Regarding cleaning, I agree that new vinyl should be cleaned, used as well. I’ve got both ends of the spectrum in terms of cleaning, a Spin-Clean and The Audio Desk Vinyl Cleaner… I actually use the Spin Clean more. If I’m cleaning a few new records it’s the Spin Clean. If I’m doing a lot, or it’s been awhile, I’ll use the big daddy cleaner. It’s actually not good to clean your records too often. Once done, they just get the usual brush etc. works just fine. Careful with stylus cleaning agents, many cart makers advise to not use them, check the manual. Other than that, buy records, have fun. Some will be great, some not so much. You might have to return one here or there. The sky is the limit for analog these days. For now, enjoy what you have!
Turntable noobie...what advice do you have?
As this forum has corrupted me and I have decided to dive down the rabbit hole of LP's. Usually I stream but I find the tactile experience of records appealing. I have ordered a Pro-ject RPM-3 Carbon with Sumiko Amethyst cartridge and a Mobile Fidelity StudioPhono preamp. Oh, and a record brush. I will be plugging them into my Voyager GAN amp and from there powering my LSA 20 Statement speakers.
I know there is always better equipment to get but I feel this gives a good starting point. I picked up some new records but a half dozen does not a record collection make. So I do plan on making my focus for the near future getting more and expanding my collection. I listen to all kind of music so they will be many different genres. I will be getting new ones but I will undoubtedly get some used ones too.
Okay, so what all would you recommend for someone just getting into this hobby? Especially if I am getting any used records, I should probably look at a record cleaner. What else for equipment or doodads? What about tricks or tips for increasing my collection? In my city there is a record store called Music Millennium that I will be checking out and there of course if Barnes and Noble (where I purchased my other ones). Do you know of places online I should check out? Thanks in advance for your advice.
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How right you are about obsession with record cleaning. I have had a Nitty Gritty Auto for more than 30 years. I have 4000+ albums but I now rarely have to clean one. When I buy an LP (used and new) I play it. If it is noisy I clean it. When I got the Nitty Gritty I bought three 50-packs of Nagaoka inner sleeves I use to identify cleaned records. I have been on the last pack for around 10 years now. I think other posts are correct that the amount and perceived volume of surface noise can depend on the turntable, platter and mat materials particularly. If you feel you have too much noise, you can experiment with this. I really don't hear surface noise on my records even listening between tracks with the volume up. Do other people eat dinner off their albums?
Don't buy Karajan's Ring. Buy Solti. It's a better performance and it's on vintage Decca so the recording and pressing quality is second to none. In the stupid early 90s era when new and used LPs were almost free, I bought a second copy just because it was it was nearly unused and priced at just £15 or less than £1 per disc. When choosing albums from the golden era it is worth being picky about label. As just one example early Rolling Stones and Beatles were on Decca and EMI vinyl respectively. Both were top quality then, the vinyl I mean. But even on this material the SQ on Decca is easily recognisable as superior. Listen to Aftermath, UK pressing. With 53 minutes of music jammed on one disc the SQ on my 1966 first pressing is brilliantly clear and detailed. Better than on Revolver 1966, also my original pressing, which is itself pretty good. By the way, I've had these two 55 years and played them a fair bit and they aren't noisy. I've never cleaned either of them - no Nagaoka sleeves. But I agree about Barenboim/Dupre. |
@clearthinker So, again we think alike. However, there is no such thing as no surface noise. Even a very quiet turntable will pick up some. It does depend on the volumes you listen at and the genre of music. At classical levels the surface noise is barely audible but at Red Hot Chili Peppers volume it is very noticeable between songs. I do not want other rockers to think their system is deficient because they hear surface noise between songs. It is true that some turntables and styluses are better at reducing noise than others. It seems in particular a function of line contact styluses. The Gyger S, Replicant 100 and OLC styluses are very quiet. |
It's worth bearing in mind that the majority of recordings for at least the past decade have been recorded digitally via Protools or similar DAW. Personally, I don't see much point in buying expensive vinyl copies of digital source material. So I do think that there is a good case for purchasing used copies of recordings that are from the era when the recording chain was all analogue. |
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