BillH2121

Thanks for the info - that may be the easier way to go. I'll go to CC tomorrow and check it out.

Hey Petrol - did it look decent??

My wife and I just purchased a Console TV stand for out Sony 55 inch TV. Unfortunately, in our zeal at finally finding a piece that would match our furniture, we overlooked the fact that it does not have an open shelve for the RC 25. I'm now planning on mounting the 25 on the wall just above the top edge of the TV. Is it easy to wall mount the RC 25? Any problems or anything I should be aware of ? Thanks

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I agree that one should support his local shop when feasible. However, the "local shop" in Oklahoma City is Best Buy, Circuit City, and Ultimate Electronics. And they seem to carry only certain models at anywhere from $500 - $1000 more than available on the net. I have to admit that I'm pretty nervous about dealing on something like a TV over the net but I'm also not crazy about handing over an extra $1000. I'm not in any hurry at this point to buy so I'll just relax and shop around a little more. BTW, there are some specialty, high-end HT stores in the area, but at even higher prices than the big stores.

I'm considering purchasing a Samsung DLP 61 inch TV (1080p), probably 68 series - maybe 78 series. It appears that I could save plenty of $ by buying from an online dealer and having the set delivered. Anyone have experience purchasing this way - what about service after the sale or if problems exist with TV? Thanks for any advice.

Yeah - as I mentioned, I have a Benz ACE coming back any day now. I just wanted the 35MR as a backup with my old Shure V15.

Oh well, apparently someone thought it was worth $153 - I was never going to go that high. Maybe next time.......

Hey Sputnik - how does the HE compare to MR?

Thanks Travis - I remember seeing that site a week or so when I first started looking for a replacement stylus. I didn't know if maybe the value had increased since the original stylae are no longer available. I don't think I'm much willing to go much above the price on that site though since I have another cart coming soon. Thanks again.

I'm currently bidding on a VN35MR stylus for my old Shure V15 III. The bidding's already over $100. I've been using my old Shure while waiting for the replacement for a Benz ACE (faulty channel - should get the replacement in a week or so) and have been delightfully surprised by the V15's performance. I have the VN35E on the cart now and know that the MR is an upgrade. What's a VN35MR going for these days? The seller says it has between 25 and 50 hours on it. Auction ends in 4 hours - need some quick advice. Thanks

I got mine new for $1500 last Christmas - best money I ever spent!

I think I had it dialed in pretty good using the HiFi tool in combination with the test record. But, while I didn't notice major differences as far as bass, mid and high response, I did notice that it seemed more focused and "tight" sounding. I'm constantly messing with VTA. I'm anxious to get my Benz ACE cartridge back and see if I can get it to sound better. I let the guy who I bought the ACE from install it and I know that he didn't use a straight edge to set alignment to the spindle. I really think that that's the important initial adjustment. That's the adjustment from which all the other adjustments "live or die". Again, although I think the mirrored tool is somewhat difficult to use initially, I think its a good one to use in comination with the HiFi tool. By the way Thebes, thanks for your "creative" posts - they bring enjoyment to many on this Board.

I received the mirrored cartridge alignment tool yesterday that I ordered from Turntable Basics. Although I was satisfied with using the cardboard tool that came with the HiFi News test album, I thought I would reinstall my Shure V15 III on my Scout TT while I'm waiting for my Benz ACE to be replaced and compare alignments. I followed the instructions that came with the mirrored tool. First is to align the tool with the center of the tonearm spindle. This is easy on the Scout because the tonearm rides on a sharp point. I just ran a straightedge along the line on the tool to the point at the base of the tonearm and used duct tape to immobilize the platter and tool. Then the hard part - actually seeing under the cartridge and finding the spot where the stylus must sit. Because of the "paralax" view on the mirror it was very difficult for me to find the spot on the mirror. However, after a while you get used to looking at the mirrored surface and can "see" better - its like looking at those prints where there are actually two things in the picture and you finally see the other thing after you look at it awhile. Anyway, after getting the cartridge aligned in the outer grid, I moved to the inner grid and - viola!!! - it also was aligned. Then I checked it against the HIFI News tool and it was aligned on both of those grids as well. I still think the HiFi News tool is a good one, but with the mirrored tool, you only have to get it right in the outer grid and if you've aligned the tool with the spindle correctly, the cartridge should be aligned. Also, the tool is good for getting an initial check on azimuth. I then use the HiFi album to fine tune. Although it is not the easiest tool to use, I recommend the mirrored tool - its only $20.

I ordered the much praised/maligned mirrored alignment tool from Turntable Basics. It supposedly shipped a week ago Thursday via airmail. I have not received it yet. When I tried to get a phone number from directory assistance today using the address on the shipping info, I was told there is no number for that address. Has anyone done business with them lately? Time to worry yet?

TRAPEZE!!!! Keeping Time, You Are The Music, and Way Back To The Bone!!!

The Shure website contains a list and specifications of discontinued carts.

DRBILL - thanks for your response and I apologize for my late reply (I spent the weekend painting our living room). Yes, when the inputs are disconeected from the preamp the hum disappears although there is a sound resembling white noise at full volume. I'm pretty sure my problem is in the interconnects from the TT to my preamp. Complicating matters is the fact that all my home theater equipment and TV is sitting a foot or so from my turntable and all equipment is plugged into one power bar. Plus, because my McIntosh preamp is over 30 years old, there is no 3 prong plug - there's not even a ground side (both prongs are same size. I notice from my reading of this Board that a ground loop is blamed for many problems like this - I wish I understood more about ground loops and how to diagnose and solve the problem.

My hum involves my turntable - a Scout. When I turn the volume on my preamp up all the way on all inputs except the phono input, dead and absolute silence. However, when I turn the volume up to approx 2:30 or 3:00 o'clock position with the phono input selected, a hum is heard - not loud, but nonetheless heard. The hum intensifies when I touch the interconnects from the tonearm to the TT. Also, the tone arm becomes microphonic when I tap on it with the volume at the 3:00 o'clock and above level. I made a new TT ground wire last week which helped some. I've checked all the interconnects and had the preamp checked by a McIntosh service tech. The hum is not audible at normal listening levels, but it bugs me anyway.

I'm going to upgrade preamps from my C26 to a C2200..... and then maybe a cartridge upgrade. Hell, I guess I'm not done

Yeah, can't be real - that's a $12,000 amp. I have the knockoff MC 2102 and it retails for $6,000. They are incredible tube amps. At $1000 apiece, give me 5!

I've been using a Benz ACE cart on my Scout TT for the last 5-6 months and really like it. However, last week one of the channels went bad in the Benz and I sent it back to the dealer for replacement. Not wanting to go a couple weeks without access to vinyl, I hooked-up my old Shure V15 III. I've had this cart for at least 25 years and figured its days were long over. I am surprised, to say the least, at how good this cart still sounds. Theoretically, the compounds that make-up the cantilever should have become brittle over the years and response should suffer. I'm not finding that to be the case - the Shure is producing rich, solid bass, nice mids and clear, concise highs. Plus, the Shure tracks like a champ (actually, it tracks better than the Benz). I'm not saying its as good overall as the Benz, but I remain impressed with an old friend.

Thebes - have you seen Sin City? I think you would enjoy the dialogue, if nothing else. Your latest offering is enjoyable as always.

Mike - I couldn't find your email address in your profile info. Additional information I forgot to add yesterday is that there is almost no volume out of left channel when playing a record. Also, I didn't disconnect the wires at the cartridge because when I disconnected the connect from the tonearm to the TT, the hum still remained (I thought that ruled our the cartridge which is only a couple months old - am I wrong on that??). I appreciate your help - should I pm you instead with my number? Thanks, Bill

OK - I traded left/right interconnects and the hum moved to right channel. I tried different interconnects and hum still present. I disconnected the interconnect from the tonearm to the TT and hum still there - so I reason that cartridge and cartridge wires are ok. I inserted shorting plug into phono input and and hum greatly decreased but still present in left channel when volume turned up (2:30 - 3:00 o'clock). Seems like preamp?? But why is hum greatly decreased with shorting plug?

Alright - did test as Mike suggested. With phono inputs unplugged, the hum is decreased but is now found in both channels, not just one as before. Also, no changes when I tap on preamp.