Audiophile Thread

Ojai Sam said:
For many years, the only turntable available to me has been my Audio-Technica USB unit, which I use for ripping purposes. While this is indispensable, my set up doesn’t lend itself to casual listening. This month I finally decided to do something about that.

Rather than buy another USB turntable, I dusted off one of my old Technics SL 1200 Mk2s to see if I could figure out a way to play it through my computer. After a lot of research, I invested in the ART USB Phono Plus.

www.whathifi.com

Home review

This ART will treat your music with the respect it deserves.
www.whathifi.com www.whathifi.com

With some trepidation, I wired it up, plugged it in, and… silence. You didn’t think Windows was going to make life simple did you? After some minor tweaking of my audio settings, the glorious sound of vintage vinyl finally poured forth.

Here’s what my set up looks like, along with the LP I selected to break it in.

View attachment 9555
This turntable now speaks happily to Audacity so I can rip at will. However, at least for now, I’m going to return to the simple days of pulling an album out of its jacket, slapping it on the turntable and lowering the tone arm. Naturally, this calls for a new series here at MG:

Vinyl Spin of the Day.

:banana:
Click to expand...
I don't know if this means you listen to vinyl through an ADC (analog to digital converter), or if it's just for ripping purposes. I really don't see the point in listening to vinyl exclusively through digitization. I can definitely see the utility in preserving the recordings through vinyl rips, though.
 
Unsomnambulist said:
I don't know if this means you listen to vinyl through an ADC (analog to digital converter), or if it's just for ripping purposes. I really don't see the point in listening to vinyl exclusively through digitization. I can definitely see the utility in preserving the recordings through vinyl rips, though.
Click to expand...
Good question. I don't have space for a full sound system here where my vinyl collection resides but love my AudioEngine A5 computer speakers. So an ADC is a good compromise.
 
In recent weeks, I have finally had some time to organize my record vault after years of deferred maintenance due to the pressures of my career. This is still definitely a work in progress, but at last now I have access to stacks and stacks of laughing wax I haven't seen in a long while. To celebrate, I decided to reward my ears with a new cartridge. After a bit of research, I came up with this one:

www.crutchfield.com

Audio-Technica VM540ML/H

Dual moving magnet phono cartridge with MicroLine® stylus and headshell
www.crutchfield.com www.crutchfield.com

It replaces an older, lesser Audio-Technica and the difference is monumental. With my new Audio Engine speakers, I am amazed that a computer can produce sound that approaches my old analog stereo system. To christen my new needle, I decided to spin a vintage Capitol LP from 60 years ago, long before cheap recycled vinyl and cheaper recycled music took over the world. :worm:

. IMG_5403.jpg

The clarity, brightness and stereo separation are all stunning. I can almost see Buz and Tod* driving through my library.

detail_1205_obs_66_h.jpg


* Yes, that's the official spelling. I guess double consonants weren't considered hip enough. ;)
 
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