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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
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
aceto
273 posts
 
Dougdeacon are you kidding? Maria was one crazy Greek chick. It would have been like dating Medea. But, I suppose, still better than Tom. But you notice he insists his work still has a vinyl issue, and they are good.
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