I would just like to inform you all that . . .

[SolidSqual]

I am now one with the dark side . . .


. . . I've gone and done it.



























http://www.sumikoaudio.net/project/images/products/Project-RM-5-SE.gif

I am now spinning vinyl on a decent TT. I own only one playable LP (I have some others but they need some cleaning after 40 years of storage), bought it New from a local shop: Van Morrison - Moondance

It sounds amazing on my loaner (until I get my own on order) Project RM-5 SE with Jolida Phono! I seriously have never felt so involved in the music. It is downright tangible, which is an amazing considering my Raysonic already produces deadly serious lifelike sound.

This is a proud moment for me here at Club Polk. I owe it all to you guys who brought me from my humble Yamaha HTR5890 to where I am today.

My Dad is sitting with me now in complete amazement as we listen to this record a third time. Seriously, his jaw is hanging . . . perhaps partly because of all the rum. But seriously, I don't know what vinyl sounded like in his day, but evidently there have been some improvements.

You guys Rock!

[Face]

Congrats!

[treitz3]

Welcome to analog. Enjoy!

[Keiko]

Damn! That Jedi mind trick really works! :eek: :D

Is that the same tt BaggedLancer had up for sale in the FM?

[dkg999]

Great turntable! I also have the Pro-ject RM5-SE. I'm using the Pro-ject Tube Box II phono pre, however I would love to try the Jolida out at some point. Congrats & enjoy!


BTW - your next purchase will be a VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine.

[dorokusai]

You have a credit card with 0% APR? Oh...vinyl. Don't worry, it will pass...much like a kidney stone.

[SolidSqual]

You have a credit card with 0% APR?

Yes, but I am debt free. I'd never let this hobby run me into the ground like that.

[dorokusai]

AMEN brother....AMEN.

[comfortablycurt]

Awesome...I've been thinking about making a conversion to the vinyl side myself. I need to bust out my turntable and try to find some records. My turntable isn't anything to write home about...but it gets the job done. I need to go to my parents house sometime and go dig through their attic. Somewhere up there they've got a few boxes filled with old albums.

[ben62670]

Umm you suck. I say this just because after I upgrade my TT I will be short of what you have:mad:
Seriously congrats. I don't see how you could have spent money wiser:)
Ben

[BottomFeeder]

Another one bites the dust...

[Fongolio]

Moondance is a great LP to start with. I have an original copy that sounds spectacular. Enjoy.

[Keiko]

elusivedisc has a 20% off sale going on right now. Check you local Best Buy to if you have one.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/products.asp?dept=1925&pagenumber=22&sort_on=&sort_by=

[HB27]

That's a nice turntable. Congrats.

Harry

[Toolfan66]

That TT is beautiful.

[Ricardo]

Welcome to the dark side. Now you'll really understand what the word upgrade means ;)

[haimoc]

I came out of the dark side years ago... Hope to come back somedays..

Congrats on the beautiful piece..

[Fireman32]

Congrats man. What cartridge are you running on it.

[pearsall001]

I'm still on the light side. Congrats & enjoy though!!!! Dust out your wallet & be prepared.

[Bass_Pedal]

Great move!! Based on your penchant for upgrades and the nature of analogue equipment, I suspect you will be changing parts of your setup on a weekly basis!!! Enjoy the ride!!!! :)

[erniejade]

Sweet TT. I might have missed it but, what kind of cart. are you using on it?

[engtaz]

Congrats on great sound. Very nice table.

engtaz

[mmadden28]

Congrats-I was thinking about that TT, but only just a little bit. I'm nowhere near prepared for that leap yet. One day though...:cool:

[Mike Reeter]

That table looks like a work of art,you should be very happy.

[Music Junkie]

sweetness - congrats dude!

[janmike]

Congrats Mike. Agreed, going into debt for audio really does say that one would have a problem.

[Zero]

And here I thought Solid was finally going to come out. Oh well, maybe another day..

Nice TT. Enjoy the vinyl!

[SolidSqual]

Bluepoint Cartridge. Still straight enough to look at Doro and wonder why I'm with my girlfriend. Vinyl is awesome. Beer pong rules. Bloomington, IN sucks.

[Early B.]

SS -- while I'd really like to offer you well wishes and such, I'm a bit disappointed that you joined the TT crowd. Those guys are a bunch of old, mentally imbalanced, emotionally constipated sons of bitches who spin vinyl solely for nostalgic reasons, yet delude themselves into thinking it actually sounds as good as a CD. I just hope you come back home to your tubed CD roots before it's too late. We'll be holding a candlelight vigil every Sunday night until you return.

[janmike]

Early, tell us how you really feel. :D :p

[SolidSqual]

SS -- while I'd really like to offer you well wishes and such, I'm a bit disappointed that you joined the TT crowd. Those guys are a bunch of old, mentally imbalanced, emotionally constipated sons of bitches who spin vinyl solely for nostalgic reasons, yet delude themselves into thinking it actually sounds as good as a CD. I just hope you come back home to your tubed CD roots before it's too late. We'll be holding a candlelight vigil every Sunday night until you return.

This made my night. I don't see myself giving up vinyl anytime soon. By the same token, I don't see myself giving up CDs either. Honestly, what I am realizing is that like a certain genres of music there are times when I'd rather hear a CD and when I'd rather hear vinyl. The vinyl I've been listening has been really enjoyable, it sounds so much different than CD. And, I think I am really beginning to understand the ritual of caring for your LPs.

[mantis]

Completely awesome. your system gotta be really nice with all the upgrades you have made. I'm happy for you.

On a side note, you are very welcome. That was really nice of you.

Dan

[Keiko]

And, I think I am really beginning to understand the ritual of caring for your LPs.
I got vinyl in my collection that is 30+ years old. For me, and this is no joke, it's almost spiritual caring for Lp's. Storing them properly is the key SS.

[BlueFox]

I got vinyl in my collection that is 30+ years old. For me, and this is no joke, it's almost spiritual caring for Lp's. Storing them properly is the key SS.


Which is one of the reasons why I will NEVER go back to record players. What a pain in the butt, and every time you play the record it gets damaged, so after a while it has to be bought again. Ugh!! Been there. Done that. Never again.

One trick to know before playing a record is to hold it, by the edges of course and pressing it into the palm of your hand, position it so that it is perpendicular to the turntable, and rapidly swipe it through the air over the turntable. This seems to eliminate static charges, and makes it sound better.

[inspiredsports]

Congrats SS!

To the naysayers: To each his or her own.

It's the RARE CD that can match the height, depth and width of the soundstage generated by my Thorens TT. I'm experimenting with CD player mods right now, but for me, vinyl truly rules.

[TSWisla]

Congrats, I have an Xperience! Now you need to buy a decent record cleaner. I got the VPI 16.5, it is incredible!

[TSWisla]

Which is one of the reasons why I will NEVER go back to record players. What a pain in the butt, and every time you play the record it gets damaged, so after a while it has to be bought again. Ugh!! Been there. Done that. Never again.

One trick to know before playing a record is to hold it, by the edges of course and pressing it into the palm of your hand, position it so that it is perpendicular to the turntable, and rapidly swipe it through the air over the turntable. This seems to eliminate static charges, and makes it sound better.


Acutally, with the newer record players with 2g or less of downforce, there is little if no damage to records. They will last almost forever if properly cared for. And as you stated, THAT is a pain, but well worth it. Just listen to "No Expectations" on remastered CD and then on remastered 180g vinyl and you too will become a believer!

[markmarc]

Squal is probably sitting on the floor in his tie-dye shirt, headband, sunglasses, and staring rather strangely at his lava lamp right now.

[miner]

Interested in hearing your opinion on the Jolida pre. I am currently using the onboard phono stage on my Rotel RC-1082 and ma wondering what I may be missing. Very nice table. Welcome to the darkside, Luke.

[TSWisla]

I have wondered this as well, I am running my Xperience through my Carver and wonder what I will gain if I upgrade...

[SCompRacer]

Congrats on your TT acquisition SS. Nice to see someone making gear decisons for themselves based on listening, not sheperding.

[SolidSqual]

Interested in hearing your opinion on the Jolida pre. I am currently using the onboard phono stage on my Rotel RC-1082 and ma wondering what I may be missing. Very nice table. Welcome to the darkside, Luke.

I'm not sure I am the best person to answer this question. I've only heard a couple phonos. One was ridiculously expensive and besides mine, the other two were not heard while listening critically.

What I can say is that the sound produced is dynamic, full-bodied and musically satisfying - but, not sure how much of this is the phono or the rest of my sytem. This means a lot to me considering my CDP is pretty darn good and possesses a lot of synergy with the rest of my system. I can say it's better than the old phono stage in my Rogue Metis.

[SolidSqual]

Can anyone recommend a reasonably price TT cover and TT cleaning/Vinyl cleaning kit? What brushes and solution should I get?

[Fongolio]

Any vacuum cleaning machine is recommended. I use a Nitty Gritty 2.5 Fi and it is fantastic. I've cleaned hundreds of records on it and it still goes strong. As for fluid, I make my own home made solution with tergitol s-3 and s-9 mixed with distilled/reverse osmosis water. I ordered the tergitol from a company in New York. One pint of each and it cost around $25.00 a pint if memory serves me correctly. This however will give you enough cleaning solution for a lifetime of cleaning if mixed correctly. There are several old threads on CP that cover this topic. As for manual cleaning brushes and retail solution you can't go wrong with Disk Doctor's miracle record cleaner solution and brushes. You can get a kit that includes a pint of solution and two brushes and replacement felts. Very good cleaning. Always an essential is a carbon fiber dust and anti static brush. I use a super exstatic which is two rows of carbon fiber sanwiching a wide velvet brush. Works great. Have fun and enjoy.

[george daniel]

i got in on the group buy here for tergitol,,, that with a few brushes,and my modified rainbow,,gets me very clean vinyl.Actually,, I could spend hours just cleaning vinyl.:)

[dkg999]

I haven't tried tergitol, but my age old homebrew of 1 cup distilled water, 1/2 cup 91%-93% isopropyl alchohol, and a couple of drops of dawn dish soap works real well combined with a medium stiff 3/4" wide artist brush for the initial cleaning of used records. Rinse well with distilled water from a sprayer bottle and you're most of the way there. I then follow with cleaning on a VPI 16.5 using MoFi Super Record Wash. I follow the theory of deep cleaning when I first get an album, and then an occasional cleaning somewhere down the road.

If you've got the Super Barbie Magic record player with the Groove-Scraper 400 cart you might have to worry about your vinyl wearing out :rolleyes:

[TSWisla]

I use the VPI 16.5 with MoFi brush and cleaning fluids (deep cleaner and standard cleaner) with phenomenal results. Music Direct has an awesome deal.

[themuskr]

thats a beautiful TT