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Advice for new vinyl gear

Hello members,

I've been visiting this site for about a year and I finally decide to make a post. I just bought a new home entertainment center that consists of an LG 44" LCD rear projection TV, a Pioneer Elite VSX-56TXi, Pioneer Elite DV-59AVi, Def Tech 7006TL, and Def Tech CLR 2300 speakers. I also have some Sonance 622TR speakers in the ceiling for surrounds. It's a real simple system right now and it is the best sounding stereo system I've ever owned. I have found myself listening to alot of music with this setup compared to my old entry level system that is now in the bedroom. The store that I bought all my new equipment from has a Music Hall MMF-5 at a very good price that I want to get. I've wanted to get back into vinyl for some time now but never had the equipment that would support a higher quality table like this. The receiver does have a phono stage. My plan is to get it within the next few weeks and add it to my new system. I've already bought a couple of records at some local shops. My questions are about record and equipment care and maintenance. What kind of stuff am I going to need right off the bat to get the most out of this setup? What do I need to clean the records? Brush? Static Gun? What do I need to get the table set up properly?
freeradical
jphii
485 posts
 
Galen Carol Audio has the best prices I've found of VPI cleaners. Much better than $500.
freeradical OP
3 posts
 
Hello again guys. I've had my new MMF-5 for a week now and I've listened to it for about 3 hours each night. I think it sounds great. I like the looks of the table in my system. It fits perfectly in our entertainment ceter. I have it on the base self near the floor. The DVD/CD player is next to it in the right side cabinet. I do most of my listening from the floor anyway. My collection is also growing. I bought 5 lps on Saturday at a local record dealer. He said if I ever want something that's not in his store to let him know because he has over 100,000 records at his house! Anyway, I just wanted to ask a few more questions like: How long does it take for the Goldring cartridge to break in? Also, How long does a cartridge last and how do you know when it needs replacing? Same for the stylus? Will the needle need replacing before the cart? If so where do you get replacements for the Goldring? I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Thanks for reading and for the help.
twl
3,251 posts
 
The stylus should last over 1000 hours of playing, or possibly much more, depending on how dirty the records are that you play. The cartridge should last for at least 2 or 3 stylus replacements.

It is easily replaced, and it should not worry you at this point, unless you break it accidentally. I'm sure that replacements are available from Music Hall, or you can order them online from various sources.

The Goldrings don't take a very long time to break in, and I'd think about 20 hours should be sufficient.

Happy to hear that you are enjoying a new part of the hobby.
aceto
273 posts
 
Cartridges last a long time. As for break in, some people use special break in records that stroke the electrons in the tight direction, or other tone generators with a special connection through the cartridge. But the non-fetishists and the merely obsessive all the way to just plain lazy figure a couple dozen plays will do the trick. You know it needs replacing when either you start getting bored or you upgrade other things so that you can hear the difference. Needles [sic] are another matter. It depends on how much you drink while playing, or doing other set-up tasks. With modern tracking weights, a gram and a half or so, and with the cleaners for both needle and records, including something like Last preservative, you cut down the friction down so far that you can get well over a thousand hours. Again, set-up goes along way. You know if it is bad when Maria Callas sounds like Tom Waits. Probably a chip or other gross failure is making really god-awful noise. Otherwise they just kind of fuzz out from gentle wear. Brush your records and the needle between plays. And I don't know anything about specific replacements because I always look for an excuse to get the next hot little number.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
...it is bad when Maria Callas sounds like Tom Waits.
Indeed, particularly if she was the "replacement" you had in mind as your next "hot little number"!

ROFL
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