Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

HiFi Guy said:
Have you double checked your alignment? As the suspension settles, it can slightly change. I recommend rechecking alignment after 50 hours.

You shouldn’t be getting IGD at 6-700 hours, assuming very clean records.
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I have not. I had the alignment done when I installed the cart, and checked with the Technics overhang gauge. Should I seek better alignment?

I also don’t run any records through a cleaning machine. I play most brand new records with just a wipe from my Audio Technica 6102, which does a great job at getting most of the surface debris off.

I haven’t heard any issues before this, on any of my LPs.
 
The Technics headshell may prevent other alignments by not having enough slot space to accommodate them. You can simply check against the overhang gauge; I sincerely doubt that the Technics alignment causes substantially different wear than other proper alignments.

I used a Geo-Disc Baerwald alignment with my Pioneer PLX-1000 to good effect recently, with a Jelco headshell.
 
Angsty said:
The Technics headshell may prevent other alignments by not having enough slot space to accommodate them. You can simply check against the overhang gauge; I sincerely doubt that the Technics alignment causes substantially different wear than other proper alignments.

I used a Geo-Disc Baerwald alignment with my Pioneer PLX-1000 to good effect recently, with a Jelco headshell.
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Checking against my gauge, it is pretty dead on. I can just see the tip of the stylus when looking dead on from the bottom of the gauge.

I ordered a new stylus, as I am close enough hours wise anyway.

Additionally, do y’all think its could be the Microline stylus revealing a bad pressing?
 
highqualityrecords said:
Checking against my gauge, it is pretty dead on. I can just see the tip of the stylus when looking dead on from the bottom of the gauge.

I ordered a new stylus, as I am close enough hours wise anyway.

Additionally, do y’all think its could be the Microline stylus revealing a bad pressing?
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If you don't clean your records it could absolutely be built up gunk on the stylus contacting the inner groove walls.
 
My boss has now been picking my brain about hi-fi at work. Seems like he came into some equipment from a friend and at first blush I was super jealous that he landed a Technics for free.

Came to find out it's just a Technics styled Crosley. A C200A-BK to be precise.

So now that the schadenfreude is out of the way, what could I recommend for improvements on a deck like this? I have an old Grado Black sitting around that I feel like I could let go, but would anything really improve this Crosley?
 
@HiFi Guy may have a different perspective based on his experience, but my understanding is that a Microline should generally produce a better result, but a poor pressing is always a poor pressing.

Cleaning records, as @Mather points out, is a good practice even for ones that are purchased new. Gunk will find its way into grooves over time. Some people assert that even new records sound better after cleaning, but I'm on the fence with that one. Nonetheless, because I have a Humminguru, I clean all my new records anyway.
 
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folsom_lives said:
My boss has now been picking my brain about hi-fi at work. Seems like he came into some equipment from a friend and at first blush I was super jealous that he landed a Technics for free.

Came to find out it's just a Technics styled Crosley. A C200A-BK to be precise.

So now that the schadenfreude is out of the way, what could I recommend for improvements on a deck like this? I have an old Grado Black sitting around that I feel like I could let go, but would anything really improve this Crosley?
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A better stylus could help, particularly if it is a conical. I've heard rumor that some inexpensive turntables ship with sapphire styli, instead of diamond, which would certainly be cause for alarm if that were true. Can the Crossly accommodate a different cartridge?
 
Mather said:
If you don't clean your records it could absolutely be built up gunk on the stylus contacting the inner groove walls.
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I don't put them through a RCM, but the brush I use is pretty great at getting all of the particles off the LP before spinning. I admit I should be doing more, but the spin clean does not seem like that great of an option, and I don't want to fork over a ton of money. Definitely an issue.

I spin 90% new records, its only since I stared working at a record store that I would trust buying more used copies than before. I also clean my stylus after every LP. I used to use a generic putty from Hudson HIFI, but after the Onzow Zerodust conspiracy, I stopped using it and went back to a small brush. Maybe I will use piece of magic eraser....
 
Angsty said:
A better stylus could help, particularly if it is a conical. I've heard rumor that some inexpensive turntables ship with sapphire styli, instead of diamond, which would certainly be cause for alarm if that were true. Can the Crossly accommodate a different cartridge?
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The Crosley appears to have an AT conical cartridge, so the worst case scenario is not there. Can't see a method to adjust VTA, though. Best to stick with compatible AT styli to upgrade. Going past an elliptical would likely be lost on this turntable.

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highqualityrecords said:
I don't put them through a RCM, but the brush I use is pretty great at getting all of the particles off the LP before spinning. I admit I should be doing more, but the spin clean does not seem like that great of an option, and I don't want to fork over a ton of money. Definitely an issue.

I spin 90% new records, its only since I stared working at a record store that I would trust buying more used copies than before. I also clean my stylus after every LP. I used to use a generic putty from Hudson HIFI, but after the Onzow Zerodust conspiracy, I stopped using it and went back to a small brush. Maybe I will use piece of magic eraser....
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There's a lot of oil and anti mold coating etc that's on those new records and I'm willing to bet even with the brushing that you've got a fair amount of caked on gunk on that stylus at this point. Not saying that's what's causing the issue, but it's likely not helping. I thought I was cleaning everything really well a while back, used a brush, used a stylus brush too. Then I looked at my needle with a cheap usb microscope...

Screenshot_20210219-121524_Gallery.jpg
AVERT YOUR EYES CHILDREN!
 
Mather said:
There's a lot of oil and anti mold coating etc that's on those new records and I'm willing to bet even with the brushing that you've got a fair amount of caked on gunk on that stylus at this point. Not saying that's what's causing the issue, but it's likely not helping. I thought I was cleaning everything really well a while back, used a brush, used a stylus brush too. Then I looked at my needle with a cheap usb microscope...

View attachment 142391
AVERT YOUR EYES CHILDREN!
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what was your method of cleaning that helped? Thanks Mather!
 
Mather said:
There's a lot of oil and anti mold coating etc that's on those new records and I'm willing to bet even with the brushing that you've got a fair amount of caked on gunk on that stylus at this point. Not saying that's what's causing the issue, but it's likely not helping. I thought I was cleaning everything really well a while back, used a brush, used a stylus brush too. Then I looked at my needle with a cheap usb microscope...

View attachment 142391
AVERT YOUR EYES CHILDREN!
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I do recommend checking your stylus often with an inexpensive magnifying glass or USB microscope. I use my Onzow magnifying glass in the case. I have found that a dry brush can't always fully clean the stylus. However, wetting the dry brush with distilled water (never tap water!) works every time for me.
 
highqualityrecords said:
I don't put them through a RCM, but the brush I use is pretty great at getting all of the particles off the LP before spinning. I admit I should be doing more, but the spin clean does not seem like that great of an option, and I don't want to fork over a ton of money. Definitely an issue.

I spin 90% new records, its only since I stared working at a record store that I would trust buying more used copies than before. I also clean my stylus after every LP. I used to use a generic putty from Hudson HIFI, but after the Onzow Zerodust conspiracy, I stopped using it and went back to a small brush. Maybe I will use piece of magic eraser....
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A brush only removes surface dirt. What would build up on your stylus is from what is actually in the grooves. New records are often really dirty. Pressing a record is an industrial process in a factory and involves big heavy machinery. Contaminants get in. The records themselves contain release agents that stop them sticking to the press and the fancier the record the more of this there is. I actually find that cleaning is more vital on new records than old ones unless they are really dirty old ones.
 
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highqualityrecords said:
what was your method of cleaning that helped? Thanks Mather!
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Well, I have an RCM now which helps but also I use blue tack before I play. Same as Onzow basically. Blue tack is that sticky stuff kinda like plasticine that you used to stick posters to walls when you were in high school etc... Just carefully drop the needle into it a couple of times. Make sure NOT to move the platter or you'll rip your stylus off.. But it cleans off a lot of the gunk. Keeps it pretty clean.
 
Mather said:
Well, I have an RCM now which helps but also I use blue tack before I play. Same as Onzow basically. Just carefully drop the needle into it a couple of times. Make sure NOT to move the platter or you'll rip your stylus off.. But it cleans off a lot of the gunk. Keeps it pretty clean.
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Yeah I use a chunk cut off a magic eraser the same height as the platter and it does a really good job. And a little brush every now and again during listening sessions if I see any fuzz on it.
 
Joe Mac said:
Yeah I use a chunk cut off a magic eraser the same height as the platter and it does a really good job. And a little brush every now and again during listening sessions if I see any fuzz on it.
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Yep that works too. I was always a little hesitant with Magic Eraser because I assumed that it was coated in some sort of heavy chemical bleaching agent in order to do what it does, and that combined with Stylus glue scared me. But I've never heard it being an issue so it's likely just me being overly worried about nothing. WHICH IS NOT LIKE ME AT ALL EVERYONE SHUT UP
 
Mather said:
Yep that works too. I was always a little hesitant with Magic Eraser because I assumed that it was coated in some sort of heavy chemical bleaching agent in order to do what it does, and that combined with Stylus glue scared me. But I've never heard it being an issue so it's likely just me being overly worried about nothing. WHICH IS NOT LIKE ME AT ALL EVERYONE SHUT UP
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Yeah i get that. With my old car someone grazed it in a car park and there was paint transfer and a wet magic eraser took it all off completely, which is pretty impressive and scary. But, it’s never done anything to my stylus and I’ve never heard of it doing anything to anyone else’s so. But then you have an Ortofon 2M and they supposedly don’t like solvents, even though the eraser is dry, so maybe you’re right to err on the side of caution.
 
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