Turntable tip of the week. Ideas for getting the maximum quality audio from your vintage turntable.
If you are looking for a unique wall shelf for your suspended subchassis turntable, you might check out this Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SilicateStudio
I exchanged some emails with the fellow, and he says custom sizes are available along with heavier duty brackets. He said he can provide a shelf that would hold over 70lbs. Check it out…
A common question I get asked is what are the differences between a Thorens TD-160 and a TD-165. This video highlights those for you.
Just bought one of these Ikea Jansjo lamps as a turntable light. LOVE it! I have tried two battery operated TT lights before, but I get sick of changing batteries when I forget and leave it on two days straight! This one has AC. If you have an Ikea near you, go there. If not, this is the cheapest price I could find online.
Demagnetize your phonocartridge for FREE!
Something every turntable owner should own is a set of phono cartridge shims for fine adjustment of VTA or Vertical Tracking Angle. Frustrated by the lack of affordable quality shims available for purchase, I took one of my favorite designs to my sheet metal fabricators and had these high quality non-magnetic shims produced. Each is individually machined. The open end design is a PLEASURE to use. You can read more about them and purchase your shim/spacer set here.
At the Thorens factory, for most vintage models they used a straight SAE 20 wt. turbine oil. There are all kinds of other oils on the market, but if you want what Thorens intended, just go to your local hardware store.
Thorens used a cartridge mounting screw size that’s sometimes difficult to find. Many people offer kits, but Steve Clarke of The Analog Dept offers the best. Click the link: The best source for Thorens cartridge mounting screws.
If you are lucky enough to own a vintage Shure V-15 series cartridge, you owe it to yourself to replace the stylus with as SAS stylus produced by Jico of Japan. I have had the pleasure of auditioning the SAS version II, III, IV, and VxMr over the last several years, and none of them disappointed. I’ve never had the occasion to compare them with NOS originals, but they certainly blow away any other Shure stylus replacement out there. You can buy direct from Jico in Japan or at LP Gear here in the US. Pricey…yes…but worth every penny.
A simple and quick video on how to handle a vinyl lp correctly…
One of the questions I get asked most frequently is how do you clean (deep clean) your records. It’s an extensive topic with many opinions. This thread at Steve Hoffman Forums is a good place to get started. One thing I will add is that once I finally bought a record vac, I wondered why the heck I had waited so long; if you own a lot of “yard sale” records it is indispensable at getting them into playable condition.