Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[AnthonyI]

Speaking of overpriced.............

I picked up a fancy reamer for correcting spindle holes, and yes, for what it's function is, it is overpriced. And yes, there are other least expensive solutions, such as a drill bit or graduated hole reamer you can pick up for a few dollars at your local hardware store. But, I don't want to worry about making the hole too big, or possibly elongating it so the lp spins off center. For those with nerves of steel and supreme confidence I would recommend the "budget" options.

The spindle reamer from Stable 33.33 looks nice and is overpriced, but I like that it sits on a shelf right above my TT and when I drop an album on the spindle and it's tight and or a little tooooo snug, I can grab it, and in literally 15 seconds correct the problem without any real thought process or fear of screwing it up. Actually you can't, you can't screw it up using this thing, plain and simple..........and THAT is worth the extra coin to ME

 

[Thackeraye]

Speaking of overpriced.............

I picked up a fancy reamer for correcting spindle holes, and yes, for what it's function is, it is overpriced. And yes, there are other least expensive solutions, such as a drill bit or graduated hole reamer you can pick up for a few dollars at your local hardware store. But, I don't want to worry about making the hole too big, or possibly elongating it so the lp spins off center. For those with nerves of steel and supreme confidence I would recommend the "budget" options.

The spindle reamer from Stable 33.33 looks nice and is overpriced, but I like that it sits on a shelf right above my TT and when I drop an album on the spindle and it's tight and or a little too snug, I can grab it, and in literally 15 seconds correct the problem without any real thought process or fear of screwing it up. Actually you can't, you can't screw it up using this item plain and simple..........and THAT is worth the extra coin to ME

View attachment 88550

So you’re saying I shouldn’t be sticking a pen in the spindle hole and spinning it a few times in the hope it works?!

 

[AnthonyI]

So you’re saying I shouldn’t be sticking a pen in the spindle hole and spinning it a few times in the hope it works?!

Nope, I'm saying I'm going to use this thing-a-madoodle

 

[Joe Mac]

So you’re saying I shouldn’t be sticking a pen in the spindle hole and spinning it a few times in the hope it works?!

I’m 100% sticking with the good old reliable bic biro!

 

[Thackeraye]

I’m 100% sticking with the good old reliable bic biro!

To be fair, I’ve been finding that the spindle on the Lenco is a little on the chonky side, so this might not be a bad idea!

 

[Sebastian]

You could, or you could put them underneath the butcher block.

I was afraid you’d say that

 

[Joe Mac]

Speaking of overpriced.............

I picked up a fancy reamer for correcting spindle holes, and yes, for what it's function is, it is overpriced. And yes, there are other least expensive solutions, such as a drill bit or graduated hole reamer you can pick up for a few dollars at your local hardware store. But, I don't want to worry about making the hole too big, or possibly elongating it so the lp spins off center. For those with nerves of steel and supreme confidence I would recommend the "budget" options.

The spindle reamer from Stable 33.33 looks nice and is overpriced, but I like that it sits on a shelf right above my TT and when I drop an album on the spindle and it's tight and or a little tooooo snug, I can grab it, and in literally 15 seconds correct the problem without any real thought process or fear of screwing it up. Actually you can't, you can't screw it up using this thing, plain and simple..........and THAT is worth the extra coin to ME

View attachment 88550

€50 is a lot more than 25cents but i was kinda also expecting much more so I’d be very, rather than mildly, shocked!

 

[AnthonyI]

€50 is a lot more than 25cents but i was kinda also expecting much more so I’d be very, rather than mildly, shocked!

.......and your BIC has other uses

 

[Joe Mac]

.......and your BIC has other uses

Haha yeah! I use it for lots of things! Pretty much everything other than writing to be honest. I use an ink pen for that, I find it tempers the worst excesses of my terrible handwriting!

 

[Thackeraye]

Haha yeah! I use it for lots of things! Pretty much everything other than writing to be honest. I use an ink pen for that, I find it tempers the worst excesses of my terrible handwriting!

You got lawyers handwriting, Joe? Think accountants have a similar thing, particularly in practice - the closer you get to partner level the worse your writing gets.

In all seriousness though, I may need to consider a slightly more scientific method of widening the holes in my records.

 

[HiFi Guy]

I was afraid you’d say that

You can try it both ways, see if you hear a difference and which way you prefer.

 

[Joe Mac]

You got lawyers handwriting, Joe? Think accountants have a similar thing, particularly in practice - the closer you get to partner level the worse your writing gets.

In all seriousness though, I may need to consider a slightly more scientific method of widening the holes in my records.

I’d like to claim that but it was shocking long before I was called to the bar! It’s not quite a doctor level but if I use a biro I write more quickly and it’s all but illegible. An ink pen at least forces me to slow down and form my letters!

 

[duke86fan]

Vibrapods seem like snake oil but that's probably because i got the wrong model (model 3 instead of 2 which would have worked better on a U-turn

It doesn't stop stylus jumps if I touch my table a certain way and no real improvement in sound

 

[AnthonyI]

Vibrapods seem like snake oil but that's probably because i got the wrong model (model 3 instead of 2 which would have worked better on a U-turn

It doesn't stop stylus jumps if I touch my table a certain way and no real improvement in sound

This isn't a personal attack, but I hate the snake oil reference to anything related to this hobby. Again, we all have different gear and preferences, and I still contend that the higher your gear goes on the "quality" ladder, the more chance that those odds and ends show an actual effect.

I've said this before, this isn't a one size fits all hobby and even with number, stats and graphs to back certain things I still think you need to find out for yourself. As for the Vibropads, I had a marble slab under my UD and it did a wonderful, noticeable job, even more so when it was under my Orbit. But, with the butcher block/Vibropad combo, I found no difference..........which would indicate its working just as good as the marble slab did.

People have to be willing to break some eggs in this hobby, I know we all don't have the financial means to do so, but I still think first hand experience is best for determining YOUR opinion of XYZ...........but I'll reiterate, everyone's layout/gear/preference is different

 

[kvetcha]

So you’re saying I shouldn’t be sticking a pen in the spindle hole and spinning it a few times in the hope it works?!

This is what I do!

 

[duke86fan]

I've said this before, this isn't a one size fits all hobby and even with number, stats and graphs to back certain things I still think you need to find out for yourself. As for the Vibropads, I had a marble slab under my UD and it did a wonderful, noticeable job, even more so when it was under my Orbit. But, with the butcher block/Vibropad combo, I found no difference..........which would indicate its working just as good as the marble slab did.

I just heard from someone here that the vibrapods would be the next step in getting sound quality and probably stop needle skips if some vinyl is sitting around one of the table legs (I also need some audiophile furniture one day). And I put the pods under the stock feet of the orbit (or basically tried) and I had no impact on vibrations

If I close the dust cover a certain way the tonearm will skip it's that light

(another reason to get a new cartridge because the tonearm is so light now that it skips when i touch the table in a certain way such as holding some vinyl on one leg)

 

[AnthonyI]

if some vinyl is sitting around one of the table legs

Not sure I understand this.

If I close the dust cover a certain way the tonearm will skip it's that light

I think your skips are coming from something else. Isolation will get rid of "some" skips if the skip is coming from vibration, its possible that's not the case here.

 

[duke86fan]

Not sure I understand this

Like this

My "to listen to" pile

I think your skips are coming from something else. Isolation will get rid of "some" skips if the skip is coming from vibration, its possible that's not the case here.

By skips I mean like the tonearm and stylus jumping up a bit to about 2 seconds later, is it just the tonearm, I have the grado on the right tracking force they recommend

 

[HiFi Guy]

Like this
View attachment 88588
My "to listen to" pile


By skips I mean like the tonearm and stylus jumping up a bit to about 2 seconds later, is it just the tonearm, I have the grado on the right tracking force they recommend

The Grado will track and sound better at 1.65 grams. And it’ll reduce or eliminate skipping.

 

[duke86fan]

The Grado will track and sound better at 1.65 grams. And it’ll reduce or eliminate skipping.

then why is the recommended 1.5.. trying not to wear down my records