The use is to have more setups for a differnt Kind of music, or different ocaisions, for backround/ table music i use a Ortofon vm silver on a second headshell on my sme 310. why it is cheap to replace once the needle is worn.
My other sytems are between 2000 and 7000€.
Im just into set the third arm just for the table music. However it is an SME series III
M
As stated previously, my son built my NUC, added Roon and Qobuz.
I gave him a pair of Paradigm 100 v3 tower speakers and its matching powered subwoofer.
I offered to build him a NUC etc.
He politely declined and said he uses “SONOS/Spotify but when time to sit and listen, I play vinyl on my rebuilt Dual turntable and Audio Technica cartridge.”
Some turntable etc. porn -
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Recommendation Sought:
Son has a restored “vintage” turntable (Dual 12xx) Automatic.
As a stocking stuffer I would like to get him a stylus pressure gauge and/or protractor for best setup for his MM cartridge (Audio Technica).
Please: something you use/have or had owned.
Thank you, much appreciated.
You can print a protractor from the Audio Technica website.
A reliable, good value source for both is Ortofon .
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Thank you. Ordered the alignment tool from Amazon. I passed on the stylus pressure gauge due to the negative reviews (not a great criteria but warrants reading).
The Alignment tool will be a great stocking stuffer. Thank you gain.
Which Dual did he restore?
1237…I had (in the day) the 1019, 1029 and (?) 1039 (think that last number is incorrect). Then went Thorens and Rabco.
I used the Empire 888TE but then I needed a new cartridge and bought the Shure V15 Type II (later III) and the difference was remarkable.
My son’s new into buying LPs. He is the generation of iPod and then Spotify. Like me, he is not an audiophile, just likes a lot of music; buys me some obscure SACD each Christmas.
I use this gauge on my setup: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HRJ9NAY/
I have the Ortofon balance and the Neotek scale that Mark recommends. The Neotek scale is easier to use and includes a weight to periodically check calibration and reset if required.
I actually have a spare Neotek that was given to me with some other vinyl equipment. If you are located in the UK, I would be happy to give and mail that to you for your sons ‘Christmas stocking’ if you’re interested? I’m not sure if/how PM messaging works on this forum, but let me know if you’re interested.
Kind regards
Chris Brown
Extremely kind. I am in Atlanta. Appreciate the input.
a small world… We lived in Marietta from 1996 to 2005 before moving to the UK. I could still send it, but it may not arrive before Christmas!
I do not want to burden you, and it is an extremely kind offer.
I think someone in the UK would enjoy it and be easier on you. I could order one from Amazon.
You may be interested that Marietta which has grown tremendously since your stay now has some very nice and multiple record stores. It also has a very exclusive guitar store. Most of that is problematic due to the virus.
What turntable do you own (arm and cartridge)? I do not have a budget per se, merely a sense of what is rational with the limited listening that I would do.
If you did not own your current turntable/arm/cartridge and we getting (back or just) into vinyl, what set up would you purchase.
I realize that there are dream combinations, but I am referring more to what you would truly buy (or trade for).
I gravitate toward VPI and Rega. My last turntable was a Thorens.
Hi Dr. A,
Ok, I think that may be more reliable for a pre Christmas delivery🙂
My current turntable is a circa 1985 Roksan Xerxes (pronounced ‘zerk-seas’), which I acquired from a good friend about 18 months ago, when he had to sadly stop playing his vinyl due to an eyesight problem. It came fitted with its original Rega RB 300 and Ortofon MC20 moving coil cartridge.
The Roksan design philosophy, then and now, is similar to Rega’s, in that employs a firm/solid suspension with isolation mechanisms between the arm, motor and platter, verses the sprung design that you see on the Linn Sondek and the original Thorens. I personally prefer the stiffer design verses floating designs, but they both have their passionate advocates!
I recently had cause to replace the RB 300 arm, when one of the turntables phono leads developed a fault (I could have replaced the cable I guess, but it seemed too much of an upgrade opportunity to miss!
). So I replaced the Rega arm with an Origin Live Illustrious Mk3. This is a dual pivot arm, which is a direct fit to any turntable that takes a Rega arm and has the benefit of a full set of adjustments to the various x, y, and z axis’s. It gave the MC 20 a new lease of life! and really showed me just what kind of difference an arm can make.
Prior to acquiring the Roksan, I had a circa 2017 Rega Planer 3, with a Rega Exact MM cartridge. The turntable had an RB 303 arm fitted as standard. I have to say though that I was not all that impressed with the overall build quality, so snapped up the Roksan when it became available. The current version of the Planer 3 seems to be better built, but I haven’t owned or used one to really tell.
So, to your second question, if I was getting back into vinyl again, as I did in 2017, I would go for something like a Mitchell Gyro deck, with one of their own arms, or one of the excellent Origin Live arms. I would also invest the extra into getting a Moving Coil verses moving magnet cartridge, as MC’s just seem to me to be more natural sounding and refined.
Finally, one of the biggest boosts to enjoyment of my old vinyl collection and used gems I find in charity shops😉, is a record vacuum cleaning machine. I initially had my old records and new charity shop finds, cleaned by a local store, who offered a cleaning service using a Project RCM. This did a good job at removing a lot of dirt and static and opened up the sound a great deal.
So impressed by the difference the cleaning machine made, me and another vinyl enthusiast friend were that we went halves on. Keith Monks DISCovery One record cleaning machine.
This machine is just like a turntable, using a built in brush to manually apply the cleaning fluid and a vacuum arm that then runs automatically from the centre of the record outwards, like an arm and stylus in reverse, vacuuming up the fluid which had released all gunk in the groove. Quite remarkable results! and is also recommended on all new records, to clean out any residual release agent that’s been used in the pressing process. You have to hear it to believe the difference one of these machines makes to your collection. If you have a couple of vinyl enthusiast friends who live relatively near, it’s a great group purchase and easily transported on a seat in your car!
So, I apologise for the very long reply (I’m sitting in the car in a queue, waiting for a boat that’s been delayed by fog!
). I hope that’s of some help. If you having any other questions, or need links to any of the kit I’ve mentioned, just let me know and I will send once I’m back on the computer.
Happy playing!!
Kind regards
Chris
Thank you. Writing your reply while sitting in a car is a heroic activity. Much appreciated.
That was very informative, and I shall explore your suggestions. While I kept many albums, I sold my turntable ~30+ years go.
As I have stated in the past, I have far too many interest areas and while seeking out half-speed masters, changing cartridges etc was once something I wanted to do, I now simply want to occasionally put on an album so the two of us can listen.
Many have said that excellent record cleaning makes an album very revealing.
I likely will delay buying a turntable/arm/cartridge until somewhere in the first quarter of next year to determine the impact that the virus will have upon us.
Again my many thanks. I shall now look up the table(s) you have mentioned.
(P.S. The MICHELL - Gyro SE Turntable with Rega RB303 Tonearm is sod by Music Direct. It is quite a turntable. )
Croatia? Turntable
that’s the one I have, too. 
I note that VPI does not appear on anyone’s short list. Is there a less than positive assessment of their line? Or simply that there are better options such as the Michell Gyro SE?
I’m not really keeping up with the convo here, but I’ve got a VPI Classic, I’m not an expert and have not had alot of TTs, but I like it, no problems or issues here.
Hi Dr. A,
I’ve never had or heard a VPI turntable, but I will say that in all that I have seen and read, that they are well regarded and have a lot of passionate audiophile followers.
Most all turntable manufacturers of course have a range of products to choose from, and many offer a comprehensive upgrade path, so you can improve SQ as interest and money allows.
I would say the best approach for you would be to first set your desired total budget range for purchasing the turntable, arm, cartridge and phono stage pre amp combo of items.
Then take a look at your short list of manufacturers and see what they have in your range for a turntable, arm and cartridge combo, keeping aside say 15-20% for a phono stage. It’s probably a good idea to think about what upgrade path each one offers you as a decision factor, so that gives you some room to grow if you ever want to. Linn probably offers the most comprehensive upgrade path with its Linn Sondek line. Starting at around £2,500 for its entry level turntable/arm/cartridge combo (less phokostage) up to £25,000 for its top of the line Sondek with all the bells and whistles. Not everyone cup of tea, but they have been around for many years with a strong following, so they are doing something right! A friend of mine has the ‘full fat’ version. Out fo my price range by a long way, but it does sound very good!
When you’ve zeroed in on your top two or three, see if you can go see, touch and hear each one in action before making the final choice.
Happy hunting!!
Chris