Dolph
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Posts posted by Dolph
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Thanks to all for your insight. I've ordered the SL1210GR. I decided to go with black since I've been looking at the silver for over 40 yrs. I'm hoping to replicate Islander's experience, we'll see how it goes. It's hard to find them so I have it on backorder, hope it doesn't take too long. I'll let you folks know how it goes, thanks again for all your help.
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28 minutes ago, MicroMara said:
You are mistaking VTA with SRA = Stylus Rack Angle
The Tonearm Height (VTA = Vertical Tracking Angle) and the Stylus Rake Angle (SRA)
The "big" control variable and hopefully also -screw on the tonearm is the height adjustment, the adjustment of the so-called "Vertical Tracking Angle .
What the height adjustment of the tonearm is actually about, is to trim the angle of the needle's insertion into the record to the angle specified during vinyl cutting. This way you can correct the SRA (the Stylus Rake Angle). The standard for this (exceptions confirm the rule) is around 92 degrees when the needle is dipped with the correct weight. Why not 90 degrees? Because the cutting graver scratches out material when cutting vinyl, and to prevent the material from accumulating in front of the graver, you admit a few degrees, i.e. you cut at a slight angle. 92 degrees.
At this point I would like to emphasize once again that the described settings can be made by ear and taste, as always. Those who have practiced ears can and should use them. The bottom line is the same as with frequency response perception: what you really hear can also be measured. What cannot be measured is often only anchored in the human psyche.
Further some facts you should think about
The issue here is the compliance of the needle carrier. The compliance indicates how hard or soft the suspension of the needle carrier is, which in turn carries the scanning diamond. The unit of measurement of compliance is µm/mN. It is measured at 10 Hz.Some of them measure at 100 Hz. There is also a distinction between dynamic and static compliance. The dynamic one counts; and it is obtained by dividing the static value by two.
MM and MI cartridges have a higher needle compliance than MC cartridges, these have a more stiffer needle compliance
Low compliance = hard suspended systems = values between 6 and 12 µm/mN
Medium compliance = medium hard/medium soft suspended systems = values between 11 and 22 µm/mNHigh compliance = soft suspended systems = 22 to 30 µm/mN
Very high compliance = very soft suspended systems = 30 to > 40 µm/mN
Tonearms can be roughly classified according to the following scale
Ultra light tonearm: 4 to 5 grams
Lightweight tonearm: 6 to 9 grams
Medium-weight tonearm: 9 to 15 grams (most of the arms used today)
Heavy tonearm: 19 to 24 grams
Very heavy tonearm: 25 grams and moreFor tonearms with exchangeable headshells this must always be included.
Tonearm and cartridge as spring-mass system
The mentioned values/classifications are important because the combination of tonearm and cartridge represents a spring-mass system. Like all classic spring pendulums, such a combination has a natural frequency that depends on the hardness of the spring and the mass of the whole system. This is the famous "moving mass", and only this is decisive: If the hardness of the spring increases (i.e. with lower compliance), the resonant frequency increases. If, in turn, more mass is added, the resonant frequency decreases.
The excitation of the mass-spring-system and the consequences
Now what happens if you excite this mass-spring-system with its natural frequency? Logically: it resonates, so that the oscillation becomes extremely upsetting. These oscillations in turn superimpose other frequencies. They lead to disturbances or booming and color the sound image or restrict the exact reproduction of the music. For example, if the resonance frequency was 40 Hz and you were playing a nice bass tune, the needle could perform a dance and jump out of the groove.
Tonearm adjustment: many settings - lots of sound
When you start with the vinyl hobby, you think in a naive way: screw on the pickups, swing them out, roughly adjust the counterweight, and off you go. Unfortunately a wrong way - at least if you want to listen to music with high standards. Which pickup is already perfectly produced? Which needle is mounted exactly straight? Which needle carrier is at the exact angle in the generator?
Azimuth: mandatory setting of a good tonearm
The most obvious production errors can usually be detected with a sharp look at the needle carrier and needle. A magnifying glass or USB microscope can help enormously. If the needle or the needle carrier is obviously mounted crooked, you should complain about the pickup at the dealer. Slight misalignments can be compensated by using the mounting bracket in the headshell.
How to correct skewed needle carriers and diamonds
What can only be compensated for by adjusting the azimuth on the tonearm is a diamond inserted at a slight lateral angle, as unfortunately occurs in 80% of all cases with MC pickups. If you want an exact position of the needle in the groove and thus a perfect result, you have to measure and correct the azimuth. Many do this by ear. Respect, who can do that! The goal of an azimuth measurement is always to create a channel separation that is as equal as possible by using different angular positions of the headshell. With well produced pickups, the corrections are +/- 0.5 degrees or less to achieve the desired position. This sounds like little at first, but at one degree you can see the "skew" more than clearly.
Hope you can use these infos.
Thank you for the detailed info.
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50 minutes ago, ODS123 said:
What is clear from your post is that you obviously cherish your vinyl collection and seem devoted to playing it for some time to come. ..Also, it would appear your Technics 1800 is quite long in the tooth. Lastly, it seems you have the means to buy the 1210GR if only you can justify the cost.
It it were me, I'd buy the 1210gr and be done with ever upgrading my turntable; it will truly be all the TT you will ever need. Your current table is old enough that it's likely you'll experience some issues in the not too distant future. And when you do, there's no guarantee you'll be able to find a tech and or parts for the repair. And at that point, the 1210GR may either be more expensive or out-of-production.
You've waited this long to upgrade, no one could accuse you of being frivolous w/ your $$
Just my $.02 (which may have an actual cash value of closer to $.01)
Yes, I think you're pickin up what I'm layin down.
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Hi. Thanks for all the input. My current TT, the Sl1800 is the Mk1 so no quartz drive. I am running the 2m bronze on it and as the cartridge is fairly new I plan on using it on the next turntable. The as2200 has a good mm phono stage and a mc phono stage that I haven't heard yet. I think there may be some issue with the anti-skating on my 1800 since when the tonearm is free floating with or without the headshell with or without tracking force applied the arm hangs out in the middle of the platter and doesn't drift towards the rest no matter where I set the anti-skate. Also since I have the 2m bronze, I would like to be able to adjust the VTA which you can't do on the 1800 unless you do the mat changing thing and all that. But the 1800 still plays well and sounds good. Guess I'm just wondering if going to the 1200GR using the 2m bronze and the existing MM phono stage on the as2200 (which I think is an excellent phono stage) and gaining ability to adjust VTA, newer circuitry ( rather than taking the 1800 to the shop for a tune up) and having an anti-skate that I know is working would this improve the sound? Maybe this is a case of you won't know unless you try. Probably still having upgradeitis.
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Hi. I'm a new member but have been following the forum for a little while. I am thinking about upgrading my turntable. My current is a technics SL1800 MK1 that I purchased back in 78. Still running fine. Since I've upgraded the rest of my system I'm thinking it may benefit from a new tt. Started by looking at the technics SL 1200GR. Like the 1800 it appears to be be built like a tank, but I don't think I really need built like a tank. So I'm looking for something that is a sonic improvement ( I don't know if the SL1200GR is going to sound better or not, maybe one of you fine folks can enlighten me). I don't like the looks of the planars or uturns, too minimalist looking to me. I have an Ortofan 2m bronze that I can use on the new tt. I'd like to stay in the price range of the SL1200GR or maybe up to 2 grand. The rest of my kit is, a pair of Forte IVs, Yamaha AS 2200 amp, Yamaha CD S1000, HSU ULS15 MK2 sub and a blue node 2. I like to listen to Seeger, Steely Dan, Chicago, Supertramp, Paul Simon etc. Any sharing of insight or experiences is greatly appreciated.
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Turntable suggestions.
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
Hey 8 Ohms . I was wondering if you received your new deck yet. I ordered mine a month ago and have heard nothing yet.