2. analog
  3. 1078279938

O.K. Fess Up. Come Clean. Sing Like A Canary.

In the last several days I have gotten myself involved in a couple of threads regarding lifting (or forgetting about lifting) the stylus at the end of play. One individual was considering getting rid of his existing turntable, and replacing it with an older semi-automatic model.

He considered himself "lazy & forgetful".

Another individual was very upset with himself because he allowed himself to forget about the stylus for "20-30 minutes" after play.

He considered himself a "moron".

Am I another "lazy and forgetful moron"? Or is this just something that happens on occasion when you choose to endure the world of analog?

As of late, this does not happen to me anymore. I installed a "lifter". Problem solved. But before this point?

I can recall sometime back, arriving home after a weekend in Manhattan with my better half. It was Sunday evening about 11:00pm. We had left the previous Friday evening. We walked through the front door, I put down the bags and noticed something out of the corner of my eye. I looked over at my stereo and exclaimed "Uh-Oh".

Needless to say, I turned on the lights, walked over to the stereo, and as I looked down at the turntable (my head now spinning in a circular motion in unison with the rotating LP), had realized that this phenomenon had been in occurence over the last 50 hours or so.

I then cued the stylus, placed the tonearm on it's rest, turned off the turntable in disgust, sighed, and silently acknowledged the fact my NEW $800.00 Grado was toast.

Alright. I admit it. I can and did admit to such a mistake. Well, the word "mistake" sound a little extreme. Let's call it an "inopportune loss of mental focus". Now..... Let's see who else will step up to the plate.

What is the longest period of time that you have forgotten your stylus in the "rotating circle of death"?
128x128buscis2
davehrab's avatar
davehrab
380 posts
 
Ed,

Do they make record players with Sleep Timers like on TV's.

You know what I'm talking about. You flip the TV on, set the timer for 45 minutes, and if you nod out, or by chance get LUCKY with your SIGNIFICANT OTHER, the TV shuts off automatically by it's self in 45 minutes?

With that said, I would like to mention for the record, that Buscis2 is my closest friend, lives about 8 miles away, and has been hanging tuff since 1972, same year I started dating the General (my wife Gloria) Both have endured the test of time, why I'm not sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave
twl
3,251 posts
 
Teres turntables are equipped with a timer in the motor controller which automatically shuts off the motor after 45 minutes, if you have not changed records or shut the TT off within that time period. With the Teres, there is no possibility that long-term overplay will happen. After the typical 25-30 minutes of one LP side, there would be about 15 minutes where some wear could occur before the TT shuts off. Nothing more than that is possible. This 45 minute period is automatically re-set each time you turn off and turn on the motor, as in changing records. Very passive to the user, and provides a nice protection, just in case you fall asleep.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
And Twl, what did you do BEFORE your Teres?

I really did not expect ANYONE to respond to this thread. It is a very tough thing for most of us to admit. :>) Ed.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
I never have done this, but I can certainly understand how it could happen. I grew up with a TT and trained myself long ago not to let the needle ride the lead out groove to the bitter end. Even if I nod off during a LP side I am awakened as soon as the music stops at the end. I also never leave the TT cover on while I spin and never finish a session without putting the cover back on, turning off my phono stage and hitting the standby button on my pre. This has become my ritual and the reverse of this procedure is how I start a listening session.

Buscis2, how does your lift sound when it makes contact with the tonearm? I have never used one but I have thought about adding one as insurance. I have heard from some users that there can be a loud thump when the lift comes up and makes contact with the arm.
buscis2's avatar
buscis2 OP
468 posts
 
Dan ed, The Expressimo "Lifter" has a very high degree of adjustability. The height adjustment of the "pick up arm" allows you to set it so that the transition from "on vinyl" to "off vinyl" is very gentle. Yes, there is an audible "thump". But even the "thump" is of a low enough volume magnitude, where it should present no problems, even if the previous selection was played at a high level of volume. Also, I installed a small felt "button" on the upright post of the Lifter, so that when the tonearm slides along the "pick up arm" and comes to rest against the upright post, an additional measure of quieting is facilitated. And as you mentioned, it is really just an added degree of insurance for those times we fall asleep or become forgetful.

It amazes me that when spending 2-5-10-$20,000 on a turntable, that the manufacturers can't, or simply won't, provide the consumer with an effective means of stylus lift off at end of play. As Twl had mentioned, Teres in the least shuts the motor off. But, if forgotten would still allow the stylus to run in the "circle of death" for possibly up to 30 minutes (depending on the recording). At that point, the damage has already been done. Break out the stylus cleaning kit. AGAIN!

In retrospect, I think it's only fair that we all admit, CDs are convenient.

Too bad they are not made out of vinyl and can't be tracked with a tonearm.

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