Turntable stand

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floppybootstomp
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#1 Turntable stand

Post by floppybootstomp »

I've been thinking. Yes, dangerous I know but I've been thinking I might like to start playing vinyl again.

For that, I need something to put the turntable on and that's what I'm asking about here.

I need something to stand on a carpeted floor, there is no alternative as my media stuff stands in front of a set of sliding glass patio doors. Two sides of this room have these doors and it was the only logical layout for me.

So, could anybody recommend something? I haven't looked myself yet, or would I be better off making something from some wood and a small paving slab or something?

Ideally 50cm high to match the existing housing.

At the moment I have an Hitachi HT-350 direct drive turntable fitted with a Shure 75C cartridge. I believe this turntable dates from the early eighties and it used to belong to me Mum.

It will do for now but when funds permit I hope to get something old and interesting like wot you lot ave got.

My setup consists of the amp and switcher I've talked about here before - the Elektor magazine design 2 x 10W valve monoblocks in a box - CD player, DAB/FM tuner, media computer and an i-Pod dock.

They're using 4 of the switcher's 5 channels and I was saving the 5th channel for when I can afford a telly. If a turntable/phono/RIAA stage becomes a permanent fixture when I get a telly I'll lose the i-Pod dock, not a biggie.

I noticed that several friends of mine were going back to vinyl, I enjoy playing vinyl in my bedroom when I'm recording to digital in there, I have quite a lot of albums so I thought 'Why not?'

But although I have a lot of albums I certainly don't like all of them as most were bought to do discos with so there's a lot of heavy metal there, which I'm not really mad keen on tbh.

I'm also now racking my head about storage for vinyl. I figure I currently have enough space to accomodate between 380 - 420 vinyl albums which will be a start but I'll have to arrange some more space somewhere, which may prove problematic. We shall see.

Anyhow, carpeted floor turntable stand.

I'm thinking maybe a pine base with a small paving stone on top but wondering how to fit a way to adjust the level.

Or if there are any reasonably priced commercial ones available I'd be pleased to hear from you.

And I've just thought of something else. The turntable currently plays through a Pioneer A400 amp which has a phono input but of course I'll need a phono/RIAA stage to play through the switcher.

I have a cheap and nasty phono preamp that I think I bought from Tandys quite some time ago to get me going but I'd prefer something better.

Hopefully something home made with tubes.

Again, suggestions for homebuilt and commercial units apreciated.
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Greg
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#2

Post by Greg »

Do you have a solid floor or is it suspended (wood on joists)?
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floppybootstomp
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#3

Post by floppybootstomp »

It's a solid floor.

I've just had a quick search around and can't really see anything commercially available so far to suit.
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Ali Tait
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#4

Post by Ali Tait »

Would a wall-mounted one suit?
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floppybootstomp
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#5

Post by floppybootstomp »

Ali Tait wrote:Would a wall-mounted one suit?
floppybootstomp wrote:I need something to stand on a carpeted floor, there is no alternative as my media stuff stands in front of a set of sliding glass patio doors. Two sides of this room have these doors and it was the only logical layout for me.
;)
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Ali Tait
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#6

Post by Ali Tait »

Ok,thought I'd ask as I'd seen one for sale.
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floppybootstomp
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#7

Post by floppybootstomp »

I searched for a long time on t'internet and couldn't find a stand to suit.

So I strolled up to Wickes and looked around.

Gottit - 1 piece of 18mm pine boarding to suit - £22.43. 1 buff coloured paving stone 450 x 450 x 32mm - £4.08. Already have brass screws, wood glue, cross brace and varnish so grand total cost: £26.51.

I shall make this thing commencing 22nd as I'm busy til then.

In the meantime I tried out my turntable by putting it on top of my media housing TV stand thingie. Amazingly it's dead level.

And would you believe the left channel of the Shure 75C quit working during the journey from bedroom to living room? Would you Adam & Eve it?

Tried different stylus, was definitely the cartridge, replaced whole thing, working ok now.

Somewhere I have 4 or 5 brand new Shure 35C's but blowed if I can find them, they're possibly down me lockup, so that was the last one of those, possibly.

And the vinyl sounds good, mostly, though my pressing of Zappa's Hot Rats sounded strangely dull and lifeless. But that was the only one.

I have several cartridges, would you fellas perhaps offer an opinion if any are worth using?

I also have 3 new Shure 75ED styluses and a Shure M55E cartridge without a stylus.

Is it worth buying a stylus for the M55E?

Is it worth trying to find a Shure 75ED to use the three styluses I have?

What cartridges are favoured?

Here's what I have:

A new A & R C77. Judging by the tracking weight, 3 - 5 grams, it must be a budget jobbie.

Image

An Ortofon. I know nothing about this but I think it came with a new Dual 505 Mk II and I never used it.

Image

A Goldring 'DJ' cartridge. Probably a cheap and nasty, but I don't know.

Image


And last of all a nagaoka Boron MP11. I used this for a long time on my Dual 5505 Mk 2 turntable and I remember liking the sound of this one a lot. Worth buying a new stylus for? (If they're available).

Image
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Dave the bass
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#8

Post by Dave the bass »

I've got an M75 cartridge you can have Tony. The HF's are muted compared to whats available today. I think I've got an SC35C too, and a Goldring G800E.

After hearing what a budget moving coil cartridge (Denon DL103) can do I don't I'll go back to MM, you can have 'em :)

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#9

Post by Lee S »

The third cart down with the yellow stylus grip IS a Goldring G800, but with an aftermarket stylus fitted.

Usually came fitted to Lenco/Goldring GL75s.
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floppybootstomp
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#10

Post by floppybootstomp »

Dave the bass wrote:I've got an M75 cartridge you can have Tony. The HF's are muted compared to whats available today. I think I've got an SC35C too, and a Goldring G800E.
Thank you squire, I wouldn't mind the M75 but I do recall now they did lack a bit of sparkle in the top end.
Dave The Bass wrote:After hearing what a budget moving coil cartridge (Denon DL103) can do I don't I'll go back to MM, you can have 'em :)

DTB
Where did you buy the Denon DL103 then mister? And what are you using for a preamp/RIAA?

Is this any good? Project

And this is what I have atm btw: B-Tech
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#11

Post by floppybootstomp »

Lee S wrote:The third cart down with the yellow stylus grip IS a Goldring G800, but with an aftermarket stylus fitted.

Usually came fitted to Lenco/Goldring GL75s.
Thanks for the info Lee.
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floppybootstomp
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#12

Post by floppybootstomp »

Just been checking things out and it will cost more than £200.00 to get a decent (or semi decent, I dunno) phono stage and a budget moving coil cartridge.

They ain't cheap are they? :shock:

I've never owned a moving coil cartridge, don't think I've actually ever heard one tbh.

So, any valve or other designs for a phono preamp kicking about here?
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#13

Post by Dave the bass »

DL 103 I bought from here -> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Denon-DL-103-DL10 ... 3a578634ca The seller is a member here on this forum.

RIAA pre is an all-valve Chinese eBay kit called a 'Lite Audio' LS 37 -> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LS37-MM-MC-phono- ... 3ca835aa7c

I brought it about 4/5 years ago and mine has a different PSU board with a valve rectifier and regulator. It's a bit noisy but I didn't know any better then, it was before I knew any of this lot here on the webbernettage. Using the MM input its OK and doesn't cause a problem but the MC input is too noisy for me. I'd like to build summat better later.

Because I'm using the MM i/p I've had to use step up transformers, these are cheap and very good and are very recommended -> http://cinemag.biz/mic_input/CMQEE-3440 ... g-Coil.pdf

HTH,

DTB
Last edited by Dave the bass on Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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colin.hepburn
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#14

Post by colin.hepburn »

Hi
Well my cart is a Goldring 1042 a excellent cart if setup correctly but @£240 a pop the price just got silly dealers hyping up the price just because the 1042 has a bit of a cult following in my view this is just greed by the dealers which will just kill of the gold ring 1042 cart and leave the dealer out of pocket anyway :x
OK my choices of your carts would be that ortfon and the nagaoka Boron MP11 just get some Audio Technica AT607 stylis cleaner from the timestamp website on here http://www.soundhifi.com/vinylbits.html
Then later you could go for an ortofon M2Red about £65 and upgrade it just by changing the stylis when funds permit see the range here bottom of page http://www.hi-fi-specialist.com/Product ... RIDGES.htm
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#15

Post by Mike H »

Lee S wrote:The third cart down with the yellow stylus grip IS a Goldring G800, but with an aftermarket stylus fitted.

Usually came fitted to Lenco/Goldring GL75s.
Yes I thought it looked like a G, they were reckoned to be quite OK in their time. But whadda I know :D

floppybootstomp wrote: And would you believe the left channel of the Shure 75C quit working during the journey from bedroom to living room? Would you Adam & Eve it?
You must be accursed :D

An Ortofon. I know nothing about this but I think it came with a new Dual 505 Mk II and I never used it.
Er, it could be like droooooll ... but again whadda I know

And last of all a nagaoka Boron MP11. I used this for a long time on my Dual 5505 Mk 2 turntable and I remember liking the sound of this one a lot. Worth buying a new stylus for? (If they're available).
That's mine that is! :D yes it is and yes you can from here:

http://www.musonic.co.uk/styli-record-n ... -1_11.html

Nagaoka are still making 'em, and the carts, (lot of people think they disappeared years ago, not so) got a new MP20 boron stylus for mine. Only they've changed all the numbers round since, looks like it's now the JNP200. Prices have gone up a helluva lot too! :shock:

.
 
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