Jlegg

1 hour ago, Skacel said:

Available for normal prices: https://thesoundofvinyl.com/search.html?term=elliott+smith

Just checked it out, and yeah, the prices are better, but its $18.17 for shipping to the US. That puts the total at $72.15 for both. That's more reasonable than the $89 from uDiscover, but still way more expensive than it needs to be. I'm a sucker for colored/clear vinyl, but for $40, you can have both new presses sent to you with 2 day shipping from Amazon.

5 hours ago, allenh said:

Take it back for a refund and unless there's a big ball of fluff on the stylus the most likely causes are going to be a shite cartridge/stylus or the on board electronics. Both of which require replacement parts and or repair

This is the most likely scenario. Those aren't great turntables by any definition, but should play without the sound being muffled and scratchy. 

7 minutes ago, highfives said:

Is Easy Dub frowned upon by reggae fans?  I'm not huge into reggae but I love some of their cover records.  Sgt. Peppers, Dub Side, and Radiodread all rule.

I don't know that they held in high esteem, but I've never heard them shit on.

Heart of the Congos is my favorite dub album. I wish I had a better press of it. I guess its likely just the recording quality, but...

Also, Easy Dub All Stars - Dub Side of the Moon is a fun album.

2 hours ago, itsgoodtobefree said:

If I wanted overpriced colored versions of these albums I would have bought the Bong Load reissues. I'm fine with getting the standard black on Amazon for $40 for the pair.

Yup.

$30 for XO, and $40 for figure 8.... Thought about pulling the trigger, then saw and additioanl $18.90 for shipping. No thanks.

The first time I saw Free Throw, they opened for Tiny Moving Parts in Columbus. TMP always puts on a high energy show, but I though Free Throw blew them out of the water. Those Days are Gone was a hell of an album so I am beyond stoked for this. Picked up the bundle and will get the tour exclusive next month in Indianapolis.

I wish I liked Jack's solo stuff as much as his other stuff. Pre-ordered, but man I miss Merchant ships.

PM'd

the red and black knob on the back of your speaker should twist out if you twist them counter clockwise. If they do, wrap speaker wire around the post and twist the knob back down. If they do not twist out, you will need some banana plugs as Tardcore has mentioned.

I read all of it. I don't know why, but I did. 

17 minutes ago, Jlegg said:

That chassis at least looks cool. 

 

So its a hybrid preamp (sand power supply, tube audio path) and solid state amp? Looks like it would be fun to mess with, especially if you're into modding, but I have to believe the sound cant be good. Or at least, wont have much of a tube sound to it at all.

Also, I've not heard it, am not an expert, and that is just my opinion. It could very well sound awesome. I actually might pick one up just to check it out.

Just didn't want anyone to think I was being a dick, or trying to shit on that amp.

On 3/27/2017 at 3:08 PM, xxmartinxx said:

To make life more interesting, I decided to order one of these:

 

http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=75

 

I used to have MP-301 MKII, which was cool, but my speakers weren't efficient enough to get any low end out of it.  I've been curious about Class D amps lately and this thing is dirt cheap.  Musical Paradise has really nicely built, well constructed products (especially if you believe that the parts list aren't Chinese knockoffs).  I'll be shocked if it's not great.  It only has one set of RCA inputs, but if I end up liking it, I could pull out the useless (to me) DAC and add another set.  

 

This could be a poor man's Rogue Sphinx.  I'll let you know.  

That chassis at least looks cool. 

So its a hybrid preamp (sand power supply, tube audio path) and solid state amp? Looks like it would be fun to mess with, especially if you're into modding, but I have to believe the sound cant be good. Or at least, wont have much of a tube sound to it at all.

It sounds like the problem is in the amp, but you should start by trouble shooting. Try to switch the speakers (hook right speaker up to left channel, and vice versa), hook another source up to the amp and see what happens, switch the right and left channel lines from your turntable around (plug the red plug into the white socket, white plug to red socket.) If anything at all changes, you should be able to find your problem.

I'm not intimately familiar with your amp, but if your TT has a preamp, and the amp has a preamp, try switching which one you use to see if that helps.

The only time i have had a similar problem was when I had a blown resistor on my preamp board, but that's pretty far down the diagnostic tree, so check out what I've listed and post back to us.

4 hours ago, allenh said:

I've been looking at those, have you tried one yourself?

I have. I really enjoyed building it and I think it sounds really great. I'm using some NOS Mullards in it.

Ever thought of building a pre amp? There's an EAR 834 clone on the bay to be had for cheap and it sounds amazing.

If you're handy with a soldering iron at all it's not particularly difficult to do. Here's a thread discussing it. Worth at least considering.

http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=20984.0

That is a terrible name, but I think this could be really cool if a lot of people use it.

Some people like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Auralex-Acoustics-ISO-Tone-Turntable-Isolation/dp/B00SZ3J4IS

Ive not used one, as I found a decent isolation platform on Craigslist a few years back that has three inner tubes in it that I like a lot. 

Depending on the size of your turntable, it looks like there is a 15" X 15" one made for subwoofers also available a little cheaper. Just google it.

Unless there are line level inputs on it, which I doubt there are, then there isn't a super simple way of integrating Bluetooth without modifications. 

I don't know what you're hoping to play with Bluetooth through this, but if you just want to play music from your phone or something you could buy a FM transmitter like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Transmitter-Version-Novo-Icon-Blackberry/dp/B01DP8YYZU/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1489691650&sr=1-6&keywords=fm+transmitter and just hook it up to your phone. Then you could dial in the station on your FM radio on it and listen.

If you want Bluetooth, my best guess would be to buy a portable Bluetooth speaker with a 3.5mm out, and then hook up the FM transmitter to it.

You most likely know this, but the sound quality probably wont be great....

2 hours ago, vinyl addict said:

No

34 minutes ago, raye said:

Thanks for all of the above so far -- that Dynavector sound like some serious stuff (£759 rrp in the UK, I think).

Allen -- think I owe you an email/PM -- this is the first time I've been on the site in over six months (I should really set up email notifications ... I'll get around to it).

Any recommendations RE new speakers (and further carts, too? I wish there was an 'easy demo' for this stuff).

I cant help much with speakers, as I only use floor standing. I am happy with my Klipsch Rf-82 ii's, but I know some people don't care for them.

As for the Dynavector, its a bit overkill for your table, but I also really like the DV 10X5, which is a HO MC cart and wouldn't be a bad choice. The other suggestion of a LO MC like the Benz Micro, or Sumiko Blue point is good as well.

I try not to have one item in the source amp speaker chain with disproportionately high or low value to the others. You've got nice source components, and a nice amp, it seems like your speakers are the weakest link so if it were me I would start there.

and with your cart, I used the 2M blue for a few years before I upgraded to a Dynavector DV 20X2 mc cart. For me, the blue is too clynical and lacks detail, but it's great at it's price point. 

Messaged!

Yeah, I was able to order one yesterday FWIW

I received my copy from Kill rock stars yesterday. Both lp's came in with a bit of a bowl warp to them and the surface noise is a little higher than I was hoping for. 

Neither one of those issues is a huge deal, as I haven't washed it yet, and the warp isn't so serious my record clamp can't help. So just listening on the first play through I thought it sounded better than some of the other variants I have of this. 

I will give it a wash and vacuum and see if that clears up the surface noise. If it does, then this will be an excellent press. Very dynamic and clear.