OP makes you sure he has a chipped stylus? Must admit that
what he describes doesn't sound like that to me.

TBH it sound more like the end of side and mistracking behaviours I used to
find were the norm for 'Linn' carts and stylii many years ago even when
they were in the state as sold. One of the reasons I never liked Linn
systems. So if I were him I'd tend to simply take the advice offerred by
others and get a new and better cartridge/stylus and not bother with the
one he has. Then use a test disc to check he has it setup well.

Would have commented earlier but I've been having fun with exam scripts and
a new recorder. :-)

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
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Making my record player sound better
 

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Trevor Wilson
wrote:




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).

Only if the problems are really severe, and usually only after a
number of playings.

**WRONG! A chipped stylus will cause immediate and permanent damage.

What part of the OP makes you sure he has a chipped stylus? Must admit
that
what he describes doesn't sound like that to me.

**Since I have not examined the system in question, I don't know. In such
cases, I always err on the conservative side. Without performing the
necessary static tests and measurements, one cannot predict how safe it is
to play a recording on that TT. Performing the tests is just good, logical
common-sense. Whacking a good disk on risks damage.


TBH it sound more like the end of side and mistracking behaviours I used
to
find were the norm for 'Linn' carts and stylii many years ago even when
they were in the state as sold. One of the reasons I never liked Linn
systems. So if I were him I'd tend to simply take the advice offerred by
others and get a new and better cartridge/stylus and not bother with the
one he has. Then use a test disc to check he has it setup well.

**Whilst I have no objection to installing a new stylus/cartridge on the arm
(since that is where the fault likely lies), performing basic tests and
measurements should be part of the procedure. Testing the existing set-up
with a test disk makes zero sense.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

Making my record player sound better
 

In article , Trevor Wilson
wrote:

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Trevor Wilson
wrote:




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).

Only if the problems are really severe, and usually only after a
number of playings.

**WRONG! A chipped stylus will cause immediate and permanent damage.

What part of the OP makes you sure he has a chipped stylus? Must admit
that what he describes doesn't sound like that to me.

**Since I have not examined the system in question, I don't know. In
such cases, I always err on the conservative side. Without performing
the necessary static tests and measurements, one cannot predict how
safe it is to play a recording on that TT. Performing the tests is just
good, logical common-sense. Whacking a good disk on risks damage.


TBH it sound more like the end of side and mistracking behaviours I
used to find were the norm for 'Linn' carts and stylii many years ago
even when they were in the state as sold. One of the reasons I never
liked Linn systems. So if I were him I'd tend to simply take the
advice offerred by others and get a new and better cartridge/stylus
and not bother with the one he has. Then use a test disc to check he
has it setup well.

**Whilst I have no objection to installing a new stylus/cartridge on the
arm (since that is where the fault likely lies), performing basic tests
and measurements should be part of the procedure. Testing the existing
set-up with a test disk makes zero sense.

I note your opinion but do not share it. I'd recommend you re-read what the
OP actually wrote, and note the details. Looks to me like basic mistracking
due to a poor cartridge, misalignment, or normal wear. The symptoms don't
seem like a 'chipped stylus' to me.

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
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

Making my record player sound better
 

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...
In article , Trevor
Wilson wrote:




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).

Only if the problems are really severe, and usually
only after a number of playings.

**WRONG! A chipped stylus will cause immediate and
permanent damage.

What part of the OP makes you sure he has a chipped
stylus? Must admit that
what he describes doesn't sound like that to me.

**Since I have not examined the system in question, I
don't know. In such cases, I always err on the
conservative side. Without performing the necessary
static tests and measurements, one cannot predict how
safe it is to play a recording on that TT. Performing the
tests is just good, logical common-sense. Whacking a good
disk on risks damage.

TBH it sound more like the end of side and mistracking
behaviours I used to
find were the norm for 'Linn' carts and stylii many
years ago even when they were in the state as sold. One
of the reasons I never liked Linn systems. So if I were
him I'd tend to simply take the advice offerred by
others and get a new and better cartridge/stylus and not
bother with the one he has. Then use a test disc to
check he has it setup well.

**Whilst I have no objection to installing a new
stylus/cartridge on the arm (since that is where the
fault likely lies), performing basic tests and
measurements should be part of the procedure. Testing the
existing set-up with a test disk makes zero sense.

That's all just a truism. Something that anybody who is experienced with
vinyl knows for sure. Good stuff, but nothing that proves any particular
point, except perhaps shedding light on why Vinyl is considered by just
about everybody to be obsolete. Not good enough and too much trouble.

Making my record player sound better
 

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message


I note your opinion but do not share it. I'd recommend
you re-read what the OP actually wrote, and note the
details. Looks to me like basic mistracking due to a poor
cartridge, misalignment, or normal wear.

Agreed.

The symptoms
don't seem like a 'chipped stylus' to me.

There was a local audio store that invested in a very sensitive stylus
inspection microscope. If there were any areas of a stylus that weren't
highly polished and rounded, it made them look almost like craters on the
moon. Probably paid for itself the first year!

They collected pictures of the worn stylii and put them in a looseleaf book
for public review. Very, very few were of a stylus suffering from other than
normal wear.

Actually chipping a diamond that small seems like something that would
rarely if ever happen casually or often. Diamonds are both very hard and
tough at that size. Not like the iceburgs that people put in rings.

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.

Daniele

Swap your cartridge with a line contact stylus for one with an elliptical
stylus.
Mike.