Vinyl Warm Up Time
Curiously, I am finding it’s only after a few vinyl albums into a listening session that my system starts to sound convincingly good.
For instance yesterday, I started off with a couple of Billy Cobham albums, Spectrum and a live one. This was followed by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. All three albums sounded quite harsh in places, although good sound shone through in others.
It wasn’t until I got to a fourth album, Yes’s Tormato that the sound became really convincing. Then with the fifth album, Yes’s Drama things started cooking. It sounded absolutely superb.
This seems an inordinate length of time for the system, presumably the cartridge to warm up particularly in summer. It has been fairly humid recently.
I have returned to vinyl last year after a gap of five years. I don’t remember this ever being an issue in the past. In general, I am getting a much better sound than before due to various upgrades to the turntable and the rest of the system.
I am using the same model of coil cartridge, a Linn Kandid that I used for many years previously. I bought the current one used, so it may well be getting towards the end of it’s life. The turntable was rebuilt and upgraded towards the end of 2024.
Maybe, it’s just me who takes a long time to relax and get into the listening zone. I don’t get the same issue with streaming, but then I never reach the same heights as I do with vinyl.
Is this typical of other members’ experiences? Any advice will be much appreciated.
Some albums are what they are. It’s a question of whether the system is getting the best out of them or not. Is it possible to get through to the music? Yes are a curious case. They have shown me the benefits of vinyl. I did try to get into their lessor albums on streaming, rips of CDs, etc and Qobuz. This was pretty much a failure. However, since I’ve got back into vinyl with a more capable turntable, I have found most of these albums more accessible. |
@bdp24 The Decca tieback thread used to be made of a fibre material (probably cotton) but in the modern era nylon has been used, which is far less likely to stretch the way they used to do. |
Thanks for that info @dogberry. I currently have a Decca 4RC at the London/Decca headquarters about to be rebuilt with a new line contact stylus, armature (the flat "cantilever" onto which the stylus is attached), and tie back cord. The 4RC preceded the Decca Mk. V (the first Decca I owned, bought in 1973), with a different motor structure than the Deccas that followed it (starting with the Mk. V). The guys on the Lenco Heaven website got me interested in the 4RC, which reportedly has a different sound than the Mk. V onward. It also is free of the flimsy plastic mounting bracket long used by Decca and even London.
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@bdp24 How has your experience with the new London folks? I'm very wary. Thanks. |
