Shelter 501MK II Cartridge In The House

[jwhite613]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

David, you might need more than a week....I wouldn't make any critical judgements until you've got a month or so of play...50-60hrs assuming 2hrs a day...

+2

Jeff

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......I totally agree, and that is the same advice I have been offering. I think David believes he can rush break in by willing it to happen. A minimum of 100 albums, played on both sides all the way through will yield approximately 50 hours of break in. It's not rocket science. There's no short cut to this process. The time has to be put in.

As for the surface noise on older albums, I have suggested the vinyl be washed, either by hand or in a record cleaning machine. There's years of crud in those grooves. Don't blame a stylus shape or a particular cartridge for a dirty record. Playing dirty vinyl will also speed stylus wear, as well as further excellerate groove wall deterioration. Don't play dirty vinyl.

Dan,
I couldn't agree more. It's like trying to tell a woman to have a baby in 3 months; it's still going to take 9 months. You can't will it to happen in 3 months.

If one thinks this is bad, components with Teflon caps need a good 300-500 hours, and Dynaudio speakers need 200-350 hours to fully run-in. A lot of Dyn customers sell the speakers before they've run in, not liking the sound despite experienced Dyn owners admonishing them to give them time...they will get there.

Regarding record cleaning, I've noticed a considerable reduction in surface noise with record washing using a good RCM...many LPs that are in good shape to start with become dead quiet.

If an RCM is not in the budget presently, even the Spin-Clean at $80 would be a vast improvement.

[1KW]

Ok I know I need more time and a cleaning machine I am curious about the spin clean since it does both sides at the same time and looks pretty simple, anyone have any experience with it ?

[Puma Cat]

I don't, but I've read great things about it from users. I am thinking of getting one in addition to my VPI 16.5, just to use for cleaning really dirty records before the VPI. i buy a lot of used stuff that can be pretty dirty, though the records are fine once cleaned.

[1KW]

I have not listened to digital since I started playing vinyl. I am ordered my spin clean, like you said it might be good as pre cursor to something like a VPI for really dirty LP's . Albums that are pretty clean I am keeping in mobile fidelity master sleeves.

[BearCubinNY]

I used the Spin Clean before my CA Double Matrix arrived. I thought it did a fine job of cleaning LP's. I didn't care for the manual method, so I moved to the Matrix. Also, I had several thousand used albums to clean. I couldn't see myself spending 4-5 minutes per album. For $80 you cannot go wrong!

Reg

[BlueChiaro]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Ok I know I need more time and a cleaning machine I am curious about the spin clean since it does both sides at the same time and looks pretty simple, anyone have any experience with it ?

I have one, David. It's good for cleaning a batch...cumbersome for cleaning a few. I've surely gotten some dirty records pretty clean, but I do want to have something that vacuums out the grooves as it can't get everything.

[two dot]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I have not listened to digital since I started playing vinyl. I am ordered my spin clean, like you said it might be good as pre cursor to something like a VPI for really dirty LP's . Albums that are pretty clean I am keeping mobile in fidelity master sleeves.

david,

This is great news... so much great vinyl out there!!!!!

[1KW]

For the last few years since I got into listening to music through my Mcintosh system almost all the new music I bought was jazz or female vocals because that was the music that sounded good on my stereo. Rock music from CD's just did not sound good so I stopped listening unless I was in my car or in my home gym exercising.

Now that I have a decent turntable my rock albums sound FANTASTIC ! All my albums including: Phil Collins, The Police, Little Feet, Billy Joel Albums, Roxy Music, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Elton John etc. sound so much better than the digital versions which I have to listen to at lower volumes in comparison due to listener fatigue. I am hopeful that when the 24 bit master tape versions are sold in itunes we will have the best of both worlds but for now I will keep buying vinyl classic rock for a few bucks a pop. I bought Fleetwood Mac and Fleetwood Mac-Rumors for $1.99 each and they are both in mint condition. I see Elusive disk is selling the 180 gm version for $25 . These original versions sound great . I am trying to weed thorugh and only keep the albums I plan to listen to .

[two dot]

I wish that everyone could hear see this....