Anything related to LPs and Turntables

[Johnloudb]

I've changed the subject of this thread! I wasn't aware that Bill was way ahead of me with his "What LP are you Spinning" thread. So, this is now about "Anything" related to LP playback.

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Old:
It's often hard to find the LP you want used or in print. I thought maybe a thread dedicated to the LP could help people find good music on LP, and also places sell Vinyl. So, if possible, post where you found the LP.

Although, feel to post even if the LP your listening to is not readily available.


Right now I'm enjoying Led Zeppelin IV which I bought at Music Direct ($35.00):

Led Zeppelin IV on LP

I really like this album, and the sonics are extreme good to my ears anyway.

Acoustic Sounds (www.acousticsounds.com) has it to, but they want $120.00.

[Russ L]

I just ordered a copy of Zep IV from Amazon UK for 10 pounds Sterling. Didn't say if it was regular vinyl... actually didn't say much at all. I also ordered The Beatles:
Magical Mystery Tour
The White Album
Sergeant Peppers

I also got a copy of Timbuk 3 Eden Alley 1988. Incredible sonics. At Acoustic Sound for only $8! A steal. A must have classic!

[wkhanna]

Last night PewterTA was over for an impromptu 'school night' session. Included on the play list:

Charley Byrd, 12" 45 RPM Direct to Disc, white vinyl (Sweet Mother of Superb Sonics!)
The Doors
Duke Ellington
Aaron Copland, Symphony #3, Copland Cond.
1812 Overture, Wellington’s Victory, Antal Dorati Cond.
Stéphane Grappelli

We are lucky here in Pittsburgh to have 'Jerry's Records'. Over 1 Million LP's in his shop, a few Million more in his warehouse. Typical price is $3 - $4.

http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=203

[exojam]

I have been listening to the following lately.

ZZ Top - Deguello
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Black Sabbath – Paranoid

The Led Zepp at AS is 200 gram non import where as the MD is 180 import which I believe is why the price is different.

[Johnloudb]

We are lucky here in Pittsburgh to have 'Jerry's Records'. Over 1 Million LP's in his shop, a few Million more in his warehouse. Typical price is $3 - $4.

http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=203

Very Lucky! Interesting story too.

Some new record prices are insane.

[H.T.C]

Last night PewterTA was over for an impromptu 'school night' session. Included on the play list:

Charley Byrd, 12" 45 RPM Direct to Disc, white vinyl (Sweet Mother of Superb Sonics!)
The Doors
Duke Ellington
Aaron Copland, Symphony #3, Copland Cond.
1812 Overture, Wellington’s Victory, Antal Dorati Cond.
Stéphane Grappelli

We are lucky here in Pittsburgh to have 'Jerry's Records'. Over 1 Million LP's in his shop, a few Million more in his warehouse. Typical price is $3 - $4.

http://www.soundadviceblog.com/?p=203

Did not the 1812 overture destroy some early subwoofers that could not reproduce the cannon sequence? i thought it was written about in the home theater mags.

[wkhanna]

The LP you may be referring to is a Telarc label issue. It was digitally mastered and carries a ‘Limited Edition Super-Cut UHQR ‘(ultra high quality recording) logo.

This one in particular is responsible for many detached speaker surrounds and fried coils. The issue is with the ‘extreme’ dynamic range of the recording. Unsuspecting listeners, even those familiar with the wide dynamics associated with classical recordings, where fooled by the low level signal at the beginning of the album, and set their playback level a ‘bit’ too high. By the time the canon shoots rang out, it was too late, as the damage was already done.

I myself would love to find a copy of this one in particular.


link to a pic of the LP jacket http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/1/10607/uhqr.jpg

[Alaric]

Nirvana , Nevermind on 180gm vinyl (Japanese release). Also Raising Sand (Plant and Krauss) on some very heavy vinyl. :T

[Bob]

In regards to finding vinyl, I suggest the following:

For new-

http://store.acousticsounds.com/store.cfm

http://www.musicdirect.com/?

For hard to find (new and used)-

http://www.musicstack.com/

http://gemm.com/

http://www.audiophileusa.com/

Of course there is also Ebay but, the sellers are often not any better about vinyl then they are about anything else on Ebay. In other words, buy at your own risk.

[exojam]

I am waiting for Raising Sand to come back out. I saw them in Boston and it was great.

[Johnloudb]

I just changed this thread title since Bill had already started the same thread long ago, which I was unaware of.

Anyway, I have a Question. The record needle I bought (Audio-Technica 440MLa) for my old Thorens with Rabco linear tracking tonearm, doesn't seem to work well in this setup. When it gets to the last cut of most records it starts skipping around. It has a low tracking force of 1.4 grams. I read one review that says it doesn't work well with the old heavier tonearms.

I am wondering if say the Zu Audio DL-103 MC with a recomended tracking force of 2.5 grams would be a better match? Has anyone had this type of experience with a cartridge?

[wkhanna]

Wow! That is one V cool setup!

I am not familiar at all with linear tracking arms. I do know that IGT (inner groove tracking) is the most difficult task for the standard type pivoting arms. Alignment and matching of arm mass and cart mass are critical. From what I have read, that Audio-Technica 440MLa is a decent tracker. I am sure you have double checked the settings on your arm.

Only thing I could recommend is to check with the guys over at Vinyl Asylum, there is V little that group have never seen.

[Johnloudb]

Thanks Bill! That's a Very pretty LP rig you've got there yourself. Obviously, a good sounding one too.

I posted my problem on vinyl asylum and no replies yet. I think the cartridge is setup okay, but I'll dig out the magnifying glass and make sure. Maybe the azimuth is a bit off. I'm kind of worried the tracking force may be changing as the arm moves toward the center of the disc. I'll check that too.

[dknightd]

I used to have that same arm. I ran an AT MC cartridge on it. No tracking problems at all. Unfortunately I can not remember the AT model number. But the previous owner of my rabco had replaced the steel arm with a home made balsa one - so tracking issues would obviously be different. One nice thing about that arm is that is a fairly simple device - but it does require regular attention and tweaking. Does your arm move freely when near the center of the record? It could be the tracks are gummed up and a simple dissasemble and clean would help. Also clean and adjust the contacts that cause the arm to move.

It is hard to tell from you picture, but it appears you might have too much overhang. Did you set that? Probably an optical illusion, but that is a critical setup.

google rabco sl-8 there is probably lots out there on improving and tweaking this arm. I finally got rid of mine because of motor noise transmitted through the chain - this may not have been a problem with the stock arm, I never went back to try, it was time to move on since the table I was using at the time was also developing some noise.

Good luck. It can be a nice sounding arm.

[Johnloudb]

I used to have that same arm. I ran an AT MC cartridge on it. No tracking problems at all. Unfortunately I can not remember the AT model number. But the previous owner of my rabco had replaced the steel arm with a home made balsa one - so tracking issues would obviously be different. One nice thing about that arm is that is a fairly simple device - but it does require regular attention and tweaking. Does your arm move freely when near the center of the record? It could be the tracks are gummed up and a simple dissasemble and clean would help. Also clean and adjust the contacts that cause the arm to move.

It is hard to tell from you picture, but it appears you might have too much overhang. Did you set that? Probably an optical illusion, but that is a critical setup.

google rabco sl-8 there is probably lots out there on improving and tweaking this arm. I finally got rid of mine because of motor noise transmitted through the chain - this may not have been a problem with the stock arm, I never went back to try, it was time to move on since the table I was using at the time was also developing some noise.

Good luck. It can be a nice sounding arm.

I still need to do some more adjustment to the cartridge and arm. This is a nice sounding arm/table. The old cartridge was magic, but very old and needed replacement.

I have no clue what overhang is. I have found some good info on this Rabco SL-8E on the internet. This arm was also modified by the dealer my dad bought it from. They put some resonance damping material in the body of the arm.

Oh, is overhang the arm extension? I think that's okay. I'm guessing the needle shouldn't extend beyond a line perpendicular to the center of the platter? And should be right on the line?

This arm is kind of a pain to adjust. I have to use spacers on the cartridge because the arm can't be set low enough. Have to get some longer screws for this cartridge in order to use another spacer so I can get the VTA and azimuth just right. Anyhow, I've got work to do.
:g>

[dknightd]

Oh, is overhang the arm extension? I think that's okay. I'm guessing the needle shouldn't extend beyond a line perpendicular to the center of the platter? And should be right on the line?

Yep. I don't remember the exact specification, but right on the centerline would make sense.