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Do you have ways to ease use of vinyl?

The reason for this post is to help some of the older guys here who recently said they gave up on vinyl because of its physical challenges. And at 66, I could not agree more. I used to have a two shelves rack for my turntable, which placed the top of the platter above knee height, at 25". To flip vinyl was either bend over and hurt my back, or doing it and one knee and hurt those.
Well, NO MORE.
Late last year I purchased a 4 shelves rack which puts the top of the platter at my belly button height, 40". Btw, I am of average height, 5'10".
What a difference! My back and knees will be forever thankful.
Here is another thing that greatly eased my vinyl experience.
I use an outer ring, center weight and brush my vinyl for each play. This was the process it entailed: Put on the center weight before brushing because I play my vinyl on a bare aluminum platter. Wait until the brushing was done before putting on the outer ring because I brushed the conventional way, finishing by dragging the brush outward to get rid of the dust. Once brushed, removed the center weight so I could install the outer ring and then reinstall the center weight and I finally could drop the needle. Ouf!
NO MORE!
Now I put on the outer ring first, then brush the record taking the brush INWARD instead, leaving the minute dust on the label (and I found out it does a much better job of brushing since the brush moves in the direction of the grooves, inward). Once brushed, simply put on the center weight and drop the needle. Voila!
Easier ten fold.
Another important pointer, the center weight, brush AND OUTER RING must be near the TT and at the SAME HEIGHT. Your back will thank you.
Those changes took me over 50 years to figure out and they have literally made my listening to vinyl experience a dream instead of dreading to flip those vinyl. 
Please share any tip you may have to ease up the physical burden that some older folks here may have about using vinyl. Thanks.

128x128baylinor
pinthrift
210 posts
 
Hi bayliner
I do relate to the body changes over time... 75 this Thursday.  
Trust, this is NOT a vinyl vs digital.  I have great respect and some envy for vinyl playback.  My musician son has a lovely retro Dual 1229 w/Shure M97xE, Rega Mira 3 integrated, into SA1530 MTM floorstanders. 

In the late 90s, I had a full, post Allen Perkins SOTA Star Sapphire, vacuum with all the trimmings.  Digital finally reached my emotions.   I simply did not have the budget to chase both.  Out went the vinyl.

My good fortune is finding skilled assistance in the digital world.  Great digital playback requires knowledge and skills.  A nearby friend with a uber vinyl front has sold everything but select vinyl, that he's selling by the piece.  His passion for great sound equals mine.  I truly enjoyed visiting, but, he is downsizing and the vinyl is going. 

Does the best of the best shootout fall on the analog side?  Probably?  It shares the most vocal, certainly.  My experience says things are pretty close, emotionally, where it matters.  I do like a good tube(s) in the chain somewhere.   A blue collar budget can certainly do well either way right now.  For me, having worked my system very hard over the last 20 years, the digital equals, and in some ways surpasses the best analog front I've experienced. 

If I had the space and the proper budget (maybe $30K to start) would I have a turntable system.  YES.  Do I regret my choice?  Absolutely not.  My sources are lossless rips of well chosen CDs to my PC and TIDAL streaming...Qobuz is good too.  My Foobar settings are 24/96 playback.  I've experimented with higher resolution, but have settled on 24/96 (for now.)  Everything is absolutely stable in function. 

Searching a favorite artist, say Joni, Ry, Janis, Feat, composers (you choose), music genres to explore, it's difficult to argue against the magic of streaming and the ease.  Finding near entire discographies on selected artists is simply amazing.  Plus, the side roads to which they lead. 

Guys, find expert help, let them remote into your computer to set things to run well, and enjoy life!  Vinyl lovers, LOVE!  More Peace, Pin  
garyalex
117 posts
 
For me, too much listening preparation detracts from the experience.  I keep my records clean.  I give each side a quick brush before listening.  I wipe the stylus every few records with a soft dry brush.  I use a clamp only for records that need it.  I don't want to have to stop and start the motor after each side.  I just want to listen to the music.  I don't want the cleaning ritual to get in the way of that.
wlutke
729 posts
 
Now age 67 I have a rack that puts the platter just below my chin where I can easily see the stylus, a lift that gently lowers the stylus, tables that shim for VTA and no fiddly unipivot tonearm.  I set it and forget it for a year at a time now.  I’ve recently discovered that mm and mi cartridges bring classic rock to life, mc not so much.  Life is good.
coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
799 posts
 
Only 66 and you’re physically challenged? 66 isn’t old, that’s my age. I’ve some health issues but I’m as flexible as ever. Guess I should count my blessings. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
The Integrity Tru Lift has one serious flaw, it's lift bar is solid metal and slippery. The anti skating force can cause the tonearm to slide back off the lift bar and bounce on the record. You will have to do something like pad the upper surface of the bar with Velcro or something else that will keep the arm from slipping off. 
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