Ooops, I thought mine was just average and returned it after 3 weeks. Maybe I didn't burn-it in enough.

.

good for the money. It just did not offend, and actually sounded pleasant.

Ooops, I thought mine was just average and returned it after 3 weeks. Maybe I didn't burn-it in enough.

I figure it's gonna be 4-6 weeks before I can afford that Pass Pearl unless my sale of the Single Power Square Wave XL goes through sooner, dammit. I have a buyer lined up who is waiting on a refund for something before he can send me the money.

And maybe you decide what you like based on what you read and not what you hear? Or arbitrarily decide. Or have new gear syndrome. Maybe you should stop writing about minute details heard or not, and just enjoy the music, and not worry about the gear so much.

I think this idler-drive would be sweet with a custom built plinth...

1957 Presto Pirouette T-18 Idler-Drive Turntable, Nice! - eBay (item 230423121358 end time Jan-18-10 18:30:29 PST)

Unfortunately while I'd love to build it, I'm getting out of vinyl again.

My BAT VK-P10 phonostage got here today. I'll spend some time and then give some early impressions vs. the Simaudio combo. Here are a couple pics for now.

Nice.

Nice, indeed.

So here's a vinyl noob question of note -- why are some records so much noisier than others? This morning I listened to a couple of mid-80s LPs that had clearly been knocked about a bit in their lives, but after cleaning were very quiet and generally pleasureable to hear. Then I put on a brand-new "special edition" 180g release that supposedly got the kid glove treatment in both production and pressing, yet it's like the needle's tracking over sandpaper. The surface noise is so high it's pretty much unlistenable.

I don't have a good answer, but I certainly have experienced the same many times.

Nuclear fallout?

Going to replace my TT Shure Cartridge with a Grado Gold. Anyone had experience with the Golds?

So here's a vinyl noob question of note -- why are some records so much noisier than others? This morning I listened to a couple of mid-80s LPs that had clearly been knocked about a bit in their lives, but after cleaning were very quiet and generally pleasureable to hear. Then I put on a brand-new "special edition" 180g release that supposedly got the kid glove treatment in both production and pressing, yet it's like the needle's tracking over sandpaper. The surface noise is so high it's pretty much unlistenable.

SH Forums - View Single Post - Has vinyl always had surface noise on new records ?

Getting a 1/4" thick acrylic cover for the new TT, with finger-lift cutouts as well as rear cutouts, for $200 shipped.

Best deal I could find online, especially given the dimensions:

(Inside cover measurements)

Length: 24.25"

Width: 20.50"

Height: 10.00"

Vendor: Acrylic Lucite display cases, turntable covers, dust covers, protective lids, plastic boxes.

No base, as an acrylic base would be much too expensive, plus, I want the base to be of another material.

How about slate? Perfectly flat, cheap, and can look pretty nice.

And maybe you decide what you like based on what you read and not what you hear? Or arbitrarily decide. Or have new gear syndrome. Maybe you should stop writing about minute details heard or not, and just enjoy the music, and not worry about the gear so much.

I don't think so. I simply spent my time listening to the NAD C555/NAD PP2/Ortofon Blue and it didn't sound much better than my $69 GEMsound PL-USB that I have as an AD converter. This was sometime right before or after Thanksgiving. Most of my vinyl is old 70's and 80's albums, and most didn't sound as good as the same album on CD (without EQ). Usually the problem with both phono preamps was in the bass where it didn't seem to have any deep extension and was more upper bass than low/mid bass. It was like listening to a high-end stereo with 4" full range speakers in a small box.

The problem may have been with how my TT/cart is set up, as someone suggested elsewhere where they felt the TT and cart I am using could sound good with the right preamp. Sherwood says he had a a knowledgeable person set up the TT for him before I got it. I guess that if I want to enjoy the music and not worry about the gear so much, then maybe I'm better off sticking with the DVD Audio and CD, or hi-res downloads that I enjoy immensely.

Thanks for the help.

So here's a vinyl noob question of note -- why are some records so much noisier than others? This morning I listened to a couple of mid-80s LPs that had clearly been knocked about a bit in their lives, but after cleaning were very quiet and generally pleasureable to hear. Then I put on a brand-new "special edition" 180g release that supposedly got the kid glove treatment in both production and pressing, yet it's like the needle's tracking over sandpaper. The surface noise is so high it's pretty much unlistenable.

Serious answer: the most likely answer is that mold-proof stuff they put on most new vinyl to protect it -- it probably hasn't been cleaned off yet. I forget what the name of it is. You need a good wet cleaner to get it off. (This is briefly alluded to in the post that 909 linked to, which is what made me remember the answer. I didn't think of it at all when I posted my joke answer.)

So after talking to Dan Wright my broken SWLP9.0 SE Signature has to go back.

After some more discussion, I'm not getting it back, but rather this

The LS 36.5 tube linestage

Of course this now leaves me with no phono stage....except the NAD PP2 loaner from my buddy.

Need to contemplate what I will get for a phono, probably around $2k price range, used or new.

My BAT VK-P10 phonostage got here today. I'll spend some time and then give some early impressions vs. the Simaudio combo. Here are a couple pics for now.

nice! look forward to hearing your impressions

So after talking to Dan Wright my broken SWLP9.0 SE Signature has to go back.

After some more discussion, I'm not getting it back, but rather this

The LS 36.5 tube linestage

Of course this now leaves me with no phono stage....except the NAD PP2 loaner from my buddy.

Need to contemplate what I will get for a phono, probably around $2k price range, used or new.

Pass xono?

Pass xono?

Hmm maybe, or the Modwright SWP, or Bat, or I dunno!

I hear that there is a nice Pass Pearl available.

So I am thinking about replacing the 7 year old Dynavector DV-20 on my bedroom Turntable.

It has been so long since I bought a cartridge I am not even sure I remember how to mount one but I guess I will have to try.

Anyone with a VPI or with more knowledge than I about matching cartridge to tonearm have any recommendations? Probably $2k or less.

VPI Scoutmaster>Acoustech PHD phono preamp.

Hmm maybe, or the Modwright SWP, or Bat, or I dunno!

Pass or Klyne I'd say.

Hmm maybe, or the Modwright SWP, or Bat, or I dunno!

I'd bring the baby back home, it just seems like karma.

I'd bring the baby back home, it just seems like karma.

heh... but I've heard better now... no going back

The XOno sounds like good suggestion. IME having a phono with lots of different loading options is a good thing, as slight changes in loading can cause quite audible aberrations in frequency response.