Turntable lovers - Please Gather Here!

azri wrote:its not the tt, but the material for playback
limited & absolutely expensive vs cd hehe
although i have no problem to source rock vinyls
(i.e master of puppets, in utero, just to name a few)

Bro azri,,how much they selling new LP in AUS...

p/s--in utero and unplugged in new york peeehhhhhhh

looks like someone also getting hooked on the LP poison.....

mugenfoo wrote:looks like someone also getting hooked on the LP poison.....

hhehehheeh

The so called L1P1 flu virus is spreading quite fast here.

its around $40 to $50
mostly on vinyls are popular releases

brand new cd import baru $32
worldwide title, mcm2 ada

anyone want to kirim can do,
i'll be in seremban, but sometime to bangi & SA even sg besi hehe

cepat cepat hehehe

azri wrote:its around $40 to $50
mostly on vinyls are popular releases

brand new cd import baru $32
worldwide title, mcm2 ada

anyone want to kirim can do,
i'll be in seremban, but sometime to bangi & SA even sg besi hehe

cepat cepat hehehe

Bro azri..price in RM,US or AUS dolar...can help buy some vinyl

if its in RM, then it will be like buying candies hehehe
the funny thing is, buying from US is cheaper at some point

Vinyls can be bought in Spore. There are a few shops like Simply Music (02 63362938 Tel/Fax just hang on to the line when it rings cos what you hear is a fax tone but after a while Violet will pick up) and New Disc Village (Ernest Cheong 02 63344209) in Adelphi in Singapore that have quite a collection of used, reissues and new vinyls which are reasonably priced even in Sing$. Average for new vinyls depending on weight and production range from S$30 to S$65 which I think is cheaper than purchase direct from UK/US.

OK.. Will pay attention to this when I make a trip there next month.

azri wrote:

foomarnhing wrote:I owned in my many years Linn, Thorens(a few models) and Technics(few models). The Linn is truly overpriced and a Technics SL1200mk2 will get close to it and also it is current model. It is built like a tank and get really great sound. You can upgrade your entire system around it for many years and set up including alignment is real easy. I am willing to even help you. Look for 2nd hand in real good cond making sure never used by dj's and you have one to pass to your kids or in your case, to your dad's grand kids!

what is a reasonable price for a used sl1200mk2 ?

Sorry took so long, but off forum for a bit. I sold mine in mint cond for RM1500. I guess its ok to buy one at that price. I have compared directly to LP12 which has far more expensive arm and cartridge and the missus thought the technics was better! Sold it bec bot a Technics SL1000( aka SP10mk2)

Long ago I visited someone whos an ardent fan of Technics TT. So many Technics TT models within the sound room. Just amazing!.
As for me, I like the specs of the SL12xx TT's but just cannot grasp living with one for long term and for hifi.

cmboy wrote:Long ago I visited someone whos an ardent fan of Technics TT. So many Technics TT models within the sound room. Just amazing!.
As for me, I like the specs of the SL12xx TT's but just cannot grasp living with one for long term and for hifi.

Maybe you are misled to think it is a dj machine but in fact it was designed for domestic use. The Djs found that it was the most reliable machine for their use and hijacked it and now the audiophiles are rediscovering the SL1200. Of cos if you have the money you can always buy a linn and be able to boast about it without anyone looking at you with strange eyes. I had one and I understand the problem you have. I have a linn but now never use it cos the performance is at best class c.

foomarnhing wrote:

cmboy wrote:Long ago I visited someone whos an ardent fan of Technics TT. So many Technics TT models within the sound room. Just amazing!.
As for me, I like the specs of the SL12xx TT's but just cannot grasp living with one for long term and for hifi.

Maybe you are misled to think it is a dj machine but in fact it was designed for domestic use.

I beg to differ and its certainly not because its a DJ machine. Nevertheless, Coincidently, I actually own another mid end DD Technics, also with a heavy platter unlike its budget brethren. Lets just settle for its entirely my personal preference to retire the Technics as I've had enough of Japanese decks as I move on in time.

well, the SL1200 is not what some would call a "Purist" Turntable.

That slider knob (mk.II onwards) , however cool or functional it may be, is a sure guarantee that it will NEVER (nor does its even WANT to) be in the league of the classic Linns and Regas of the vinyl world.

Likewise, DJs would really loathe the Linn and its springy bouncy design. C'mon, how is any DJ ever going to "scratch & spin" properly on a wobbly platter?

foomarnhing wrote:
Maybe you are misled to think it is a dj machine but in fact it was designed for domestic use. The Djs found that it was the most reliable machine for their use and hijacked it and now the audiophiles are rediscovering the SL1200. Of cos if you have the money you can always buy a linn and be able to boast about it without anyone looking at you with strange eyes. I had one and I understand the problem you have. I have a linn but now never use it cos the performance is at best class c.

Mebbe the ol' Linn just needs a retuning of its bouncy springs, bearings re-oiled, and cartridge re-aligned?

mugenfoo wrote:
Mebbe the ol' Linn just needs a retuning of its bouncy springs, bearings re-oiled, and cartridge re-aligned?

Its natural for a LP12 be maintained after some years with wear n tear parts be replaced. Its all in the instruction manual and anyone is free to maintain and fiddle it entirely on his own. Its not just exclusive to the LP12. Many Thorens, Ariston, Pink Triangle and other suspended type TT's need periodic attention.
The Rega ain't bulletproof either. Roughly every 5 years to replace belt and re-lube the main bearing.
Duh!..anything mechanical need attention one time or other lah.

foomarnhing wrote:I owned in my many years Linn, Thorens(a few models) and Technics(few models). The Linn is truly overpriced and a Technics SL1200mk2 will get close to it and also it is current model. It is built like a tank and get really great sound. You can upgrade your entire system around it for many years and set up including alignment is real easy. I am willing to even help you. Look for 2nd hand in real good cond making sure never used by dj's and you have one to pass to your kids or in your case, to your dad's grand kids!

Hi Foo,
If you have any good 2nd hand SL-1200mk2 from frens that never used by the djs. Can you let me know? Many thanks

seanlee731107 wrote:

foomarnhing wrote:I owned in my many years Linn, Thorens(a few models) and Technics(few models). The Linn is truly overpriced and a Technics SL1200mk2 will get close to it and also it is current model. It is built like a tank and get really great sound. You can upgrade your entire system around it for many years and set up including alignment is real easy. I am willing to even help you. Look for 2nd hand in real good cond making sure never used by dj's and you have one to pass to your kids or in your case, to your dad's grand kids!

Hi Foo,
If you have any good 2nd hand SL-1200mk2 from frens that never used by the djs. Can you let me know? Many thanks

In fact I do have a friend who has the the black version but he wants quite a bit more money like RM1800. It really is in mint cond .If you want let me know and we'll take it from there.

I am actually well practised in re-adjusting the Linn but no, even at its best, it is good but not to be revered at its current price. The sL1200 is much better value for money so I recommend to those who can afford the Linn, do buy the Linn and for those whose budget is more limited, the SL1200.

Its good to know how to tune the Lp12, its to your personal advantage and further enjoyment. Yes, I agree its way overpriced nowadays for used ones. I've heard many who got it for a fraction of the price, but then again it may differ depending on how old and to what extent its equipped. Neglected, defunct, or broken ones may cost arm and leg to restore and parts are only available easily from online sellers. Most stressful would be trying to acquire a good arm for it.

hi foomarnhing,
THanks for the reply.. i prefer silver if u have. do not hesitate to messag eme if u hav the silver one hope to hear frm u again.. have a nice day

sorry my fren's unit is the black 1210mk2, which I thought looked more audiophile?

.... with what cartridge attached?

sorry no cart included

I found that LPs are selling at lower prices in Spore compared to Msia.
The few shops in The Adelphi are selling quite a number of records at reasonable prices.

OK..found the time today to mod a china made ASL mini phono stage. On the exterior it looks the works BUT I've found damn lousy parts and PCB inside. Its a seperate PSU box and the tube phono in another box.
Traced the circuitry and found many things that'll be anything with mediocre performance and a test session proved to me it won't even hold up to RJM's VSPS op-amp phono. The stock performance of this phono was anaemic, shut in, near total lack of bass, 2 dimensional, and just plainly uninvolving to say the least. Even the tonality didn't sound quite right to my ears...a result of a compromised RIAA network circuit.

Spent half the day replacing many resistors and caps with what I have on hand. I also tweaked and altered the RIAA network, mod to increase of bias and gain. After quite a few listening sessions it was getting better and better. Have to call it a day till I acquire more parts later on. At least something quite spectacular achieved today.
This Antique Sound Lab product is really a shitty Made in China product and the innards are very amateurishly fitted together. Even the screws are not screwed in straight. PCB is of HORRIBLE quality and I could even DIY a better one in my kitchen. I chucked out the whole PCB and did P-P circuitry. I really wonder how this could command nearly 4 figure price, I'm amazed and amused. Geez.. tired lah.

just to further clarify ...

issit this ASL brand thats the one being sold in Canada by Divergent Tech?

http://www.divertech.com/antiquesl.html

is it this model? :
http://www.divertech.com/aslphonolux.html

or this ? :
http://www.divertech.com/aslphonoluxmcx.html

Nope, none of those. I think this model is probably its first model and quite dated. Not surprisingly, the stock phono circuit is quite simple and somewhat dated. I've seen better circuits superceding this. However the PSU circuitry was not bad at all, save one or two quirks which I may improve later on but in reality not entirely a neccessity. The quality of the PCB is an definitely an issue, very compromised build. I had thought I've seen worse quality resistors at Pasar Rd, but this ASL takes the cake. ALL those parts went into my rubbish bin.
A solid improvement may be to up the B+ to 250VDC at least which would mean replacing the transformer altogether. Not an economical route where one might as well build another new phono stage housed in a nice chassis from scratch.
Anyway, your links are showing the new models I think. I've seen some ASL amplifiers in the past and I'm NOT impressed with its internal build quality. Looks nice on the outside but the innards sux like shyte.

So cmboy, e20a phonostage better made than ASL?

highcut28 wrote:So cmboy, e20a phonostage better made than ASL?

I was reeling in shock and nearly passed out after 5 minutes listening to the stock ASL phono.

In the absolute sense, I think women are more interesting than turntables ... but only when I'm not in front of a turntable. ... there you have it, exploring outside my pillars of faith.

You spin the turntable, Women spin you
You align the turntable, Women align you
You enjoy the turntable,Women enjoy you

haha..

someone's got a fetish going on ....

Tinkering continued, further RIAA network improvement to better the tonal quality to my ears. Have to find a way to up the B+ to 250VDC at least. Am working with whatever available parts I have on hand. Looks like a new PSU in the near future altogether and a trip to Pasar Rd soon. Current B+ supply won't cut edge at all for now. It still doesn't have anything near the liveliness and resolve of my reference phono stage. Tube rolling doesn't change anything much. Tried at least 5 different NOS types. I managed to dig out a nice tranny from an old oscilloscope but its HV winding is still high enough voltage. May have to compromise here or spend money to custom a tranny later on.

which RIAA curve are you adopting ? There has been several RIAA eq curves over the years ....

So far today, I've optimized the circuitry and increased the total output gain to a personal satisfying value which so far proved a far greater potential than the stock circuit which was plainly just too uninvolving. Initial listening tests proved satisfying to my ears to a certain point.
Calling it a day.. I just can't see anymore improvement to the circuit, unless there's costly and drastic changes. This is as far as it goes for the time being. I'm going to sit back and enjoy my fruits of labor.

Bought an LP that day and went home to play it straight away.
Well, I guess my old TT is just not up to par. hahahaha...
I have to crank up the volume of my amp to get to my usual listening level.

Come to think of it....
The CEC is really no match to the Thorens TD150 MkII.
Huge gap...

car o scope wrote:
Come to think of it....
The CEC is really no match to the Thorens TD150 MkII.
Huge gap...

A great condition and well setup vintage Thorens with a mid priced MM cartridge is always a joy to listen to.
Budget 80's Japanese TT's are just playable but never expect a lot from it, and nothing much can be done to improve the situation. Its most often the heavier build the TT, the better its sonics and potential. I remember a Thorens TD160 was leagues better than its newer TD166. The TD166 was compromised with phenolic subplatter and chipboard plinth (cheaper), where the former had an aluminium cast subP and veneer plinth. Big difference here.
You want to have better sound, shop for a better and higher quality TT, no 2 ways about it. Then the cartridge, phono...the rest of the hifi chain... more $$$$$$$...

I see. So, I would not waste time in upgrading the CEC.
Maybe I should dig up my dad's Lenco and check out the condition.
Dont think that it is still in pristine shape though.

I need time to save up for such immense 'investment'.
I just visited Thorens website today and found that the new models are so much nicer.
But then, the price also very 'nice' indeed.

Which Lenco model?..if its the L75, probably worth a try and hopefully especially the arm is still in great condition along with its mechanicals. I remember most local record shops in the 70's used the L75 as their workhorse..12-15 hours daily non-stop??

I need to check 1st..
I dont want to put much hope in it either...

car o scope wrote:Bought an LP that day and went home to play it straight away.
Well, I guess my old TT is just not up to par. hahahaha...
I have to crank up the volume of my amp to get to my usual listening level.

Come to think of it....
The CEC is really no match to the Thorens TD150 MkII.
Huge gap...

it could be that the phono stage not enough gain. Some records are pressed with lower volume.
Not enough gain at the phono stage really destroys the sound. Imagine the sound like a tube amp thats about towards the end-of-life of the tube's lifespan. Very fuzzy yet dark sounding, totally no dynamics, treble rolloffs. Worse than a transistor radio.

hence the benefit of a variable gain adjustable phono stage. Pipit comes to mind

mugenfoo wrote:
hence the benefit of a variable gain adjustable phono stage. Pipit comes to mind

Variable gain?.. not that I know of. If there's any adjustment provided on a quality phono stage, its very likely dip switches or jumpers for input impedance and capacitance loading to match the cartridge.
As for mine, a matched pair of 47k or 51k (sometimes even 82k) resistors and cheap ceramic cap (check cartridge specs to get an idea of suggested value, add on or entirely replace) at the input does the trick nicely. No exact science here, a close match after some experimentation which sounds best, settles it.

As with that ASL phono, the stock gain was not impressive, I gathered it was about 30-40db gain (rather anaemic)at best, but now upped to some 60+db headroom for gutsy performance. What it now need is a more dangerous B+ supply to boost more zing and resolve. Current results not the best and unfortunately limited by its stock design and price point (typical of many of these made in China specimens) There's only so much that can be improved. I'm no magician to turn a Proton Wira into a Lexus.

mugenfoo wrote:

it could be that the phono stage not enough gain. Some records are pressed with lower volume.
Not enough gain at the phono stage really destroys the sound. Imagine the sound like a tube amp thats about towards the end-of-life of the tube's lifespan. Very fuzzy yet dark sounding, totally no dynamics, treble rolloffs. Worse than a transistor radio.

hence the benefit of a variable gain adjustable phono stage. Pipit comes to mind

Hah?????????????
My phono stage also need to upgrade ah???????
Wah.... I think I have to keep some distance away from TT 1st.
Mana bolih tahan oh...... So many things need to upgrade.

car o scope wrote:
Hah?????????????
My phono stage also need to upgrade ah???????
Wah.... I think I have to keep some distance away from TT 1st.
Mana bolih tahan oh...... So many things need to upgrade.

To fulfill the quest and desire for better sound in hifi will for certain cost $...no 2 ways about it.
I remember the time when very few or almost none paid attention to how critical the quality of phono stage can be (again, thats only ONE part of the equation). Many looked to TT and cartridge upgrade or replacement that costs a lot more money. Phono stages in integrated and AV amps are merely bog standard opamp or simple discreet circuitry purely as a feature to suffice basic requirements. Its imperative to own a high quality external phono stages for starters as it perhaps the last item in the vinyl source to upgrade, but the downside is initial higher investment. Last but not least, as with anything hifi, the sky ain't the limit but one's budget certainly will. I have a buddy who own a D Klimo Viv tube phono and 2 box Pass Lab XONO (maybe one of the very best I've listened to)..those alone cost downpayment and a year's monthly instalment for a national car. I can't afford those..wish I could.

I agree.. but I never thought that my current phono system is way way off the mark.
Better to live with the current system as I really need to control my spending.
If cannot stop, I think I need 2-3 part time jobs and work 24hrs a day. hahahahaha....
Need to save up for some nice LPs also ma...

hehe..like me, I bring along my LP's to my buddy's place anytime when he's home, to listen to his expensive system and enjoy it there. Free of charge.. no investment on my side other than few bucks of petrol.

Not bad eh.. At least you have a friend staying near you with a good system. I dont have.

By the way, your LP system also not bad mar, right?

car o scope wrote:
By the way, your LP system also bad mar, right?

Yeah.. its nothing to brag or shout about. Very old TT, budget but playable cartridge, all that often playing RM5-10 (some not even worth anything) LP's, NO audiophile Lp's, budget phono, people with hi-end make gear likely "ptui, ptui!" at my amps.... thats about it.

cmboy wrote:

car o scope wrote:
By the way, your LP system also bad mar, right?

Yeah.. its bad.

Oh god... Sorry.. left out the NOT... typo error...

cmboy wrote:

mugenfoo wrote:
hence the benefit of a variable gain adjustable phono stage. Pipit comes to mind

Variable gain?.. not that I know of. If there's any adjustment provided on a quality phono stage, its very likely dip switches or jumpers for input impedance and capacitance loading to match the cartridge.
As for mine, a matched pair of 47k or 51k (sometimes even 82k) resistors and cheap ceramic cap (check cartridge specs to get an idea of suggested value, add on or entirely replace) at the input does the trick nicely. No exact science here, a close match after some experimentation which sounds best, settles it.

As with that ASL phono, the stock gain was not impressive, I gathered it was about 30-40db gain (rather anaemic)at best, but now upped to some 60+db headroom for gutsy performance. What it now need is a more dangerous B+ supply to boost more zing and resolve. Current results not the best and unfortunately limited by its stock design and price point (typical of many of these made in China specimens) There's only so much that can be improved. I'm no magician to turn a Proton Wira into a Lexus.

yes , by "variable gain" i mean that the phono stage punya gain is adjustable via dip switch settings or jumper pins settings.

Then for the more elaborate ones, can adjust the impedance loading and capacitace loading for MC carties anywhere from approx 100ohms all the way to 20K+ohms and XXXuF to YYYuF (or was it pF, anyhow ... u get the idea).

Personally I don't like phonos with too much of these dip switches and what nots that have potential to degrade this very weak signal source, morever they can attract noise, interferences and usually a longer signal path. In reality I prefer to lock on to preferred or suggested loading value on board and thats it, no worries.

Phew, just soldered in a few more quality parts to the ASL phono PSU section for higher stability. (pulled from a high quality busted PC PSU). Also just installed is a nice blue LED on the front panel to finish off the project (out came my cordless drill from hibernation). ASL really use el-cheapo diodes, switching transistors and resistors. Terrible lah!..