Looking to upgrade my turntable

[Mike Up]

Well thanks everyone. I did order a Turntable. I didn't go with Fluance for 2 reasons. I read more negative comment about cheap parts they use and how they fail.

Then I called Fluance on a break from work to ask these questions. The rep. really didn't deny that the motors are cheap and fail. He just said the Reference series had better motors. Not the answer I was hoping for. I was thinking he would try to sell the product but didn't.

So I did order an Audio Technica AT-LP3XBT model which comes with the AT-VM95c cartridge.

Over half of my records are from the 60s and 70s and were used and scratched when I got them. Mainly classic and acid rock. Some are bad and some while scratched, sound pretty good on my AT-LP60-USB where you can't even hear the scratches.

That's where I read that the conical stylus is the best for worn and scratched records. So I guess I lucked out as the 3XBT comes with a conical stylus. I guess I will be replacing the stylus more often since some records are pretty scratched up. Not many scratches are really deep where you can feel them, but some records are just covered with them.

I honestly never thought to mention here that way over half of my records were used when I got them and scratched. If I am not to listen to these, no sense in even getting another turntable. I am excited to be getting a new turntable for the higher performance though. I read some people recommend not listening to scratched records because of the wear that can be caused. Like I said, no sense in buying a turntable then with my scratched collection or even most friends collections that were bought used from record stores.

Honestly while the AT-LP60-USB sounds good, it does lack on the high end and detail where I'm hoping the AT-VM95c will correct most of that, as I read it should. Plus it so light, I accidentally push the whole turntable sometimes just hitting the buttons. It's all cheap plastic and isn't even full size but only 14" wide. Sounds good but it is cheaply made. The one thing I really wanted was an arm lock that the LP60 doesn't have. Sometimes my cat jumps up there, and I don't want the arm knocked off. I have put some items on top of the dust cover to discourage her from going up there.

Here's to getting back to listening to my collection again.

 

[lovinthehd]

Well thanks everyone. I did order a Turntable. I didn't go with Fluance for 2 reasons. I read more negative comment about cheap parts they use and how they fail.

Then I called Fluance on a break from work to ask these questions. The rep. really didn't deny that the motors are cheap and fail. He just said the Reference series had better motors. Not the answer I was hoping for. I was thinking he would try to sell the product but didn't.

So I did order an Audio Technica AT-LP3XBT model which comes with the AT-VM95c cartridge.

Over half of my records are from the 60s and 70s and were used and scratched when I got them. Mainly classic and acid rock. Some are bad and some while scratched, sound pretty good on my AT-LP60-USB where you can't even hear the scratches.

That's where I read that the conical stylus is the best for worn and scratched records. So I guess I lucked out as the 3XBT comes with a conical stylus. I guess I will be replacing the stylus more often since some records are pretty scratched up. Not many scratches are really deep where you can feel them, but some records are just covered with them.

I honestly never thought to mention here that way over half of my records were used when I got them and scratched. If I am not to listen to these, no sense in even getting another turntable. I am excited to be getting a new turntable for the higher performance though. I read some people recommend not listening to scratched records because of the wear that can be caused. Like I said, no sense in buying a turntable then with my scratched collection or even most friends collections that were bought used from record stores.

Honestly while the AT-LP60-USB sounds good, it does lack on the high end and detail where I'm hoping the AT-VM95c will correct most of that, as I read it should. Plus it so light, I accidentally push the whole turntable sometimes just hitting the buttons. It's all cheap plastic and isn't even full size but only 14" wide. Sounds good but it is cheaply made. The one thing I really wanted was an arm lock that the LP60 doesn't have. Sometimes my cat jumps up there, and I don't want the arm knocked off. I have put some items on top of the dust cover to discourage her from going up there.

Here's to getting back to listening to my collection again.

Nice. Curious, what have you done about cleaning the vinyl, particularly the used stuff? Not so much for scratches but sometimes can help otherwise.

 

[Mike Up]

I already had my realistic record cleaning bushes and ancient solutions, but I am going to buy some new cleaners. Have yet to decide what and where yet. Still researching.

 

[lovinthehd]

I already had my realistic record cleaning bushes and ancient solutions, but I am going to buy some new cleaners. Have yet to decide what and where yet. Still researching.

For an inexpensive one Spin-Clean works reasonably well.

 

[Mikado463]

Well thanks everyone. I did order a Turntable. I didn't go with Fluance for 2 reasons. I read more negative comment about cheap parts they use and how they fail.

Then I called Fluance on a break from work to ask these questions. The rep. really didn't deny that the motors are cheap and fail. He just said the Reference series had better motors. Not the answer I was hoping for. I was thinking he would try to sell the product but didn't.

So I did order an Audio Technica AT-LP3XBT model which comes with the AT-VM95c cartridge.

Over half of my records are from the 60s and 70s and were used and scratched when I got them. Mainly classic and acid rock. Some are bad and some while scratched, sound pretty good on my AT-LP60-USB where you can't even hear the scratches.

That's where I read that the conical stylus is the best for worn and scratched records. So I guess I lucked out as the 3XBT comes with a conical stylus. I guess I will be replacing the stylus more often since some records are pretty scratched up. Not many scratches are really deep where you can feel them, but some records are just covered with them.

I honestly never thought to mention here that way over half of my records were used when I got them and scratched. If I am not to listen to these, no sense in even getting another turntable. I am excited to be getting a new turntable for the higher performance though. I read some people recommend not listening to scratched records because of the wear that can be caused. Like I said, no sense in buying a turntable then with my scratched collection or even most friends collections that were bought used from record stores.

Honestly while the AT-LP60-USB sounds good, it does lack on the high end and detail where I'm hoping the AT-VM95c will correct most of that, as I read it should. Plus it so light, I accidentally push the whole turntable sometimes just hitting the buttons. It's all cheap plastic and isn't even full size but only 14" wide. Sounds good but it is cheaply made. The one thing I really wanted was an arm lock that the LP60 doesn't have. Sometimes my cat jumps up there, and I don't want the arm knocked off. I have put some items on top of the dust cover to discourage her from going up there.

Here's to getting back to listening to my collection again.

Congrats on getting back to spinning 'black pizza' ! Remember, cleanliness is next to godliness when it comes to LP's , so Lovin's suggestion at a minimum is a good one !

 

[Mike Up]

For an inexpensive one Spin-Clean works reasonably well.

Thanks, I will look into that!

 

[m. zillch]

I know people laugh at the notion but I have great success using my kitchen sink faucet with luke warm water (acting like a "water pick", inch by inch) followed by a final rinsing in distilled water I buy by the jug for cheap at the supermarket (so when it evaporates away when drying in my dish rack there are no mineral deposits left).

 

[TLS Guy]

I already had my realistic record cleaning bushes and ancient solutions, but I am going to buy some new cleaners. Have yet to decide what and where yet. Still researching.

I think it is now an opportune time to review record care. The place to start is the careful research done by the late Cecil E. Watts back in the 1950s and sixties. his work still remains the most reliable advice available.

Your description of your discs show that most who have bought and owned vinyl discs are morons.

I have a large vinyl collection going back to the 1950s and they play fine. I generally stay away from other peoples used offerings un less they can give cast iron proof of proper care.

These are the basic rules.

Never touch the playing surface.

When playing a disc remove it from the jacket and play it right away. After play is finished return it to the sleeve right away. Store discs upright and perfectly vertical.

Insert the sleeve so that the sleeve opening is at 90 degrees with respect to the sleeve opening.

DO NOT clean the disc with any liquid products unless you have a powerful vacuum cleaning machine like the Keith Monks. These are super expensive.

The reason is that liquids force dirt to the base of the groove where they cause most noise and disturbance.

So use dry cleaning with a good record brush. Do not brush across the grooves.

The best record cleaning device is the Cecil E. Watts Dust Bug. These were carefully designed using his research using electron microscopy. Do not use the cleaning fluid.

These Dust Bugs do come up on eBay from time to time, and you should snap one up.

I have lots of spare bristles and red pads.

I have discs spanning 70 years since I was seven years old and they are in good condition.

If your discs get noisy then your care is incorrect. LPs with proper care are very durable and will play fine for a lifetime.

 

[lovinthehd]

If your discs get noisy then your care is incorrect.

There are pressings that come noisy brand-new....

 

[m. zillch]

All turntables/cartridges using physical contact with a stylus put wear on the records regardless of cost, although they do vary and you are unlikely to notice a difference after just a single play or two. The best way to preserve your records is to not play them or at least as little as possible.

Stereo Review magazine Oct 1968:

 

[TLS Guy]

There are pressings that come noisy brand-new....

Not the ones I buy, but is used to avoid pressings done in the US. So, I avoided Angel pressings and sourced HMV pressings from Europe. Sadly US pressings could be a disgrace.

 

[Mike Up]

For an inexpensive one Spin-Clean works reasonably well.

This looks like a good option down the road. Right now I think I'm going to start with Audio Technica AT6012 wet clean kit. I read great reviews about this from others using for years and just love it. It does have isopropyl alcohol in the solution but appear to be less than .5% according to the MSDS sheet for the Surfactant used. Some of my old records have sticky residues on them that need cleaned. I have my old Realistic 42-117 solution still but it is really old and don't think I want to use it. Plus it's probably now known to be toxic. It isn't an isopropyl alcohol solution.

I'm also going to get the AT6013a dry dual cleaning brush and the AT607a stylus cleaner/solution.