So, record players...

[paul]

hey turntable enthusiasts,
i am just now getting into vinyl - for this very album believe it or not.

so i picked up a Technics SL 7 and have no idea what to do with it. i got a small solid state preamp and have it all hooked up to a Yamaha receiver that is primarily designed for home theater. currently just using the headphones out with the whole set up but i noticed no real improvement in sound after adding the preamp. did i do something wrong?

[todieisfun]

hey turntable enthusiasts,
i am just now getting into vinyl - for this very album believe it or not.

so i picked up a Technics SL 7 and have no idea what to do with it. i got a small solid state preamp and have it all hooked up to a Yamaha receiver that is primarily designed for home theater. currently just using the headphones out with the whole set up but i noticed no real improvement in sound after adding the preamp. did i do something wrong?

isn't the purpose of a preamp to increase the volume? i don't think it really does anything to improve the sound but i really don't know know too much about these things so i could be wrong

[paul]

i heard that too but i also heard it affects the low range and adds the bass frequencies back in. i also have a ground which i need to figure out. i just figured i could hook it up to any screw on the back of receiver ... but i am guessing thats probably not correct.

[todieisfun]

i heard that too but i also heard it affects the low range and adds the bass frequencies back in. i also have a ground which i need to figure out. i just figured i could hook it up to any screw on the back of receiver ... but i am guessing thats probably not correct.

ugh the dreaded ground. I needed to ground my turntable so i literally hooked it up to any screw on my mixer. i read online that it's fine if you do that but it sounds like garbage to me. not getting decent audio from the vinyl. so much buzzing and crackling

[paul]

Yeah, I think I am just going to break down and find an amp with a dedicated phono input. I already bought the technics turntable and the album is on the way. Plus I have seen older but decent amps for a song at Goodwill and other local second hand shops.

[Spaced]

i heard that too but i also heard it affects the low range and adds the bass frequencies back in. i also have a ground which i need to figure out. i just figured i could hook it up to any screw on the back of receiver ... but i am guessing thats probably not correct.

ugh the dreaded ground. I needed to ground my turntable so i literally hooked it up to any screw on my mixer. i read online that it's fine if you do that but it sounds like garbage to me. not getting decent audio from the vinyl. so much buzzing and crackling

doesn't your mixer have a grounding post? something like this...

[paul]

nope ... no ground. i would have to have one that was useful!

mine is made for surround sound and doesn't appreciate the finer things like a ground and dedicated phono input. it works - i have the ground screwed to a case screw on the receiver and sound is decent, but i am sure a receiver/amp built with phono in mind will be a marked improvement.

regardless, this really is neat. i haven't heard "America's Greatest Hits" on vinyl since i was like 8 or 9 - but it was my parents spinning vinyl in the late 70's at one of their house parties. picked this up for .50 at a garage sale this weekend. fun!

[Spaced]

sorry man that was directed towards todieisfun. he is writing off his stanton when i think it will be fine if he sorts out the grounding, which is essential.
oops i just read his post on the previous page that his mixer hasn't a grounding post, oh well. he needs that to get any use out of his turntable, or a player that's self grounded.
i have a stanton t.60 direct drive and although it doesn't compare in any shape or form to my technics 1200 it is fine for casual use.

[Spaced]

nope ... no ground. i would have to have one that was useful!

mine is made for surround sound and doesn't appreciate the finer things like a ground and dedicated phono input. it works - i have the ground screwed to a case screw on the receiver and sound is decent, but i am sure a receiver/amp built with phono in mind will be a marked improvement.

regardless, this really is neat. i haven't heard "America's Greatest Hits" on vinyl since i was like 8 or 9 - but it was my parents spinning vinyl in the late 70's at one of their house parties. picked this up for .50 at a garage sale this weekend. fun!

have one of these phono preamps that i used to use before i got a dedicated mixer with phono inputs.
cheap and cheerful but solidly made. handy little thing. ground post, phono input/output.

http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B000A36XZS

[paul]

i was looking at that very one yesterday.
think i might just pick one up off Amazon - thanks!

[todieisfun]

sorry man that was directed towards todieisfun. he is writing off his stanton when i think it will be fine if he sorts out the grounding, which is essential.
oops i just read his post on the previous page that his mixer hasn't a grounding post, oh well. he needs that to get any use out of his turntable, or a player that's self grounded.
i have a stanton t.60 direct drive and although it doesn't compare in any shape or form to my technics 1200 it is fine for casual use.

ya i was thinking about just buying/upgrading to a better turntable. unless you're able to recommend a mixer or amp with a dedicated ground post?

[Spaced]

that preamp that i linked above could be used in conjunction with your mixer, or whatever stereo unit you might have. your turntable works, it just needs something to work with.

[todieisfun]

that preamp that i linked above could be used in conjunction with your mixer, or whatever stereo unit you might have. your turntable works, it just needs something to work with.

cool, thanks for the help. much appreciated. i'm usually quick to giving up on gear, which leads to me selling things and then leads to regret haha

[Techboy]

Hey guys. BUMP! For Christmas, Roisin got me a Pro-Ject Essential II (thanks what hi-fi!)
The only amp I have is as part of a mixing console (Tascam US 1800) which doesnt appear to have a ground point. Is this going to kill me or just mean that I've a little chance of hearing some buzz? Could I just ground it on something else like the case of the desk?
M

[IanRedpoint]

Hey guys. BUMP! For Christmas, Roisin got me a Pro-Ject Essential II (thanks what hi-fi!)
The only amp I have is as part of a mixing console (Tascam US 1800) which doesnt appear to have a ground point. Is this going to kill me or just mean that I've a little chance of hearing some buzz? Could I just ground it on something else like the case of the desk?
M

You really need a phono preamp to get the output up to a suitable level to work well with the Tascam imo. Any phono preamp will have a ground connector. I've never tried hooking up a turntable without one, so I'm not sure how it will behave. You can get some very cheap (<£20) preamps. There's a Behringer one that looks okay. Pro-ject make a couple too, which would work well with that turntable…

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PROJECT-PHONO-M ... ono+preamp

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PROJECT-PHONO-T ... ono+preamp

[Techboy]

Thanks Ian. I'll possibly just shell out the 70 squid project one. Anybody got any recommendations for decent monitors?

[jcnporter]

Hey guys. BUMP! For Christmas, Roisin got me a Pro-Ject Essential II (thanks what hi-fi!)
The only amp I have is as part of a mixing console (Tascam US 1800) which doesnt appear to have a ground point. Is this going to kill me or just mean that I've a little chance of hearing some buzz? Could I just ground it on something else like the case of the desk?
M

If you're only going to use it for listening, why not just get a decent hi-fi amp and speakers? You should be able to get a decent budget setup for a few hundred.

Here's an example -

http://www.richersounds.com/package/sys ... /pah011618

[Headphase]

Cheap ones WILL destroy your vinyls. Some are on amazon for like £30

Get a more expensive one. They are often a better make and wont mess up your vinyls

[fujee]

Was thinking of getting this deal, thoughts everyone?

http://www.richersounds.com/package/sys ... /pah011435

I've heard the Q Acoustics 2020i are really good value, though I may just buy the amp separate and upgrade to these more hi end upgrades:

http://www.whathifi.com/review/q-acoustics-concept-20

I really need some help to be honest, I am not a huge equipment geek. But I know I will get what I pay for.

If it helps at all, I have a Project Debut Carbon.

[Techboy]

Thanks for the advice guys, I bought a Pioneer hi-fi amp and set up the turntable today. Running off a crappy pair of speakers right now, going to get a great pair next month after wages I reckon..
Playing my BOC vinyl. Finally.